Sky to issue new cards for FreeSat

[motobarsteward]

one of my Sky boxes locked and I noticed something about new veiwing cards on Channel 999. After digging deeper, I found: -

"What happens if I don't get a new card?

If you do not start using your new card by the end of November 2009 - You will lose access to certain channels, including:

· ITV1 (in these regions only: Anglia W, Central SW, Mer N, Mer SE, TT S, Yorks E)
· Channel 4 HD
· FIVE
· FIVE USA, FIVE USA +1, FIVER, FIVER +1
· Sky 3"

Apparently, card replacement for card issued after May 2006 is free but card issued before May 2006 incur a £20 charge.

That would be £40 for me to continue watching a service that is advertised as 'Free'.

Time to move over the the true BBC/ITV FreeSat service. My only worry is that there are still things appearing in the UK threads about people having trouble with BBC and ITV HD. If I used a Hauppauge DVB-S2 card, would the SD services work OK or are there still problems there as well?

[brewston]

Hello MBS

I've been using a DVB-S2 Nova for about a year and the SD channels are all fine (although I tend to remove most of the junk channels from the .frq file) BBC HD suddenly started working again on my HD200 last week, I read something about the BBC sorting out the audio transmission. Not tried ITV HD though

[doc]

How are you currently recording from your Sky STB? Are you using s-video/composite into a PVR card?

I can't remember what your setup is, but the quality from freesat on a dvb-s card is a lot better than through the PVR card, and if you use a dvb-t card you can make up the channels you lose - such as FiveUSA, Sky3 etc

EDIT - just checked your sig block, no need to tell me your setup - doh!

[Lucas]

ITV HD still plays with the video and audio pausing for 2-3 secs every 10 secs or so.

Unworkable.

[fac13]

I am using Hauppauge DVB-S2 cards for Freesat without any problems apart from the ITV HD problem mentioned by Lucas; I think everybody here has that issue?

I've read it's going to change from being a red dot service to a normal channel (with programmes!); presumably we'll be able to receive it ok if that happens. And of course there are always rumours about Freesat CH4 HD being just around the corner.

BBC HD has worked flawlessly for me since they changed their encoder a couple of weeks ago.

[jaminben]

Originally Posted by fac13

I am using Hauppauge DVB-S2 cards for Freesat without any problems apart from the ITV HD problem mentioned by Lucas; I think everybody here has that issue?

I've read it's going to change from being a red dot service to a normal channel (with programmes!); presumably we'll be able to receive it ok if that happens. And of course there are always rumours about Freesat CH4 HD being just around the corner.

I think your correct, everyone has the same issue with ITV HD.

I've read that ITV HD will not change on freesat and its the planned launch of Freeview HD that will have the simulcast of ITV1 24/7. Freesat will remain a red button service for sometime yet.
CH4 HD has been in the runnings for Freesat for such a long time now I doubt it will appear.

If it were me, I'd wait until Freeview HD provide more details on their services, from what I've read its going to have 5 dedicated HD channels at launch, which obviously beats Freesat hands down.

This is just info that I've read and could be total garbage.......

[Whitey]

Originally Posted by motobarsteward

one of my Sky boxes locked and I noticed something about new veiwing cards on Channel 999. After digging deeper, I found: -

"What happens if I don't get a new card?

If you do not start using your new card by the end of November 2009 - You will lose access to certain channels, including:

· ITV1 (in these regions only: Anglia W, Central SW, Mer N, Mer SE, TT S, Yorks E)
· Channel 4 HD
· FIVE
· FIVE USA, FIVE USA +1, FIVER, FIVER +1
· Sky 3"

Apparently, card replacement for card issued after May 2006 is free but card issued before May 2006 incur a £20 charge.

That would be £40 for me to continue watching a service that is advertised as 'Free'.

Time to move over the the true BBC/ITV FreeSat service. My only worry is that there are still things appearing in the UK threads about people having trouble with BBC and ITV HD. If I used a Hauppauge DVB-S2 card, would the SD services work OK or are there still problems there as well?

You would still have issues regarding the channels you listed even if you changed to DVB-S2 card. The new white cards no longer work with T-rex Cams so that's not an option either. Like everybody says BBC HD works fine now, don't watch ITV HD so I don't know. There's still an issue with sky HD channels too and ac3 audio but that wouldn't affect you

Whitey

[motobarsteward]

Yeh, its only FIVE USA, FIVE USA +1, FIVER, FIVER +1 and Sky 3 that are nota available on BBC/ITV freesat

[starfire]

Originally Posted by motobarsteward

If I used a Hauppauge DVB-S2 card, would the SD services work OK or are there still problems there as well?

Actually you only need a DVB-S card currently for BBC HD & ITV HD as they haven't switched to DVB-S2 (haven't heard of any plans to either)