The Free TV Blog - Satellite & Digital TV in Ireland

May 14, 2012

Is RTE’s Aertel Digital Teletext on Saorsat?

(Note: this is an updated video on our original one. The box we originally used to test this feature didn’t support the digital teletext, even though in theory it should have)

Since Saorsat was tentatively launched, we have been asked by several customers if the new Aertel Digital Teletext service was available on Saorsat. Finally we had a few moments this morning and got the chance to test it and do a video up on the subject.

At a minimum you would, on paper at least, need a satellite receiver that is HD & DVB-S2 compatible along with having an Mheg5 engine onboard.

As can be seen in the video above, it would appear that digital teletext is is available on the Saorsat platform. A generic HD DVB-S2 Satellite Receiver like the Xoro 8530 HD Satellite Receiver, will do the job fine as far as receiving the Saorsat channels goes but would not support the digital teletext feature.

Filed under: Saorsat — Tags: digital aertel, digital teletext, dvb-s2-hd, Saorsat — admin @ 9:01 am

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May 2, 2012

TG4 now added to Saorsat channel lineup

Word reached us today that there has been a development with regard to the saorsat channel line up. From May 1st 2012, Ireland’s Irish language channel, TG4, has been added to the Saorsat channel line up.

This brings the total of channels available on the free to air Saorsat platform to 6 in total. The channels that are available now are as follows…

RTE 1
RTE 2 HD
RTE News Now
RTEjr
RTE One+1
TG4

The only channels missing now are TV3 and 3e and hopefully some deal can be worked out with RTE to include these at a future point. By including TG4 on Saorsat, we are getting ever closer to a full line up which will make Saorsat an even more viable alternative to subscription TV for people who can’t avail of the new saorview service due to being in a poor or marginal signal area.

Filed under: Saorsat — Tags: added to, channel lineup, now on, Saorsat, TG4, tg4 on saorsat — admin @ 7:17 am

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March 14, 2012

Can I get Saorsat on Anglesey?

Saorsat on Anglesey

A short time ago, a customer based on the Isle of Anglesey contacted us regarding getting a Saorsat system working in his home. His results were encouraging and below is the text of the conversation with him.

David (Anglesey resident) informed us;

At last I have got round to looking for Saorsat – with success.

I’m using HD Receiver – from a chain store satellite kit that contained a 65cm dish, HD receiver and standard single LNB.

I have ignored the 65cm dish and used an 80cm dish and your KA Band LNB – somewhat lashed up at the moment.

I receive 42 Quality and 77 Strength. I don’t know how much margin I have in hand but we have had lots of rain showers over the past couple of days on Anglesey and it has held solid reception.

For comparison – Off my Sky zone 1 Dish, I get 78 and 99 for Eutelsat/Astra on 28.2E off this receiver.

If the official line for Saorsat in Ireland is 80cm, even though it seems to be OK here I’m sure 90cm or 1m would give a better overall rain margin.

I have followed RTE reception since the days of Kippure ch7 which was excellent in Anglesey, and channels H and E – not so good (especially chE} over the last few years. I’m convinced they wound down the power at some point or changed the aerial directivity. Excellent when the troposphere is feeling kind. DVB-T – no sniff here but OK on higher parts of the mainland with a good sea path to Kippure/Three Rock.

I live in the village with the long name on SW Anglesey.

Our response;

Well done on getting this set up and working and thanks for emailing me.

Just to clarify you used:

An 80cm Satellite Dish
A KA Band LNB
HD Receiver

And are now able to receive the following channels

RTE 1, RTE 2 HD, RTEjnr, RTE News and RTE+1

This is very impressive – I had my doubts if it would work on Anglesey. I will do a blog post and use your findings to let others know who may be interested.

Lets hope the powers that be don’t do anything in the future to try and limit your access to Saorsat.

P.S. Best of luck in the Grand Slam game (It should have been us!)

Note: This is a guide for reference only. The signal strength and posotioning may change after official launch of Saorsat. Due to the nature of the Saorsat signal, it may not be receivable in every location on Anglesey. Residents of the Isle of Anglesey should consult the advice of professional satellite installers with regards to the reception of Saorsat on Anglesey.

Filed under: Saorsat — Tags: anglesey, can i get, can i receive, isle of anglesey, reception, Saorsat — admin @ 5:34 am

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Combining Saorsat & Freesat Channels on Single 80cm Dish Overview

Just a quick video we made the other day showing the set up involved in using a single 80cm satellite dish and 2 Way LNB Holder in combination with a standard LNB for the UK Freesat channels and a KA Band LNB for the Irish Saorsat channels. This is all fed down into a 2 Way Diseqc Switch inside the workshop and in turn a single output from the diseqc switch runs to our DVB-S2 HD Satellite Receiver. The set up of the diseqc switch and the receiver can be seen in other videos in our Saorsat series.

Filed under: Saorsat — Tags: 80cm satellite dish, combine, Freesat, how to, Saorsat — admin @ 3:33 am

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February 15, 2012

How to Combine Saorsat & Freesat Channels on a HD Satellite Receiver

In this tutorial, we show how you can easily combine the best of Irish and UK channels by using a piece of equipment called a Diseqc Switch. This magic little box enables the user to take the feed from two seperate satellite feeds and combine them into one cable which is then fed to a Diesqc Enabled HD Satellite Receiver. The video above shows how you can combine both the new Saorsat (Free Irish TV on Satellite) Service and the Freesat Channels (BBCs, ITVs etc) into the one receiver using this Diseqc Switch. Check it out and see how it works.

Filed under: Saorsat — Tags: 28.2 degrees east, 9 degrees east, add, astra 28e, combine, diseqc switch, eutelsat 9e, Freesat, hd, how to, Saorsat, saorsat and freesat, satellite receiver — admin @ 2:06 pm

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Saorsat Overview & How to Tune in Saorsat

Today we present the first in a series of video tutorials on the new Saorsat TV service here in Ireland. In the video above we give a brief outline of the equipment needed to receive this new free satellite Tv service for the reception of the Irish channels. Saorsat (Satellite Based) is basically being run in conjunction with Saorview (Terrestrial Based) to cover areas of Ireland that are unreachable by the existing Saorview. Saorsat will be receivable in all parts of Ireland.

As I write this (15th Feb 2012) there is currently only RTE1, RTE2, RTE News Now, RTEjr and RTE One + 1 on the Saorsat Service. TG4 is due to be added shortly and negotiations are underway to get TV3 and 3e added to the service.

To receive the new Saorsat service, you’ll basically need the following (not including cabling, connectors etc)…

Saorsat is broadcasting froma satellite called Eutelsat which is located at 9 degrees East. You may see it written as 9e in some places. Have a look at the video above and see it in action for yourself.

The settings for Saorsat are below.