1.8m 180cm 1.9m 190cm 2.4m 240cm Satellite dishes and reception for the Costa Blanca Spain

What size satellite dish do I need to watch Freesat Sky or BBC television programmes on the Costa Blanca in Spain?

It is important to ensure that you are using the correct size satellite dish to receive the channels you want to watch. A Sky minidish, used in the UK, is pretty much useless for reception on the Costa Blanca.  Many channels can be received on an 80cm dish, but if you want to watch the main UK television channels, like BBC ITV C4, then a much bigger dish will be required.

Generally to receive the main UK television channels, like BBC ITV C4 , for the area that I cover, either a 1.8 (1.9)or 2,4m satellite dish is required. In some areas around Oliva for example a 1.8 (1.9)m satellite dish will suffice, but in areas where the signal can be obstructed (areas with trees, mountains) a 2.4m satellite dish is recommended.

Of course the size of satellite dish is dependant on a few things such as what channels you want to watch, what is your budget and where are you site the satellite dish.

Click HERE for a map that gives an indication of the size of satellite dish required to receive BBC and ITV channels.

Freesat Sky BBC Reception on the Costa Blanca in Spain

In general, with a 1.8 (1.9)m or 2.4m satellite dish, you should receive BBC1, ITV1. ITV2, ITV3, ITV4 for 24 hours a day. You may find that even on a 2.4m satellite dish you may loose bbc1 and the ITV channels late at night, when the signal is weakest. BBC2 and Channel 4 should be available until around 6pm. The Freesat version of FIVE will also be available for the same times as BBC2.

The Sky version of FIVE should be available all of the day on most satellite dishes over 80cm. The majority of the Sky subscription package is available 24 hours a day.

Some channels, particularly the Sky Movies channels, may fade out during the late afternoon. These channels are on the notoriously tricky North beams.

Don't forget the the weather can affect the reception of channels - heavy cloud or rain can weaken the already weak signals - it is not always sunny in Spain. Summer haze around the coast can also weaken the signals.

There are also two times a year when, due to the positioning of the Sun, the earth and the satellites, you may loose the weaker Astra 2d signals for a few minutes. Normally this occurs at around 10 - 11am around the time of the spring and autumn solaces, when the solar energy from the sum "swamps" the signals from the satellites more than usual as the sun is positioned directly behind the satellite.

And don't forget that during the summer months you should be getting the TV for 1 hour longer, due to the changing between CET and CEST (Central European Time and Central European Summer Time). So for example, if BBC2 goes off at 5pm in the winter, then in the summer it should go off at 6pm.

Here is a table with the minimum dish sizes required for the main UK channels for the Costa Blanca North area that I cover.

Channels on Astra 2b N are broadcast a beam that is weak during the late afternoon early evening on the Costa Blanca. There are approximately 30 or so channels on these “north” beams, like the UKTV (used to be called UKGold +1, UK Gardens+1, UK People), Sky Sports News, and some of the Sky Movies channels, that sometimes are unavailable during these periods – you can even loose them on a 2.4m dish!!

Big Satellite Dish Installations

The 1.8m and 2,4m satellite dishes should be installed in an area that can receive the best signal. As a general rule, this should be an area clear of obstructions like trees, and in the line of sight of where the sun is at approximately 11am. In some cases the 1.8m dish can be wall mounted, but ideally the dishes should be mounted on the ground, sometimes using a concrete plinth. It is important that this concrete plinth is constructed well and given enough time to dry properly as I have visited several installations by other companies whose concrete plinths have been constructed by using a dry quick concrete mix or by making the surround with concrete breeze blocks and only filling the middle of the square with concrete.

See our "Wall of Shame" page HERE, for nightmare stories and pictures of other installations we have been called to fix.