Freeview

Algernon

Hello, I am interested in this freeview lark but know practically zero about it.

I live in an apartment with a UPC box in the corner, and no aerial (ANT) socket anywhere. My TV can take just about any input.

Is it possible for me to setup freeview?

STB

Freeview is a British terrestrial service meant to be received via an aerial within Britain and N Ireland.

There is some overspill in some bordering areas of Rep of Ireland received by means of a large aerial. Even in those circumstanmces it cannot and should not be depended upon.

You most certainly will not receive it in an apartment complex with cable TV.

Freesat on the other hand is the satellite equivelant.

Algernon

STB wrote: »

Freeview is a British terrestrial service meant to be received via an aerial within Britain and N Ireland.

There is some overspill in some bordering areas of Rep of Ireland received by means of a large aerial. Even in those circumstanmces it cannot and should not be depended upon.

You most certainly will not receive it in an apartment complex with cable TV.

Freesat on the other hand is the satellite equivelant.

You see, I keep reading this but my mate has it in such an apartment block. I was actually there the day he bought it. It just seemed like he plugged it into the wall and away he went. But as I go Googling around I find no such information. He definitely used no dish or aerial.

Odd.

scath

Algernon wrote: »

Hello, I am interested in this freeview lark but know practically zero about it.

I live in an apartment with a UPC box in the corner, and no aerial (ANT) socket anywhere. My TV can take just about any input.

Is it possible for me to setup freeview?

Firstly..Freeview is not compatible with the upcoming Irish equivalent recently named Saorview.

The video encoding for Freeview is 10 years old whereas Saorview uses a more recent standard and Freeview is not forward compatible with it. So no picture for Saorview, only sound with freeview equipment. Okay..that's first thing. So wait another few months.

Chances are that you may pick up Freeview with an indoor aerial but move to another part of country and no picture! What u are looking for is MPEG4 if you can't wait. In otherwords not Freeview.

On the other hand if you saw Freeview HD, not HD TV, HD ready..that's different to do with the programme projection not the transmission. Freeview HD will be compatible with Saorview highly likely as they will be available in the same timeline in the UK.

Regarding the wall, the aerial could be on the top of the apartment complex and be a communal aerial and not an indoor aerial setup.

He may have Freeview (UK digital aerial) coverage or it may be analogue (current) aerial TV or cable. Sockets in wall usually have two sockets, one for cable, one for UHF (aerial) or UHF and satellite.

So don't buy Freeview as its old technology, cant take box or TV to another area and get reception. Go for future proof, Freeview HD (new standard, includes MPEG4), Saorview compliant or wait for Saorview which will in next 6 months be available. Hope that helps

Mr McBoatface

STB is 100% correct. You can't get freeview in Ireland other than some parts along the east coast or by the boarder .

Saorview the Irish DTT service (currently testing) only delivers the Irish channels (no TV3 at the moment). Freesat will give you this - http://www.freesat.co.uk/index.php?page=whatson.Main&PHPSESSID=t0v1slt8intj53f6m2m56agto7.

An Aerial is required for DTT and a dish for Freesat.

I'm not sure what your mate is getting, maybe an analogue service on NTL cable network. If so the analogue service is going to be discontinued within the next couple of years and eventually he'll get nothing.

watty

Maybe the OP's mate had a "BOX"... with illegal "free view"ing of UPC's digital content. Definately not Freeview unless a very enlightened landlord and very big mast and aerial on the roof shared via a distribution system to all the apartments.

Some apartments have Sky distribution, which will give Freesat.

scath

There are a number of apartment blocks and one locally that I'm aware of that do have a communal aerial system.
One of them that I know of in co wicklow is set on arfon digital.
So it is possible but rare.

The op might mean the irish dtt that he's read about in this forum but doesn't fully understand.
The op may be calling it freeview by mistake or he may be as is often the case mixing it up with freesat.

Outside of this board,theres a huge lack of knowledge.

scath wrote:

Firstly..Freeview is not compatible with the upcoming Irish equivalent recently named Saorview.

