what do i need?

artyeva

ok please don't be offended by my lack of knowledge here

we currently have an old sky box that we can get freeview channels on, but not any of the irish channels. have to say i'm kinda glad we didn't, and i never missed it. mr artyeva, for reasons unknown would like to get the irish channels now, and today i saw an ad in an electrical shop for a ''set top box'' that would get rte1 +2, tv3 and tg4. it was €95 quid though. so i have a few questions - i know they've probably been answered before but i've read through a few threads here and i just don;t understand what all the terms mean

where could i look for something cheaper that will do the same thing?
does it work along side our sky box, or can we get one that will provide all the channels we currently get on freeview AND the irish ones?
does it use the same signal as the sky box?
what does it plug into - the current cable coming from the satellite dish and then into the telly?

go easy on a noob

Peter Rhea

Do you currently have a terrestrial aerial?

What make & model is your tv?

watty

Along side Sky box.

Sky box gives FTA/Freesat UK channels, via Dish and LNB
Saorview TV or setbox is via TV aerial for FTA Irish Channels
See www.saortv.info

artyeva

we don't have any kind of aerial, just a dish.

our telly is a hd ready technika something or other. bought in enniskillen, it has the UK freeview thing built in.

do we still need an aerial with this magic box then??? thought the whole point was that it was digital!??

Peter Rhea

Take a good look at the site linked to above; should tell you all you need to know.

watty

Most Technika are budget Tesco own brand. They only do Freeview via aerial. None I have seen do "Freeview HD" or "Saorview".

So for Saorview you need Aerial, and different TV set with "Freeview HD" or "Saorview" compatible tuner OR a set-box and Aerial for the existing TV.

Randyleprechaun

An aerial connected to your TV should do for now(to get Irish stations--not digital). You dont NEED the Saorview STB untill analogue is switched off. Of course it would be better but not critical for now.

Your TV should pick up the Irish stations on analogue. All depends where you are as to what aerial you need and where to point it etc etc

What part of MAyooooooooo are u in

ULMarc

Hi,

I won't sicken you to death with too much information but I can offer you a solution which is not "the ultimate all in one package" but it will definitely get you what you want.

First of all. The english freeview channels come in over satellite dish. The Irish digital channels are broadcast over Digital Terrestrial Transmissions (DTT). You pick them up using a UHF arial, rather than a dish.

You can pick up a UHF arial on its own for about 10euro. You can get it with a load of cables, brackets and connections for about 30euro. You need to run the cable from your arial to the location of your TV.

Now, you can plug the arial into your tv and see if your satisfied with the results. You will get an analogue signal with RTE1/2 TV3 and TG4. You'll also be able to test if your TV is able to receive the digital broadcast of these channels. If it can't and you wish to continue pursuing a digital broadcast then you can buy a set top box. At least you will have already installed all the necessary antennas.

The short of it, you should install a UHF arial as it is a cheap investment and is needed for ANY solution that we can offer you. Then once you've tested the capabilities of your TV you can seek further advice.

artyeva

thanks all - i do appreciate the time ye've taken to explain it in baby steps. i get it now.

randy, we're in the bangor area.

didn't want to have to put an aerial on the roof for various reasons, when i read the ad i thought we could just plug in the box and that'd be it, it was kinda misleading. so i think we'll just leave it for now. i know some other peeps round here CAN'T get rte over analogue, and looking at the saorview site we're still in the planned area anyway.

The Cush

artyeva, the attached document from RTÉNL gives a good overview of DTT etc.