MOURIOL, France -- As usual, Essential Edge contributor and SatTV specialist John Sidwell of Bigdishsat explores new possibilities and equipment but also problems for those wishing to receive satellite television, particularly free-to-view BBCi Sports Multiscreen. Sidwell also reminds us that free-to-view English language satellite programming, such as all the BBC and ITV channels, including Film 4 and FIVE, can be viewed both in France and Switzerland and do not require Sky Boxes.

BBC Sport Multiscreen Problems:

There have been problems recently on some Freesat receivers with the Sports Multiscreen on BBCi. This is where you can press the Red Button and choose extra sports events. Some freesat receivers have being showing a black screen but perfect audio. The problem was caused by a small change made to the way the extra streams are transmitted and some receivers didn't automatically adjust to the changes. The fix is to re-scan your freesat receiver by pressing Menu, choosing Settings and then First Time Install. You will be prompted for a UK postcode and to choose the screen aspect of your tv ... then the re-scan will automatically take place and cure the problem.

Cordless Speakers:

I mention these because many people are unaware of their existence. The speakers are cordless and work in most parts of the house or garden. They receive the signal from your Freesat or Sky receiver and allow you to listen to a radio station with crystal clarity and without any interference from electric fences. I need hardly remind fellow cricket lovers that the Ashes Test Matches are only a month away and these speakers are perfect for savouring every ball in the garden away from those who are less appreciative of the radio treat of the year.

Sky Viewing Cards:

Sky have started to issue new viewing cards to replace the blue cards which have served us well over the years. The blue cards will all be switched off during 2009 but you shouldn’t be too concerned if all you want to watch are the main UK channels like BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five. Your Sky digibox will continue to receive those channels plus another 140 odd and the radio after any card switch off. Fiver and Five USA are two of the very few channels that are not available free to air so you will need a Sky card of some sort after your existing card is switched off. If these two channels are important to you, it might be worthwhile getting a friend or relative in the UK to buy one for you. They cost just under 20 UK pounds (23 Euros or 35 CHF) and you will be guaranteed any replacement doing it this way.

We always warn anyone who listens not to buy cards from any of the barrow boy installers who have popped up over the past few years. They may well give you the impression that they are acting with a nod and a wink from Sky, but they aren’t. Sky are closing down rogue dealers in the UK all the time and the France based barrow boys are finding it increasingly more difficult to get hold of cards and contracts.

The Bigdishsat.com website has a factsheet explaining the blue card switch off in detail here. Freesat … new Specification: We have now received in stock the new generation of Freesat satellite receivers. The box is much smaller and the specification has been trimmed so now there is only one Scart connection and satellite input. The audio outputs and second Scart for the VCR or DVD have disappeared and the manufacturers have lost no time in raising the trade prices to the independent dealers. Having said that, the standard definition freesat receiver remains a big seller with the price at 99 Euros.

As the standard definition specification has been pared down, the assumption has to be that Freesat want you to go for a High Definition receiver so that you get some more bells and whistles for your money and enjoy the BBC and ITV in High Definition. Coincidently, ITV has just announced an increase in its weekly High Definition output to over 13 hours a week, while the BBC is currently transmitting over eight hours a day on the BBC HD channel. The budget High Definition freesat receiver is only 30 Euros more at 129 euros but most customers plump for the industry favourite, Humax. Quite simply, the Humax receivers are streets ahead of the competition both in quality and performance. This is reflected in the price, which is currently 179 Euros for the Humax Foxsat and 349 Euros for the FreesatPlus Receiver-Recorder.

Mini Satellite Receiver:

A new and absolutely tiny satellite receiver is now available. About the size of a packet of cigarettes, it plugs directly into the Scart socket of your TV. It’s a free-to-air (FTA) receiver and it has the same software as our popular Sedea S5100 receiver. This means that it receives all UK FTA channels such as BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five, plus all the digital variants. It’s ideal for caravans (trailers) or any room where space is at a premium. The receiver tucks away behind the TV but leaves a small visible sensor, This relays the Remote Control commands back to the box. Full details are in the FTA section of the Bigdishsat site.

Free-to-Air and Freesat: What is the difference?

One of the most asked questions is about the precise different between Free-to-Air or FTA and Freesat. Well, there is no difference in actual television and radio channels as they are the same. It’s all about Electronic Programme Guides (EPGs) and Red Buttons. An EPG tells you what programme is coming on TV or radio at a particular time and on a particular day. Freesat receivers have this seven-day EPG but FTA receivers do not. Also, Freesat receivers have Red Button options for navigating Digital Text and accessing extra options like Sports and News multiscreens.

Again, FTA receivers can’t do this. Freesat receivers automatically update frequency changes which happen from time to time whilst you would have to manually re-programme a FTA box when this happens.

Free-to-air satellite receivers are available and are a good deal cheaper than Freesat boxes. FTAreceivers are very popular with the gite market in France and as a second box in the kitchen or bedroom.

FranSat:

Fransat is a new digital satellite service for France and it starts later this month. It is a rival to the TNTSAT service, which is transmitted from Astra1 and controlled by Canal Plus. French public service channels Fransat will be transmitted from the Atlantic Bird satellite, which currently transmits the free French channels in analog format. (The editors: The irony here is that the TNT service controlled by the commercial, pay-to-view Canal Plus is the only way that viewers in France, who have to pay the annual audiovisual tax, are able to receive free public service TV via satellite).

Millions of houses in France already have a satellite dish pointing at the Atlantic Bird satellite, so all that is needed is a new Fransat box to provide 18 TNT channels at a one-off cost of around 100 euros.

Contact:

Big Dish Satellite

Mouriol Milhaguet, HV 87440

France

Tel. 33- (0) 5 55 78 72 98

www.bigdishsat.com

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