What is Astra HD+ or Astra TV and how to watch DTT via satellite?

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If you live in the countryside, in a mountainous area, or in that town where DTT is always on, you'll know how frustrating it is to watch TV with constant interruptions and pixelation; that's where it comes into play. Astra HD+ —now commercially known as Astra TV—, a proposal that brings the main channels via satellite so you can forget about terrestrial coverage and depending on the Internet.

The idea is simple but powerful: receive the usual TV via satellite from the position Astra 19,2º East, with coverage that reaches the Peninsula, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla, and with a catalogue that replicates DTT in high definition and even adds some international channels; the hook is clear, the first year of service is free and, after that period, the annual fee is 72 euros.

What exactly is Astra HD+ or Astra TV?

We are talking about a service of satellite television operated by SES Astra whose objective is to guarantee a stable signal where DTT does not reach well; after a test period of about three months, its broadcasts have started with authorization from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business, with references to an official start around September 29.

More than a new payment platform, it is presented as a real alternative to terrestrial DTT to watch general, thematic and children's channels, and also includes regional and international channels; the experience aims to be as similar as possible to traditional TV, with an EPG guide, familiar dial order and HD and even UHD signal in some cases.

An important detail is the name: the press and initial documentation referred to it as Astra HD+; with the commercial rollout, The service is referred to as Astra TV, but the proposal is the same, focused on full coverage and ease of use; in other words, it's the way to enjoy traditional DTT without the limitations of terrestrial repeaters.

The target audience is broad: homes in rural areas or in the well-known Spain emptied, second homes, hotels, campsites or caravans that need a robust and stable signal; and of course, users who prefer reliable reception over options that depend on the Internet, since To watch Astra TV you don't need a connection.

How it works and what you need to see it

The reception is the same as always on satellite: satellite dish oriented at 19,2º East, an LNB in ​​the spotlight and equipment to decode the signal; this equipment can be a DVB-S2 and HD compatible receiver or, if your TV has a CI+ slot, the official Astra TV CAM module to authorize access.

If you're starting from scratch, the process is quick: you choose whether to install it yourself or call a technician; with a satellite location app you can point the antenna to Astra 19,2ºE and get a signal, although if you don't want to complicate things, the ideal thing is to ask an authorized installer who calibrates with a field meter and leaves the fine, fine parabolic.

In compatibility, it is key to understand that no all TVs with CI+ slot recognize the Astra TV CAM; it depends on the model and firmware; if your TV doesn't support the CAM or doesn't have a DVB-S2 satellite tuner, the practical solution is to use a CI+ compatible satellite receiver and connect via HDMI without headaches.

As a reference for antenna size, it is recommended 60 cm in the Peninsula For comfortable reception, go up to 80–90 cm in the Canary Islands or other difficult areas; the better the satellite dish is sized, the more margin you'll have when the wind blows or it rains heavily, something that isn't possible with satellite dishes. Mark the difference.

Technically, Astra TV operates in the orbital position 19,2º East from Astra with carriers identified in tests at 11009 MHz V and 11407 MHz V; the transponders use DVB-S2 with 8PSK modulation, SR 23500 and FEC 3/4, with content in MPEG-4 H.264; for UHD, approximate bitrates are handled around 17 Mbps and for HD between 6 and 8 Mbps.

Channels: national, regional and the first UHD

The main package includes the base of general and thematic channels that we all know; among the national ones mentioned are La 1 UHD, La 2, Antena 3, Cuatro, Telecinco and laSexta, in addition to 24h, Clan, Teledeporte, Boing, FDF, Neox, Nova, Mega, Atreseries, Energy, Divinity, Be Mad, TRECE and Real Madrid TV; the presence of La 1 in UHD is one of the great attractions.

On the autonomous front, for now they appear Canal Sur Andalusia and Aragon International TV, with reserved dials so that more regions can be added; it has been observed that dial 7 is free while waiting for the new channel in competition and that the Dial 12 could host DMAX, Ten, Paramount Network or VEO7, depending on how the offer evolves.

