THE
BIG SWITCH OFF…
The
possibility of losing British Freeview in Spain
This
has been much talked about since the first news in about July 2012 that the
current Astra 2D satellite was to be moved/switched, and we would all suddenly
lose our Brit TV overnight.
You
can imagine the uproar and horror of those who have got used to UK TV in the
sun.
There
has been much speculation and scare mongering about the alternatives (if this
were to happen.)
Currently
we nearly all have a Sky Digi box, a satellite dish and we get Freesat (courtesy
of Sky, who elects to include Freeview channels on their satellite.)
(Some
people have a normal ‘Freesat box’ and dish, but the signal comes from the same
source.)
There are currently four satellites in operation: (Astra 2A, 2F, 1N and Eutelsat 28A) and the new Astra 2E that everyone is talking about. Sky will have to move to a new satellite in the very near future from their existing one. But as yet, know one knows which one. (Hence we do not know what channels will be lost.) The reason for such speculation on what may/not be going to happen is that a new satellite, Astra 2E (which MAY be the final choice for Sky/other channels) has
finally been launched (after a delay post the Russian rocket explosion,) and it
is now up there and being tested. The actual date, and which channels might be
lost in Spain, is still as yet ‘undisclosed.’ (The reason for the potential loss
of signal/channels is that the owners of this new satellite have chosen to make
the footprint (the digital beam that we receive this end on the ground), will
be narrower, thus cutting off virtually everyone outside the UK. (This is only speculation, and we still don’t
know whether other parts of Northern Europe (France, Italy etc,) might still be
able to pick up the signal.) There are also other use able satellites up there 2F and 2G. It is quite possible that Sky will move to 2E, 2F and 2G.
I have
also been advised that 2A will also be retired and its channels moving to the
new satellites, may be 2G in 2014
(NB
It has always been a ‘grey area’ regarding receiving a broadcast outside of the
UK, but we have enjoyed the fact that it has been there for around 9
years.)
So;
The first switch to new signal testing happened back in December 2012, and most
of us on the Costa del Sol lost Channel 5, USA etc (except those who have a Sky
Subscription and HD, and still received Channel 5 on HD. Our friends in the
Costa Blanca gained, and suddenly could now receive channel 5, and also a
smaller dish became OK to receive the Freeview.
(Second NB; The continued reception of Sky in
Spain is still a ‘grey area.’ Many people already pay a Sky Subscription to get
their up to date movies, and live sport, but many of us also just like the BBC/ITV
etc that is on the Freesat.)
Let
me say here; Even when the Freesat channels move (BBC/ITV etc) SKY WILL STILL
BE AVAILABLE. So people who pay a subscription, for movies or sport, will still
receive those as usual. Nothing is expected to happen to these as although Sky is moving their signal to the new
satellite but we hope they do not intend to cut the current beam.) If we are very lucky, Sky may
retain some of the ITV channels, (ie.ITV2HD, ITV3HD AND ITV4HD as they are already a part of the Sky subscription package,) so it will just be the BBC and ITV (1) channels we will need to
source.(And any others if they are lost?) But of course all of this is still speculation! (As I say, this is still an unknown - I have only heard 'rumours' that ITV will be staying on the Sky platform. But there is also the possibility that this may go too. So it might be the two main channels that we have to look for alternatives.) NB This is speculation only. An educated guess, but not guaranteed.
Just to clarify here (from what I have read - and it is not a guarantee...)... We have already lost on Sky viewing channel - 5. But HD remained. So what I am trying to say is (as we really don't know until it happens), is there is a POSSIBILITY that some HD channels will remain. (Hopefully the ones people want to watch.)
I
am going to set out below the possible alternatives (some which people are
already testing/using as they want to be ‘prepared.’) There is no right way or
wrong way. If you read carefully each one has pluses and minuses. At the end of
the day it will be down to what limitations you have regarding your INTERNET
capabilities, and then it will be a matter of personal choice as to which
system you chose.
I
will try to avoid using too much technical jargon, as this is really intended
as an overview for the end user.
(There are many technical pages out
there. I will make a separate post with some links for those who are
interested.)
