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Best box?

  • 06-12-2009 01:01PM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 179 ✭✭


    Hi all,

    I'm considering buying my mum a satellite receiver and dish but was wondering which would be the best set-up. She lives in Donegal and currently gets a crap reception via normal aerial for terrestrial stations. What box/dish would be the best to get?

    I think that I'm correct in saying that our home channels (i.e. RTE, TV3, etc.) are not on freeview so is there a box whereby the feed from normal aerial and a satellite can be used or is there another work-around?

    Thanks for any help/suggestions.


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,900 ✭✭✭Apogee


    If she wants to get the Irish 4 in digital, she'll still probably have to get her current aerial fixed/replaced.

    If you can receive the UK channels from across the border, then you could look at a Sagem ITD-81. These are end-of-line boxes, but will receive both the Irish and UK DTT channels. They may still be in some NI Curry's stores, but a few are also showing up for about £10 on ebay.co.uk. Most of the sellers are specifying "UK only" sales, but will sell to ROI if you contact them beforehand.
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055700768

    If you can't receive the UK channels via aerial, then you could look at the combo sat/DTT boxes. Ranging in price these are : MVision HD200, MVision HD300, AzBoxHD, QBoxHD etc. There are threads on all of these boxes in the Terrestrial/foreign sat sub-forums.


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 95,643 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    If you are handy DIY wise you could get a second hand SKY box for the FTA UK channels
    The main advantage is the SKY box has a program guide

    Remember the only reason they put them on roofs because of planning permission on front of houses and to keep above two drunks high, if you are living in rural Donegal away from drunks you can mount the dish lower (safer and out of the wind) it needs to see the south horizon about 22 degrees ( half of half of a right angle ) above the dish.

    If the channels were once good and are now crap then check for corrosion on the aerial
    also check if there is a TV "deflector" in the area as they can interfere with signals

    if the channels were never good then getting a better aerial may improve things, but probably won't get anywhere near the picture quality from a digibox.

    And sure all the channels show the same films at christmas.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 179 ✭✭Dubsey


    Thanks guys,

    After reading more posts I have a couple of questions:

    - Is it possible to get a box to receive all FTA channels in addition to the RTEs from NI?

    - Can the Irish DTT signal be received by FTA boxes?

    - Is there any box that would receive a signal from a sat dish and a normal co-ax cable from a normal aerial?

    Thanks!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,177 ✭✭✭sesswhat


    Dubsey wrote: »

    - Is it possible to get a box to receive all FTA channels in addition to the RTEs from NI?

    The only way to get the RTEs for free is through an aerial from an ROI transmitter. You don't say where she is but only two Irish DTT transmitters have Donegal coverage at the moment. These are Truskmore in North Co Sligo and Holywell Hill near Derry.

    The UK FTA channels can be received through a range of FTA satellite equipment, Freesat branded boxes and old Sky boxes (without subscription).

    You may also receive some analogue UK channels from across the border. However, you will only be able to get the digital Freeview service from either Limavady or Brougher Mountain. This requires Freeview branded equipment (which will generally not work for Irish DTT).

    There are also combo boxes which have both satellite and DTT tuners.
    Dubsey wrote: »

    - Can the Irish DTT signal be received by FTA boxes?

    Not FTA satellite boxes unless it is a combo box.
    Dubsey wrote: »

    - Is there any box that would receive a signal from a sat dish and a normal co-ax cable from a normal aerial?

    See the combo box link above. Irish DTT uses the exact same type of aerials and cable as analogue UHF, but the combo box may not be able to tune in the analogue channels, only digital ones. However the cable can be looped through the box to the TV tuner for the analogue channels.

    Your first problem is finding out what is available.

    Satellite
    Barring some type of obstacles like overlooking trees or buildings, satellite reception will almost certainly be possible.

    Irish DTT
    Truskmore is possible in the southwest around Donegal bay. Also in some high South facing locations further inland. Many houses in this area will have both UHF and VHF aerials pointed to Truskmore.

    Holywell Hill in parts of Inishowen and East Donegal along the Swilly and Foyle valleys, and even parts of the Finn Valley. If you are high up and with a view to the East you have a better chance. If you are in this part of the county and get analogue TV3, this is most likely from Holywell hill.

    Freeview / UK DTT
    Limavady is available in much the same areas as Holywell Hill.

    Brougher Mountain is only available in a limited number of locations in the South of the county.

    An installer or enthusiast with local knowledge will know what is worth trying in your case.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 179 ✭✭Dubsey


    Sesswhat, thanks for info.

    The house is actually situated along the West coast of the Swilly but is about 6 miles North of Rathmullan so not sure. I'd say my best bet is going for one of the combo boxes. The budget would be around €150-€200 so could I get a combo box to do the following and what would be the best one?:

    - Receive FTA channels via satellite (presume I would need to factor in dish also?)
    - Be capable of receiving normal analogue signal and DTT
    - EPG (optional).

    Thanks!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,177 ✭✭✭sesswhat


    I would try to get your aerial reception sorted out first.

    If she has a view out over Lough Swilly towards Fahan then there is a good chance of getting Irish DTT from Holywell Hill. UK Freeview from Limavady may be blocked by the hills behind Buncrana.

    You will need a Wideband or a Group A aerial pointed Southeast, with the elements horizontal. You should replace any old cable. Holywell Hill transmits on the following UHF channels:

    RTE1 23
    RTE2 26
    TV3 29
    TG4 33

    (The DTT tests are on CH 30 but you won't detect them at this stage without a digital (DVB-T) tuner)

    If you can get good pictures on the channels above then you should have no problem getting the DTT channels. If you get a poor quality reception, you may still be able to go ahead with the addition of a masthead amplifier.

    If she is not in a position to get Holywell Hill I would say there is little point in investing in a combo box at this stage. Better to stick with the analogue channels from the best local transmitter using the existing TV tuner, and use a dish with a Freesat box or and old sky box for the UK channels.


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