Sky TV FAQs – UK TV Spain – Frequently Asked Questions

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No Satellite Signal Being Received Message

In most cases a reboot of the Digibox can help restore signals.

However, in the worse case, it means that you have an issue with you satellite dish system somewhere. This could be satellite dish alignment, LNB,cabling or receiver issue.

How to change the Default Transponder Frequency Settings?

When a Sky TV digibox is first powered on, it tries to download from the satellite the information required for the Sky Guide. The Sky TV digibox must have this information to start to function.

Prior to February 2015, this 11778 frequency used to be transmitted from a satellite beam which even the large 2.4m satellite dishes used to struggle to receive.

This meant that sometimes during the boot up process, the Sky Digibox would inform you that you were not receiving a signal. The box would not boot up correctly as it could not receive the required data and channel list from the 11778 frequency, as that frequency was simply too weak to receive. However, all other frequencies used for UK TV carry the channel list. So people had to go through a process of pressing certain buttons on their Sky remote control to access a “secret” installer menu, and change the default transponder frequency setting from 11778 to another frequency. This basically told the Sky Digibox to download the channel list from another more available frequency.

In February 2015, the 11778 frequency moved satellites and to a stronger, easier to receive beam. So you should no longer have to change the Sky Digiboxes default transponder frequency setting from 11778, as this 11778 frequency is nice and stronger than ever.

Changing this default transponder frequency setting on a Sky TV digibox does not increase how long channels are available, no matter what people tell you. It is only used to “assist” the receiver to boot up.

For more information see Sky Default Transponder Frequency Settings Costa Blanca Spain

Will my Sky viewing card work in Spain?

Yes, a Sky TV viewing card will work in Spain.

“This is the wrong card for this set top box” message

There are two reasons for this on screen message.

“This is the wrong card for this set top box” message on Sky Sports and Sky Movie channels.

The “Wrong card for this set top box” message will be displayed if you are using your Sky Subscription card in another sky digibox, and trying to watch the Sky premium channels, like Sky Sports or Sky Movies. Sky’s premium channels, Sky Sports, Sky Movies and Sky HD, are only available when the correct card is being used in the correct “paired” Sky Digibox.

“This is the wrong card for this set top box” message on ALL Sky channels.

The second reasons for seeing the “wrong card for this set top box” error message is that this means that the new white sky viewing card is in hibernation, after not getting the “keep alive” signal from the satellite.

My Sky Sports and Sky Movies will not work when I put my Sky card into another Sky digibox?

See above. The Sky TV premium channels, like Sky Sports and Sky Movies, are Sky box specific and will only work on their originally activated Sky digibox.

Will Sky+ and Sky+HD digiboxes work in Spain?

Yes, Sky+ and Sky+HD receivers will work in Spain.

Ideally you will need two satellite cables from your satellite dish to your Sky+ digibox to allow for the full record and playback functions of the Sky+ digibox to be made available to you. You will also need a Sky+ activated Sky subscription viewing card.

Although the Sky TV viewing card will allow the viewing of most of the Sky subscription channels in any Sky receiver (apart from Sky Sports and Sky Movies), to record and playback any recorded programmes you will need the Sky+ card paired to the Sky+ receiver.

Contrary to what some some other website say, you do not need a UK telephone connection for the Sky+ recording and playback functions.

Can I watch Sky TV Channels without subscribing?

Sky TV provide access to a large number of UK TV channels, some of them are free to air that require no subscription and others that  require a monthly Sky TV subscription.

There are many free to air UK TV channels such as BBC TV, ITV TC, Channel 4, Five and Sky News, which you do not need a subscription or viewing card to view.

You cannot watch the Sky TV pay channels such as Sky One or Sky Sports without a subscription.

Can I watch Sky TV in more than one room (Sky Multiroom)?

In theory you can run an infinite amount of digiboxes from one satellite dish. Most LNBs are designed for either one, two or four outputs. If more outputs are required, for an apartment complex for example, we can supply and install switching units which can provide further outputs.

You cannot watch more than one satellite TV channel with just one receiver. If you want to watch two different channels in two different location then you will require two satellite receivers.

It is possible to watch one programme from one receiver in multiple locations, using with cabling or “AV Senders”.

In the UK, Sky TV do offer a multiroom offer. This allows UK household to have a second Sky viewing card, that mirrors the first Sky viewing cards channels, for an extra £10 per month. You cannot take this option up in Spain, or outside the UK. As part of the Sky Multiroom terms and conditions, all Sky digiboxes with a sky multiroom viewing card MUST be connected to the UK phone system. This allows Sky to ensure the second “discounted” Sky viewing card is at the address that it is contracted to. Should any of the Sky cards not be connected to a UK phone line, then this second card will start to be charged the correct / full subscription price. It may even be backdated to the time of the last “callback” from the UK digibox. Although many people in Spain have taken the risk and done this.

For more information see Viewing TV In Multiple Rooms

What is the best Sky digibox for the Costa Blanca?

