What is Freesat TV?
Freesat was launched on 6th May 2008.
Freesat offers free to air, subscription free UK TV via satellite. It was was designed for those areas of the UK that are unable to receive the UK terrestrial digital service, Freeview.
For a one-off payment you can receive over 150 TV and Radio channels.
And with a Freesat HD set top box, you can receive 15 (correct at time of publishing) high definition (HD) channels.
What channels are on Freesat?
All the main UK television channels, such as BBC ITV Channel 4, Channel Five, are available on Freesat. There are also 15 TV channels available in high definition (HD).
A full list of channels available on Freesat, and Freesat Channel Numbers can be found here
Freesat in Spain
Can I receive Freesat in Spain? Yes !
You can watch Freesat TV channels in Spain.
However, reception of many of the channels available on Freesat does depends where you are in Spain, and what sized satellite dish you have installed.
In the areas between Valencia and Alicante, our service area, the Sky channels on the new Astra 2 satellites UK beam can still be received on a small satellite dish – as small as a 110x120cm satellite dish, with a 125x135cm satellite dishbeing the recommended size satellite dish.
However, in other areas of Spain, reception of these Freesat channels is harder, and you may need at least a 1.8m satellite dish to receive these channels. In some other areas of Spain even the larger 2.4m satellite dishes are struggling to receive these Freesat channels.
More on Freesat in Spain and Freesat Reception in Spain here
Are there any ongoing costs with Freesat?
No!
Freesat is just that, a free service.
Once you have purchased and installed the equipment, you can watch over 150 UK TV channels for free. No subscription is required.
In fact all of the channels available on Freesat are also available on a Sky digibox or other satellite receiver, as the channels are transmitted “free to air”, free from encryption, so no viewing card is necessary.
Freesat Set Top Box
There are three types of Freesat Set Top Boxes:
- a standard definition Freesat Set Top Box,
- a high definition Freesat HD Set Top Box, available with or without internal hard drive,
- a 4k Freesat HD Set Top Box, available with or without internal hard drive
When we install a Freesat satellite system, we use official Freesat Set Top Boxes. Some UK satellite TV installation companies offer you an Iberosat, Ferguson Ariva or GI Galaxy Innovations satellite receiver, claiming it is a Freesat Set Top Box. These satellite receivers are NOT Freesat Set Top Boxes, but basic “free to air” satellite receivers. These types of receivers will NOT have the Freesat logo, the Freesat Guide, Automatic Channel updates, a full 7 day programme guide, or access to online “on demand” content such as BBC iPlayer.
More information on Freesat set top boxes here
Freetime on Freesat
Connecting your Freesat Freetime set top box to the internet, then you can Freetime. Freetime allows you to scroll back through the last 7 days of TV without leaving the Freesat TV Guide. It uses the UK TV Catch UP services to allow you to watch programmes that you may have missed.
Note that Freetime is not available on all Freesat receivers.
Note that to use Freetime outside the UK, you will require a UK TV Router that provides you with a UK IP Internet address.
More information on Freesat Freetime here
What is the Frequency for Freesat?
There is only one frequency for Freesat.
Frequency: 11425
Polarisation : H
Modulation: DVB-S QPSK
Symbol Rate : 27500
FEC : 2/3
This frequency is on the UK beam of Astra 2E.
If your satellite dish is not large enough to receive this frequency for your locations, then your Freesat set top box will not function correctly. For example, if you are unable to receive this frequency when you are using the set up wizard, you will not get past the Postcode validation check, and your installation will fail.
This is the only frequency that carries the data required for the Freesat Programme Guide. There are no other frequencies, nor can you change this frequency setting on the set top boxes.
Freesat Installers in Spain
We can supply and install satellite dishes, LNB, and Freesat receivers in the Valencia / Costa Blanca North area of Spain, so that you can watch subscription free UK TV in Spain.
See our installation pages at : 110x120cm satellite dish installations and 125x135cm satellite dish installations.
More information?
If you want more information on our satellite TV system, or want to arrange an installation, or a viewing please contact us using the form below :
We respond to emails as soon as possible. If you have not had a reply from us after 24 hours, please check your SPAM folder for a reply.