During the previous information, a set of 26 open HD dials was also listed, including, in addition to those already mentioned, references such as Disney Channel, TEN, DMAX, GolPlay and even a curious Squirrel; that grill may vary, but it gives an idea of ​​the ambition to replicate DTT in full in high definition.

SES, for its part, has communicated an available offer from the start with 21 HD channels and 1 UHD channel In Spain, with planned expansions both nationally and regionally in HD and UHD; the path, therefore, points to growth, and it would not be surprising to see more soon Ultra High Definition channels such as La 2, Antena 3 or Telecinco.

Navigation is integrated into your TV or receiver: Astra TV does not offer its own interface; you will use the EPG, menus, zapping and favorites lists of the device you have, with electronic guide, several languages ​​and subtitles when the channels allow it; thus, the experience is very similar to conventional DTT, only that it arrives by satellite.

Free-to-air international channels

In addition to the Spanish offering, international channels are included, designed for news, culture, and entertainment; these include BBC News, CNN International, Deutsche Welle, TV5 Monde, France 24 and TVMonaco, very useful for following global news with a stable signal.

Also featured are European and German public channels such as ZDF Info, ZDF Vision, 3sat, KiKA and TVM, in addition to the Japanese NHK World Japan, TRT World from Turkey, Al Jazeera and CGTN in their international, documentary and French versions; in the Hispanic block appear Cubavisión International and Telesur in HD.

In certain previous lists more signs have been seen such as Arirang TV, Daystar Español, Euronews German, QVC UHD, as well as less common titles such as Die Neue Zeit TV, Sender Neu Jerusalem, Sachsen Eins or Anewz; as with any platform in the deployment phase, the composition of the package can be moving by issuance agreements.

The interesting thing here is that, in addition to replicating DTT, Astra TV takes advantage of the eternal strength of 19,2ºE in international free-to-air channels; if you like to tinker, you can always tune into more FTA dials from the satellite, although Astra TV's CAM access focuses on its certified grill.

Price, subscription and current promotions

The Astra TV model is an ultra-light subscription model: first year free so you can try the platform without pressure and, after that, 72 euros per year; the lack of permanence and the low cost make it a practical solution compared to others more expensive alternatives or that require the Internet.

To make starting easier, there is a basic installation promotion with a cost covered up to 145 euros VAT included, which includes a satellite dish and five meters of cable; this promotion is limited, subject to availability and with notification of validity until December 31th 2025 or while supplies last.

Registration can be started from the official Astra TV website: fill out a form, and if there are authorized installers in your province, a technician will contact you to assess whether you need an individual antenna or to adapt a collective installation; during the visit, they will give you the CAM CI+ and after receiving an email, you activate the subscription and add a payment method (the first year is free).

If you already have an operational satellite dish and want to go it alone, you can buy the CAM from authorized dealers and activate it without having to go to a technician; some stores offer packages with an advanced decoder compatible with CI+ for those who do not have a TV with DVB-S2 or have models with limited compatibility with Astra TV CAM.

There has been talk that in addition to the open block, the platform could evolve into a mixed format with additional paid packages, as well as offering 4K UHD channels or the integration of operator TV (Movistar or others) through packages; for now, the key is that the base of DTT in HD is included.

Coverage and who is interested

Satellite coverage is the big difference: from 19,2ºE, Astra's footprint covers the entire Spanish territory, including islands, Ceuta, and Melilla; this eliminates the shadows and signal bounces that DTT suffers in valleys, mountains, or environments with difficult terrain.

For rural Spain it is a textbook solution: you don't need neither fiber nor ADSL and stability is not at the mercy of whether the terrestrial repeater is saturated or far away; in second homes, caravans or boats in port, having a well-oriented satellite dish is synonymous with TV without surprises.

This proposal also lands in a context where RTVE and FORTA have promoted pilots of DVB-I to bring DTT over the Internet and solve coverage problems; the reality, however, is that there are homes where connectivity does not reach or is not stable, hence the satellite remains the most robust way.

