[whowantstwoknow]

Hi All,

Not sure which forum was best as this query would span many of them, but thought this was the most appropriate.

Basically, the parents currently get UPC via MMDS in a rural location. Its just a standard monthly package with no premium channels.

So rather than having a recurring charge for what they use they would be better off taking a once off charge on investing in their own equipment.

Their current collection of TVs wouldnt have any decoders embedded. They have:

1) TV in the living room: This has the UPC decoder etc
2) Portable TV in the Kitchen: Receives Terrestrial analogue signals
3) Portable TV/DVD in a bedroom: Receives Terrestrial analogue signals and is used by the grandkids for DVDs on sleepovers :-)

My dad does like his sport and uses the setenta and Sky sport news, but He'll just have to forget about these if they drop UPC.

My Mum would like the TV in the Kitchen & Living room to have the Terrestrial & UK channels. She plans to upgrade these two TVs even though if they get a combo-box for each room if wouldnt be necessary. But she wont be dissuade from her shinny new purchases so take that as a given.

Am I right in thinking that these combo-boxes need a cable for the UK and a cable for saorview? What type of cable for each? coax or CT100 stuff. Also with these combo-boxes if recording a station, one can over switch to watch the "otherside", ie if recording a UK station they can watch Terrestrial and vice versa?

As for TV in the bedroom, its very unlikely TV channels would be needed while both of the combo-boxes are inuse. So with the Triax combo-box am I right in thinking an unused box can send the signal to the bedroom TV?

I know there's alot of questions but my mum is itching to make the TV purchases so I need to formulate my plan to switch them off UPC. With the deadline approaching, would I be better off waiting to see what else would come onto the market?

Thanks for any assistance.
W.

[Peter Rhea]

Satellite & terrestrial signals can be combined onto 1 cable. It's best to use '100' type cable (Webro WF100, Triax TX100 etc.)

Most combos don't have built in modulators for sending the signal to another room over coax. cable, so you'd need to buy one separately.

[whowantstwoknow]

Originally Posted by Peter Rhea

Satellite & terrestrial signals can be combined onto 1 cable. It's best to use '100' type cable (Webro WF100, Triax TX100 etc.)

Most combos don't have built in modulators for sending the signal to another room over coax. cable, so you'd need to buy one separately.

OK, so I would only need to relay one cable for each TV. Within the last 2 years when UPC were upgrading their settop box, they installed new cable into the living room. I'd need to check for any markings on it but what are the chances of it being the '100' type cable?

If I get that modulator, would the existing coax to the bedroom TV suffice for the signal?

Also do boardies give out any recommendations for installers in the kildare area?

PS: If we do use one cable, I assume We'd need these types of wallplates (seen in a recent thread here..)

Thanks
W.

[Ronnie Raygun]

You can try the UPC cable & if it performs satisfactorily, all well & good. If not it can be changed, a good installer should know what's what.

It will certainly be good enough for the modulated UHF output.

Those wall plates are the correct type for separating satellite & terrestrial signals.

[The Cush]

Originally Posted by whowantstwoknow

My Mum would like the TV in the Kitchen & Living room to have the Terrestrial & UK channels. She plans to upgrade these two TVs even though if they get a combo-box for each room if wouldnt be necessary. But she wont be dissuade from her shinny new purchases so take that as a given.

If she's going to replace the TVs she may want to consider a TV with an inbuilt satellite tuner e.g. this Samsung mentioned over in another thread recently - http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-12-3...SAMSUNG&image=, any Samsung model no. ending with UXXU appears to have a satellite tuner installed.

[whowantstwoknow]

Originally Posted by The Cush

If she's going to replace the TVs she may want to consider a TV with an inbuilt satellite tuner e.g. this Samsung mentioned over in another thread recently - http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-12-3...SAMSUNG&image=, any Samsung model no. ending with UXXU appears to have a satellite tuner installed.

Thanks, but it might just be me, but a TV unit that is an all in one?? What if the TV "dies" or what if there are "great" improvements in these separate combo-units. I just dont think its wise to put all ones eggs in one basket?

Thanks
W.

[The Cush]

Originally Posted by whowantstwoknow

Thanks, but it might just be me, but a TV unit that is an all in one?? What if the TV "dies" or what if there are "great" improvements in these separate combo-units. I just dont think its wise to put all ones eggs in one basket?

Personal choice I guess.

I own a combi Sony TV, about 2 years old now. Great TV. I think they are great for kitchens, bedrooms etc or where you may not want a separate satellite STB, 2 cables to the TV and a single R/C.

