What do I need for new Digital set up for elderly father living in Derry.

MTH

I want to update my fathers very very old TV.
He lives in Derry and currently watches RTE (mostly) and the usual British channels via analogue signal.
His RTE2 reception is not great. He also has an operational satellite dish (I often bring my sky box and card when I make short visits to him)
So his future requirements are to receive Freeview UK and Irish digital channels. He is very clear about not wanting a Sky subscription.
I intended getting a TV with builtin HD tuner. Not sure if this is the way to go??
What I need advice on is what aerials will be required and if he will be able to get Irish digital channels in Derry. Also if anoryone can recommend an installer in the area with cross border knowledge that I could talk to. I live in Cork myself so I am trying to get as much info as I can before we proceed.
And on a related matter any suggestion for a simple 32” TV which has good sound as well as picture quality with easy usable remote. He wont want additional sound setup or DVD player so he doesn’t need a load of inputs!!
Cost not hugely relevant.

The Cush

A freeview-HD certified TV will do the job not an HD or HD-ready TV. List of certified TVs at the bottom of the linked page.

sesswhat

Argos are doing an offer at the moment on the Sony KDL-32EX403 32 Inch Full HD 1080p Freeview HD LCD TV.

Check the postcode for Freeview coverage here:
www.digitaluk.co.uk

Check for Saorview coverage by putting the address in here:
http://coverage.rtenl.ie

Sam Russell

The Sony KDL32W7810 might be exactly what he could use. Freesat and DTT set so only one remote. He has the dish, and probably already the aerial.

Good PQ. Not too dear, but not generally available. Power City have them.

The Cush

Sam Russell wrote: »

The Sony KDL32W7810 might be exactly what he could use.

Sony KDL-32V5810. No freeview-HD but that may not be a priority. V good TV otherwise.

desm52

If he picks up his British channels from the Derry transmitter then it isn't freeview activated so he won't get any British Freeview channels. Only the Limavaday transmitter will have Freeview until Digital Switchover next year. If hes getting the Irish channels from Holywell Hill then he should get the Irish digital channels ok. You can tell if hes getting it from Holywell Hill if he gets tv3. If he doesn't he may be picking up from Moville which I don't believe has the digital channels yet.

excollier

Try Tesco Lisnagelvin.
I was in there today and they have Technika 32" Freeview HD tvs for £349.
Covers all bases for DTT.

sesswhat

excollier wrote: »

Try Tesco Lisnagelvin.
I was in there today and they have Technika 32" Freeview HD tvs for £349.
Covers all bases for DTT.

Is it worth £50 more than the Sony?

excollier

sesswhat wrote: »

Is it worth £50 more than the Sony?

No, it's not. Just trying to help. Sorry.

MTH

Many thanks for all your help. That Sony EX403 looks excellent value for money!!
Thanks to input from desm2 re TV3, it seems he is getting his current signal from Hollywell Hill and using excellent http://www.mpeg4ireland.com/aerial-setup he is practically 4 Km due East of Hollywell Hill, Polarisation H, Aerial group A.
So even with his old aerial and proper TV, I think he should be OK
Now apologies in advance if the following questions have obvious answers!!
#1 Again according to desm52, if he picks up his British channels from the Derry transmitter then it isn't freeview activated so he won't get any British Freeview channels. Only the Limavaday transmitter will have Freeview until Digital Switchover next year.
http://www.ukfree.tv is showing Inishowen getting reception; West bank Derry city where he lives slightly less so. Anyone got any info on this. He lives on West Bank and as mentioned above 4 Km due East of Hollywell Hill.
If he has to depend on Derry transmitter, this could be a real problem for him because it would mean using the TV remote to change from digital Saorview to analogue BBC/ITV . Would remote on Sony KDL EX403 be similar enough to KDL W4000?
#2 From another post from holidaysong using Metronic Zapbox Freeview HD receiver
“The Irish and UK channels work seamlessly together in the EPG. The Irish channels originally show up in the 800s in the EPG. However, you can edit the channel numbers yourself and I resorted them to match how they appear on analogue in the house. “
Assuming he is able to get both Saorview and Freeview, will my father be able to access similar EPG if he has TV with built in digital tuner rather than a separate Freeview HD receiver.
Thanks again for all input!

Galway

I wouldnt use that map and aerial info from that site. It says I should be using the low power relay at Tonabrucky in Tuam! Not very reliable info, as it should be Maghera ch 48 in Tuam!

sesswhat

MTH wrote: »

Many thanks for all your help. That Sony EX403 looks excellent value for money!!
Thanks to input from desm2 re TV3, it seems he is getting his current signal from Hollywell Hill and using excellent http://www.mpeg4ireland.com/aerial-setup he is practically 4 Km due East of Hollywell Hill, Polarisation H, Aerial group A.
So even with his old aerial and proper TV, I think he should be OK
Now apologies in advance if the following questions have obvious answers!!
#1 Again according to desm52, if he picks up his British channels from the Derry transmitter then it isn't freeview activated so he won't get any British Freeview channels. Only the Limavaday transmitter will have Freeview until Digital Switchover next year.
http://www.ukfree.tv is showing Inishowen getting reception; West bank Derry city where he lives slightly less so. Anyone got any info on this. He lives on West Bank and as mentioned above 4 Km due East of Hollywell Hill.
If he has to depend on Derry transmitter, this could be a real problem for him because it would mean using the TV remote to change from digital Saorview to analogue BBC/ITV . Would remote on Sony KDL EX403 be similar enough to KDL W4000?

Depending on the local terrain/obstacles he may be able to get Limavady with a good outdoor aerial.

If not, Samsung are reported to be bringing out a new range of Freesat/Freeview HD TVs soon which may be an option.

MTH wrote: »

#2 From another post from holidaysong using Metronic Zapbox Freeview HD receiver
“The Irish and UK channels work seamlessly together in the EPG. The Irish channels originally show up in the 800s in the EPG. However, you can edit the channel numbers yourself and I resorted them to match how they appear on analogue in the house. “
Assuming he is able to get both Saorview and Freeview, will my father be able to access similar EPG if he has TV with built in digital tuner rather than a separate Freeview HD receiver.

Yes. A suitable TV will have its own EPG with both Saorview and Freeview channels.

excollier

If it is relevant, I installed a pair of aerials to one home at Templegrove, Derry two years ago and got good reception from Holywell Hill, which was only analogue at that time, and from Limavady , and got reliable Freeview reception.
Hope this helps your enquiry.

watty

The mpeg4ireland mapping info is now obsolete with release of RTE's site http://coverage.rtenl.ie/

and RTE's new maps (uploaded here, click on your area)

Otherwise mpeg4ireland.com is a great site.

Galway

watty wrote: »

The mpeg4ireland mapping info is now obsolete with release of RTE's site http://coverage.rtenl.ie/

and RTE's new maps (uploaded here, click on your area)

Otherwise mpeg4ireland.com is a great site.

Maps very smeary in colour and not easy to make out your location.

watty

Use RTE's site http://coverage.rtenl.ie/ You can zoom in /out after you type address.

The still image maps are limited by print quality of RTE's brochure. They are just to easily see the options in areas than might have more than one transmitter, which isn't so obvious on http://coverage.rtenl.ie/

The http://maps.techtir.com/ireland-dtt.htm images are very poor.