1)
Sky
Digital Satellite – This will be staying! It might
just mean the system being limited to the ‘sky owned’ channels. We very much hope though,
they will at least keep the ITV channels and we only have to find a solution
for BBC viewing. Sky is a dish, a cable into the house and a box to read the
channel/view the other end (connected to the TV of course.) It is a fairly
stable system, with only occasional issues in bad weather. It has also been the
mainstay of Ex Pat viewing for the past 9 years or more.
2)
IPTV
(Internet Protocol TV) – This is likely the way
forward, but only possible if you have a good internet signal! (Sadly this is a
bug bear for the majority of us in Spain.) We are probably around 15 years
behind Northern Europe, and their infrastructure of Fiber Optic and fast
internet cables. There is much talk about upgrading/keeping up here but, as
anyone who has lived here for a while will know, ‘manana’ could be well into the
next decade! So we just have to work with what we have, and expect to be
disappointed in some cases. NB I don’t like to be negative, but I am also a
realist.
There
are 3 TYPES OF IPTV: or 4 if you include VPN (see below)
2a)
Via
your home computer/laptop: If you are technically minded, and don’t mind
‘streaming’ (getting video/sound into your home) via your computer and internet
connection, and are prepared to fiddle and run back and forth (although of course
one can set up a laptop beside the TV and, using the correct cables, view on
the TV screen.) Then you just need to find the correct website to download/watch
from, and away you go. If, however, you want to watch live UK TV, or even catch
up, you are likely to need a VPN* (see below.) There are currently plenty of
free channels/sites where you can find movies etc. But the main TV channel
companies are always fighting to get these stopped. (Film-on for example has
been on and off these past few months whilst a court case goes back and forth.)
2b) A
mini computer that is small, lightweight and will take out the need for a home
computer (once you have configured it to your required settings.) Such as the
‘Raspberry Pi’ . It has limited storage capacity due to its size, (i.e there is
no inbuilt hard drive), but if you love to fiddle with computer stuff and are
prepared to learn, you can use it to stream video (instead of a laptop/PC.) You
can then connect to your TV, and change channels via your mobile smart phone
etc. (There is no facility for a standard remote with this credit card sized
computer!)
2c) There are also a whole range of
other ‘consoles/smart phones’ etc that can also receive a video stream. I am
not going into these as they are not my area of expertise. Eg: Sony Playstation
3, X box Wii. WDTV Live. Smart phone. Etc. (Tip; we are moving into WiFi
streaming so, if you really want to view this way, and you are buying a new TV
or computer, make sure it has WiDi built in.)
2c) Android Media Hubs: Basically this is a box that connects to your
TV (like the current ‘digi set top box’.) They are quite a bit smaller, but
they do a similar job, except the signal is received via internet and not the
satellite dish/cable.) There are many brands out there and you can purchase
either as a basic box only (some sell the remote as an accessory/extra!)… and
programme it yourself, or you can pay a bit more and have it pre-programmed.
(See XBMC software below.) You can also pay for a subscription to have
guaranteed programmes (see more below.)
Some
boxes that are currently on sale: Mag 250D,
Minix, Roku to name a few.
I
WOULD LIKE TO SAY HERE THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF MIS-INFORMATION regarding these
Android Boxes. Sadly on the Costas we are all used to spotting the ‘latest scam,’
and sometimes shout before we know enough about ‘new offers.’ As someone who has taken the time to learn a
little more about what the offers are (that are seen daily on the Facebook
pages and elsewhere,) I can say, hand on heart, if you read the Terms and
Conditions you will soon see exactly what you are being offered. (I will cover this in more detail below.)
Options
B & C above will require the following software (for example) to make the
box do what you want it to do (i.e video streaming.) XBMC. The good thing about this software is that
it’s a free and open source media player application, developed by the XBMC
Foundation, which is a non-profit technology consortium. (Unlike Apple who have
limited their applications to their own technology.)
Of course all these options above
rely on an INTERNET CONNECTION. As I touched on briefly, the
fact we are in Spain means we are at a disadvantage with the current state of technology.
