crabtree

[quote user="PaulT"]Currently with Orange and looking at options. Currently with Optimale but do not use the TV part. Looked up and SFR offer phone and internet for 28,99. Orange also have an offer at this price including international calls. However, Orange charge 3 euros per month for the Livebox. Is Livebox actually needed or could I use any modem?[/quote] If you don't want the Orange TV, go to Orange's low cost option www.sosh.fr, where for 29.99€ you will get all the Orange Internet & Calls offer (plus calls to French mobiles from VOIP line), plus a mobile line (SIM card) with 2 hours of calls a month. The Livebox is included in this price (so no 3€ a month to add on). You will be changed over automatically within a few days of changing, and you will not lose any services during the changeover. You will also be able to keep your current Livebox (if you want).

It could be water into your cables or maybe the skew of the LNB needs a slight adjustment. Can I suggest you go here and ask. There are some very knowledgeable folk there, who will certainly suggest some things to try.

[quote user="Pommier"]Many thanks for the help. So that means that from the fixed phone I can call fixed or mobiles in France and fixed phones in most of the world, and from the mobile I get 2 hours a month of calls to mobiles only in France (strange that calls from our mobile to fixed phones isn't included) [/quote] Correct.

Hi Guys, Have been a member of both forums for quite a few years now. Welcome anyone who has crossed over from the 'Dark Side'!

The Government does not intend to remove personal allowances from those only in receipt of Government pensions. Here is a link to the full Consultation document:- https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/restricting-non-residents-entitlement-to-the-uk-personal-allowance/restricting-non-residents-entitlement-to-the-uk-personal-allowance Extract from the relevant section: "However, under double tax treaties, UK sourced government service pensions (a wide category which includes, amongst others, some NHS staff and those employed by local authorities) are generally only taxed in the UK, regardless of recipients’ residence status. This can also be the case with some other forms of income under specific treaties. The withdrawal of the UK personal allowance from non-residents in receipt of a UK government service pension would result in them paying more tax overall as there is no overseas tax liability against which the additional UK tax could be relieved. The government is concerned that individuals, like those in receipt of government service pensions, who are not eligible for double taxation relief, would be disproportionately affected by the removal of the UK Personal Allowance. The government does not intend to raise taxes on vulnerable groups or in situations where the UK is the principal taxing authority and an individual has no recourse to relief as a result of the UK having sole taxing rights under a tax treaty. If the government were to restrict non-residents’ entitlement to the Personal Allowance, it would intend this to apply to types of income which are taxable both in the UK and overseas (such as that from immovable property) but to retain the Personal Allowance on income that is taxable exclusively in the UK."

If you subscribe to SOSH (Orange's Low Cost Option) there is no charge for the Livebox!

"the blue mis a jour light flashed around for about forty minutes" That was the Livebox doing a firmware update. This is gradually rolling out to each Livebox.

I also have an LG TV with satellite receiver. When you enter France as your country it defaults to Astra at 19E, but you still have to confirm and enter to search. However you can change the satellite selection before any search, so select 28.2E and then search (with dish pointed at 28,2E), and you will get all the channels from that cluster. I suspect that this is the action taken by the OP's youngling.

[quote user="Quillan"]They do not appear to do a plan without a mobile phone and we will have to pay 5 Euros extra for the TV. On the other hand being an SFR mobile phone user I can match my current Orange package via SFR for 19.99 per month. Trouble is the SFR technical support I am told is not that good and I have read on the forum that cancelling even after your initial contract has expired can be difficult.[/quote] As you posted in this thread about Free mobile so I assumed you wanted a mobile line. SOSH include a mobile SIM card with all their forfaits, but you do not have to purchase a phone, you can use their SIM in your current phone, if it is unlocked. You are correct about their TV being an optional extra, 5€ per month. If you don't need the Orange TV though then it saves you money.

Yes, you keep all your Orange stuff, email, livebox etc. The only things that change are your account number, and the livebox is no longer charged for. Also, if you don't like SOSH you can go back to your old Orange account.

[quote user="Jonzjob"]Still sounds good!! Is it possible to transfere home calls to it, a Free mobile that is, from an Orange Livebox? We are on Orange for internet and phone and as we are quite happy with that I don't want to change. Plus, I think they are the only ones in our village? [/quote] Try SOSH, they are Orange's low cost option, and you can currently get Mobile + Livebox (2 Hours Mobile Calls, Unlimited SMS & MMS + Home Internet & Telephone, same as Orange with free calls etc.) for 24.99€.

