3723 Sky TV in Italy

Hi - We are hoping to move to Sardinia later this year and have been trying to find out if we can receive UK Sky Satellite service.

Our receive box will still be registered in the UK, will our normal dish be capable of receiving a signal?

Thanks in advance for any help provided

D

Category
Cost of living - Utility Services

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 05/22/2006 - 12:52

Hi Dan

One of the main considerations for many people is if you can receive satellite T.V. in Italy. If you go to the 'search' facility - top right hand side of the screen on the forum, search for satellite T.V. and you'll get plenty of advice. It's a bit ambiguous, depending on where you're going to be living.

Good luck.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 05/22/2006 - 18:00

I really don't think that in Sardinia you will be within the "footprint" of the satellite which delivers the UK Sky package, even with something like a 2m dish.
I hope that somebody more expert will reply to you, and you could also consult some of the specialist UK satellite web sites to get an idea of where the Astra (19 degree) satellite has a hope of reaching, which is the one which a UK Sky Box will be programmed for. One alternative is to look at the range of the Astra 28 degree satellite which carries free to air ITV and BBC channels, but again I think you will be pushing it to recieve anything in Sardinia.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/23/2006 - 13:56

Just to clear-up a little confusion; the Sky Italia service broadcasts on Hotbird 13 and is available using an 80cm dish. Many of the channels (including all of the movies) are broadcast with the original English-language soundtrack optionally selectable. It also carries BBC Prime and Sky News.

The UK Sky service is on the Astra 28 cluster of satelllites. Some of the channels are available with a 120cm dish, but the problem is with the 'free-to-air' services, amongst which are all of the BBC and ITV channels, which are on the Astra 2D satellite. Opinions vary about the size of dish needed, but 1.5 - 2m seems to be needed, unless you live in Torino or the north. Not really worth installing, unless you are really addicted to the box!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 05/27/2006 - 06:40

Hi Dan

If you haven't already, have a look at the replies to Satellite TV. There are a lot of very usefull and interesting replies. Marc has given me some good info which I will be trying out in a couple of weeks. We have our place in Pula South Sardinia and I'm on my 3rd dish! Started off with a standard 80cm with decoder, was convinced to go to 1.2m and now have a 1.5m dish. I still couldn't get Sky UK, the installer said he was pointing it in the right direction and has asked if I want a 2m dish. Luckily its on the roof and out of sight, but I do not want to contribute to anyones' christmas fund! I will keep you posted as to how I get on and if it works. I will be taking Marc's advice and if it doesn't work I'll stick to Hotbird and Italian programmes. Groan!!!!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/30/2006 - 12:02

Hi Millerman - Thanks for the info. I have been told by a satellite company that a 2m dish should be OK. Please let me know hoe you get on. Thanks

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/30/2006 - 12:11

Just a small change of subject has anybody bought a digi-box.I saw they had them on sale in Media-World([url]www.mediaworld.it[/url]) and wondered what extra channels you can receive?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/30/2006 - 12:33

[QUOTE=danrobinson]Hi Millerman - Thanks for the info. I have been told by a satellite company that a 2m dish should be OK. Please let me know hoe you get on. Thanks[/QUOTE]

If a 2m dish will work in Sardinia that gives me hope for my 1m dish in Abruzzo. back out there tomorrow, with my compass, sat meter thingy and a 15 page instructions on HOW TO GET A SIGNAL IN SOUTHERN EUROPE.:D

From the Satellite for caravans web site
[url]http://www.satelliteforcaravans.co.uk/[/url]
I'll let you how I get on at the end of next week, or soon if I can get my pc connect card to work.
[url]http://www.astra2d.com/[/url]

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 05/31/2006 - 04:59

[QUOTE=PAS 55]Just a small change of subject has anybody bought a digi-box.I saw they had them on sale in Media-World([url]www.mediaworld.it[/url]) and wondered what extra channels you can receive?[/QUOTE]

As I understand, you just receive the normal Italian channels, no extra ones. I might sound a bit bad to pay money for something you already should have, but I have moved 5 times now and have always missed one or two of the National channels.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 05/31/2006 - 06:45

I think you can get a lot of nice radio channels (very good Swiss Jazz one) on a digibox, and generally you can trawl up CNN or CNBC - but to find out you either have to buy a box and suck it and see, or buy a satellite magazine (which covers free to air programing, occasionally, but never the radio stations).