Re HDTV clear channels on Astra 1 19.2E

Post by Malcolm H
Various recent posts have referred to new unencrypted HDTV channels
available from Astra 1 at 19.2E.
In particular Das Erste HD, ZDF HD and arte HD have been mentioned.
I have a Humax Foxsat-HDR (working in non-freesat mode) with a dish
pointing at Astra 1. A FTA channel scan produces hundreds of channels,
including Einsfestival HD, but no sign of any other HD channels!
HD pictures from the Einsfestival HD test channel are of fantastic
quality, to me they look superior to BBC HD.
But why can't I see the new HD channels?

Probably the appropriate transponder was not scanned in your initial setup.

The transponder for HD channels of Das Erste, ZDF and ARTE is:
Freq 11362 H , 22000, fec 2/3

For a complete listing see here - you are only permitted to view the light
green ones:
http://www.lyngsat.com/hd/astra19.html

You can just add the transponder you want without having to rescan the whole
satellite (and thereby getting dozens of unwanted transponders)

If you havn't seen it already, this page will help on non freesat
operations -its for the plain Foxsat-HD model but yours is similar:
http://foxsat.wikispaces.com/Non-Freesat+channels
You don't have to resister to see the above page, nor did you to see the
page for you model Freesat-HDR:
http://foxsat-hdr.wikispaces.com/
But now after undergoing 'reconstruction' it appears to require you to
resister and sign up up to view.

Roger R

Malcolm H

2010-02-20 11:37:57 UTC

Probably the appropriate transponder was not scanned in your initial setup.
Freq 11362 H , 22000, fec 2/3
For a complete listing see here - you are only permitted to view the light
http://www.lyngsat.com/hd/astra19.html
You can just add the transponder you want without having to rescan the whole
satellite (and thereby getting dozens of unwanted transponders)
If you havn't seen it already, this page will help on non freesat
http://foxsat.wikispaces.com/Non-Freesat+channels
You don't have to resister to see the above page, nor did you to see the
http://foxsat-hdr.wikispaces.com/
But now after undergoing 'reconstruction' it appears to require you to
resister and sign up up to view.
Roger R

Thank you Roger, very helpful indeed!

I haven't succeeded yet but still trying!

John Legon

2010-02-20 12:58:14 UTC

Post by Roger R
If you havn't seen it already, this page will help on non freesat
http://foxsat.wikispaces.com/Non-Freesat+channels

I haven't succeeded yet but still trying!

I hope you're pressing red, green, yellow, blue, green, yellow, blue
and not just red, green, yellow, blue, as suggested in a magazine recently.
Or vice versa....

Roger R

2010-02-20 13:46:50 UTC

Post by Malcolm H
I haven't succeeded yet but still trying!

Here is my list of steps for adding a transponder to the plain vanilla
Foxsat-HD model. Your HDR model may be slightly different.
The steps are first to add the new transponder and save it, then to scan and
save the results:
----
HUMAX Foxsat-HD Adding a transponder:

Menu >> Setup

Setup window >> move to highlight 'Manual Tune' but do *not* press ok

Press coloured buttons in sequence: R G Y B G Y B

Manual Setup window appears
1. Antenna Setting
2. Manual Tune

Select 'Manual Tune'

Post by Malcolm H
Manual Tune window (Check the correct satellite is selected)

'Search' will be orange because it is highlighted, but instead move
highlight up to 'Transponder' and Ok.
Drop down menu box opens listing registered transponders, move down to the
end of the list and 'User Define' will be added and press OK.

Add Transponder' window opens. (Check correct satellite is still
shown)

On enter the value of the new transponder frequency and other parameters.
When they are correct the signal strength bars will be active.
Note that almost all HD transmissions are DVB-S2 but channel Einsfestival
promo HD is DVB
If the Strength/Quality are grey at 0% then one or more paparameters is
incorrect.

With the Strength/Quality bars showing a good signal press 'Save'

Post by Malcolm H
Manual Tune' Window opens.

Check satellite and new transponder details are correct

Move the curser down and press' Search'

Manual Tune showing the new channels found.

Press 'Save'

Exit or back out.

Hope that helps

Roger R

news.virgimedia.com

2010-02-20 16:34:18 UTC

Post by Malcolm H
I haven't succeeded yet but still trying!