BBC Channel Numbers Changing on Satellite 24th March, see here.

Abonnement = 60€ per year. Prix per m3 = 1.20€ Redevence Pollution per m3 = 0,30€ So basically 1.50€ per m3, plus 60€ to add at the end of the year.

[quote user="Quillan"][quote user="crabtree"][quote user="PaulT"] And what is wrong with a DIY install to see if you can get an acceptable signal and if not take one of two options: Employ a professional to adjust the dish for optimum results.  [/quote] Exactly what I did, 5€ for the minor adjustment, now all channels at 100%/100%. [quote user="PaulT"]  As for larger dishes is there still the possibility that SES will do some tweaking so whilst a particular size dish is OK today it may not be tomorrow. [/quote] I can't be certain, but from what I have read elsewhere (specific satellite forums) 2E (and 2F) and now fairly stable, so major changes unlikely. [/quote] I believe I am right in saying that CBS and Movies for Men (France 24 also) are still on Eutelsat 28. They certtainly seem to be coming in 100% on both strength and quality where as the other, more common channels, are coming in lower. With the tester we get around 9.6db for these as opposed to 6.8 to 7db on the latter. If they have moved then they must be on the wide beam although I can't find any information that says they have moved. We know Eutelsat 28 has to move so I can only assume that until these other channels have moved to 2E or 2F it would be pointless tweeking them. [/quote] CBS and France 24 are still on Eutelsat, Movies 4 Men is on the 2E Pan European Beam so will be a strong signal. This site lists all the 28E channels and their respective satellites and frequencies.

[quote user="PaulT"]And what is wrong with a DIY install to see if you can get an acceptable signal and if not take one of two options: Employ a professional to adjust the dish for optimum results.  [/quote] Exactly what I did, 5€ for the minor adjustment, now all channels at 100%/100%. [quote user="PaulT"]  As for larger dishes is there still the possibility that SES will do some tweaking so whilst a particular size dish is OK today it may not be tomorrow. [/quote] I can't be certain, but from what I have read elsewhere (specific satellite forums) 2E (and 2F) and now fairly stable, so major changes unlikely.

[quote user="Gardian"]Forgive me for being blunt, but isn't there another solution to this 'tweak a bit here, left hand down a bit, right hand down a bit more' ??? Employ a professional, who knows what he's doing. If it doesn't work, then you come to a discussion as to how to proceed. No messing around on dodgy roofs, no re-ordering better quality dishes, no agonising on here. Sometimes, we have to know our limitations![/quote] I was gently suggesting that with a professional installer a little tweak may alleviate the need for a larger dish.

[quote user="PaulT"]As stated, we are getting all HD channels apart from BBC !, 2, 3 and 4 (BBC News, CBBC and Cbeebies HD received). Still, not too worried about the HD channels, just happy that we can still receive all the non HD channels down here in 31, on an 80cm dish. Will wait a while longer before deciding whether to go to a 1m or 1.2m dish.[/quote] That is what is weird if you get ITV HD you should get the BBC HD channels.

[quote user="PaulT"]Crabtree Lincs and Yorks for BBC, not too sure which region it would be for ITV (I live in Lincs)[/quote] You are definately picking up 2E, strange you get no HD signal. Perhaps your LNB needs a slight tweak.

