Astra 1N was due to lift off last night, but with 90 seconds to go before lift off, the launch was scrubbed, due a a valve not working correctly.

Astra 1N is designed for operation at 19 East, along with the other Astra 1 satellites.

However, Astra 1N will initially be used at 28.2 east, and will help to provide back up and extra capactity for the UK TV channels. So UK satellite TV will, once Astra 1 is operational, be available from 5 satellites: Astra 2a, Astra 2b, Astra 2d, Astra 1N and Eurobird 1.

It will not be until after Astra 1N is launched and tested what its reception across Europe will be known. AS its signal footprint is designed for a different location, there is currently no confirmation of how this will affect UK expats watching, for example, Sky TV in Spain or Sky TV in France.

The big boxing bout of the summer between Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye takes place tonight in Hamburg in Germany.

It will be shown live in the UK on Sky Box Office.

However, it is available for free on other satellites, if you are not too worried about watching the fight with a different counties commentary!

You can always tune into BBC Radio 5 Live for commentary in English.

To be able to watch this fight for free, then you will need a satellite dish pointing towards one of two satellites, either Astra 1 at 19 east, or Hotbird at 13 east.

Astra 19 east
RTL Germany (digital) Frequency 12.188 Horizontal Symbol Rate 27.500 FEC 3/4
RTL Austria (digital) Frequency 12.226 Horizontal Symbol Rate 27.500 FEC 3/4
RTL Germany (Analogue) Frequency 11.229 Vertical Audio channels settings 7.02/7.20

Hotbird 13 east
RTL CH (Switzerland) (digital) Frequency 11.054 Horizontal Symbol Rate 27.500 FEC 5/6

Usually the Sky boxes automatically update their software using a signal from the satellite whenever Sky decides to upgrade the software. The new software can contain some new options, like the Autostandby option, or fixing bugs in the previous version.

If your Sky digibox has been left without power for around 6 months or more, either you have been away on holiday and turned all the power off, or you have decided to get that old Sky box out from storage and install it in a second location, then the chances are that the software in the Sky box will be an old versions.

The box, once plugged in and connected to the satellite dish, will eventually automatically download the latest software version. Unfortunately this may take a few days, or even a few weeks before the new software is automatically updated.

But there is another method, allowing you to update the software manually.

1.Turn the Digibox off at the mains again and remove the viewing card.
2.Whilst holding down the BACKUP key on the Digibox – NOT ON THE REMOTE – turn the mains power on.
3.Keep hold of BACKUP until the screen displays a “UPGRADING SYSTEM SOFTWARE” message, and usually the three LEDS will illuminate of the front of the Sky box.
4.Wait 10 to 20 minutes for the software to download and install.

When the download has been completed the Sky digibox will restart.

This just goes to show you that technology is moving at a great rate.

It was less than 30 years ago when the UK only had 3 national TV channels. And 24/7 TV was very limited with channels closing down late at night. But soon Ofcom will award its one thousandth channel license. That is 1000 channels, some have stayed, many have gone, oner the last 30 years.

And then we have seen the steady progression of television technology over the years…widescreen TVs, plasma TVs, LCD TV, LED Tvs, high definition TVs and now 3D TV along with the Sky 3D TV channel…

So whats next I wonder…..

Well, it looks like it will be a few things: internet TV, ultra HD, or even holographic TV.
Yes, I did say that!
Holographic TV.
Apparently Apple, yes them of Ipod and Ipad fame, have apparently applied for a patent reveals for a 3D TV screen that will not only show 3D images, but will also be able to show an “almost” holographic image!

Men and Movies started around a year ago and was launched as a Freesat exclusive channel.
Even performing a manual scan on a Sky box could not bring up the channel.

But now this channel is now available on the Sky guide – Sky channel 228.

Maybe they found that by limiting the channels availbility they were losing so much revenue from advertisers, that the decided not to be exclusive to only just one “provider”

If you have recently lost BBC HD channels on your Sky HD or Freesat HD box, then this is probably because the BBC HD channels changed their frequency settings recently.

