Freesat in Italy

[Ian Dudley]

My Parents moved to Rome last year and have been missing british TV ever since. All they've been able to get from the local provider is a couple of news stations and the odd subtitled english language film.

I know it was possible in the past to get Sky abroad if you were prepared to play a few games, but it was against Sky's Ts&Cs and as such not the sort of thing my folks wanted to get involved with. They are also not the most technically adept people in the world and Rome is quite a distance for me to go in order to do technical support!

I've noted the launch of Freesat with some interest and I'm wondering if this might be an answer for them? I doubt they can buy it directly, but if I buy a box here and they buy a dish locally, I could presumably take the box down and hook it all up for them. With no ongoing subscription, presumably once its working that's them sorted?

So, can anyone confirm whether the Satelite can likely be seen from Rome and is there any way they can test the visibillity in thier location before we shell out money?

Also, are there any other factors in this which might be a show stopped or otherwise make it a pain in the butt?

TIA for any help.

 

[BrianMc]

I've noted the launch of Freesat with some interest and I'm wondering if this might be an answer for them? I doubt they can buy it directly, but if I buy a box here and they buy a dish locally, I could presumably take the box down and hook it all up for them. With no ongoing subscription, presumably once its working that's them sorted?

So, can anyone confirm whether the Satelite can likely be seen from Rome and is there any way they can test the visibillity in thier location before we shell out money?

The major factor is that, from that range, the fact that the channels are transmitted from a collection of different satellites starts to matter!

The hardest to get are the "best" (normal mainstream UK) ones which are on the Astra 2D satellite. The dish size needed to get this from Rome would (at a guess) be about 1metre (but check!!!!). The website http://astra2d.com/ has more details.

Apart from this all would work fine!

 

[J L Jones]

http://www.stevelarkins.freeuk.com/skytv_reception_europe.htm suggests that you need a 3m dish to get Sky in Rome, and Freesat will need the same.
It doesn't sound practical to me. Expensive and would take up a lot of room.
Best people to ask would be other local ex-pats to see if any get Sky.

 

[Ian Dudley]

The major factor is that, from that range, the fact that the channels are transmitted from a collection of different satellites starts to matter!

The hardest to get are the "best" (normal mainstream UK) ones which are on the Astra 2D satellite. The dish size needed to get this from Rome would (at a guess) be about 1metre (but check!!!!). The website http://astra2d.com/ has more details.

Apart from this all would work fine!

Hmm, to be honest its probably only the mainstream channels that they are really bothered about. i.e. if they can get the 'old four' analogue stations (BBC1, BBC2, ITV and C4) they would be pretty happy. All the other digital and bonus stations would very much be nice to haves.

Would that make any difference? i.e. could they go for a smaller dish that only targets the 2D satelite, or does it not work like that?

 

[BrianMc]

Would that make any difference? i.e. could they go for a smaller dish that only targets the 2D satelite, or does it not work like that?

Doesn't work like that! Astra 2D is the hardest to get - so the dish has to be be sized for it if it is wanted. Other satellites go much further so getting Sky Sports etc. is very easy from a lot further away.

As one of the other posters has suggested that a 3m dish is needed you would need to get the exact size checked (by finding someone with it working?) first.

 

[Ian Dudley]

Doesn't work like that! Astra 2D is the hardest to get - so the dish has to be be sized for it if it is wanted. Other satellites go much further so getting Sky Sports etc. is very easy from a lot further away.

As one of the other posters has suggested that a 3m dish is needed you would need to get the exact size checked (by finding someone with it working?) first.

Oh well, it was a nice idea!

They live in an appartment block and there are apparently already quite a few dishes on the roof, so it's worth a try.

Being in an elevated position would presumably reduce the risk of ground clutter getting in the way of the signal, could this also reduce the needed dish size?

 

[shadows]

i live in milan and get sky of a 80 cm dish no problem, there is no problem taking a sky box to rome and using it as free to air this as nothing to do with sky as there are many free to air boxes but what i would sujest is you wait till the pvr twin tuners come out then your parents will be able to watch one side whilst recording another

 

[hornydragon]

BEst thing for them to do is go to a local satellite installr and ask for a Astra 2D he will smile or frown and say €200 or €2000 then its up to them any old sky STB with card will get some channels but to stop people doing this the BBC channels are on a narrow beam. Freesat uses the same beam so that doesnt help. There are some engish language channels on wider beams but not the ones most people really want.

 

[shadows]

yes the bbc channels are on a narrow beam but i still pick them up at 90 percent only when it pours down and heavy storms do i loss my picture and thats a few times a year

 

[fernandez]

yes the bbc channels are on a narrow beam but i still pick them up at 90 percent only when it pours down and heavy storms do i loss my picture and thats a few times a year

Yes, but that's in Milan
From the site liked to in post 3

"Italy

Reception of Sky digital TV in Northern Italy should be possible on a 1.2m - 1.5m dish, but further south very large dish sizes are required. For Sky TV reception in Rome, satellite dish requirements may be 3m or larger. Reception in central and southern Italy may be poor or non existent in extreme cases. Dish size recommendations vary wildly depending on location, so some trial and error may be needed to get reliable Sky TV reception, especially in poor weather. We have read that an 1m dish works in Milan."

and other reports here

http://www.astra2d.com/italy.htm

 

[joefitzg]

I live in murcia southern spain and can confirm minimum dish size for a good selection of mainstream channels would be 1.8 mtr any thing smaller no bbc 2 3 4