Receiving core French channels in the UK

msfrench · #1 (**permalink**) 12th March 2010, 05:31 PM

Hi,

I am looking into a new way of receiving the French channels (digital) from the UK. I currently have the following devices installed:
- FreeSat (for the UK channels) with one dish and one box (provided and installed by Sky 4 years ago and very happy with it). This standard-size dish is presumably pointing to Astra 2, 28 degree East.
- CanalSat (for the French channels) with another separate dish and a Humax box reading the Viaccess encrypting system. This wide oblong dish is pointing to Astra 1 19.2 degree East.

It all works but I watch very little of what comes from CanalSat, and only need the core French channels. Not only that but CanalSat have just doubled the price of the monthly basic package (from 11 euros/month to 21.90 euros/month), with the existing exchange rate, it is too much for my use of it. It is also impossible to contact CanalSat from the UK (tel is from a special number available from France only, and there is no email)!

So I have started some research and discovered the TNTSAT option or the FRANSAT TNT option. Could you please give me some advice/information.
- Can I be assured to receive the French channels in the UK using a TNTSAT box?
- Can any TNTSAT box use my existing large dish so there is no installation needed?
- Can a TNTSAT box with viewing card be bought in the UK? I read something about the boxes being sold in France only because of the copyright/restrictions on the programmes...
- There seems to be an issue with an expiring viewing card from TNTSAT. Please can you advice?

Many thanks for any assistance.

Ms French

TotalSatTeam · #2 (**permalink**) 12th March 2010, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msfrench

So I have started some research and discovered the TNTSAT option or the FRANSAT TNT option. Could you please give me some advice/information.
- Can I be assured to receive the French channels in the UK using a TNTSAT box?
- Can any TNTSAT box use my existing large dish so there is no installation needed?
- Can a TNTSAT box with viewing card be bought in the UK? I read something about the boxes being sold in France only because of the copyright/restrictions on the programmes...
- There seems to be an issue with an expiring viewing card from TNTSAT. Please can you advice?

Many thanks for any assistance.

Ms French

Your best option is to get TNTSAT French Freesat - it will work on your current setup same dish and same wiring - no need to amend anything, cost £189 and card is valid for 4 years after that is renewable for a fee believed to be around £60

As for restriction on programs... copyright issues

It is the same story Canal, SKY and TNTSAT want you to believe that you are not allowed to use a viewing card in a different country to where it was intended, that claim is technically illegal to make from such big companies under European legislation

Read this: Can Euro law come in from the East? | Policies | European Voice

msfrench · #3 (**permalink**) 1st February 2011, 04:42 PM

Hi,

We have now cancelled our CanalSat contract and would like to get TNTSAT instead as there is no monthly fee. Could you please confirm the existing set-up/wiring will still work before I order a new TNTSAT box? You also deliver outside M25 (Berkshire)?

In the TV cabinet we have one Sky Freesat box, one Humax box for Canalsat, one DVD player. The cabling between these 3 boxes has been kept as it was done by the person who installed our Canalsat dish/Humax box. Will it simply be a matter of replacing the Humax box by the TNTSAT box, and being able to fit the cables in the same place?

I assume there is still no easy way of recording anything either from our Freesat box and/or from the new TNTSAT box?

thanks for assistance,

TotalSatTeam · #4 (**permalink**) 1st February 2011, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msfrench

Hi,

We have now cancelled our CanalSat contract and would like to get TNTSAT instead as there is no monthly fee. Could you please confirm the existing set-up/wiring will still work before I order a new TNTSAT box? You also deliver outside M25 (Berkshire)?

In the TV cabinet we have one Sky Freesat box, one Humax box for Canalsat, one DVD player. The cabling between these 3 boxes has been kept as it was done by the person who installed our Canalsat dish/Humax box. Will it simply be a matter of replacing the Humax box by the TNTSAT box, and being able to fit the cables in the same place?

I assume there is still no easy way of recording anything either from our Freesat box and/or from the new TNTSAT box?

thanks for assistance,

So as we suggested previously; all you have to do is get a TNTSAT Pack, swap your existing Canalsat box with the new TNT box and off you go.

It is compatible with exsting wiring, with existing satellite and there is absolutely nothing to change except the box.

For a recording solution that can handle UK Freesat and your new French TV box; get a HDD recorder and plug both boxes to it.

I did not recommend the HD TNT option in this case, for a simple reason; you mentioned an existing wiring between the TV and the old box and the TV and you wish to keep that and therefore the HD option in this case is useless unless you use a new HDMI wire between the TV and the new box...

Christelle · #5 (**permalink**) 23rd June 2011, 10:23 AM

Hi,
I bought last month in France a TNTSAT receiver SRT6415 from STRONG and I have asked the TVaerial company to install the dish for me (the same size dish used for SKY). The channels search was not successful as I only have a few channel from the TNT package and I can't recieve TF1, France 2...Gulli...the message is "card error", I have tried to launch the search several times but it was useless,

Could you please let me know what to do,
I have reade in the information pack that the card was restricted to be used only on the French territory which might explain the problem even if I was not informed about this during the purchase,

I really hope that you can help me on that as I really wanted my little boy to have a grasp of the french culture and language,

Thanks for your help,

Christelle

TotalSatTeam · #6 (**permalink**) 23rd June 2011, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christelle

Hi,
I bought last month in France a TNTSAT receiver SRT6415 from STRONG and I have asked the TVaerial company to install the dish for me (the same size dish used for SKY). The channels search was not successful as I only have a few channel from the TNT package and I can't recieve TF1, France 2...Gulli...the message is "card error", I have tried to launch the search several times but it was useless,

Could you please let me know what to do,
I have reade in the information pack that the card was restricted to be used only on the French territory which might explain the problem even if I was not informed about this during the purchase,

I really hope that you can help me on that as I really wanted my little boy to have a grasp of the french culture and language,

Thanks for your help,

Christelle

You may have a faulty box, send it back to supplier for testing -they will replace it for you if it is faulty