Freesat TV in Valencia Province

In the UK, the terrestrial TV switch from Analogue to Digital meant that some viewers would not be able access terrestrial TV due to the fact that digital TV requires line of sight from transmitter to receiver. The old analogue system was more forgiving and when the signal was degraded the picture on the screen degraded accordingly producing a snowy picture. When the digital TV signal drops off the picture disappears completely

Subsequently the BBC launched Freesat to provide a satellite service independent of BSkyB. The BBC by its very nature provides Free to Air (FTA) programs to all its viewers who have paid an annual TV licence.

Freesat and its set top boxes are designed for the UK where they work very well. Sky boxes are designed for use in the UK and Europe. The tuner for accessing weaker signals (BBC and ITV are better than most Freesat Boxes (I haven't personally tested them all). If you live in the South part of Valencia Province which has the weakest Astra 2d signals and have a Freesat box with a stronger tuner than your skybox email me (chris@mangolink.com) and I will update this section

Channel Five and Channel Four are transmitted free from Astra 2d. They are transmitted on a horizontal frequency which means they will disappear every evening even with most, if not all, 2.4m dishes. Fortunately these channels are also transmitted from Astra 2a which has a good signal for viewers in Valencia. To receive these channels you have to have a Sky Box with a "free to view card" The Freesat box has no facility of accepting any cards.

Yes, the Freesat boxes work perfectly in Valencia Province but without the sky card they can not access all the channels and I wouldn't recommend them as a replacement for a skybox.