Is a Freesat box necessary on Astra 28.2°?

M

mhtnyc

Member
My Satellite Setup
Don't have a dish installed yet
My Location
Germany
I'm having satellite installed. What I'd like to do is put in two heads...one for Astra 1H (19.2°) which primarily serves Germany (where I live), and also Astra 2A/2B (28.2°), which primarily serves the UK. I'm within the footprint and am planning to use a 75cm dish, I'm only looking for FTA channels (no pay channels).

My question is this: On the Astra 2A/2B satellite, there is a service called Freesat. My Googling has become pretty confusing on this. Is it necessary to get a special Freesat box in order to receive the channels, or is that needed only for the EPG (electronic program guide, which I don't need)? Please note that I don't need any special services from Sky (who puts their pay services on the same bird).

Thanks!
 
A special receiver is not needed for Freesat, it is only needed for the EPG. All the channels are FTA, so you can use any generic digital sat receiver.

My only doubt about your setup however, is that if you want Astra 2D, (where most of the PSB channels are beamed from), is your 75cm dish going to be large enough?
 
You will, nevertheless, get "Now and Next" Programme Info with a generic Digital Satellite Receiver
 
Tivù said:
You will, nevertheless, get "Now and Next" Programme Info with a generic Digital Satellite Receiver
Click to expand...

Which is all I really need =)
 
Exactly ............. 7 day EPG is ok if you are a PVR freak, but there are still some luddites walking among us. Me included!
 
You're right..I was mistaken. 2D has the most FTA channels. I was checking on Astra's site, and for my location (about 30km east of the Dutch border), they said a 60 would work. Since I'm using two heads, I figured 75 would work.
 
mhtnyc said:
You're right..I was mistaken. 2D has the most FTA channels. I was checking on Astra's site, and for my location (about 30km east of the Dutch border), they said a 60 would work. Since I'm using two heads, I figured 75 would work.
Click to expand...

Forgot to put up the footprint screenshot.
 

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Yes, but they really can only be used as rough guides.

Best info comes from local reports.

And, in your case, one (or both) of the desired Satellites will not be at the focal point of the dish, so going up an extra dish size or two should be considered.
 
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