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Geoffrey S. Mendelson · September 8th 09, 10:14 PM posted to rec.radio.shortwave

wrote:
Mainly, I want to watch live Ireland and Scotland TV on Free To Air
Satellite TV, I don't want to tie up my computer with TV.Somebody once
said something (in another newsgroup) about a certain Satellite in orbit
over Gibralta.
cuhulin

Wow, did Gibraltar move to the equator? All geosynchronus satellites orbit
over the equator. What happens is there is a cluster of satellites that
orbit in what looks like the same spot to someone on the surface of the earth
all broadcasting on different frequencies. This is quite common.

One of them is used to relay the FTA broadcasts to the UK, Scotland and Wales.
In order to receive it you point an antenna at the cluster. The antenna needs
enough gain to receive a signal that can be decoded.

In order to reduce the size of the antenna needed, and to limit the
availability of programing, the satellites use as narrow aka "spot beam"
signal.

It just so happens that Gibraltar is close enough to receive the signals
with a larger than normal dish. I checked, and here in Jerusalem,
although I can "see" the satellites, I can not get enough signal with a
9 meter (30 foot) dish to be useable.

Since Gibraltar is an overseas territory of the UK, but not part of the UK
per se, they have very different copyright laws than the UK. It is legal
for them to put up a dish, receive the FTA signal and watch it. It is not
legal for them to sell the signals that they receive.

However, they can sell you bandwidth from their computers to yours. One
company will sell you bandwidth and free of charge (for the signal) fill it
with a UK TV signal they receive off of the FTA satellites.

Whether or not it is legal for you to receive the signal on the bandwidth
you purchase from them, varies from country to country. Whether or not it
is possible to have enough of the information contained in the bandwith
you purchased arrive at your computer fast enough and complete enough to
watch a TV signal is impossible to predict and may vary from day to day, or
even minute to minute.

In plain English, you search the web for them, you try their free trial if
they have one, and if not buy a month and try it. If it works, you may be
happy, if it does not, then you are out a little bit of money.

It would IMHO behoove you to spend the time and effort to find out if it
is legal where you live to do it, and what would happen if you were found out
if it is not.

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM