Freeview Question--Be Gentle!

Lofty0990

Sorry to disturb just an ordinary Joe Bloggs outside Wexford town with ordinary chimney aerial pointing out to Ferrycarrig and considered myself to get fairly good reception . Have been quoted all sorts of prices for all sorts of boxes all over the place with dishes god only knows where .

My question is a simple one is there any setop box I can get and plug in existing aerial cable in to see if I can recieve new digital signal before spending fortune on getting dish etc ?

And if there is where can I get one?

Answers in laymans language please and many thanks!

mrdtv

Lofty0990 wrote: »

Sorry to disturb just an ordinary Joe Bloggs outside Wexford town with ordinary chimney aerial pointing out to Ferrycarrig and considered myself to get fairly good reception . Have been quoted all sorts of prices for all sorts of boxes all over the place with dishes god only knows where .

My question is a simple one is there any setop box I can get and plug in existing aerial cable in to see if I can recieve new digital signal before spending fortune on getting dish etc ?

And if there is where can I get one?

Answers in laymans language please and many thanks!

It depends on whether you could get Welsh analogue TV or just Irish TV: do the neighbours get DTT from Wales? If so you can get Welsh DTT and Irish DTT with suitable equipment, the perfect starter is the Sagem Picnic box for sale in N Ireland for £19.99 which does both. Otherwise to get UK FTA you need Freesat.

Firstly Mr dtv -despite how easy it is t get freeview from presely and the word of mouth-it's still sadly widely not known about-so the neighnours have probably abandoned their aerial for a freesat set up believing the sky leaflet lies.

Lofty0090-any lcd tv aswell with a freeview sticker on it will do the trick if you follow it's instructions for digital tuning -maybe you will get one for Xmas?

Try to get an mpeg4 capable tv-theres a list in a sticky at the top of the forum front page.

If you had itv,bbc wales etc and lost it last september-then yes all you need is the decoder and you will be amazed at the crystal clear picture and dozens of extra channels compared to before.

It's been working faultlessly from presely up here in Arklow since the switchover

When it works for you-please tell your neighbours as it means multi room tv at little or no extra cost unlike satelite.

STB

Yes the box above is a good suggestion the Sagem IDT81-SD picnic box is the one that should answer your question about whether you need a Sat dish and sat receiver (ie if the signal isnt strong enough - if you were getting acceptable analogue from Wales, then UK Freeview should be okay). At 19.99 stg its a steal - from Currys, PC World and is only available to pick up in the North.

This box will also pick up the Irish DTT service, ie Digital Terrestrial tests of the 4 irish stations (RTE1,2 TV3 and Tg4). Connect it to your existing aerial.

mrdtv

Deleted User wrote: »

Firstly Mr dtv -despite how easy it is t get freeview from presely and the word of mouth-it's still sadly widely not known about-so the neighnours have probably abandoned their aerial for a freesat set up believing the sky leaflet lies.

Lofty0090-any lcd tv aswell with a freeview sticker on it will do the trick if you follow it's instructions for digital tuning -maybe you will get one for Xmas?

Try to get an mpeg4 capable tv-theres a list in a sticky at the top of the forum front page.

If you had itv,bbc wales etc and lost it last september-then yes all you need is the decoder and you will be amazed at the crystal clear picture and dozens of extra channels compared to before.

It's been working faultlessly from presely up here in Arklow since the switchover

When it works for you-please tell your neighbours as it means multi room tv at little or no extra cost unlike satelite.

The issue will move centre stage next week when analogue Arfon is shut down on Wednesday: it is clear that is working very well in the overspill areas as is Preseli. I am still intrigued by the absence of Llanddona reports. And as you say seeing is believing: those with digital TVs just need to retune and those with boxes will be in business. The Internet and word-of-mouth/viral communication empower people, so why listen to installers when you can make an independent evaluation?

fat-tony

mrdtv wrote: »

The issue will move centre stage next week when analogue Arfon is shut down on Wednesday: it is clear that is working very well in the overspill areas as is Preseli. I am still intrigued by the absence of Llanddona reports. And as you say seeing is believing: those with digital TVs just need to retune and those with boxes will be in business. The Internet and word-of-mouth/viral communication empower people, so why listen to installers when you can make an independent evaluation?