[quote user="PaulT"]Following from my post yesterday saying I had reception……… Just changed LNBs and noted the percentages before and after and also from an access point with possibly 20m more cable. Figures computed from bar lengths of the ‘meters’ on a Foxsat HD and a Foxsat HDR. Unsure which is Quality and which is strength – anyone know what the top and bottom bars on a Foxsat refer to. Know there are problems with tables on the forum so each line shows: Top or Bottom meter, channel, Sky LNB, Inverto, Sky LNB with additional cable length, Inverto LNB with additional cable length. Percentages calculated by measuring the length of each bar. It would seem that anything above 67% is categorised as GREEN and anything above 33% and below 67% is Orange. Ch4 and Ch5 seemed to fluctuate in the top bar – lowest figures used. All cabling used from a DIY chain and not the best quality. Dish 80cm mesh dish Sky LNB – marked Sky J8LS (octo verison) Inverto LNB – Inverto Black Ultra Quad The figures certainly show the difference cable length AND LNB makes All HD channels receivable except BBC 1, 2, 3 and 4. If anyone would like a copy of the spreadsheet with appropriately coloured figures send me your email address. Top, BBC1 – 81%, 100%::::70%, 79% Bottom, BBC1 – 51%, 62%::::50%, 50% Top, ITV1 – 83%, 100%::::70%, 80% Bottom, ITV1 – 51%, 62%::::50%, 60% Top, Ch4 – 77%, 92%::::59%, 75% Bottom, Ch4 – 51%, 62%::::50%, 60% Top, Ch5 – 78%, 100%::::59%, 75% Bottom, Ch5 – 51%, 72%::::50%, 69% Top, Pick – 100%, 100%::::79%, 84% Bottom, Pick – 100%, 100%::::100%, 100% Top, BBC1HD – 0%, 0%::::0%, 0% - NO OR BAD SIGNAL SHOWN Bottom, BBC1HD – 0%, 0%::::0%, 0% - NO OR BAD SIGNAL SHOWN Top, ITV1HD – 91%, 100%::::59%, 75% Bottom, ITV1 – 51%, 72%::::50%, 69% Top, Ch4HD – 81%, 100%::::61%, 75% Bottom, Ch4HD – 51%, 52%::::50%, 59% [/quote] It may also help if you can tell us which BBC - ITV region you are on.

[quote user="Marronnier"]This sounds like just what I've been looking for. Can you confirm that even though it's a VOIP service you can retain your existing Orange landline number and continue to receive incoming calls on this number?[/quote] Yes, just click here and follow the link.

[quote user="suein56"][quote user="Pommier"]This is the cheapest I've seen at just €15,99 a month : https://www.b-and-you.fr/box-internet.html#xtor=SEC-700910[/quote] Sounds great but, unfortunately, we are not dégroupée : 'Disponible en dégroupage total uniquement' Sue [/quote] Exactly Sue, so for many I think the SOSH offer may be the best available.

If you need cheaper home internet connection and a mobile it might be worth trying SOSH, https://boutique.orange.fr/sosh-mobile-livebox. You can keep (transfer) your landline and mobile numbers. These offers have only recently started. Cheapest option is 29.99€ per month for home broadband Internet, VOIP calls to landlines in Europe plus many other countries (same as Orange), 2 hours of mobile call time, plus unlimited SMS & MMS. There are more expensive options (which include unlimited mobile calls and some internet), see the link. All options include the Orange Livebox at no extra cost. SOSH are Orange's low cost option and now do not include the Orange TV (if you want it, it is an option for 5€). If you can get French TV elsewhere (e.g., TNT) for free or don't use it, then this is another advantage. Everything is done over the internet, accounts, assistance etc., so if you are not into typing into forums or customer service chat then it might not be for you. I have saved 8€ a month on my internet bill, and also get a mobile line (with some calls) as well! If you include the cost of doing away with my old mobile contract I save almost 150€ per year. You also get 2 Orange Cineday codes to use on Tuesdays (BOGOF x 2) as you will have Internet and Mobile. So if you like Orange (not everyone does) this should save money. If you already use Orange for home broadband, then the changeover is seamless, no loss of connection.

[quote user="Gardian"]First of all, a big thank you to Martin, Jako et al who have done their utmost to keep everybody informed and to generally help out. I'm in no way a 'techie', but trying to pick the bones out of all this, the solution seems to be simple (I hope!!) and that is to have a bigger dish installed. Am currently pursuing that. My question is this.  I can understand that the 'old' satellite needed to be replaced - presumably its a bit like your 10yo car, something has to be done sooner rather than later. What I don't understand is why the 'footprint' needed to be smaller than it was. Surely it can't have been just in order to maximise reception quality in the UK?  Tens, if not hundreds of 000's of French & Iberian residents now face inconvenience and expense ............... for what?        [/quote] The BBC, ITV, C4, C5 only have rights to transmit programmes to the UK. They therefore need the ability to have a UK spot beam from a satellite. They have no need to worry about oversee viewers, so it is just good fortune if you can receive UK TV from France (or elsewhere!).

Rumour is that ITV and Channel 4 are changing overnight tonight.

Slight change here but still receive BBC1HD & BBC2HD, 80cm dish, 24260. Signal and quality varies between 85% - 100% on 3 tuners (Foxsat HDR 2 tuners and Foxsat HD) For BBC HD, try BBC Wales HD or BBC Scotland HD, and BBC News HD. They are staying on Astra 2F, so if you could get them yesterday, you can still get them.