South Beam Sky

evans88

I understand that if you retune a skybox to the south beam it is possible to get better coverage in parts of Spain. I know how to do this. However, will a free to air receiver also be able to receive channels on the south beam automatically. Or is this south beam thing peculiar to Sky? Sorry if this is a totally nieve question but I'm learning.

I have a 66cms dish, a Pace skybox and an SL30 free to air receiver.

Analoguesat

Every satellite has one or more satellite footprints. The satellites at 28E that Sky uses have at least 10 different coverage footprints!

Astra 2A - 2
Astra 2B - 2 (plus a Nigerian beam!)
Astra 2C - 2
Astra 2D - 1
Eurobird 1 - 3 (one of which isnt used for anything much atm)

Each beam will be received at different strengths in different area - in the UK all are received with good strength as thats where the signal is destined for. In Spain the Astra 2D beam is very weak, and the Astra 2A & 2B north beams arent very good either.

Sky doesnt own the satellites - they just rent capacity on it so no the south beam isnt peculiar to Sky - if for no other reason the same channels are being used for the new Freesat service!

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woborny

when you start up a sky box, it looks for certain information on the default transponder frequency of 11778 on astra 2a north. in most parts of spain and depending on your dish size, this frequency can be hard to receive. so, to help the sky box get the info that it needs, you set the default transpoinder freuqency to on on the south beam - i use 12129 on 2a south. one the sky box has geot its information from that frequency, the default transponder reverts back to 11778.

this process is only used to help the sky box boot up, it does not increase the amount of channels you get or increase the signal strength of the channels on the sky guide.

a freesat box looks at a signal that is easily available in spain (eurobird) , so you dont need to change anything on them.

non sky or freesat boxes just look at the channels directly, without anything like the sky guide or freesat epg...

hope this helps

satelliteman

A major factor depends on what region in Spain you are located in.

The default Tp only applies to Sl<y receivers in order to get the full EPG to function.

You should be able to pick up South beam with a 50cm dish, see South beam footprint: _http://www.lyngsat-maps.com/maps/astra2a_south.html

If your going to use a Sl<y receiver, when you first power on, you'll know if your able to pull in North beam as the EPG will function or not. Dish size depends on your region. As said above, the box tries to look at 11.778 North beam. If it can't see the transponder, the box does nothing and says 'no sat signal being received'

See North beam footprint: _http://www.lyngsat-maps.com/maps/astra2a_north.html

Full instructions to change default transponder if required:



To change the default transponder setting, you will first need to

access the hidden INSTALLERS SETUP menu

First press the SERVICES button on your Sky remote

then '4' to access SYSTEM SETUP

Although it is not displayed, you will need to press '0' then '1' then SELECT

to access the INSTALLERS SETUP menu

then select '2' to enter DEFAULT TRANSPONDER

Select 'Frequency (GHz)'. By typing in the relevant numbers,

change the settings from 11.778 to 12.129

When the changes have been made, select 'Save New Settings'

Press BACK UP to return to main screen

On the screen you will then see the Sky Welcome Channel or it will say

'searching for listings' please wait

Wait until Sky Welcome Channel appears and then start viewing

Upon return to Northern Europe, the system will automatically default back to the North beam default transponder frequency.

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irart

Can I just add to the excellent answers you have already received evans88, that the following site might be useful for you in setting up your dish and receiver in your motor home:- http://homepage.ntlworld.com/de.sullivan/