SKY TV AND FREESAT.

Forum posting proved difficult for Mr.Kent so here's his "E" mail queries.
Mr. Kent from U.K. asks;
Dear Freesatnews will you please advise me about Sky and Freesat. What is the difference between Freesat from SKY and this new Freesat from the BBC.
Do I need a dish or can I use the SKY dish I have on the side of my house already? I cancelled my subscription about three months ago and have been watching free television still using my SKY dish and SKY box. I read somewhere that the package from Freesat is the same as SKY Freesat, Is this wrong?
As an old age pensioner on a tight budget I could no longer afford SKY and had to pack it in and what a hassle that was because I tried to cancel on the third of the month I was forced to pay for the whole month, so how much is the new Freesat going to cost?
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Thank you Mr Kent for your "E", mail, but we will answer for the benefit of everybody who are like yourself are unsure or have been misinformed. We hope this answers most of your queries.
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Question;
Can you use your Sky receiver to pick up BBC/ITV Freesat.
Answer;
The simple answer is yes (in part), to explain; at the moment some free to air
channels are being picked up using a SKY receiver, you should note that using a SKY receiver to get these free-to-air channels is not in the mainstream SKY listings, you have to go into the extra channels dept. using the SKY receiver remote which we feel is rather strange and should have been in the mainstream listings along with all the other channels and this will continue
as long as it does not interfere with exisitng SKY viewers, but it is
NOT, repeat NOT completely clear if this will continue as more and more
channels are added to Freesat and contracts of various channel providers
come to the end of their respective contracts. The cost of being added to
Freesat is a fraction of the cost being contracted to the SKY platform.
The possibility of dual illumination cannot be ruled out either.
The Freesat Metadata will be sent out to two satellite receivers, one being SKY
and the other being Freesat, but it has already been made public that the
BBC have architecture in place in the BBC/ITV Freesat box that will make
the data stream invisible to other satellite receivers, which it looks very
much as if only two boxes will be able to either see or pick up the Metadata
in either case the EPG or Electronic Programme Guide will only
be useable in the Freesat box from the BBC/ITV.
There is much talk about contracts and ifs and buts about channels that have
copyright problems, there will be no problems when the new BBC architecture is in place, or dual illumination is used or implemented just exactly the same as it will be when Freesat gets first switched on.
The SKY dish can be used for Freesat but nothing has been released with respect to the Freesat gear, ie; LNB the LNB or low noise block which points to the centre of satellite dishes could be different. BBC have already commented that the existing dishes can be used but no mention has been made about the LNB.
The satellite receiver is special says WIKI so perhaps they too have learned
about the new architecture designed by the BBC research and innovation.
The cost of Freesat is only on your initial purchase of Satellite Dish, LNB,
Coax cable, DTG TESTED and PASSED Freesat hd digital box.
It may well be possible to use existing receivers to loop through to use your Freesat box. Some costs will be cut if you use an existing satellite dish.
Note for George here; you cannot "get out" of your SKY contract if you have signed up for twelve months, but we have heard of disgruntled customers who have given 1 months notice to SKY on their 11th month and their contract ceased after 12 months and not 13.

FREESAT SNIPPET ON DIASPORA TV.

DIASPORA TV TO JOIN FREESAT.

Nearly 1 million Irish born citizens living in the
United Kingdom will like ourselves be overjoyed to learn
that Diaspora TV is another quality Freesat channel.
Eamon Ryan the Irish Communucations Minister announced
that Diaspora TV will be part of Freesat by St. Patricks
Day 2009.
Channels from Diaspora include RTE One,RTE 2, & TG4
and these are expected to be incuded as a hybrid channel.
The subject of Irish ex-pats importance of Irish home
grown TV is not new, so now that it is going to happen
I'm hoping to view some Hurling.

HD DIGITAL TELEVISION BREAKDOWN.

TECHNICAL BREAKDOWN OF THE HIGH DEFINITION STREAM.

