Digital Satellite Receivers / Decoders / Digiboxes / Set Top Box

In order to view satellite channels you will require a digital satellite receiver, also known as a decoder, digibox or set top box. These convert the digital signals received by the dish and LNB, and convert them into audio and video signals to be displayed on a TV screen. Some digital satellite receivers also allow the viewing of encrypted Pay TV channels via the use of a viewing card.

Free To Air Receivers

Free To Air receivers are only able to receive satellite channels that are unencrypted. They have no ability to read a viewing card, and therefore no ability to view encrypted Pay TV channels.

Freesat receivers are an example of a Free To Air receiver. These boxes are able to update their software and channel lists automatically when required.

See out Freesat Receivers page for more information

Sky Receivers

Sky decoders are known as Sky Digiboxes. These decoders are able to receive the free to air, the free to view and encrypted Pay TV Subscription channels offered by Sky TV. The boxes have a card slot which allows the use of a Sky viewing card, which allows the viewing of the Sky subscription channels. Note that these decoders cannot be used to receive channels from other satellite providers or read other companies viewing cards. These boxes are also able to update their software and channel lists automatically when required.

It is generally acknowledge that the best Sky decoder / receiver for Spain is the Pace 2600C1 and its sister Pace DS430N. Their sensitive tuner is considered to work marginally better in a weak signal area. The Pace 2600C1 and Pace DS430N are no longer available to buy new – they are only available as used second hand decoders, but these can command a high price due to their effectiveness in Spain and their short supply.

Sky Plus digiboxes are available and do work in Spain. These are Personal Video Recorders and, with the use of its internal Hard Disk Drive, will allow you to record and pause (sometimes known as Timeshift) satellite TV. Sky Plus (Sky+) digiboxes also allow you to watch one satellite channel whilst recording the other by the use of its twin tuners, which does require two cable connects from the dish to the Sky Plus receiver. Currently the Sky Plus functions are available for free with any Sky TV subscription. If you do not have a Sky subscription you can for a £10 per month subscription activate these functions on the Sky Plus decoder.  You can use a Sky Plus digibox without any recording functions activated, in which case it will act as a basic Sky digibox.

High Definition Decoders

High Definition (HD) channels are becoming more and more popular, due to the clarity and sharpness of the pictures they provide. Ideally, you must have a HD TV, preferably with a High Definition Multimedia Input (HDMI) , which is the standard HD connection.

Freesat and Sky produce HD receivers. Early Sky HD receivers have suffered from some “faults” – for example power supply failures. There are a few free to air HD channels, like BBC HD, but the majority are only available by the Sky HD service.

Generic Decoders

You can also buy a generic digital satellite decoder that will be able to receive satellite channels. Although they may be are cheaper than Freesat or Sky receivers, they do have a few drawbacks. They may not be as good in receiving weaker signal channels, you will have to manually update the channels when frequencies or channel parameters change, they do not have a 7 day programme guide and usually restrict you to “Now and Next”, and you will not be able to access a number of interactive and text services that broadcasters offer these days.

Multicam Decoders

It is possible to change the software that some of the generic decoders use so that they can read the numerous Pay TV viewing cards that are available. Some of these decoders can be used to read a Sky card. This allows you to view the full sky package (including sports and movies) on this decoder – ideal if you are on holiday. You just bring your sky card from the UK and pop it into the Multicam receiver.

There are some possible drawbacks. It may be required that the sky card has to be put back into an actual Sky receiver every few weeks, so that the card can receive the correct signals to keep the card alive. Also, as Sky and their encryption company (NDS) can change the encryption to the next version at any time, the card may not be readable on a Multicam receiver when the encryption changes. It may be some time before the software is available to read the Sky card. Note that these decoders do don’t have access to the Sky Guide (EPG) and will only display Now and Next programme information.

UPDATE : 6 February 2009

 With the introduction of new sky uk viewing cards, that have already been issued to sky employees, there is a worrying impact for those that currently use a generic receiver reprogrammed to read current sky cards. i was reading this morning that the latest sky italia viewing cards, that use the same encryption company as sky uk, have been proven NOT TO WORK on generic receivers such as Darkboxes or Dreamboxes. And they have also been proven NOT TO WORK with card sharing networks! We may not know if this is indeed true until sky start to issue the new card in march / april, but it may mean that those that bought "multicam" receivers may no longer be able to use a sky card...until someone manages to come up with some software for the generics again...