If you are also interested in the picture quality, the satellite offers consistent bitrates and fewer artifacts in complex scenes; with the expansion of UHD, Astra TV opens the door to 4K broadcasts that on land depend on spectrum reorganizations and a deployment that does not always advance at the same pace.

Practical installation and activation guide

To make things easier for you, here's a tabletop manual-worthy outline of how to get started, with the essentials to help you see the dials right away and without complicating your life. If you get stuck on something, remember that an installer will leave it ready for you in a single visit.

1. Place a satellite dish suitable for your area: 60 cm in the Peninsula, 80–90 cm in the Canary Islands or in areas with weak signals.
2. Install the LNB in the spotlight and wire it up to the TV or receiver with quality coaxial cable and well-crimped connectors.
3. Point the antenna to the Astra satellite 19,2° East Using an app or, better yet, a field meter, adjust elevation, azimuth, and skew.
4. Choose reception equipment: TV with DVB-S2 and CI+ slot or a CI+ compatible satellite receiver; without this there is no signal.
5. Insert the Astra TV CAM into the CI+ slot on your TV or receiver; wait for it to recognize it and do not turn off the power during detection.
6. Access the website of Astra TV To register and activate CAM, add a payment method for subsequent years; the first one is free.
7. Do a DVB-S2 channel search; sort channels if you wish and activate EPG, subtitles and languages from your computer.

FAQs and Compatibility

Many people ask if you need internet to use Astra TV; the answer is yes. No, you don't need itThe signal enters via satellite, and viewing depends solely on the orientation of the satellite dish and the compatibility of the equipment.

Will any TV with a CI+ slot work? In theory yes, but practice shows that not all models are compatible with the Astra TV CAM due to firmware or standard implementation issues; if you hit that wall, the ultimate solution is use a CI+ receiver.

Is there a platform-specific interface? The philosophy here is minimalist: Astra TV does not provide its own menus; you'll manage everything with your TV or decoder's interface, with its EPG guide, lists and settings; fewer layers, fewer problems and Faster when zapping.

Can the offering be expanded? Satellite always has more life; in addition to Astra TV's programming, there are many more on 19,2°E. FTA channels that you can tune in on your own; and if the platform activates premium packages or more UHD, it will be enough for your equipment and your CAM to be up to date.

Technical details for the most curious

In emission parameters, the main carriers observed in tests have been 11009 MHz V and 11407 MHz V, with Symbol Rate 23500, FEC 3/4 and DVB-S2 8PSK modulation; video compression is MPEG-4 H.264 and the conditional access system used is Nagravision.

Regarding quality, the national distribution of DTT arrives in HD 1080i or 1080p with approximate bitrates of 6–8 Mbps, while the UHD channel is around 17 Mbps; these values, combined with a well-adjusted reception, result in a remarkable sharpness even in sports or action-packed movies.

If you are interested in access hardware, the official module is based on a SmarCAM 5.0 PC Card Type II without a physical smart card; it features a CAP210 chipset, 64 MB RAM and 16 MB flash, with SD, HD and UHD capability, CI+ 1.4 with ECP and software update via PCMCIA or DVB-SSU.

Decoding is single service (no simultaneous multiprogramming), with management of age rating and menus in Spanish or English; beyond the acronyms, the important thing is that you insert the CAM, activate the service and watch TV without any further mystery, which in the end is what one wants in the day to day.

In case you're wondering, the dial order proposed by Astra TV is very similar to that of DTT, with national, regional and international blocks; some have been detected reserved dial due to future changes in the DTT landscape and it is expected that, as space becomes available, the platform will incorporate more HD signals and UHD.

It's clear that satellite is once again taking center stage as a robust distribution network in Spain; with full coverage, the first year free of charge, subsidized installation up to a certain amount and full DTT in HD, Astra TV becomes a very serious alternative for those who are fed up with pixelation or depending on a unstable connection.