UK freeview

breadmonkey

Hi folks,

Apologies if this is in the wrong forum.

I'm living in London and bought a new TV yesterday with a free view receiver (?) built in. Problem is, I can't figure out how to actually set up Freeview.

Here's what I think I did:

1. Connected the aerial from the wall socket to the back of the TV
2. Ran the initial installation as per the instructions
3. It didn't detect anything

Could anyone point me in the right direction - I really don't have a clue what to do!

Thanks

Whats the wall socket connected to?
Is it a cable socket for instance meant for cable tv or is it connected to an aerial? If so can you post a picture.
Can you get analogue at all and what is the picture quality like?
What part of london?
Are you in an apartment surrounded by other apartments? problematic.
Make and model of tv
In the set up run through does it ask you to scan for digital stations?
Can you do this manually?
Can you check signal strength and quality on local london transmitters?

Eg Crystal palace ? It's the most powerfull and the aerial used would be horizontally polarised like the picture in the link below if pointed to that.
Vertical if pointed to a relay ie like the pic but with the rods pointed up down instead of left right done by turning the aerial on its side.

http://www.stevelarkins.freeuk.com/crystal_palace_tv_transmitter.htm

Theres some good local advice for you in that link also.

buggane

I would agree with your first respondent you need to check that the socket you have plugged is a viable aerial.

You should get DTT coverage in 'London' no problem however type your postcode into the DTG checker link below and this will tell you for sure.

http://www.dtg.org.uk/industry/coverage.html

By the way a tip - once you have checked your postcode click on trade view and this will show the channels in your area for the various DTT muxes available.

Good luck!

breadmonkey

Thanks for the replies. I'm a bit patchy on information and I ahve no broadband which is annoying so I'll give what I can now and try to fill in the rest now.

Deleted User wrote: »

Whats the wall socket connected to? Is it a cable socket for instance meant for cable tv or is it connected to an aerial? If so can you post a picture.
I think it was used previously for Virgin cable but not 100% sure. I think it says "Telecast" - I'll get a pic and post it.

Can you get analogue at all and what is the picture quality like?
We can pick up BBC1, BBC2, ITV and the last one is CH4 I think. The picture is perfect (well, for analogue )

What part of london?
Finsbury Park

Are you in an apartment surrounded by other apartments? problematic.
Yes, we're on the top floor in a three storey terrace with 2 flats below us and probably one on either side.

Make and model of tv
Not sure at all but it's either a TOSHIBA 40RV753 or something very similar (bit of a rushed purchase)

In the set up run through does it ask you to scan for digital stations?
Can you do this manually?
It asked to scan for digital stations during initial installation but didn't find anything. I can't for the life of me figure out how to reinitiate this scan though I'm sure it must be possible.

Can you check signal strength and quality on local london transmitters?

Eg Crystal palace ? It's the most powerfull and the aerial used would be horizontally polarised like the picture in the link below if pointed to that.
Vertical if pointed to a relay ie like the pic but with the rods pointed up down instead of left right done by turning the aerial on its side.

http://www.stevelarkins.freeuk.com/crystal_palace_tv_transmitter.htm

Theres some good local advice for you in that link also.
I checked my post code but don't really know how to interpret the datahttp://www.wolfbane.com/cgi-bin/tvd.exe?DX=L&HT=10&OS=N43eN

breadmonkey

buggane wrote: »

I would agree with your first respondent you need to check that the socket you have plugged is a viable aerial.

You should get DTT coverage in 'London' no problem however type your postcode into the DTG checker link below and this will tell you for sure.

http://www.dtg.org.uk/industry/coverage.html

By the way a tip - once you have checked your postcode click on trade view and this will show the channels in your area for the various DTT muxes available.

Good luck!

Thanks, this tells me that I should be fine for good reception for zillions of channels
http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/postcodechecker/main/display/basic/n43en/NA/0/NA

breadmonkey

buggane wrote: »

I would agree with your first respondent you need to check that the socket you have plugged is a viable aerial.

I know this will sound stupid but does the fact that I can get analogue indicate that I do indeed have a viable aerial?

You could be getting those from a local relay,there are many in London.
Your socket in the wall is going to be no use to you I'm afraid as it's for cable tv and is not connected to an aerial.
It is probably going to a junction box for a digital cable service.

Have you a terrace? or access to the roof? Would you be allowed to put an aerial on it? have you a line of site to crystal palace that isn't blocked by buildings?
Have you windows facing that way even? that don't have buildings blocking the view?
You could try an indoor aerial at the window but only if it is facing crystal palace.
Borrow one as they are useless unless you have a good signal.
What type of aerials are near you or next door,can you post a picture?

I don't suppose you could tell us the uhf frequency that you have your analogues on?

Itv1 -23 ? thats 490mhz
bbc1 26 ? thats 514mhz
ch4 30 530 mhz
bbc2 570 mhz

If you are getting these from a relay locally,it just deflects crystal palace locally to you on analogue and not digital so you'd not be in business if thats the case.
Try an indoor aerial near a window first or somewhere around the room untill theres little or no grain or ghosting on your analogue.
Post a picture of the analogue reception please if you can.

Doing a full factory reset is the easiest way to get the tv to rescan for you by the way if you do not know your way around it.

watty

no

breadmonkey

Thanks for the help guys. It would actually be really hard to install any sort of aerial on the roof as the access is precarious to say the least. I had to get broadband and a phone line anyway and got a pretty good deal from Virgin with the TV thrown in too. Probably taking the easy way out but c'est al vie. Thanks again.

who the fug

Can you get Channel 5 on analogue, if not forget about Digital until you get a good roof aerial.


I am down from you in old street and digital is a joke