If you are in, or near, a large city and Fiber Optic internet is an option,
then you are (hopefully) not going to have any of the issues the rest of us are
facing.
The Facts for watching IPTV:
To
stream/watch video of any kind via an IPTV system you will need a MINIMUM of 2 mbps
(mega bits per second) absolute minimum for SD (Standard Definition) TV. (If you don’t want to be constantly losing
the quality/image.) If you are planning to watch HD (High definition) it needs
to be 6 mbps or more.
The
more mbps you have the better, and less chances of having your viewing
interrupted/ruined.
But
remember, this system is open to many ‘changeable factors.’ If
everyone in your street wants to watch TV at the same time, you are very likely
experience reduced speed, and could even lose the video stream totally. We
think! This is yet still to be put to the test!
Eg;
We pay for 10 mbps (mega bits per second) download from Telefonica/Movistar.
But in reality we only ever get a maximum of 7mbps (which some people would say
is still great for Spain.) However, even though I know there are very few in
our street who actually own a computer, the speed can go below 1 mbp at peak
times. (To check your download speed, go to this link: http://www.speedtest.net/ Test it at various times in the day
and night and at peak times. I think you will be surprised how much it
fluctuates!)
THERE IS NO WAY TO CONTROL THIS! It
is what it is!
Some
friends who already download movies to watch later, do it via their computer in
the middle of the night, so they can watch a movie in peace the following
day. (I for one do not want to do this,
unless I really have no choice!)
The
other factor with the current internet connection is which provider you use. You
need to read the small print of the ‘Fair Useage Policy.’ Although you may have
been sold an ‘UNLIMITED DOWNLOAD’ package, in reality there will be some ‘small
print.’ I have checked with Telefonica,
and ours is what it says it is. We could, in theory watch TV all day, every day,
and it is included in our package. (Note; many other providers will cap the
useage, and if you exceed this, you will be paying per mega bit thereafter. So
please read the small print!)
A
NOTE ON THE HYSTERIA regarding the ‘Mis-selling’ of Android Boxes.
You
can choose to:
A.
Buy a basic box (nothing loaded on
it) from Amazon, EBay/ANother supplier, and pay around 80GBP (Eu 93 approx).
You will then have to hook it up to a computer, follow the steps to load
Software (such as XBMC) and likely do several other things before you have it
connected to your TV, and are viewing in comfort.
B.
Buy a box with everything pre-installed
for you. (Off EBay, or one of the many ads you see on our local Facebook pages
or English language freebie newspapers).
The prices seem to be from 180GBP (Eu 200) up to 300Eu in some cases.
Ok; What are you getting for your money.
NB THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF ONE AD I HAVE SEEN: 27 UK TV and Radio stations. These have all
been programmed into the box (which takes time,) the XBMC software will have
been installed too. If you are lucky, you will get a remote and a HDMI cable
(which are not automatically included with some basic boxes.) These WILL WORK as long as those channels
continue to be available FREE. What
you have paid for is an engineer to take all the donkey-work out for you. There
is however, no back up, and no guarantees. You will only be able to view these
programmes free as long as they continue
to be available from that source.
Option B will have pre-loaded existing sources where
you can currently view these channels free. However, as things never stay (or
rarely!) stay static, there is no guarantee whatsoever that these sources will
continue to give you free TV/Radio. If these sources are shut down, move, or
something else, you will be stuck with just the channels that are still
available. Please note I am not a mind
reader (or I would be making millions at something else!) but I do know that
things come and go. (Usually when a large company realizes it is ‘losing out on
revenue,’ and takes website X to court, and tries to get the ‘illegal’
streaming shut down. Case in point the ‘Film-on’ dispute that is ongoing.)
Worst case scenario, and you lost most of your
pre-programmed channels, you could either fix it yourself (by downloading new
ones that do work,) or go and find someone who might be able to do this for
you.
C.
Buy a box, pre-programmed (with
XBMC/other software installed) for around Eu200 – 300. PLUS A MONTHLY
SUBSCRIPTION. (From around Eu15 pcm, depending on what package you
choose.)