HD digital TV breakdown.
HDTV
High Definition television transmits more picture information and better quality sound than traditional standard definition television.
So what exactly does this mean to Joe Public?
The breakdown;; future broadcasts will soon be mixed with SD or Standard Definition and HD or High Definition and we will certainly see a slow transitional move to more and more High Definition (HD) programming.
HD or High Definition picture quality is around five times clearer than exisitng TV pictures and HD sound can be surround sound is more immersive. You only have to view a nature or sport feature once, and your hooked. You will also read and hear about upscaling of pictures which again is better than normal SD or Standard Television, but is your poor mans High Definition (HD) in comparison to proper HD.
To understand further we need to take a look at Multiplex,DVB-T and the futures DVB-T2.
A Multiplex is a set MHz block of UHF spectrum which carries a bundle of digital TV channels. 1 digital Multiplex occupies the same amount of spectrum as a single analogue TV channel.
DVB-T technology is referred to as modulation with respect to digital TV signals
and the current standard is named DVB-T, this allows more efficient use of the Multiplex spectrum. DVB-T2 is in development.
Digital Multiplex transmission is subject to trade-off between coverage, capacity and resilience to interference. At present, digital television is transmitted in the spectrum gaps between analogue television channels. See our FAQ's page for more detail.
The BBC make a cautious trade-off at 16QAM mode between coverage, capacity and interference in order to ensure consumers receive a robust signal. As digital switchover proceeds and interference from analogue channels stops being an issue, the BBC will convert its Multiplexes to 64 QAM mode, enabling more channels to be carried in the Mulitplex spectrum.

FREESAT OFFICIAL DIRECTIVES.

OFFICIAL FREESAT DIRECTIVE.

The following information is now in the public domain and is very important to any one considering future purchases of FREESAT equipment and we have been screaming from the rooftops advising everyone to make sure their new equipment is 100% FREESAT LOGO'D.
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freesat is a new free digital satellite TV service launching in spring 2008. Any free-to-air channels
carried on Astra satellites may be part of both freesat and Sky. The transmissions will be shared by
the two platforms. This means two different sets of channel information “metadata” must be carried in
the same transmission. The new freesat data must not affect the millions of Sky receivers already in
use. BBC Research & Innovation have designed the architecture and system specification so that
freesat data is effectively invisible to non-freesat TVs and set-top-boxes.
freesat metadata includes the information needed to display an EPG such as program names, times,
and descriptions, and to indicate the presence of subtitles, audio description, and interactive
elements. In addition it also carries the following:
Genre information for both channels and programmes.
Guidance information for each programme which enables the receiver to display a warning of
the level of violence/language/sex and to allow the user to restrict viewing of certain
programmes.
Content management to control copying and export of content.
Regional information, to ensure viewers in different areas receive the appropriate regional
variant of each programme.
Triggers and data which enable accurate recording and series linking to work.
To reduce the bulk of all this data we have designed a compression method which will speed up
transmission of all this data and thereby improve the user experience.
Current and future work
The main thrust of work is in two parts:
Firstly, maintaining and updating the system management section of the freesat specification, while at
the same time conducting our own internal proof-of-concept testing and validation.
Secondly, collaborating with other organisations to help them implement the specification. For
example:
Manufacturers who will create freesat TVs, recorders, and set top boxes.
DTG Testing Ltd who will provide the receiver conformance testing which products will have
to pass if they are to carry the freesat logo.
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This statement may also highlights why anyone trying to pick up test signals cannot, because any other satellite receiver may not see the signal.

BBC HD DIGITAL SCHEDULE FOR THE EASTER WEEKEND.

EASTER WEEKEND TOTS AND TEENAGERS BONANZA.