Here is my list of steps for adding a transponder to the plain vanilla
Foxsat-HD model. Your HDR model may be slightly different.
The steps are first to add the new transponder and save it, then to scan and
----
Menu >> Setup
Setup window >> move to highlight 'Manual Tune' but do *not* press ok
Press coloured buttons in sequence: R G Y B G Y B
Manual Setup window appears
1. Antenna Setting
2. Manual Tune
Select 'Manual Tune'

Post by Malcolm H
Manual Tune window (Check the correct satellite is selected)

Add Transponder' window opens. (Check correct satellite is still
shown)

On enter the value of the new transponder frequency and other parameters.
When they are correct the signal strength bars will be active.
Note that almost all HD transmissions are DVB-S2 but channel Einsfestival
promo HD is DVB
If the Strength/Quality are grey at 0% then one or more paparameters is
incorrect.
With the Strength/Quality bars showing a good signal press 'Save'

Post by Malcolm H
Manual Tune' Window opens.

Check satellite and new transponder details are correct
Move the curser down and press' Search'

Manual Tune showing the new channels found.

Press 'Save'
Exit or back out.
Hope that helps
Roger R

Thank you again Roger.

The procedure for the HDR is very similar to your description and I have now
added all the Astra1 HD channels successfully.

I am now planning to add a Moteck SG2100A DiSEqC motor drive to my system.
It would appear from what I have learned about the Foxsat-HDR that they
should be fully compatible with each other. Would you agree?

Malcolm H

Roger R

2010-02-20 20:10:34 UTC

Post by news.virgimedia.com
The procedure for the HDR is very similar to your description and I have
now added all the Astra1 HD channels successfully.
I am now planning to add a Moteck SG2100A DiSEqC motor drive to my system.
It would appear from what I have learned about the Foxsat-HDR that they
should be fully compatible with each other. Would you agree?

Pleased to hear that you now are able to enjoy ARTE and ZDF in HD.
http://www.arte.tv/fr/70.html
The progamme listing is found from rhs. menu under GuideTV>Ce soir
However ARTE HDseems to follow a somewhat different schedule.

I don't have a motorised system and can only guess the receiver would be
fine with a DiSEqC motor as it works well with a DiSEqC switch.

My installation uses three separate dishes with a four port DiSEqC switch.
The advantage of this arrangement is instantaneous seamless channel
switching between satellites. Of course the downside is the extra dishes.

For my arrangement, because the receiver is basically a Freesat receiver it
expects to find Astra 28 on port A of a DiSEqC switch though whether this is
important when setting up the motor - I don't know.

Roger R

m***@privacy.net

2010-02-20 22:57:34 UTC

On 20 Feb,

Post by Roger R
Pleased to hear that you now are able to enjoy ARTE and ZDF in HD.
http://www.arte.tv/fr/70.html
The progamme listing is found from rhs. menu under GuideTV>Ce soir
However ARTE HDseems to follow a somewhat different schedule.
I don't have a motorised system and can only guess the receiver would be
fine with a DiSEqC motor as it works well with a DiSEqC switch.
My installation uses three separate dishes with a four port DiSEqC switch.
The advantage of this arrangement is instantaneous seamless channel
switching between satellites. Of course the downside is the extra dishes.
For my arrangement, because the receiver is basically a Freesat receiver it
expects to find Astra 28 on port A of a DiSEqC switch though whether this
is important when setting up the motor - I don't know.

I currently have two feeds of 28E to my HDR and DiSEqC switch From 3 LNBs
feeding a non-freesat SD box. Could I substitute one of my 28E feeds to the
Foxsat HDR with the DiSEqC feed, or would I need to swap both to a DiSEqC
feed?

--
BD
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Roger R

2010-02-21 12:16:31 UTC

Post by m***@privacy.net
I currently have two feeds of 28E to my HDR and DiSEqC switch From 3 LNBs
feeding a non-freesat SD box. Could I substitute one of my 28E feeds to the
Foxsat HDR with the DiSEqC feed, or would I need to swap both to a DiSEqC
feed?

Sorry but i don't quite understand your set up.
Is that two separate feeds from one two port LNB at 28E to the Humax box,
with separate single/dual port LNB's at 13E and 19E going to a DiSEqC switch
feeding a non freesat box ?

And you want to have all 13E, 19E and 28E on the Humax and the non
freesatbox but are restricted by having LNB's with only two ports ?

In answer to your question, I think you will need to substitute both 28E
feeds on the Humax for separate DiSEqC feeds (two switches), and set up each
switch as described here:
http://foxsat-hdr.wikispaces.com/DiSEqc
If you only swap one then there will be limited functionality, that is,
either viewing or recording will be restricted to the 28E channels.

A DiSEqC switch is being switched by the receiver to activate a particular
LNB port, so each receiver/tuner needs its own switch. I assume you have
just one switch ? If you use it on the Humax you won't be able to use it on
the non freesat box.

