Can I receive Freesat.

[tdc 2]

Hello

we are living in Horup which is about 17km south from Flensburg.

Does anyone know if we can receive Freesat so we can veiw UK TV channels.

 

We do have an 80cm dish going spare which I hope will be big enough for the job.

 

If more info needed please do not hesitate to get back to me.

 

Thanks tdc

[MrNosey 5,328]

Yes and any digital receiver will do to pick up all 'free' channels. The only real advantage of getting a freeview or sky box from the UK is the superior menu and schedule functions, which is not to be underestimated. Second-hand sky boxes can be got from Ebay for peanuts and shipped to Germany.

 

You may need a slightly larger dish (maybe 100cm) but I'd try the 80cm first. See this chart for dish sizes and reception in Germany --> http://www.smart2check.com/defootprint2D.html

[tdc 2]

thanks for that.

[JFKaiser 3]

Update 2023. 

How has access been since the original post? Have there been improvements, or have matters deteriorated even more? What has been your experience?
We are in Flensburg, but have not been able to receive any UK TV since the ASTRA 2 footprint was much reduced around ten years ago. See the image of the ASTRA 2 footprint below. The rings refer to dish diameters but are somewhat optimistic, I feel.

Although we should really be well within the realm of possibility, local factors (like trees and buildings) are possibly why we have had no luck. We had a 100 cm satellite dish and top of the range kit, but even with the help of a technician were unable to receive any UK channels. We did not feel inclined to increase the dish to 150 cm or more and we have since moved to a building which is unsuitable for attaching a dish of any size.

The only viable alternative appears to be internet-based tv which depends on a good VPN as well as quite a bit of patience, especially at peak viewing times.

 

 

 

[keith2011 2,648]

15 hours ago, JFKaiser said:

The only viable alternative appears to be internet-based tv which depends on a good VPN as well as quite a bit of patience, especially at peak viewing times.

You may want to look for an alternative vpn, for me over the past couple of years or so both the acquiring an internet stream from the major UK freeview broadcasters and its playing quality have improved immensely. I had no problem at the weekend getting the coronation and major sporting events have been great to. It may not be that much longer before satellite dishes and antenna and maybe even cable are a thing of the past! 

[fraufruit 42,166]

I stream a lot of American TV with Express VPN. Excellent quality with no buffering. Of course, a newer computer helps.

[scook17 281]

48 minutes ago, keith2011 said:

You may want to look for an alternative vpn, for me over the past couple of years or so both the acquiring an internet stream from the major UK freeview broadcasters and its playing quality have improved immensely. I had no problem at the weekend getting the coronation and major sporting events have been great to. It may not be that much longer before satellite dishes and antenna and maybe even cable are a thing of the past! 

 

The UK Corrination was (and still was as of yesterday) being streamed on Youtube as a live event.

But it's good the VPN route now works again. I had a 1.2M dish, and it did not work back then. No longer have it to try as moving it was a royal PITA so it was gifted to the landlord who was quite happy to have it as a bonus for the next foreign tenant.

[keith2011 2,648]

20 minutes ago, scook17 said:

But it's good the VPN route now works again

Yes, I don't doubt there will be ongoing attempts to geo-block vpn use but I also have no doubt the good vpns, as in the past, will quickly find a way round. I can't see any difference between the Beeb and (ZDF with no vpn)  both of which are half HD (1280x720) very quick connect and stutter free playback and in fact ARD is a bit slower to connect on its full HD stream.