I think you'll only confuse people further by phrasing your statement like that.
All people need to know is that only mpeg 4 tv's receive Irish DTT and that if they are in UK overspill [along the border and south in fact to Mulingar] at the moment and anywhere currently on the coast south from Dublin to parts of waterford and even some inland areas of the East...Those areas could possibly get UK freeview with the mpeg 4 tv aswell if they have an aerial pointed to a uk transmitter that can be received.

stb wrote:

There is some overspill in some bordering areas of Rep of Ireland received by means of a large aerial. Even in those circumstanmces it cannot and should not be depended upon.

There are two rubbish statements in that.
Most people in the presely and arfon UK overspill in the East have tiny chimney aerials [look at Gorey for example or Arklow].
The second statement that you make that is rubbish is that it cannot be relied upon.
I've had it over a year since welsh digital switch over and it's fully reliable.
Thats the same for others I'm aware of.
1000's down this way at this stage.

STB

Deleted User wrote: »

There are two rubbish statements in that.
Most people in the presely and arfon UK overspill in the East have tiny chimney aerials [look at Gorey for example or Arklow].
The second statement that you make that is rubbish is that it cannot be relied upon.
I've had it over a year since welsh digital switch over and it's fully reliable.
Thats the same for others I'm aware of.
1000's down this way at this stage.

The East being the the East coast of Ireland ? The Service being UK Freeview.

Given they are in 2 seperate jurisdictions any reception is just that - OVERSPILL.

IT Should NOT be relied upon for that very reason. It is not directed at Republic of Ireland. You have no cause for complaint if you cant receive it!

It is a constant source of amusement to me that some people think it is their divine right to receive a foreign terrestrial tv service and that anything that gets in the way of it, like our own national tv service is an inconvenience to them.

Most people in ROI wont have the opportunity to whinge as the majority are not subject to overspill. Finally, it is becoming a little tiresome that people who read a few enthuastic reception threads from Arfon and the likes are going away with the opinion that they can receive Freeview in housing estates and apartments in the greater Dublin area.

Bottom line, given that it is easier to null terrestrial signals than it is to resturcuture Astra 28.2 my advice to people in ROI is to get a satellite tuner if you want solid British TV reception or a combo hd box for both Irish and British.

Ah now in fairness stb,your definition of reliance seems to be political whereas mine is practical.
The chances of Someone in ofcom saying lads,we'll stick a few low power repeaters in some welsh towns and turn down preseli and (persuade those in wales who lose out to go freesat)...all because they think they should suddenly do so to deprive Ireland of overspill is a non sequitor to be frank.
It won't be happening.

No bodies mentioned or needs to mention devine rights,just practicalities.

Gerry Wicklow

Deleted User wrote: »

Outside of this board, there's a huge lack of knowledge.

Even among many so-called professionals in shops, etc.

STB

Deleted User wrote: »

Ah now in fairness stb,your definition of reliance seems to be political whereas mine is practical.
The chances of Someone in ofcom saying lads,we'll stick a few low power repeaters in some welsh towns and turn down preseli and (persuade those in wales who lose out to go freesat)...all because they think they should suddenly do so to deprive Ireland of overspill is a non sequitor to be frank.
It won't be happening.

No bodies mentioned or needs to mention devine rights,just practicalities.

In all fairness your definition of rights runs to 27 pages in a sticky above and is quite clear to me!

I hadnt and wont get into a debate on broadcasting sovereignty and encroachment and limiting overspill. I dont believe in it for a start. I am a consumer, the more choice that is freely available the better. But when it comes to the tail wagging the dog, well thats another matter.

If I was being political I wouldnt have suggested that Freesat is the solution. I was being practical in its use by that very suggestion.

Algernon

Ok, thanks for all the info, guys. I contacted my mate and apparently his block had a communal dish.