The BBC HD DIGITAL schedule builder can feel rightly proud of their Easter Weekend treats for the youngsters, making me wish I was a kid again.
Friday the 21st at 16-05 GMT, starts with; "High School Musical", until 17-50 GMT.
following this is no less than six episodes of the kids spy drama called, "M.I.High".
Saturday the 22nd at 16-40 GMT kicks off with more from "M.I.High", until 17-40 GMT. following this at 17-40 GMT. the excellent film " Toy Story 2", gets the HD treatment. following Toy Story at 19-00 GMT we are treated to more "M.I.High", until 20-00 GMT.
EASTER SUNDAY the 23rd starting at 13-000 GMT Sport lovers can view in sparkling HD the "Figure Skating World Championships", watchable until 14-30 GMT.
At 14-30 GMT. starts "The Electric Proms", with live rock artists like, Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, Cold War Kids, Reverend all well known and very popular with the teenagers and youngsters alike, this finishes at 16-30 GMT.
At 16-30 GMT we get the kids drama all about Lauren who is 15 years old and her intelligent Dinosaur called Eno, the name of the programme is Dinosapien and it finishes at 19-25 GMT.
EASTER MONDAY continues with the Easter extended hours and further showings of the story of Lauren and her intelligent Dinosaur Eno in the kids drama Dinosapien, viewing from 17-00 GMT until 19-30 GMT.
EASTER WEEKENDS will never be the same again if this is what we have in store for the future.
BBC, take a bow, excellent viewing on the BBC HD DIGITAL CHANNEL.

FREESAT HD DIGITAL BOX JARGON.

BBC DESCRIPTION OF FREESAT HD DIGITAL BOX.
John overseas asks some more questions with regard to the new FREESAT HD DIGITAL BOX AND HD TV'S.
THE FREESAT HD DIGITAL RECEIVER OR BOX AND HD FREESAT TV WHICH HAS THE FREESAT BUILT IN, and the breakdown of jargon which as we write here is getting closer to the public release information;
As stated in many public BBC releases the Freesat HD digital box will be expected to have one of two or both connections named HDMI and/or DVI.
To break it down; read the latest information about HDMI here! To read this information you may need the pdf. reader which is free (although most users will already have it in their computers.) and you can download the pdf. reader from here!!
DVI
Digital Visual Interface was developed for uncompressed compatibility between suitable electronic equipment.
The Freesat HD digital box must also have included HDCP
HDCP is the name given for copyright protection developed by Intel. Corp.
The Freesat HD digital box will also have included DVBS and be capable of DVB-S2.
DVBS stands for Digital Video Broadcasting Satellite.
Sound tests have also been carried out with DOLBI 5.1
This means five (5 ) small speakers and a bass woofer.
Freesat HD digital boxes will be capable of Mpeg-4 HD Stream.
The Freesat HD digital box and the HD Freesat TV will also have the
All these technical points must be in the new Freesat HD digital box and also the HD TV with the Freesat built in has also considered the add in named IP STB.
The IP STB will probably be used eventually as it cannot be expected for everything to come on stream all at once.
The IP STB means Internet Protocol Set Top Box, so the chance of Internet Multimedia is closing in fast.
Expected size of new satellite dish? John overseas; we have been informed that a 60 cmtr. dish will be suitable for all over U.K. as the signal will be so strong.
Will there be different boxes?
The answer to this is yes! although a few manufacturers are making the Freesat HD digital box there will be small variations either using the remote (epg; for example) or within the Freesat HD digital box framework which will only concern an satellite receiver engineer.
Our advice;
Buy the best Freesat HD digital box you can afford, remembering 2009 will see some remarkable TV and Internet Multimedia progress.
When you buy your High Definition (HD) Freesat HD Digital box make 100% sure it has been passed by the quality assurance with the Freesat Logo.
Some of the HD TV manufacturers who have been granted a license to make HD TV's are;
ADS-Trading...Vantage/Intek Digital
Homecast
Humax
LG Electronics
Netgem
Pace...Pace/Strong/Viasat
Philips
Technotrend..TT-Select
Sagem
Samsung
Sony
Toshiba Information Systems...Toshiba
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These brands are licensed to carry the HDTV LOGO.
Happy and FREE viewing soon!

BBC HD DIGITAL STEP UP A GEAR CLOSER TO FREESAT TV.

BBC HD DIGITAL STEP UP A GEAR ESPECIALLY FOR THE KIDS.

