Advice Needed Astra 23.5

[Almcd]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum although I have been looking in from the outside for a bit.
Also I'm completely new to satellite TV and have really have learnt what I need to know from the internet.
However with my wife being Dutch and xmas on the way, I though I would install a system for her to watch the basic Canaldigitaal channels (SBS6, NPO1, RTL4 etc) which are broadcast on 19.2 as well as 23.5.
From what I understand Canaldigitaal are slowly switching over to 23.5 so I have (or thought I had) found Astra 3 on a single LNB on a TD88 dish.
I'm in south Essex but I can't seem to better 80% strength and 70% quality.
Half the Dutch channels break up after 5-10seconds and are annoying to watch, while the others don't and are perfect.
So this morning I thought I would adjust my dish to 19.2 to see if I can get better quality and so I set the finder on my receiver to help me.
But I instantly hit a confusing problem? The receiver told me I was already on 19.2?
I switched back to 23.5 and it said the same thing?
How is this possible on a single LNB? Is it possible one of the Astra satellites is broadcasting the other if you know what I mean?
Now the other problem is I now have is I don't now know if I'm on 19.2 or 23.5? Sounds daft but up a ladder with my iPhone and 'Dish Align', there's not much in it?
My coaxial runs are good. My LNB is an Inverto Black Premium (would changing it to a Black Ultra or Technomate Gold help?).
So any advice would be most helpful. Many thanks for listening.

 

[Analoguesat]

Hello, welcome to the forum.

Well done for finding anything to begin with - thats normally the hardest part! Howeveryou have fallen foul of the commonest confusion for beginners to the hobby.

Consider this - the satellites use the same blocks of frequencies right around the arc. Plus the frequencies stored on the receiver is just a database - it doesnt actually know where ypur dish is pointing. Thus if you scan sat A whilst your dish is actually pointing at sat B, you will get the channels from sat B appearing on your sat A location. And hence the confusion arrives

Compare these two frequency lists:

FlySat Astra 3B @ 23.5° East

FlySat Astra 1KR/1L/1M/1N @ 19.2° East


You will see the same frequencies appearing again and again.

As for the Dutch channels - most of the channels are encrypted so you will need a card & cam for them. Best obtained from family - friends in Holland or you will pay a hefty middleman fee if you have to use a reseller.

 

[Almcd]

Many thanks for your reply, it was most helpful and makes complete sense now.
I looked a bit further into the channel frequencies on the receiver and indeed I am on 19.2 and not 23.5 so will be moving the dish once the weather improves.
And yes, I asked my brother in law to get me a subscription card with cam to Canaldigitaal. I'm quietly confident I can now get the HD channels on 23.5. Thanks again and happy new year all.

 

[Channel Hopper]

A few channels remain free on 23.5 for now.

Free TV from Netherlands - LyngSat

 

[C0re]

Those are just some regional television channels. BVN on 19.2 is a good alternative with programs from NPO 1/2/3 and the public broadcaster from Flanders (Belgium).

 

[Channel Hopper]

Nothing wrong with 'regional' channels.
The Netherlands is a region of Benelux. as England is a region of the United Kingdom.

 

[C0re]

I meant local television channels. I would recommend BVN if a subscription isn't possible.