If you use three DiSEqC switches and four port LNB's -one each for 13E, 19E
and 28E (one unused) then you will be able to have all the colours in all
the sizes !
That is Astra 1, Hotbird and Astra 2 on all the receivers with full
functionality on the Humax HDR. I understand you want to achieve as much
as possible without buying more kit, but for increased flexibility I think
that's inevitable.

Roger R

John Legon

2010-02-21 13:47:57 UTC

Post by m***@privacy.net
I currently have two feeds of 28E to my HDR
and DiSEqC switch From 3 LNBs feeding a non-freesat SD box.
Could I substitute one of my 28E feeds to the Foxsat HDR
with the DiSEqC feed, or would I need to swap both to a DiSEqC
feed?

In answer to your question, I think you will need to substitute both 28E
feeds on the Humax for separate DiSEqC feeds (two switches), and set up
http://foxsat-hdr.wikispaces.com/DiSEqc

My take on this is that only tuner 1 on the HDR supports DiSEqC switching.
(There's an allusion to this in the manual). Therefore, your feed from 3
LNBs through the switch should go to LNB 1 IN, with the Freesat LNB
connected
to port A of the switch.

One of your Astra 28 feeds can go to tuner 2. This should give you
full Freesat PVR functionality....

John L

Roger R

2010-02-21 13:52:57 UTC

Post by John Legon

Post by m***@privacy.net
I currently have two feeds of 28E to my HDR
and DiSEqC switch From 3 LNBs feeding a non-freesat SD box.
Could I substitute one of my 28E feeds to the Foxsat HDR
with the DiSEqC feed, or would I need to swap both to a DiSEqC
feed?

In answer to your question, I think you will need to substitute both 28E
feeds on the Humax for separate DiSEqC feeds (two switches), and set up
http://foxsat-hdr.wikispaces.com/DiSEqc

My take on this is that only tuner 1 on the HDR supports DiSEqC switching.
(There's an allusion to this in the manual). Therefore, your feed from 3
LNBs through the switch should go to LNB 1 IN, with the Freesat LNB
connected
to port A of the switch.
One of your Astra 28 feeds can go to tuner 2. This should give you
full Freesat PVR functionality....

I think you are right.

Roger R

m***@privacy.net

2010-02-22 00:02:28 UTC

On 21 Feb,

Post by John Legon

Post by m***@privacy.net
I currently have two feeds of 28E to my HDR
and DiSEqC switch From 3 LNBs feeding a non-freesat SD box.
Could I substitute one of my 28E feeds to the Foxsat HDR
with the DiSEqC feed, or would I need to swap both to a DiSEqC
feed?

In answer to your question, I think you will need to substitute both 28E
feeds on the Humax for separate DiSEqC feeds (two switches), and set up
<http://foxsat-hdr.wikispaces.com/DiSEqc>

My take on this is that only tuner 1 on the HDR supports DiSEqC switching.
(There's an allusion to this in the manual). Therefore, your feed from 3
LNBs through the switch should go to LNB 1 IN, with the Freesat LNB
connected
to port A of the switch.
One of your Astra 28 feeds can go to tuner 2. This should give you
full Freesat PVR functionality....

That sounds like what I want. I'll give it a whirl and see how it goes.

--
BD
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John Legon

2010-02-21 07:23:38 UTC

Post by Roger R
For my arrangement, because the receiver is basically a Freesat receiver it
expects to find Astra 28 on port A of a DiSEqC switch though whether this is
important when setting up the motor - I don't know.

Am I alone in finding it strange that the Foxsat manuals don't give the
slightest hint about this multi-satellite functionality, accessible from
a hidden menu via seven coloured button presses, to change Freesat boxes
into half-way decent satellite receivers ?

--
John Legon

Malcolm H

2010-02-21 11:07:14 UTC

Post by John Legon

I agree, very strange! Maybe because it would confuse the vast majority of
Foxsat customers who only want Freesat?

Mike Henry

2010-02-21 11:23:25 UTC

Post by John Legon
Am I alone in finding it strange that the Foxsat manuals don't give the
slightest hint about this multi-satellite functionality, accessible from
a hidden menu via seven coloured button presses, to change Freesat boxes
into half-way decent satellite receivers ?

I agree, very strange! Maybe because it would confuse the vast majority of
Foxsat customers who only want Freesat?

Can't be that - proper well-designed User Interfaces with clearly named
menus aren't confusing to anyone.

m***@privacy.net

2010-02-20 22:52:02 UTC

On 20 Feb,

Is it because Einsfestival HD test channelis DVB-S and the others are DVB-S2?
(according to lyngsat).

--
BD
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Malcolm H

2010-02-21 11:03:05 UTC