[1dave]

hi you said you have 1 main tv and 2 portable tvs. if you have an aerial output in these rooms ( cable in the walls). there is cheaper way.
the sky box. it picks up the freesat channels, it will work as a universal remote and it has an rf2 output and is cheap secondhand. they seldom break and are around 30euro. if you get the triax combo boxes its 160 euro. you or your parents will have to update the channels from time to time on the triax. the sky box updates automatically so no messing.
EG, if you put a sky box in the sitting room and bedroom you can use the rf2 off 1 of them to send the channel that is on on that box to other tv in the kitchen. put the 130 euro you save towards a saorview tv 19inch 105euro on adverts. there is more to it. if you are interested.

[whowantstwoknow]

Originally Posted by 1dave

hi you said you have 1 main tv and 2 portable tvs. if you have an aerial output in these rooms ( cable in the walls). there is cheaper way.
the sky box. it picks up the freesat channels, it will work as a universal remote and it has an rf2 output and is cheap secondhand. they seldom break and are around 30euro. if you get the triax combo boxes its 160 euro. you or your parents will have to update the channels from time to time on the triax. the sky box updates automatically so no messing.
EG, if you put a sky box in the sitting room and bedroom you can use the rf2 off 1 of them to send the channel that is on on that box to other tv in the kitchen. put the 130 euro you save towards a saorview tv 19inch 105euro on adverts. there is more to it. if you are interested.

Thanks for that.. Its another option but the saorview channels would be separate. Reading all the pvr (series recording) 7 day guides issues etc... its hard to know what to do!!!

Might hold off to see what "new" hardware comes out on the market...

At the end of the day, its needs to be easy for them to use!!!

W.

[zg3409]

Originally Posted by whowantstwoknow

Portable TV in the Kitchen: Receives Terrestrial analogue signals
3) Portable TV/DVD in a bedroom: Receives Terrestrial analogue signals and is used by the grandkids for DVDs on sleepovers :-)

You will need to do something pre October 24th for these two TV's

I am generally suggesting to people to wait until August and better boxes may come out. It is unlikely a dual terrestrial Saorview approved box with series link will be available pre-october.

If September/October it is likely all prices will go up in a last minute panic. By December/January prices will go down as the hype ends.

[1dave]

sky box is not hard to use. save the channels in fav. press sky. press tv guide press blue and scroll through channels. press tv press 1 and its rte1up/down on channels or a number. to go back to bbc press sky. switch it off and on again and away u go. u wont get a saorview epg off sky remote doh. its what i did for my dad and he is 85. he thinks its mighty. he went from 8 to 60ish channels he hasnt saorview tv yet but it the same thing the rtes are off the tv.

[1dave]

freesat is uk so you wont ever get a saorview /freesat box. only saorview/ free to air. you might get a box that has hacks freesat EG sat4free but it was shut down by freesat. the other way is an internet connection. the other thing is if a combo box breaks and goes off to get fixed you have no tv at all.

[whowantstwoknow]

Thanks for all the advice.

With no true PVR (ie dual tuners etc), series recording etc, perhaps I should hold off till the hype is over and new devices emerge? They will need to get a sat disk etc... for when we do switch to a non-recurring charge setup, so was thinking perhaps they could avail of a Sky offer now for a year? They will get some of the necessary equipment and for what they watch I think the monthly charge would be cheaper than UPC.

They are never going to have a TV larger than 37-42 inches so would the HD offers be irrelevant? The SKY+HD would cost the €112 extra over the year (taking fatcheese discounts)

If I took a picture of their RTE aerial would people here be able to tell if it would be suitable for saorview?

Thoughts?

Thanks
W.

[Quackhart]

Your instincts are prolly right about a lot of things. The wait for new devices could be along one. More knowing posters herabouts have intimated that.

I was lookign to do same for the parents in law. Eventually took the plunge with an Ariva Combo box fed by Aerial and Satellite. In otherwords Saorview and Freesat. One feeding the TV directly, the other feeding it off the HDMI.
All in all, while not ideal it works very well. I would say the total investment came too €300 or so euros and was worth every penny. And the few saved also means it paid for itself, well compared to a Sky / UPC basic package for a year lets say. A Sky package was an option, but when you don't NEED to pay for the BBC/RTE/ITV etc why would you? In fact I am currently investigating the same route for my own house. Now i'm certain it works.

You could spend your life trawling through these threads looking and asking for advice & getting it too!!! Thing I noticed after a while is that the knowledgeable ones around here have taken the plunge and invested with an upgrade it to a better option later view. I'll be doing the same.

[Peter Rhea]

Originally Posted by whowantstwoknow

If I took a picture of their RTE aerial would people here be able to tell if it would be suitable for saorview?

Should be able to.