How to Receive Ukrainian Satellite TV in the UK

In an increasingly globalised world, access to international media is more may be very important to you. Whether you're an Ukrainian expat, a fan of Ukrainian culture, learning the language, or just curious about what's happening in Ukraine, accessing live Ukrainian satellite TV from within the UK can be a may be just what you're looking for. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to receive Ukrainian satellite TV in the UK, including which satellites to use and what channels you can expect to receive.

Understanding Ukrainian Satellite TV

Ukrainian satellite TV broadcasts a variety of channels, including news, entertainment, sports, and cultural programming. Some popular Ukrainian channels include 1+1, Inter, and STB. To receive these broadcasts in the UK, you’ll need an appropriate sized satellite dish and a receiver that can tune into the appropriate satellite signals. For Viasat Ukraine and SLM packages you may also require a subscription and smart card for subscription based services.

Steps to Receive Ukrainian Satellite TV in the UK

What Satellites For Ukrainian Satellite TV Reception

Before you know what size satellite dish you require, first you must decide which Ukrainian TV channels you wish to receive. I always recommend doing a quick search on Kingofsat or similar tool to find the most up to date service lists. The main satellites that can be used to provide Ukrainian TV in the UK are:

• Astra 4A (4E)
• Hotbird (13°E)
• Astra 3B/C (23.5°E)

Of the three options above, the most amount of TV services can be obtained from Astra 4A (4E), followed by Hotbird, and then Astra 3B/C. We note that Ukrainian TV services can also be received from BulgariaSat (1.9E), Eutelsat 9B (9E), Hellas Sat (39E), Turksat (42E), Intelsat 38 (45E), Azerspace-1 (46E), TurkmenAlem/ Monacosat (52E), Express AT 1 (56E), and Thor 5 (0.8W) but the services available on these satellites are very limited in number with most only providing no more than a few services.

2. Get the Right Equipment

To receive Ukrainian satellite TV, you'll need:

• Satellite Dish: A dish with the appropriate size and specifications to receive signals from the chosen satellite. For most Ukrainian satellites, a dish size of 80cm should I suffice but I recommend checking double with the providers for information on specific services.
• LNB (Low Noise Block Converter): This device mounts on the satellite dish and receives the signals, which it then passes to the receiver. The LNB is responsible for amplifying the very weak satellite signals (most LNB's have around 50dB gain) and oscillate the frequency down to the Intermediate Frequency band which is a frequency range the coax cabling can manage.
• Satellite Receiver: A digital satellite receiver that can decode signals from the satellite and translate them into viewable TV content. Make sure it supports DVB-S2, which is the standard for most modern satellite broadcasts. Much of the broadcasts are unencrypted meaning most generic satellite receivers will be suitable but if you wished to receive encrypted/ subscription based services a receiver, CAM, and smartcard combination will be required. We that most of the encrypted Ukrainian services use the VeriMatriax encryption.
• Cabling: High-quality coaxial cables to connect the dish, LNB, and receiver.

3. Install the Satellite Dish

Proper installation is crucial for optimal signal reception:

• Positioning: Find an appropriate location for the dish with a clear line of sight to the satellite. This usually means positioning the dish on a southern facing wall or chimney stack where it can face the southern sky, as the geo-stationary satellites are located in this direction. The dish can be mounted on a north facing wall but it will will need to be on a large enough mast to get a signal over the roofline.
• Mounting: Securely mount the dish on a pole or bracket. Ensure it’s sturdy enough to withstand weather conditions. We recommend a specialist L arm mount or T and K wall brackets.
• Alignment: Use a compass to find the approximate satellite signal position, and then use a satellite finder or signal meter to align the dish precisely. This process can be tricky, so patience and precision are key. The better the alignment tool the easier this process will be. For our installations we use a Promax Ranger.

4. Set Up the Receiver

• Connect the Dish and LNB: Attach the cables from the dish’s LNB to the receiver.
• Connect to TV: Connect the receiver to your television using HDMI or AV cables.
• Power Up: Plug in the receiver and turn on the TV. Follow the setup instructions on the receiver to scan for channels.

5. Scan for Channels

• Menu Navigation: Use the receiver’s menu system to scan for available channels. You might need to manually input the satellite’s parameters (frequency, symbol rate, etc.) to find Ukrainian channels.
• Save Channels: Once the scan is complete, save the channels to your receiver’s memory.