I have been searching the forum for some time, and cannot seem to find a concrete answer to my question. I have read all the Digital TV threads in detail, and a lot of them focus on the Dual language capabilities of the TV.
Unfortunately, even though I ordered a multisystem TV with Dual and Teletext before I left the US, the TV I received did not have Dual or Teletext . By the time I realized it was too late to do anything about it, and since we had thought about getting Sky we did not bother too much (and we got a refund on the price difference between the two models).
Unfortunately now we have run into a problem with the Landlord who assured us during the viewings that putting up a dish for Sky would not be a problem. Now that we are in the apartment, it is a problem.
So my question is: Without a Dual-language capable TV if we sign up for Digital TV from Cablecom, will we be able to listen to channels such as Eurosport and National Geographic in English, or when SF1 broadcasts a US series can we listen to it in English?
The salesperson at MediaMarkt assured us that it would work perfectly, but I just did not trust him - all he was interested in was the sale - If I had asked him if the cable box can make coffee and croissants in the morning, I have a feeling he would have said yes. .
It should not be a problem, assuming your Cablecom feed actually has dual (it seems based on posts here that those in the German areas are now getting dual language in digital, but I don't receive it in Lausanne). When digital channels are offered in dual/multichannel, you select it via the cable box, not the TV.
Have you read this thread , or this one ? Based on the info that HeatherM found, it looks very unlikely that your landlord will be able to prevent you from installing a dish. So I'd say go for Sky and forget Cablecom.
in the german speaking part, it is now possible to select dual languages on the cablecom menu when dual languages are available. i dont know if it works or not though, so you cant quote me on that.
I am in Neuchâtel and dual does not work here either on digital. Of course it works on my analog signal via tv remote.
Does anybody know why it does not work in French CH? - it seems strange if we are getting the same channels using the same equipment then it must be related to regional variations on the network??
If I thought it was cablecom I might try and lobby them
I have cablecom in Luzern, and dual channel seems to work just fine, although sometimes, it has an annoying habit of occasionaly switching back to german for no reason.
I bought a TV recently after moving here. I switzhed it on lazily skipped through the standard set-up, plugged the cable in and asked it to auto find the channels (which is what I always so). Worked pretty well. Unfortunately I tried for over a month to get dual language...... and was puzzled at how others report that they can switch between languages and I coudn't.
Turns out that I had to "tell" my TV that I am in switzerland. Apparently earlier when I skipped through the initial parts I programmed Austria as my country. It now works. So for those still wondering (then maybe I am the only lazy dumbass around), this could be the problem!
I've noticed that some of the channels (mainly TSRs and TSIs) that broadcast in dual language on analog do not always broadcast in dual on digital. Has anyone else seen this?
Hi All. Cablecom Digital TV now offers dual languages options on all Swiss public channels plus E!, National Geographic, Euronews and AXN. English language is available on Eurosport transmitted via the analogue Cablecom network.
English language channels on Cablecom are BBC 1-2, BBC World, BBC Prime, ITV 1-2, Film 4, CNN, CNBC, Fashion Channel, VH-1 and MTV Hits. Al Jazeera International is being added in April. Bluewin TV offers in addition ITV 3-4, Sky News, BBC 3, Golf Channel and CBBC.
BBC Prime, BBC World and CNN are offered free of charge on Zattoo ( www.zattoo.com ).
Also go to http://wwitv.com/portal.htm for a selection of more than 2000 online TV channels including hundreds from the UK and the US. This site also includes access to teletext.
Thank you for the feedback so far... I finally bit the bullet and after several attempts and issues with Cablecom, I got the Digital box (I might start a separate thread on this but apparently our landlord does not have a contract with cablecom, so we could not get digital cable for ourselves!). So far (I got the box on Thursday) I have been quite disappointed with what is available in English language. Also it is very hard from the program guide to see whether or not a program will be available in English.
I stumbled across The Simpsons on Friday afternoon, and despite the fact that the cable box indicated that the program was in English, Homer was still talking German. Very annoying.
There are also issues with the channels which are 'Dual' based where the option is not for a specific language, but for ORG (which I assume stands for Original) - since the cablebox does not automatically switch to that. National Geographic being one of those.
I have to say that the only thing which I have been impressed with is the performance of the processor in the box. It seems like it is quite a beefy CPU. Compared to my HD-TIVO in the US this box is extremely fast.
History Channel, Playhouse Disney and Toon Disney are not available in English - which seems ridiculous to me as they almost exclusively broadcast shows and documentaries which were originally in English and dubbed.
I have written to Cablecom to complain, but I am sure the complaint will fall on deaf ears.