Earlier this week I received an email from someone, that included an email from another satellite dish installer based here on the Costa Blanca in Spain.

The text of this emails is as follows:

Due to broadcast frequency changes made by Channel 5, the signal for Channel 5 in standard definition is now similar to that for BBC 2 England, this means:

On small dishes (less than 1.8 mts) there will be no signal.

Unless you already have a Sky HD digibox or upgrade to a Sky HD box , in which case Channel 5 HD is still available.

Upgrading to HD – if you have a 2.4 dish this will also give you BBC1 and BBC HD which will stay on. Please contact us for more information on this.

On larger dishes (1.8 & 2.4 mts) you can now only receive Channel 5 in the morning.

Sorry this is bad news but this change is made by the broadcaster not “COMPANY NAME REMOVED”. I will let you know if there is any more news.

This information is incorrect in so many ways.

Due to broadcast frequency changes made by Channel 5, the signal for Channel 5 in standard definition is now similar to that for BBC 2 England, this means on small dishes (less than 1.8 mts) there will be no signal.

This is incorrect.
The recent frequency changes made by Channel Five mean that smaller satellite dishes, even 80cm satellite dishes are still able to receive Channel Five.

The frequency changes for channel Five are NOT on a similar satellite or reception to BBC2 England. In fact they are similar to what they used to be.

If you are unable to receive any of the channel five channel on their new frequency on your 1.8m dish then you have serious problems with your satellite installation, a s these channels are easily available on an 80cm satellite dish here in most of Spain.

On larger dishes (1.8 & 2.4 mts) you can now only receive Channel 5 in the morning.

One of the 4 or 5 regional versions of Five will still be unavailable on 2.4m dishes past mid afternoon. But there are still the other regional versions that you can add to your sky box “other channels” list. You can add these by searching for the channels using frequency 10965 h 22 5/6.

The channel five channels on this frequency do NOT require a 2.4m dish and should be available 24/7 even on a smaller 80cm satellite dish in Spain.

To say Channel Five will only be available in the mornings only even on 2.4m satellite dishes is totally incorrect.

Unless you already have a Sky HD digibox or upgrade to a Sky HD box , in which case Channel 5 HD is still available.

There is no need to upgrade to Sky HD and receive Channel Five HD.
Unless you want to watch Five HD. All channels fives are available using a standard definition Sky box, like the Pace 2600 or Sky+ boxes.

Personally, I would not be surprised if this is a “cash in” scheme from this company to try and get people to buy a Sky HD box from them, by falsely claiming there is no other way to receive Channel Five 24/7 on small 80cm or big 2.4m satellite dishes.

This is shocking that a satellite installation company would send this email to its clients, with this misleading information in what can only be an attempt into tricking people into buying a SkyHD box from them.

There is no need to buy a Sky HD box if you have lost reception of Channel Five.

You can still receive Channel Five on a normal standard definition Sky box.

I mentioned this in a previous blog
http://costablancasatellite.blogspot.com/2011/11/lost-channel-five-in-spain-no-satellite.html

And now you only need a Sky card to watch Five HD, as all the other Channel Five channels, including 5* and Five USA are now free to air and no longer require a Sky card to view.