We could be facing more problems with satellite TV reception over the next couple of weeks.
Doug (“The Dish”) has been on asking us to advise everyone that for a brief period our satellite signals may disappear for a short time around 10am-11am each day.
He explains: “This is due to the sun (that bright orange thing we haven’t seen a lot of recently) being directly in line with the satellites at this time and the sun’s electrical emissions upsetting the satellite signals we receive.
“This is simply because of the sun’s alignment with the satellite. If you happen to see the sun (!) around this time stand near your dish and you will see how central the sun is to the dish. Obviously it goes without saying that you shouldn’t look straight at the sun.
“This situation will only last a few days during the next couple of weeks, but if you do lose your signal you will know this is the reason.”
Doug says we still run the risk of permanently losing BBC, ITV etc later in the year.
“The satellite from which you are currently receiving the main signals (i.e. BBC, ITV, C4 etc) is Astra1n, which is a temporary satellite transmitting these signals for just over 1 year now,” he explained.
“The signals which have been much stronger than pre 2012 are to be changed to Astra 2e which should have been in service by now but which was delayed because the Russian launch vehicle had a problem—it let go of its last satellite too early!
“So, Astra 2e is launching from French Guyana at the end of May and will be commissioned around June time. If the reception is similar to Astra 2f which they stopped transferring signals to in December then we will have a problem getting from the satellite the BBC and ITV signals that we want.”
Doug is still trying to track down a possible solution to the potential loss of signals from June onwards.
He told us: “I am hoping to get details of the largest dish manufacturer In Portugal, to try and get a better guide of what we may need to receive Astra 2f, which is transmitting channel 5 etc ITV Anglia West etc.”
Doug will keep us posted as the situation develops.
Satellite TV–More Bad News
Doug has also come up with what could be more bad news for those of us hoping to be able to replace our TV pictures from the UK—if we can no longer receive them via the new satellite this summer—with programmes streamed via the computer.
He tells us:
“Websites that re-transmit live TV over the internet without permission from broadcasters are in breach of copyright, Europe’s highest court has ruled in a judgement with wide ranging implications.”
UPDATE Astra 2E – The soon to come new replacement satellite for the 28.2 degrees east satellite position which is called “Astra 2E” and which will not be launched until Early/Mid June, 2013 will not be “officially” operational at 28.2 degrees east until August, 2013. Naturally some testing of this satellite will occur before it becomes operational.