Digital with an analogue aerial

chabsey

Hi,

Only just recently became aware of the possibility of getting digital freeview in Ireland and have a couple of questions.

At the moment I have an aerial up in the attic which provides pretty poor reception of 3 - 4 channels (RTE 1,2 TV3, TG4). I saw that digital TV seems to be broadcasting here at last so was wondering, as someone with no experience of this, what do I need to buy to get this digital TV?

I presume it's some sort of set-top box but am not sure what type exactly to get, and even if it's worth my while.

Any pointers would be appreciated. Thanks.

EDIT: Am located in north dublin, Marino area if that makes any difference. I'm also noth bothered with BBC etc, although they would be nice to get, just better reception of the RTE's and other two would do for now.

Antenna

chabsey wrote:

At the moment I have an aerial up in the attic which provides pretty poor reception of 3 - 4 channels (RTE 1,2 TV3, TG4).
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just better reception of the RTE's and other two would do for now.

What about a roof-top aerial?
If there are nearby walls and buildings in the path of the signal with it in the attic, going on the chimney would improve things a lot.
Also what type of aerial is in the attic? (It might even be an old VHF one! - wrong type) even if correct it might not even be installed properly if it was DIY.

Why do you think the digital trial (its only a trial and prone to interruptions) is your only hope of a better picture to what you have now? (receiving digital with your existing equipment would involve a set-top box, but purchase at this point in time is not advised, as the final standard is uncertain)

fifth

I've one a Thomson freeview box and the thing rarely works tbh.

Mossy Monk

it is not Freeview and DTT is only testing at the moment. no one knows for future what way it will turn out. setup the aerial outside for better reception

watty

There is no such thing as analogue or digital aerials or dishes. Just the right frequency and Gain. All digital TV signals are just ordinary Radio Waves, but with different meaning to the tuner/receiver compared to Analogue TV signals.

To get UK channels Satellite is easier, though some places with a very large mast and aerials can get UK Freeview Digital which has a few channels unavailable on Satellite free.

Little or no money should be spent on Irish DTT as they do not know what they are doing after next year. It is only a trial from Three Rock (above Dundrum) and Clarmont Cairn (above Dundalk). Some places in Dublin get a better signal (outdoor roof/chimney aerial Group C/D vertical) from Dundalk than from Three Rock. If you can see Three Rock then a different aerial (I forget which group etc) is needed, and in some cases a settop aerial on the windowsill or attic will work.

You need a DTT Television or else a DTT/DVB-T/Digital Terrestrial set box via SCART or even a PC PCI card, USB or PCMCIA adaptor for PC viewing. A Cable box or satellite box won't work. Most newer UK Freeview receivers will work most of the time. older ones may not at all.

Don't spend any money on Irish DTT till the Trial is over and they have definitively announced what they are doing.