Freesat postcode - does it affect signal strength?

J

JCo

Member
My Satellite Setup
80cm dish on 28E with Humax Foxsat HDR receiver
My Location
Spain
I just purchased a Humax Foxsat HDR. I am planning to take it to Spain shortly. I note that I have to enter a postcode during set up, and apparently this affects which satellite transponders are selected in order to obtain regional programming. I am more concerned about getting the best possible signal, and am just wondering if signal can be improved by postcode selection. I suspect the answer is "don't be so dumb" but I thought it worth asking.
 
I just purchased a Humax Foxsat HDR. I am planning to take it to Spain shortly. I note that I have to enter a postcode during set up, and apparently this affects which satellite transponders are selected in order to obtain regional programming. I am more concerned about getting the best possible signal, and am just wondering if signal can be improved by postcode selection. I suspect the answer is "don't be so dumb" but I thought it worth asking.
 
I'm splitting this off into its own thread.

It's not dumb at all but unfortunately I don't know which are the "best" postcodes. Other, I'm sure, will.
 
I'm splitting this off into its own thread.

It's not dumb at all but unfortunately I don't know which are the "best" postcodes. Other, I'm sure, will.
 
Unfortunatly its impossible to answer without knowing

1) which town / area you are moving to

2) the dish size you are planning to use.
 
Unfortunatly its impossible to answer without knowing

1) which town / area you are moving to

2) the dish size you are planning to use.
 
well, he's going to Spain, so which of the ITV1 channels is NOT being broadcast on Astra 2D ? That would give you the regions where you must look for a postcode to use.
 
well, he's going to Spain, so which of the ITV1 channels is NOT being broadcast on Astra 2D ? That would give you the regions where you must look for a postcode to use.
 
JTA said:
well, he's going to Spain, so which of the ITV1 channels is NOT being broadcast on Astra 2D ? That would give you the regions where you must look for a postcode to use.
Click to expand...

That's true enough, but is only part of it.

If he has a dish big enough for 2D reception then ,at the margins, polarity can also be an issue.

Yes, ITV1 problems could probably be resolved by using "off 2D" versions, but they are not FTA, so that might not help!

Actually, as he plans to use his Foxsat HDR, it's 2D or nothing.
 
JTA said:
well, he's going to Spain, so which of the ITV1 channels is NOT being broadcast on Astra 2D ? That would give you the regions where you must look for a postcode to use.
Click to expand...

That's true enough, but is only part of it.

If he has a dish big enough for 2D reception then ,at the margins, polarity can also be an issue.

Yes, ITV1 problems could probably be resolved by using "off 2D" versions, but they are not FTA, so that might not help!

Actually, as he plans to use his Foxsat HDR, it's 2D or nothing.
 
My flat is in Calafell, near El Vendrell, which is on the coast, N of Tarragona, S of Barcelona. My installer, who is local, says 80cm should be big enough (I think he installed some of these for Sky users). I hear that further south you need 1m or even bigger, but he reckons for us 80cm is sufficient. I'd be interested if anyone has different experience. But my question was really about the postcode thing. I read it is required to select regional programming (I expect ITV insisted on this). The instruction book for the Humax mentions different transponders (I am sure they are all on the 2D satellite) being used for different regions, and they also specify a default transponder number, in case the postcode entry doesn't work. So I imagine all these aerials on the satellite, maybe with different signal powers, and maybe pointing in slightly different directions. Now tell me that's not dumb!
 
My flat is in Calafell, near El Vendrell, which is on the coast, N of Tarragona, S of Barcelona. My installer, who is local, says 80cm should be big enough (I think he installed some of these for Sky users). I hear that further south you need 1m or even bigger, but he reckons for us 80cm is sufficient. I'd be interested if anyone has different experience. But my question was really about the postcode thing. I read it is required to select regional programming (I expect ITV insisted on this). The instruction book for the Humax mentions different transponders (I am sure they are all on the 2D satellite) being used for different regions, and they also specify a default transponder number, in case the postcode entry doesn't work. So I imagine all these aerials on the satellite, maybe with different signal powers, and maybe pointing in slightly different directions. Now tell me that's not dumb!
 
JTA said:
well, he's going to Spain, so which of the ITV1 channels is NOT being broadcast on Astra 2D ? That would give you the regions where you must look for a postcode to use.
Click to expand...

Only encrypted ones - which is no good on a Freesat box!
 
JTA said:
well, he's going to Spain, so which of the ITV1 channels is NOT being broadcast on Astra 2D ? That would give you the regions where you must look for a postcode to use.
Click to expand...

Only encrypted ones - which is no good on a Freesat box!
 
