Get Ready For a Change To The Way We Watch TV....

Astra 2E – On The Move & Getting Ready for Service
* Official SES Astra Announcement Below In case You Missed It

Astra SES Official Statement – Source SES Astra Facebook Page – December 11th 2013

“As part of SES' ongoing fleet renewal programme, we will be transferring all the UK Spot Beam transponders currently operating on ASTRA 1N across to ASTRA 2E.

This move at the 28.2/28.5ºEast orbital location will take place over several weeks beginning early February 2014.

The transfer will have no adverse implications for viewers in the UK and Ireland as the affected channels will continue to operate on the same frequencies and will be broadcast at the same, or slightly improved power levels, across the UK and Ireland.

TV viewers outside the UK and Ireland may see an impact and may not be able to receive channels from ASTRA 2E UK Spot Beam, which has a smaller footprint than ASTRA 1N.

The new footprint on SES' replacement fleet has been designed to meet the requirements of UK and Irish broadcasters who target their channels for distribution in the UK and/or Ireland. UK and Irish broadcasters hold broadcasting rights only for the UK and/or Ireland but not for other countries.”

So what does this mean then??

Well like Channel 5 last year all the channels that are referred to as "Freeview" will no longer be available here in southern Spain. To find out why this is going to happen have a look at our blog post back in November 2012 "Satellite News, am I going to lose out?" 

 When??

Well the slow transition from its test location to its final operating position has started, this should take something like 10 to 14 days to reach its destination. Once there it should be only a matter of days until the channels start to disappear.

You can track the satellites location using this website.

Ok So what can I do??

 Future Lifestyle have been working on a number of solutions throughout the year and have been testing them to see how they work under different circumstances. The key to any to the future of television services is going to be the internet. Streaming live programs, using a catch up service of some kind or just downloading a film or a series box set you are going to need a good internet connection. 

What do we mean when we say a good internet connection? Well the services we have been testing run on anything from 0.8mb to 2.5mb, depending on the kind of service you are trying to use and the quality of the image. We always recommend a connection of at least 3mb to ensure a good viewing experience and a little extra to allow someone to use the internet as you watch TV.

So what happens if your telefonica service isn´t up to it or you don´t have internet at all?? 

 

 Contact the Future Lifestyle team we have partnered with Servifone a supplier of a reliable internet service covering the Costa Del Sol. They can supply, install and maintain all your internet and VoIP needs. 

So give Future Lifestyle a call today, we will listen to how you want to watch TV, what components you already have and what solution is best for you. From internet connection to a brand new screen, the guys from Future Lifestyle will ensure you don´t miss a single episode of Eastenders or Corrie... 

Telephone today on +34 952 830 936 or email info@futurelifestyle.es 

Signal Strength Latest.

An update on our preliminary spot beam signal strength tests. Early signs indicate to a large increase in the dish size needed to receive this signal south of Barcelona.  

We have found that a dish of 2.4 meters or greater will be required to ensure the signal strength and quality needed to view the channels transmitted on this satellite. If you think that the average dish needed at present is 1.3 meters you can see it is quite a jump in size. Not only will the size of the dish present installation problems for some people who would like to continue to view the likes of the BBC, but at a price tag of somewhere in the region of €2,000 plus the cost of installation, it may not be realistic for everyone.

Please be aware that these are just the first stage in testing and that until the switch is made over to the new satellite the exact dish size needed is unknown.

To keep up to date with our testing like our Facebook page at facebook.com/FutureLifestyleSpain

So what to do? 

Well now may be the time to really look at the way you watch TV. 

Satellite services are (in our humble opinion) beginning their swan song. Increased bandwidth, internet enabled entertainment devices and our own demand for quality programming convenient to our lifestyle the explosion of IPTV is upon us!

Services in the UK like Netflix (million users) Love Film (two million users) and even supermarkets (Tesco with BlinkBox) prove that this the future of home entertainment. Spain has their own version in the form of Youzee, where you can watch movies in both Spanish and their original language. But that is just the tip of the iceberg, every broadcaster worth their salt in the UK offers some form of “watch again” service. Allowing people to catch up on programs they want to watch, when they want to watch them.

Country related

 

One of the problems with internet services is that your IP address* will indicate from what country and even what town you are in. And with some of these services being country specific you can be greeted sometimes with a polite message telling you that you cannot watch / listen to this program from your current location (try listening to the football online on a Saturday afternoon).

So does this mean we are still no further forward? We have lost the satellite signal, you said there is an option, but as we are outside the UK the services won´t work!

Well these services mentioned aren´t the only ones available online. As we all know the internet is vast expanse, full of ideas and services. We could spend months writing about this option or that one. However instead we believe it is easier for you to contact us, tell us what you want to watch and how you want to watch it. We will then recommend the best solution for your needs.

Contact us at info@futurelifestyle.es or call 902 107 227 to book your free consultation. By “liking” our Facebook page we will keep you informed of not only the current home entertainment technologies, but of future trends and services.

 *An IP address is a number assigned to your computer when you go online. Each country has its own set of numbers making it easy to identify the location of your computer