What else can I get out of my Aerial?

Yillan

I seem to be starting a lot of threads, but I don't understand the jargon of most of the threads on this board. I've just bought a new TV and an indoor Aerial which supports up to 45db. I can get a super quality picture of RTE1 and RTE2 and TG4, but that is as far as it goes. The man in the shop tells me that that is as far as it can ever go unless I want to buy NTL, but I get the impression that there is more.

Is there a way I can go about getting more channels? BBC and that would be great. I watched the Byrne Ultimatum last night....

Mike 1972

The man in the shop tells me that that is as far as it can ever go unless I want to buy NTL

Hasnt he heard of freesat ?

Max Power1

Yillan wrote: »

I seem to be starting a lot of threads, but I don't understand the jargon of most of the threads on this board. I've just bought a new TV and an indoor Aerial which supports up to 45db. I can get a super quality picture of RTE1 and RTE2 and TG4, but that is as far as it goes. The man in the shop tells me that that is as far as it can ever go unless I want to buy NTL, but I get the impression that there is more.

Is there a way I can go about getting more channels? BBC and that would be great. I watched the Byrne Ultimatum last night....

BBC and ITV channels (1-4) and also the channel 4 range are available FTA with an FTA box, in addition to many other channels. You can even pick up the equipment in LIdl these days :P.

The satellite forum is here

maxg

Yillan wrote: »

I seem to be starting a lot of threads, but I don't understand the jargon of most of the threads on this board. I've just bought a new TV and an indoor Aerial which supports up to 45db. I can get a super quality picture of RTE1 and RTE2 and TG4, but that is as far as it goes. The man in the shop tells me that that is as far as it can ever go unless I want to buy NTL, but I get the impression that there is more.

Is there a way I can go about getting more channels? BBC and that would be great. I watched the Byrne Ultimatum last night....

It depends if you can get uk freeview overspill from the north or from wales at your location.
If not satellite is the way to go for free services.

Yillan

Thanks guys. The man in the shop mustn't have been savvy.

Is a freeview receiever the same thing as an FTA receiver? Where can I get what I need?

marclt

Yillan wrote: »

Thanks guys. The man in the shop mustn't have been savvy.

Is a freeview receiever the same thing as an FTA receiver? Where can I get what I need?

Freeview refers to the digital tv service through an aerial in the UK. FTA refers to Free To Air satellite. All the info you need is in the stickies!

If you're not along the northern border or eastern seaboard then it will be unlikely that you will receive any form of UK freeview reception.

Yillan

I was in Lidl today and I bought the satellite dish and box on a whim. Brought it home in the hope that I could attack my aerial to the box and throw the dish away. I'm not allowed have a dish stuck to my outside wall where I live, so putting up the dish isn't an option, although I spent the last 2 hours putting it all together and facing the dish out the window. I'm picking up 83% Signal strength but between 7-11-14% signal quality whether the lead connecting the box to the dish is connected or not.

I think I'll be walking back to Lidl with a receipt in my hand. What do you think?

TheDriver

you will get plenty of percentages but nothing with a picture, you need the dish put up properly on a wall and don't even think about putting the aerial onto the satellite box.
Satellite boxes are for satellite.

coylemj

An aerial is most definitely not an option with that box, you have to understand the basics of transmission. The UHF or VHF signal you pick up with an aerial is broadcast by a transmitter at the top of a mountain, the signal you pick up with a dish comes from a satellite in orbit above the Equator, the two methods of reception are completely different and there is no way you can substitute one receiver for the other i.e. an aerial cannot pickup a signal from a satellite, what you're trying to do is just not possible.

That LIDL kit as I understand it is 12v/220v so is intended for people in boats and caravans, a colleague at work bought one and told me that it works a treat but it will only work with a dish.

Yillan

So in answer to the topic title, 'what else can I get out of my aerial?', you're saying nothing?

coylemj

As an earlier poster said, unless you're along the northern border or eastern seaboard and able to receive a signal from NI or GB, you will not be able to pickup anything other than the local four stations with an aerial so to save you wasting more money the answer to your question is 'nothing'.

Yillan

Well I'm living by the four courts in Dublin if that counts. Not picking anything up though

coylemj

In that case you have no hope of picking up anything from outside. The city centre is shaped like a saucer and while you can see Three Rock, that's about it, without cable or a dish you're stuck with the local four channels.

Next time you're over on the southside take a look at the mast on top of the Burlington Hotel, that's the height you'd need to pickup a signal from Northern Ireland and you're the vertical height of Grafton St. below them so your aerial would need to be even higher.

Yillan

Thanks for the answer. That's the end of that then.

Lidl in the morning so. I really hope they take it back off me.

STB

Why cant you put up a dish ?

Apartment or House ?

If its an apartment do you not have communal sat dishes cabelled into each apartment?

If its a house and you need to hide it there are plenty of options.

cnocbui

Yillan wrote: »

Thanks for the answer. That's the end of that then.

Lidl in the morning so. I really hope they take it back off me.

If you have a south or east facing window and no buildings or trees in the way of your line of site to the satellite (about 20 degrees above the horizon), there is a chance you might be able to get a signal from the Astra satellites. http://www.allegiantinc.com/

There are stealthy and sneaky ways of getting satellite to work - putting dishes inside attics and installing radio transparent slates, etc, etc. A case of where there is a will, there's a way.


Stealth dish:

Yillan

Lidl's great!!