Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do I need a 2.4 Metre dish to receive BBC and ITV freesat?
A. No unless you have the room etc we believe not; this region, say between Valencia and Murcia, generally requires a minimum 1.9 Metre dish which is still relatively large. The satellite signal is directed towards the United Kingdom so signal level in our region of Spain is very weak. It is now possible to receive a good signal on a 1.4 offset difficult with certain limitations but we have installed over 80 of these in the last 4 years with minimal problems for the owners.
It is better for holding reception if you are using a high grade 1.5 metre Prime Focus Dish in most areas. Many local experienced companies will state that you MUST have a 2.4 Metre, but now dishes have been manufactured to a much better standard. There are certain reception limits on a smaller dishes plus the type of Digibox being used can also make a difference to your reception beyond 11pm at night. We do agree that the bigger the dish the better reception you will get, but we also know price is a major factor for many of our clients and we fully understand this, talk to us were are here to help, the choice is yours, but read as much as you can from our site to assist you in making an informed decision.
Q. Are there any other alternatives to receive English TV in Spain?
A. Some areas have re-transmitted local signals, and companies sell/rent their special equipment. This is considered illegal by many, no matter what they tell you, and when the transmitters are shut down you lose reception and any money you have paid for the special equipment, which will become defunct.
The picture or signal is usually poor quality compared with satellite signals, and these systems are not trouble free. We do not offer this method of TV reception, as we are here in the Costa Blanca to stay and rely on our customer’s good recommendations. Our alternative suggestion is 'dish sharing' between you and your neighbours & local communities. The other alternative is using foreign satellites and subscriptions that do have some English programs and are available on smaller dishes, but you still will not receive BBC, ITV, Ch4 & Five.
Q. What channels will I get with the smaller free-to-receive System?
A. There are well over 100 TV and 50 Digital radio stations that are English speaking and free. The TV channels are low budget and many are shopping channel derived. Others are news, music, general entertainment & religion genres. However, BBC & ITV channels, Ch4 and Ch5 are not included due to the small dish size.
Q. You have a Sky system advertised that doesn't require a large dish. Will I get all Sky Channels with this subscription system?
A. You will not get all of the Sky channels in Spain, only most. Movie channels are only available with larger dishes, but Sky sports channels are available on standard smaller systems. Again, BBC, ITV, Ch4 & Five are not included due to dish size required. Prices from 20,00€ per month.
We can arrange subscriptions with no need for a Uk address, so please contact us with your channel requirements if you would like to confirm reception of particular
Channels all are available.
Q. What is an LNB and what does it stand for?
A. LNB stands for "Low Noise Block" and it is the piece of electronics that sits at the end of the dish which does all the hard work in converting the satellite signal received from the sky and turning it into a picture for you to watch through your Digibox, as the signal is week here in Spain for Sky, these can need replacing quite often especially if cheaper one`s are used. It is a bit more technical than that, but you can look around on some of the help forums listed on our site for more information.
Q. Can I get sport on the FREE TO AIR system.
A. Only via ITV BBC etc unless you have the SKY PACKAGE but we could install another small dish and get you some great movie channels in ENGLISH plus some Sports free of charge but commentary is sometimes in Arabic again ask us we are here to help.