So why a monthly subscription for something
we have already said, in B, is FREE?
Important Note: Your monthly subscription is to pay one of the various
companies who offer their own private SERVERS that feed in and out the TV
channels.
(It’s the equivalent of the Sky subscription, which
many people currently pay to get sky sport and movie channels.)
PLEASE BEWARE AND DO YOUR RESEARCH. You are best to go
for an established, or recommended supplier. (We all know there are a lot of
chancers out there!)
These companies earn their money by being reliable.
They stream in the TV, via their own system, and you are paying for the
technology behind that too. (There is always research going on to keep up with
the changes, and to keep providing you with the reliability you want.)
These companies will likely offer a catch up service
too, so should the internet speed in your street have been ‘too slow’ during
the live transmission of programme X, you can watch it later at your leisure,
or even download it to a memory stick to watch when you want/know there are
going to be no interruptions.
NB
Again as with any IPTV box, it’s only as good as your internet
connection/speed. There may be times of the day when you cannot watch your
favourite programme live, due to the
demand on the system in your area.
3. VPN
There
are two types of VPN (Virtual Private Network) out there (well three if you
count the first.)
A VPN blocks your IP (Internet
Provider) address and replaces it with another. Officially if you are in Spain, you are not
supposed to have access to BBC or the i-player. So you pay for a VPN service
which has a UK IP address. (Problem solved.)
a)
A ‘Free’ VPN download. But I am very
sure it might be full of bugs and you are putting your computer at risk.
b)
A paid for/cheap VPN, say 5USD a
month. But I have not tried these and don’t think I would be tempted.
c)
A fully paid up VPN service. Usually
from Eu15pcm. These companies will
provide you all the UK TV channels you want (and more depending on level of
package you pay for.)
Two
choices to view streaming via the VPN.
d) Buy a dedicated router for the
purpose. (I am just trying one of these out. It is connected to my main
Telefonica router, a cable runs across to the TV in the other room, (It could
of course be done wirelessly, but personally I prefer to use a cable.) With this option you do NOT HAVE TO HAVE YOUR COMPUTER
SWITCHED ON, or connected to the dedicated VPN router. You just put the Ethernet cable into the box,
connect the router to your TV and away you go!
4. There is a FOURTH option – that virtually no one
has discussed/is talking about (save one local engineer who does not mind
sharing his knowledge.)
a. Spanish
Digital TV – This can be received with a basic ariel and a Digital TV set up
(you can buy a small ‘TDT’ box to convert your old TV to receive digital signal
too.) Some channels can be programmed to give ‘Original Version’ language. So
if a movie for example is an American or English speaking one – you just select
the English version!
b. Likewise (but a more expensive option) Spanish
digital satellite service. This is probably out of the reach of most at Eu60 pcm
subscription, but there are many more films in English and you can always put
English subtitles on too.
(Tiny bite
size of history of Spanish satellite services. Back in the late 90’s – before Sky
came to Spain, there was a company called ‘Via Digital’ that signed up any
Expat who wanted to watch BBC/English channels – as they were sending it out
via their system. Many were happy to have this system/pay a subscription –
until they cut all the English channels and finally went bust.)
NOTE – There is also another alternative. One that will not be affected by any of the above. It is the Tooway satellite system. This is a smaller, private company, who have their own Satellite, and sell a dish & receiver to get your signal. However, it is based on data usage, and even if you took out the highest download package they currently have, it would still be prohibitively expensive for the majority.
So… to conclude. What should you do? Right now I would
suggest NOTHING – Until we know what changes are going to happen. It is likely
something will change, but why spend time, money and effort setting up a new
system, when you don’t know if the current one will change to the degree you
are going to miss your favourite programmes.
This said trying out the IPTV systems for example to see if
they will work on your home internet system now will prepare you ahead of the rest 'should' something change.
Worst case scenario (if you get one of the free trial packages that are
out there at present), you will have spent some time setting it up and trying
it out. No harm in having a ‘Plan B’ should some programmes disappear!
Happy Viewing!
Ps - 3rd December 2013 - some minor editing done to the piece - as some good feedback from
Sat and PC Guy...