upc

lian81

Hi i'm getting upc tomorrow and i'm just wondering if like sky there are codes for the tv channels such as itv1+ and channel 5 etc etc.

Arciphel

Oh you are in for such disappointments :-( no there are no codes and you can't tune in any of those channels I'm afraid.

Tony

+ this is a satellite forum UPC is cable

icdg

Moved to Cable.

Cable is different to satellite OP.

As much as Sky try to sell satellite as a wireless cable system, it is in fact an open system. Sky do not own their satellites, they lease capacity from Luxembourg-based SES Astra. Other broadcasters can also lease capacity on Astra satellites besides that leased by Sky and these channels can be received by Sky boxes. Sky's boxes employ a proprietary encryption system and a proprietary electronic programme guide, but they are at heart still satellite recievers and can pick up channels broadcast free-to-air, i.e. in the clear. The "Other Channels" feature (which really should be referred to as "manual tuning" allows you to manually tune in a free to air channel which is not on Sky's electronic programme guide if you know its frequency. If your Sky subscription is cancelled, you can still view those channels which are broadcast free to air. You can even swap your Sky set top box for a non-proprietary receiver which will allow you to tune in as many non-Sky channels as you can receive and not just the limited number that the Other Channels feature on a Sky STB offers or are featured on the Sky EPG.

Cable is different. On cable, you are on a closed network. The network belongs to the cable company. Only channels which are provided to the cable company, through carriage deals with channel providers, are available through the cable system. The deals with the channel providers will normally include a stipulation as to which packages the channel is available on. All digital cable channels (bar one or two exceptions for basic testing purposes) are encrpypted and a cable-company supplied set top box and viewing card. If you cancel your subscription, you'll receive nothing and you must return the equipment to the cable company.

Hope this explains the distinction and why there is no "other channels" on cable.

Red Alert

Would that mean, then, that a channel might say it's not to be made available on the basic/lowest package?

thisNthat

lian81 wrote: »

Hi i'm getting upc tomorrow and i'm just wondering if like sky there are codes for the tv channels such as itv1+ and channel 5 etc etc.

We are with them for nearly a year and every month they continuously try to overcharge us, We have to write to them every single month to get them to charge us the agreed price and eventually after numerous emails back and forth they charge us the agreed price, Once our contract is up with UPC we're finished with them and never ever going back,
Terrible customer support and complete rip-off artists.
Here's to free-view

icdg

Red Alert wrote: »

Would that mean, then, that a channel might say it's not to be made available on the basic/lowest package?

Yes. Premium channels such as Sky Sports would be an example.

who is this

icdg wrote: »

Yes. Premium channels such as Sky Sports would be an example.

The way I always figured it worked (and have seen alluded to) was that they just stipulate the rate of remuneration per subscriber which has access to the channel, and so UPC could make such channels available to everyone but don't because it'd cost them a bomb.