BBC HD DIGITAL STEPS UP A NOTCH TESTING THEIR BRILLIANT HD CHANNEL BEING TRANSMITTED FROM 28.2 DEGREES EAST.
YOU READ IT HERE FIRST; AS OF THE 21 st OF MARCH 2008 THE BBC HD DIGITAL CHANNEL ARE EXTENDING THEIR HOURS AND TREATING ALL THE KIDS WITH PROGRAMMES ESPECIALLY FOR THEM, WITH FILMS SUCH AS "HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2 AND ON THE 22nd MARCH TOY STORY 2 AND WE KNOW BOTH THESE FILMS WILL BE OUTSTANDING ON HIGH DEFINITION. GOING BACK TO THE 21st MARCH IN THE AFTERNOON WITH PERFORMANCES FROM "ARCTIC MONKEYS AND KAISER CHIEFS FOLLOWED BY "HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2 THEN NO LESS THAN SIX (6) EPISODES OF
M.I.HIGH TIMING GMT FROM 17-50 UNTIL 20-50 AND ON THE SAT. 22nd MARCH FOUR MORE EPISODES OF M.I.HIGH CAN BE VIEWED.
THE BBC HAVE GOT THIS SPOT ON AS OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN WILL LOVE THIS BONANZA OF SPECIALLY SELECTED CHILDRENS PROGRAMMES. THE BBC HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN THE ADULTS EITHER AS THEIR PROGRAMMES START AFTER THE 9 PM WATERSHED.
NOT TO BE MISSED THIS WEEK ON BBC HD DIGITAL; *****PLANET EARTH*****, BROADCAST ON TUESDAY 18th MARCH 2008 (TOMORROW) AT 23-00HRS GMT.
ON SAT 22nd MARCH SHOWS THE EMOTIVE "SHROUD OF TURIN" DOCUMENTARY.
MOVING ONTO THE 23rd MARCH KIDS WILL LOVE THE CHILDRENS DRAMA CALLED
"DINOSAPIEN", WITH EIGHT (8) EPISODES STARTING AT GMT TIME 16-30 UNTIL
19-50. WHAT A WEEKEND THE KIDS HAVE IN STORE, EXCELLENT STUFF FROM THE BBC HD DIGITAL CHANNEL.

FREESAT TV WORKING ON ASTRA 2.

FREEESAT TV TESTING CHANNELS ON ASTRA 2 AT, Transponder C5, 11.390H.

There is a catch though, for over 2 months we have been testing this channels spectrum constantly and it has shown nothing on any of our highly Specialist Satellite Receivers!

With just over two months to go before the start date the only conclusion one can draw from this fact and as we are the only ones saying this apart from the BBC themselves is as follows,
BBC/ITV FREESAT will be invisible to Non-FREESAT Boxes either that or the BBC/ITV are going to launch FREESAT TV in the blind?

FREESAT HD TV QUESTIONS STILL TO BE ANSWERED.

FREESAT QUESTIONS STILL TO BE ANSWERED BUT ARE STILL SKETCHY.

In reply to John overseas,
we have broken your answer down to three parts for easy answering and every readers benefit if they are curious.
Your first question, was similar to what we have been asked many times now, how many channels will FREESAT transmit? and the second part of the section of the question can you pick channels up from other satellites with the same FREESAT receiver?
Domain-Holdings answers;
The initial line up suggested there would be eighty (80) channels with at least eight (8) of them being High Definition (HD), this figure looks positive to rise.
Depending on the channel storage ability of the new HD FREESAT BOXES, in theory it could be motorised to pick up thousands and thousands of free channels and all for the price of a motor to fix behind your satellite dish, and at the moment in U.K. the motor is an extra £70.
Your second part is rather controversial, and that is will ex-pats or military personnel be able to buy a box and use it overseas as U.K. taxpayers.
Rather than go into politics we will answer the best we can, again for the many ex-pats and military personnel who will be in range of the satellite footprint.
It is already in the public domain that the new FREESAT HD BOX will have inside it architecture to make the FREESAT datastream invisible to other receivers, this is designed so that it will not interfere with the already millions of Sky boxes. To clarify this, as is known, the datastream will be transmitted from the satellite to both the new FREESAT boxes and the existing Sky boxes, the jury are still out whether new channels will be added only to the FREESAT HD BOX and not the Sky box as and when they are released and added.
We have read reports that the signal sent out by FREESAT will be up to three (3) times stronger than existing targeted satellite signal, this makes it obvious that awful weather will have little effect to the datastream.
Finally the cost options; at todays prices the costs are approx.
FREESAT TV HD BOX......likely to cost approx. £180
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Seperate motorised system;
Free to air satellite receiver.....prices from approx. £30 upwards(Maplin)
Satellite dish....price approx. £25
LNB (low noise block...for the centre of the dish)...price approx. £5
Coax cable (CT100 or RG6)...approx. 30 pence a mtre.
F-connectors...approx. 50 pence for two.
Fixing bolts for your dish...approx. £5
Satellite mtre....not compulsory...approx. £10

