Do I need a TV licence?

In short yes, it costs 116 Euros per year but is included in your annual ‘taxe d’habitation’ bill unless you specifically opt out.

Can I receive French and British broadcasts with the same dish?

In certain areas of France it is possible to use just one dish to receive both language channels using one specialised dish. However it is always better to use two dedicated dishes as the signals will be stronger.

Can I use my ‘Freeview’ set-top box in France?

The set-top box will work fine for French TNT broadcasts, but not British satellite channels. Freeview is a terrestrial system and should not be confused with Free to Air satellite (FTA).

What dish size is required?

For most of France a 65cm dish is fine, however for more southerly regions an 85cm or larger dish is advisable.

Should I bring my Mini-dish from the UK?

The very small Zone 1 mini-dishes will only work reliably in the far north of France. The larger Zone 2 mini-dish does work in South West France but is no substitute for a good quality French dish. It is far more likely to produce picture break up in adverse weather conditions.

Why are my channels breaking up or freezing?

This problem has several causes. The most common is a weak signal caused by a poorly aligned dish, the wrong size dish or substandard cable. You are more likely to notice this problem during bad weather and certain channels are weaker than others. For example Euronews will normally suffer before any problems become apparent on other channels. It may also be caused by a faulty Digibox or (temporarily) by a heavy storm. If you experience this problem during normal weather conditions including moderate to heavy rain then there is a problem with your installation and you may need to call in a professional.

‘No satellite signal is being received’ – on screen message

This message is displayed by a Digibox when the received signal is (or has temporarily been) too low. For the causes please read: Why are my channels breaking up or freezing? If the problem persists after a storm you can probably solve it by de-powering the Digibox. This involves unplugging the box from the mains supply, waiting for 30 second and then plugging it back in. If the problem is recurrent then you may need to call in a professional.

I have pictures but no sound.

This problem is usually caused by a scart connection becoming loose. It can be easily rectified by ensuring that the connector is pushed fully home. We suggest that you actually disconnect and then reconnect the scart plug. Scart connectors are prone to these sorts of problems owing to a rather poor design.

I already have a dish on my property can it be used for British broadcasts?

If it is the correct size then the answer is probably yes, however it will probably need to be realigned onto the correct satellite unless the previous owners were British too. Please note that realignment is not always possible if there are trees or other buildings surrounding your property.

How do I know if my installer is registered to work in France?

All legitimate businesses operating within France have a Siret and Siren number. The Siren number (which is the first 9 digits of the Siret number) can be checked on the website given below for validity and as importantly validity against installing electrical equipment. If you employ someone incorrectly registered you risk invalidating your house insurance and even prosecution. You can check a Siren number using the following website.

www.cofacerating.fr

Email:
Tel: +33(0) 6 80 55 06 09
Address: Paul Stevens, Square Salvandy, 32100, CONDOM.
Siret no: 45262188100021