As regards Llanddona, I have scanned the high power mux (CH57) every day here in Greystones since it went live last month. Not a flicker:(
It was expected that the signal would be reduced to the West due to the terrain on Anglesea etc. Certainly, there were no analogue signals receivable here in the past. Another issue is that RTE2 is co-channel from the local relay. I'm waiting on the final switch over next week and after that will point the aerial at Arfon until Blaenplwyf comes on stream next year.

mrdtv

fat-tony wrote: »

As regards Llanddona, I have scanned the high power mux (CH57) every day here in Greystones since it went live last month. Not a flicker:(
It was expected that the signal would be reduced to the West due to the terrain on Anglesea etc. Certainly, there were no analogue signals receivable here in the past. Another issue is that RTE2 is co-channel from the local relay. I'm waiting on the final switch over next week and after that will point the aerial at Alrfon until Blaenplwyf comes on stream next year.

Hi,

That has always had terrible coverage even in Wales (which is why Classic FM went for Arfon rather than Llanddona) as its on the east of the island. They should have used Arfon which is a superior gadget for analogue and DTT but it was down to old BBC/IBA rivalry about site selection. Years later Classic FM made a ruthless commercial decision. The test will be to see if you raise anything on 60 (D3+4), 43, 46 and 50. The BBC Mux B on 53 is now switched off in the DSO areas until DVB-T2 HD is rolled out at these sites next year. If you had poor or no Llanddona analogue then DTT is no go: the new DSO services are designed to replicate analogue UK coverage and, by extension, ROI coverage (which is now, of course, perfect out to the edge of the service area)/ Arfon from next week is 41 and 44 ( HD will be on 47 but this will be powered down till next year when it goes live.... Dates are expected soon)

Blaen-Plwyf is to be cut over starting 24 February 2010. Although there is a HRP restriction of 9dB in a narrow arc towards Arklow (reducing the ERP to 5kW) they have to cover the Llelewn Peninsula which has Dublin and North Wicklow in the firing line behind the 40kW.

My view is:

a) Wait to see what comes in next week from Llanddona and report back.

b) if its a no-go Arfon will provide a 15 channel DTT service including BBC1, 2, HTV, Four (for the first time), Five (for the first time), S4C and other major channels. With a Freeview STB this is a cheapo solution.

c) Await Blaen-Plwyf. Anybody still getting analogue UK terrestrial after Wednesday HAS to be getting B-P as the others will have been shut down.

d) Report back on Arfon reception (NB vertical polarisation!)

LordSutch

Can anyone update this thread with the latest ............. ?

coylemj

Blaenplwyf Freeview (digital) is coming on stream on Feb 10th, I'd wait until then as there are a few people with digital teles and STBs waiting for that to power up. The DTT landscape for us on the east coast could (hopefully will) change as soon as that happens.

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch/wales/Blaenplwyf_transmitter_group

mrdtv

coylemj wrote: »

Blaenplwyf Freeview (digital) is coming on stream on Feb 10th, I'd wait until then as there are a few people with digital teles and STBs waiting for that to power up. The DTT landscape for us on the east coast could (hopefully will) change as soon as that happens.

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch/wales/Blaenplwyf_transmitter_group

There is a very detailed BIG update here:

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/34207/Wenvoe_Blaenplwyf_Installers_3_M_O_FINAL__10_Dec_09.pdf

Note that Freeview HD will be on the air IMMEDIATELY upon completion of the switchover process in March 2010, so those who can get the T2 boxes & B-P will be in business. (Those in Ireland already getting B-P analogue will get DTT ). And as expected B-P will radiate at 40kW on PSB muxes including HD and there are no CCI issues with Kippure or Mount Leinster on the PSB muxes.