Help Required Novice Freesat installation.

[ChrisThomas]

I've finally taken the plunge; scrapped our old CRT TV and bought a modern one with built-in Freesat, a dish, LNB, cable etc. etc..

I've put up the dish, aligned it by compass, local landmarks etc. Then fine tuned with a simple alignment meter.

Confusingly (to me anyway) the TV has two satellite options under Setting - Broadcasting - Auto Tuning: Neither of which give me access to , "Normal", Freesat Channels (BBC, ITV etc.).

If I choose, "Satellite", and, "Astra 28.2E", a quick scan gives around 500 channels but mostly in German or Austrian with no sign of the normal Freesat channels. Reception quality is good which implies to me (possibly wrongly) that the dish is well aligned and cabling is sound.

If (again, under Setting - Broadcasting - Auto Tuning) I choose, "Freesat", I eventually see, "Satellite signal not found".

I've done loads of other tests involving a stand-alone Freesat receiver connected to a different TV, connecting to different LNB terminals etc.. I won't clutter this first post with all the detail but all efforts result in no Freesat reception.

Any advice gratefully received. Thanks in anticipation!

Chris

 

[Topper]

Hi Chris, welcome to the forum, it is obvious that you are on the wrong satellite, probably 19East you need to move your dish further East

Astra 1KR/1L/1M/1N at 19.2°E - LyngSat
Needs to be
Astra 2E/2F/2G at 28.2°E - LyngSat

 

[John Pykett]

as topper said you are probably pointing at 19.2e not astra 2 but if you are on the right satellite have you got the right dish size for your location?

 

[Topper]

as topper said you are probably pointing at 19.2e not astra 2 but if you are on the right satellite have you got the right dish size for your location?

Yes well spotted John I had not noticed ChrisThomas was in the French Alps, dish size will be important

 

[PaulR]

Also, I think it won't be a Freesat tuner in the TV but an FTA (free to air) tuner. Freesat uses the FTA channels but in addition it supplies a seven day EPG (electronic programme guide) and will put all the Freesat channels in a predetermined order. It will also add in the part-time channels (BBC4, CBeebies, CBBC, etc) even if they're not transmitting at that particular time.

 

[PaulR]

If the OP's only connection to a satellite dish is via a wall socket then it's highly unlikely that there will be an option for Astra 2 at 28E. "Normal" Astra in France is Astra 1 at 19E.

 

[John Pykett]

Also, I think it won't be a Freesat tuner in the TV but an FTA (free to air) tuner. Freesat uses the FTA channels but in addition it supplies a seven day EPG (electronic programme guide) and will put all the Freesat channels in a predetermined order. It will also add in the part-time channels (BBC4, CBeebies, CBBC, etc) even if they're not transmitting at that particular time.

i think the op did mention that it has freesat in the options of the tv

 

[Topper]

If the OP's only connection to a satellite dish is via a wall socket then it's highly unlikely that there will be an option for Astra 2 at 28E. "Normal" Astra in France is Astra 1 at 19E.

O/P did post he has installed a separate dish

 

[ChrisThomas]

Thanks for the quick replies.

In fact I'm in the UK now (Cardiff). The dish is 70cm and gives excellent reception of all those the German / Austrian channels. And Samsung claim the TV has a Freesat tuner built in. Perhaps PaulR's comments explain why there's a, "Satellite", option and an alternative, "Freesat", option during the Autotune process though.

 

[Captain Jack]

@ChrisThomas You've done the hard job of finding A satellite. Many don't even get that far - it's a feat to find a dot in the vast sky 36000 km away.

Anyway, all you need to do is slightly lower the dish elevation and move it eastwards by 9 degrees (in other words, move it slightly to the right when standing in front of the dish!). You will probably hit 23.5E on your way and maybe even 26E, but 28E will be the next one. Just watch for the signal on your meter - 28E is pretty strong (though whether you'll get UK Freesat channels is another question as it's on a different beam on the same satellite needing a larger dish than "Sky" ones).

Edit: In Cardiff, you'll be more than fine with a 70cm dish!

 

[ChrisThomas]

More work on fine alignment required by the sound of it. I'll report back. Thanks again to all.

 

[PaulR]

O/P did post he has installed a separate dish

Whoops, missed that. Mea culpa.

 

[PaulR]

i think the op did mention that it has freesat in the options of the tv

It could have been an error as most people think that FTA and Freesat are the same, however...

Samsung claim the TV has a Freesat tuner built in. Perhaps PaulR's comments explain why there's a, "Satellite", option and an alternative, "Freesat", option during the Autotune process though.

Yes, the Freesat tune will get you everything in the right order and with a seven day EPG. The "Satellite" option will just give a straightforward FTA tune.

Providing the dish is pointing to the right satellite. You're nearly there Chris!

 

[ChrisThomas]

Captain Jack was exactly correct. A very small change anticlockwise and a more significant reduction in elevation has sorted it.

Thanks to everyone for their contributions.

Now I must change my profile(?) before I need to ask any more questions to avoid misleading people!

Chris

 

[Topper]

Glad you are sorted Chris

 

[rolfw]

Well done Chris.

 

[John Pykett]

nice work enjoy freesat!

 

[Archive-8]

Well done Chris