It is generally acknowledge that the best Sky TV decoder / receiver for Spain is the Pace 2600C1. Its sensitive tuner is considered to work marginally better in a weak signal areas like the Costa Blanca. 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.

However, all of the latest Sky HD and Sky+HD digboxes work very well is Spain also.

For more information see Sky TV Digiboxes / Receivers for Spain

What size satellite dish do I need to watch Sky TV In Spain?

The size of satellite dish required to watch Sky TV in Spain depends on your location in Spain and the channels you want to watch. Many UK TV channels and most of the Sky TV pay channels can be received on a smaller 1m satellite dishes.

However much larger satellite dishes are required to watch some of the channels available on Sky TV in some areas of Spain,

What size satellite dish do I need to watch BBC / ITV / Channel Four / Film Four / E4 / Five on Sky TV In Spain?

It really does depend where you are in Spain and what UK TV channels you want to watch.

For the Costa Blanca area, reception of the main UK TV channels, like BBC and ITV, by satellite is currently better than ever. Using a Sky digibox, or Freesat set top box, you can watch UK TV channels with a satellite dish measuring from a minimum of 100x110cm “1.1m”.

For some areas of Costa Blanca, a minimum 110x120cm satellite dish is required for reception of BBC and ITV via Freesat and Sky.

For some areas of Costa Blanca, a minimum 125x135cm satellite dish is required for reception of BBC and ITV via Freesat and Sky.

For more information see What size satellite dish do I need for Costa Blanca Spain.

What size satellite dish do I need for UK Satellite TV in Valencia

Other areas of Spain may require larger satellite dishes:

What size satellite dish do I need for UK Satellite TV Barcelona and Catalonia

What size satellite dish do I need for UK Satellite TV Andalucía

What size satellite dish do I need for UK Satellite TV Costa del Sol

Can I receive BBC ITV channels in Spain?

See above. You can receive BBC TV and ITV in Spain, it just depends on the size of the satellite dish you have and your location in Spain.

What are the Sky TV Transponder Frequency Settings?

The Sky Default Transponder Frequency Setting for Sky Digiboxes tells the Sky digibox which frequency to download the channel list from when the Sky digibox is first powered on.

The correct default transponder frequency setting on a Sky Digibox is 11778 V 27.5 2/3.

Changing this default transponder frequency setting on a Sky TV digibox does not increase how long channels are available, no matter what people tell you. It is only used to “assist” the receiver to boot up.

For more information see Sky Default Transponder Frequency Settings Costa Blanca Spain

Your Sky is about to go into Standby

Sky Auto-Standby (when enabled) will switch your box into standby at 1am with the message “Your Sky+ box is about to go into standby”. It may also switch your Sky box to standby after 4 hours of inactivity at any time of the day – for example when listening to a digital radio station.

For more information see Sky Auto Standby

Missing Sky Channels, Error Messages and Receiver Lock-Up

On screen error messages like “there is a technical fault, please try later” can often be cured by changing Sky channels momentarily and then returning to the affected channel. In most cases rebooting the Sky Digibox usually cures the problem.

If you have channels missing from your Sky EPG, and you encounter a red “Channel Unavailable” message in most cases this can often be cured by rebooting the Sky Digibox.

How to check Sky TV Signal Quality or I have Poor or no Signal Quality on my Sky Digibox

You can check Sky TV signal quality by pressing “Services” on the Skybox handset, then press “4” for “System Setup” and “6” for “Signal Test”.

However in the Costa Blanca Spain area, the screen may not show ANY signal quality or signal strength. This is because this screen measure only one Sky TV frequency, 11778. AS this screen only measures one Sky TV frequency, it is always possible that you are still receiving channel that use other frequencies. This frequencies strength and quality varies in Spain, and it weakest mid afternoon to early evening, as it is on a “north beam” satellite footprint. Also small satellite dish systems may not show anything on this screen at all.

Heavy cloud or rain will also reduced the levels of the signal quality and signal strength.

Sky TV in Costa Blanca- Poor Reception During Bad Weather

Even a correctly installed Sky Digibox and satellite dish may suffer reception problems during extreme weather, torrential rain or severe thunderstorms. When this occurs a “no satellite signal is being received” message is usually displayed on the screen. Unfortunately, there is little that can be done to solve signal loss during thunderstorms as the problem still occurs even when using a much larger 2.4m satellite dish to receive Sky TV on the Costa Blanca Spain.

If you continue to experience poor Sky TV signal quality, picture break up or signal loss even in clear weather then it is possible that your satellite dish has been knocked out of alignment by winds, or by a faulty LNB or water into the coaxial cable. The latter fault is common if the F-Type connector on the LNB hasn’t been adequately waterproofed by the “rubber boots provided with the LNBS), or connections joints in the satellite cable have not been waterproofed. Ideally vulcanised rubber tape is to be used to waterproof cable connections, basic tape will not do.