JCo said:
My flat is in Calafell, near El Vendrell, which is on the coast, N of Tarragona, S of Barcelona. My installer, who is local, says 80cm should be big enough (I think he installed some of these for Sky users). I hear that further south you need 1m or even bigger, but he reckons for us 80cm is sufficient. I'd be interested if anyone has different experience. But my question was really about the postcode thing. I read it is required to select regional programming (I expect ITV insisted on this). The instruction book for the Humax mentions different transponders (I am sure they are all on the 2D satellite) being used for different regions, and they also specify a default transponder number, in case the postcode entry doesn't work. So I imagine all these aerials on the satellite, maybe with different signal powers, and maybe pointing in slightly different directions. Now tell me that's not dumb!
Click to expand...


2D in Tarragona may be marginal on an 80cm dish:

-http://www.astra2d.com/iberia2d.htm

The Freesat default tp is on Eurobird 1 which shouldnt be a problem in northern Spain
 
JCo said:
My flat is in Calafell, near El Vendrell, which is on the coast, N of Tarragona, S of Barcelona. My installer, who is local, says 80cm should be big enough (I think he installed some of these for Sky users). I hear that further south you need 1m or even bigger, but he reckons for us 80cm is sufficient. I'd be interested if anyone has different experience. But my question was really about the postcode thing. I read it is required to select regional programming (I expect ITV insisted on this). The instruction book for the Humax mentions different transponders (I am sure they are all on the 2D satellite) being used for different regions, and they also specify a default transponder number, in case the postcode entry doesn't work. So I imagine all these aerials on the satellite, maybe with different signal powers, and maybe pointing in slightly different directions. Now tell me that's not dumb!
Click to expand...


2D in Tarragona may be marginal on an 80cm dish:

-http://www.astra2d.com/iberia2d.htm

The Freesat default tp is on Eurobird 1 which shouldnt be a problem in northern Spain
 
JCo said:
My flat is in Calafell, near El Vendrell, which is on the coast, N of Tarragona, S of Barcelona. My installer, who is local, says 80cm should be big enough (I think he installed some of these for Sky users). I hear that further south you need 1m or even bigger, but he reckons for us 80cm is sufficient. I'd be interested if anyone has different experience. But my question was really about the postcode thing. I read it is required to select regional programming (I expect ITV insisted on this). The instruction book for the Humax mentions different transponders (I am sure they are all on the 2D satellite) being used for different regions, and they also specify a default transponder number, in case the postcode entry doesn't work. So I imagine all these aerials on the satellite, maybe with different signal powers, and maybe pointing in slightly different directions. Now tell me that's not dumb!
Click to expand...

Well you are lucky!

You ought to get 2D reception with no undue problems in that particular part of Spain - but I'd be inclined to go for 1m rather than start with 80cm and risk being dissatisifed.

I doubt you will have to worry about selecting a Regional Variant of a particular Polarity to combat late afternoon loss and you should be able to choose whichever Postcode you would have done back in England.

It's the well-over 1m dish users that have problems and you won't be one of those :)
 
JCo said:
My flat is in Calafell, near El Vendrell, which is on the coast, N of Tarragona, S of Barcelona. My installer, who is local, says 80cm should be big enough (I think he installed some of these for Sky users). I hear that further south you need 1m or even bigger, but he reckons for us 80cm is sufficient. I'd be interested if anyone has different experience. But my question was really about the postcode thing. I read it is required to select regional programming (I expect ITV insisted on this). The instruction book for the Humax mentions different transponders (I am sure they are all on the 2D satellite) being used for different regions, and they also specify a default transponder number, in case the postcode entry doesn't work. So I imagine all these aerials on the satellite, maybe with different signal powers, and maybe pointing in slightly different directions. Now tell me that's not dumb!
Click to expand...

Well you are lucky!

You ought to get 2D reception with no undue problems in that particular part of Spain - but I'd be inclined to go for 1m rather than start with 80cm and risk being dissatisifed.

I doubt you will have to worry about selecting a Regional Variant of a particular Polarity to combat late afternoon loss and you should be able to choose whichever Postcode you would have done back in England.

It's the well-over 1m dish users that have problems and you won't be one of those :)
 
Actually, as regards BBC1 only, the latest Application Software for the Humax lets you alter your EPG 101 Region anyway.

Al the BBC Regions are listed after a Freesat scan, with the Postcode related one going to 101 as well as up with the others in the late 900s.

But if you subsequently go into "Edit Customisable Channels", you can tick whichever Region you want for 101: So in the unlikely event you have an issues, just find out by a few seconds experimentation which one gives the best result. You do not have to change the Postcode to achieve this.

BUT: ITV are cheapskates and only put a Postcode related Region on 103 plus ITV London up in the 900s.
 
Actually, as regards BBC1 only, the latest Application Software for the Humax lets you alter your EPG 101 Region anyway.

Al the BBC Regions are listed after a Freesat scan, with the Postcode related one going to 101 as well as up with the others in the late 900s.

But if you subsequently go into "Edit Customisable Channels", you can tick whichever Region you want for 101: So in the unlikely event you have an issues, just find out by a few seconds experimentation which one gives the best result. You do not have to change the Postcode to achieve this.

BUT: ITV are cheapskates and only put a Postcode related Region on 103 plus ITV London up in the 900s.
 
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