Hope this helps John and many others.

TECHNICAL JARGON AS ADVISED BY THE BBC.

TECHNICAL JARGON FOR HD TELEVISION AS ADVISED BY THE BBC.
HDTV
High definition television transmits more picture information and better quality sound than traditional standard definition television. This enables picture quality to be sharper and more immersive and the sound can be surround sound.
SD
Standard definition refers to the conventional television pictures which do not deploy the HD format.
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720p and 1080i
Standard definition television pictures are made up of 576 horizontal lines refreshed at a rate of 25 times per second. The increased amount of picture information transmitted for HDTV means pictures are made up of more lines – i.e. there is a greater level of picture resolution. The accepted standards for HD picture resolution are currently 720p (720 progressive – 720 lines refreshed at 50 times per second) or 1080i (1080 interlaced – 1080 lines refreshed at 25 times per second). The BBC Executive’s application proposes to use both these standards. 1080p is also becoming available (1080 lines refreshed at 50 times per second).
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DTT
Digital terrestrial television is the form of digital television which viewers can receive through their normal television aerials. The platform comprises six multiplexes broadcasting both free-to-view and pay-television channels.
Freeview
Freeview refers to the bundle of free-to-view channels on DTT collectively marketed under the Freeview brand.
Multiplex
A multiplex is a fixed 8MHz block of UHF spectrum which carries a bundle of digital television channels. One digital multiplex occupies the same amount of spectrum as a single analogue television channel.
IPTV
Internet protocol television is a form of digital television delivered over a broadband network using internet protocol.
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MPEG-2 and MPEG-4
Compression is used to encode a television channel for digital transmission. To reduce the volume of data that needs to be transmitted, and thereby fit more channels onto a multiplex, compression reduces the amount of information that needs to be sent from one second to the next. Information that is constant – e.g. a plain coloured background – can be reduced so that the capacity can be concentrated on changing information. The process by which this has been done hitherto is called MPEG-2. A new, more efficient process called MPEG-4 will be applied to HDTV services on satellite and DTT. Channels encoded in MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 can be transmitted on the same multiplex. But current Freeview set-top boxes are capable of decoding only MPEG-2 services, so consumers would need to upgrade their receiving equipment in order to receive HD channels in MPEG-4 alongside standard MPEG-2 services
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DVB-T and DVB-T2
The technology by which a digital television signal is transmitted is referred to as modulation. The current standard is called DVB-T. A replacement, DVB-T2, is in development. This will allow more efficient use of spectrum capacity. DVB-T and DVB-T2 cannot be mixed on the same multiplex. Current Freeview set-top boxes are compatible only with DVB-T, so consumers would need to upgrade their receiving equipment in order to view channels transmitted using DVB-T2. DVB-T2 equipment is expected to be available to consumers by late 2009.
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16 QAM and 64 QAM
Digital multiplex transmission is subject to trade-offs between coverage, capacity and resilience to interference. This is referred to as the mode. At present, digital television is transmitted in the spectrum gaps between analogue television channels. So the BBC makes a cautious trade-off – at 16 QAM mode – between coverage, capacity and interference in order to ensure consumers receive a robust signal. As digital switchover proceeds, and interference from analogue channels ceases to be an issue, the BBC will convert its multiplexes to 64 QAM mode – enabling more channels to be carried in its capacity.