The new frequency settings for BBC HD and BBC One HD are:

Frequency: 10,847MHz (vertical polarity)
Modulation: DVB-S2, QPSK
Symbol Rate: 23.0
FEC: 8/9

There have been some issues with some Sky HD boxes not automatically updating to the new frequency settings.

Similarly, there have been issues with some Freesat HD TVs, like those Freesat HD Tvs made by Panasonc, where the BBC HD channels are no longer working.

For non Sky HD and Non Freesat HD boxes, the general rule of thumb is if you are / were able to receive Channel 4 HD, then your “generic” HD receiver should also be able to receive BBC HD on its new frequencies.

This is because both BBC HD and Channel 4 HD are both using the same “modulation” of DVB-S2, QPSK.

All of this is down to the fact that DVB-S2 give a more efficient use of the satellite frequency than its predecessor DVB-s.

It has been announced that the BBC will be showing their first 3D programme soon. The men’s and women’s finals at Wimbledon will be shot and shown in 3D.

Probably as a result of them changing the transmission standard earlier this month, has meant freeing up more capacity on the UK TV satellites, allowing them to do this.

The two Wimbledon finals will be shows on the BBC HD channel.

The BBC HD channel is available on Freesat HD, Sky HD and even on Freeview HD.

But I wonder why only the finals are being shown to UK viewers in 3D? The equipment will be set up for the whole fortnight, and I am sure that other European broadcasters will take a 3D feed for the whole fortnight. Perhaps the BBC are concerned that at the moment only a small percentage of the UK population actually has a 3D TV. But by providing this extra service to other European broadcasters they can get more revenue from those broadcasters to offset the cost of the service.

At least one benefit on satellite of this change in transmission from DVBS to DVBS2 has been the increase in bitrate for the BBC HD channel. This increase in bitrate increases the amount of data, and so has resulted in a “high” high definition picture than previously.

This morning the BBC have made some changes to their Astra 2D transponder that is used for their BBC1HD and BBC HD channels. Most people will not have noticed the change, where as others may be getting a “no satellite signal” message on their screen.

Basically the BBC have upgraded the transponder on the satellite from DVB-S to DVB-S2. This change has meant that there is more capacity on the frequency, maybe for more HD channels, or perhaps, if the rumours are correct, for the BBC to show Wimbledon in 3D this coming month.

The new frequency parameters are:
Frequency: 10,847MHz (vertical polarity)
Modulation: DVB-S2, QPSK
Symbol Rate: 23.0
FEC: 8/9

Most Sky HD and reesat HD receivers should uppdate to the new settings automatically. If you do have problems, then perhaps a reboot of the receivers may solve the problems.

It is always a good idea to keep an check on the condition of your LNB – the signal receiver located on the arms on the front of the dish.

Firstly, ensure that the plastic cover is still intact. If it is not, then an water, like rain, can enter the LNB and cause a short in the system. It can also allow insects and debris to enter the LNB, again not a good idea.

Secondly, also ensure that the connection between the LNB and the cabling is also protected. Many times I have been to satellite dishes to see this connection left exposed to the elements. I even heard an installer from a rival company saying they do this as they know they can charge for a callout to repair the damaged LNB!

Many LNBs come with rubber “boots” to cover the connection; some LNBs have a small plastic pull down cover, all to protect that cable connection.

The holiday season is starting to get under way, meaning many people will be travelling around France and Spain and Europe in their caravans and motorhomes.

Many of them will take a small satellite dish with them, like a 60cm or 80cm dish, and spend a fair number of hours with their beeper unit and adjusting the satellite and trying to find the UK TV satellites, Astra 2a, Astra 2b, Astra 2d, and Eurobird 1.

Well the further south you go in Europe reception of some channels will get harder and require a bigger dish, but many people just want a bit of news, just to keep them in touch with the world.

As many campsites have WiFI available, then using a satellite location tool like Dishpointer will certainly help in locating the correct satellites quickly.

Not only is there this version but you can also get a version for your phone – an iPhone App or Android version.

This tool has been very useful, and is well known by many caravanners and motorhomers, but can also be used for the DIY enthusiast also who wants to install his own satellite dish.

“I put my post code in and the result was almost instant.” – motorhomefun.co.uk