Anyway, my TV is a Toshiba 32BV500B and in the manual there is a section on the TV being able to pick up (UK) DTT channels, given a suitable aerial. I realise the manual is referring to the UK. I saw these aerials for sale in Argos when I was buying the TV, as they were offered as an extra purchase. However, since I was not sure I decided against it. Since I live in Dublin city centre and since the aerials were only €11, do you reckon it is worth a shot doing it that way? Or am I wasting my time?

Thanks.

STB

Algernon wrote: »

Ok, thanks for all the info, guys. I contacted my mate and apparently his block had a communal dish.

Anyway, my TV is a Toshiba 32BV500B and in the manual there is a section on the TV being able to pick up (UK) DTT channels, given a suitable aerial. I realise the manual is referring to the UK. I saw these aerials for sale in Argos when I was buying the TV, as they were offered as an extra purchase. However, since I was not sure I decided against it. Since I live in Dublin city centre and since the aerials were only €11, do you reckon it is worth a shot doing it that way? Or am I wasting my time?

Thanks.

Algernon. Digital Tv tuner wont work here. We use MPEG4. UK (freeview) use MPEG2 for majority of stations. They are not compatible.

Dont buy the aerial (I presume its a little indoor aerial). All you would get would be sound and no picture - the mpeg4 is the video.

You could buy a combo box for free UK sat and dtt (169). BUT! you will need a satellite dish unless you have a comunnal dish on your apartment roof. Other things is you may need permission to put up a satellite dish by the management company. Do you have communal dishes ? NTL seems very prohibitive.

Algernon

No, there wouldn't appear to be a communal dish.

STB

Do you have a balcony or private garden ? Which direction would they be facing ?

Are you the owner ?

(in the event that the answer to the first question is yes ?)

STB

STB wrote: »

In all fairness your definition of rights runs to 27 pages in a sticky above and is quite clear to me!

With respect,Commenting is what we do here.
I presume you are referring toThe Mt Leinster interfering with preseli sticky thread. It is informational and a discussion on the merits of neighbouring areas sharing channels for different services.
It's a mess.Theres plenty of evidence down this way as to why it's a mess.

Nowhere in that thread is the approach taken that Irish viewers have a right to UK services via overspill.
Rather the perspective is nearby areas shouldn't use the same channels because often it means no reception of either service.
I've argued many times that there is no need for Mt Leinster and preseli to be on the same UHF dtt channels and I've given reasoned arguments.
Theres plenty of spare spectrum available eg ch39 to start with,30 and 34 also and of course tg4 and tv3's channels after analogue switch off.
I've also argued that in Irelands tiny market,theres not enough profitability for a fraction of that spectrum ever to be needed.

But then when were most things in this country ever done straightforwardly or the simpler way...

Algernon

STB wrote: »

Do you have a balcony or private garden ? Which direction would they be facing ?

Are you the owner ?

(in the event that the answer to the first question is yes ?)

Balcony facing onto an inner courtyard, facing North. I am a renter.

STB

The question was about drilling holes which you dont want to do. You can also use a flat in the window/door cable that flattens out so you can close it.

Dishpointer.com

Find your apartment, see can you see 28.2 without obstacles. If you can position the dish on your balcony as low as not to be visible.

Algernon

STB wrote: »

The question was about drilling holes which you dont want to do. You can also use a flat in the window/door cable that flattens out so you can close it.

Dishpointer.com

Find your apartment, see can you see 28.2 without obstacles. If you can position the dish on your balcony as low as not to be visible.

28.2E faces back into my apartment.

watty

Algernon wrote: »

Balcony facing onto an inner courtyard, facing North. I am a renter.

28.2E is pretty much South East. About the direction of sun, late morning.

It's not the compass bearing 28.2

But maybe I misunderstand the phrase "facing North". No satellites are to north. All Just south of East to just south of West in an arc.

Algernon

I live near Dame Street, with my balcony facing the Liffey. So definitely not SW-SE.

Oh well.


Any recommendations for good rabbit ears?

watty

Any of the three on this page
http://www.techtir.ie/saortv/saorview

Read post 4 here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055605432