TV decoder in France

[fluffiphlox]

I have a property in France and have a tv box which allows us to watch UK tv. Every time I visit some channels seem to have been dropped. It is for the Astra 2ABD satellite. I’ve had it about 10 years. Does anyone know if I should get a new box and, if so, do you have any recommendations? I gather maybe the satellite has changed. Thanks.

Over the years due to advances in technology the British broadcasters have been able to “tighten” the footprint of the signal.
This has meant some area can no longer receive British TV or need a bigger and bigger dish.
We are in France 83 and in the past we could receive all channels with an 80cm dish. Now we receive none.
I believe a 2 meter dish might do the trick but we have chosen not to bother.
As the signal is digital the dish has to be PERFECTLY focused on the satellite and the LNB needs to be in good condition.
Getting someone to check them might solve your problem.
However it is dependent on where you are in France.
We live in Luxembourg and a 60cm dish works perfectly.

Hello. Thanks for responding. I thought as much. I’m in the Haute-Savoie though I live in the UK. The dish is a communal one as I’m in a co-prop, so not much I can do about that. Thanks again.

You could ask the administrators of the co-prop what they are going to do about your problem it may be something others have complained about. There may be two LNB’s on directed at a French TV signals and the other ((Faulty?) pointing at the British signals.

To add. Here in Luxembourg I have a dish at the bottom of the garden with two LNB’s. One for British TV and the other for French and many others. We then have two decoders in the house for the two different systems.

Thanks again. I have most UK channels but we seem to have lost BBC News and ITV 4. The latter is good for the Tour de France highlights programme.

Quick update. DH has had a good fiddle with the decoder and has found the lost channels and more besides. He’s happy now. So I’m happy.