Introduction to Freesat

For many years, satellite television in the UK has been synonymous with one company: ­ Rupert Murdoch’s Sky.

And because of encryption contracts and proprietary software, anyone hoping to record television programmes on a media PC has been out of luck, with some main channels such as Channel 4 locked up using Sky’s encryption system.

However, all that changed in May with the launch of Freesat, a new service backed by the BBC and ITV that promises free channels ­ including all five terrestrial services ­ free high-definition content and easy-to-use features such as an electronic programme guide (EPG).

But beyond all the fanfare that surrounded Sky’s first ‘free to air’ competition, what has really changed with the launch of Freesat and, more importantly for PCW readers, does the new service mean that satellite reception on the PC is a more practical proposition than it has been in the past?

In this feature, we’ll look at what Freesat really is, and find out how it’s changed not just standard TV viewing, but also the landscape for PC owners who are thinking about using their computers to record and watch digital television. For a deeper look at the practicalities of receiving Freesat on a PC, take a look at this Hands On Performance column.

Amid all the publicity Freesat received when it launched, there has been some confusion. For example, one PC satellite tuner company claimed compatibility, only to have Freesat state the opposite; some stores have been caught refusing to sell equipment without installation, so it’s worth explaining exactly what it is before looking at the technical side of things, and what it means for PC users.

First, there aren’t any new satellites; none of the broadcasters own one. The most popular satellite broadcaster in the UK, Sky, rents its transponders from SES Astra, and all the channels you can receive on a Sky box are broadcast from Astra’s cluster of satellites at 28.2° east of due south; the cluster is collectively known as Astra 2.

Freesat not only uses the same cluster, but also the same transmissions ­ with a couple of exceptions. There’s no ‘Freesat satellite’ or ‘Sky satellite’ ­ just Astra 2. That means if you have a dish set up for Sky, it will also receive Freesat. So, what’s different? And what’s the point?

Throwing off the shackles
One of the main reasons for the creation of Freesat ­ and the approval of the idea by the BBC Trust ­ is to ensure that after the switchover to digital-only transmissions, the core BBC and ITV channels are still available, even in areas that won’t have terrestrial Freeview coverage.

But doesn’t Sky do that already? Well, yes, but Sky’s ‘Freesat from Sky’ service isn’t guaranteed to last forever, and relies on the proprietary Sky box and the issuing of access cards.

By running Freesat on a non-profit basis, the idea is that the main terrestrial broadcasters won’t be entirely in the hands of a competitor ­ and will be able to launch new services more easily. That includes services to take advantage of the Ethernet RJ-45 connector that’s mandatory on every Freesat box: this can be used for a return path on interactive services and for delivering video content via the internet.

So, for example, your broadband link could be used for voting in competitions and to deliver BBC iPlayer content to your TV, via a Freesat box, which is something that should be available later this year.

It’s the desire to offer features such as these ­ plus a few other extras such as fixed channel numbers, beloved of broadcasters ­ that means Freesat had to create a box specification of its own, rather than just tell people to use standard ‘free to air’ satellite receivers, which are popular in many other countries. For more about the technical side of the system, check out ‘Inside Freesat’ below.

Freesat and your PC
Obviously, what has appeared in the shops so far is Freesat receivers, but the new service also has some potential implications for those who want to receive satellite TV on their PCs.