Can't get Saorview to work

PenguinMan

Need some help here! Just after buying a Saorview approved TV and I'm trying to set it up. We have analogue from UPC (reception isn't great so I'm hoping Saorview will look decent). When I go into the menu I have the option of searching for antenna channels which gives me about 13 channels (the analogue ones from UPC) but no digital or radio, or the option of searching for cable channels. When I selected cable I had the choice of UPC Digital or other provider. When I chose other provider, it found about 150 channels and took ages so I stopped it and checked those out. Of those, I could only access RTE 1. A family member has a small TV upstairs which is also Saorview approved and he can receive the Saorview channels up there no bother.

Where am I going wrong?

Peter Rhea

What is this upstairs tv using for an aerial?

Saorview requires a feed from a UHF aerial, not UPC cable or MMDS.

PenguinMan

There's an aerial on the roof afaik and that's what both TVs are getting their signals from, I think. I'm not really great at TV stuff! What's a UHF aerial?

EDIT: Just to add, it's not UPC digital we have. It's the basic analogue channels that we have.

Bazzer2

PenguinMan wrote: »

Where am I going wrong?

Saorview is not carried on UPC, it's on terrestrial transmitters only. You need to unplug the UPC cable and connect an aerial pointed at the relevant transmitter to your location.

Peter Rhea

A photo of the aerial would clear things up, a bit dark out now though.

Is the upstairs tv's aerial cable plugged into a wall outlet or does it have its own indoor aerial?

Peter Rhea

Bazzer2 wrote: »

You need to unplug the UPC cable and connect an aerial pointed at the relevant transmitter to your location.

There was a similar query a while back from someone who had analogue MMDS diplexed with a UHF aerial (all through one cable to tv RF in).

We still don't know what this OP has.

The Cush

PenguinMan wrote: »

There's an aerial on the roof afaik and that's what both TVs are getting their signals from, I think. I'm not really great at TV stuff! What's a UHF aerial?

http://www.rtenl.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Saorview-DTT-October2010.pdf

PenguinMan wrote: »

EDIT: Just to add, it's not UPC digital we have. It's the basic analogue channels that we have.

Which basic analogue channels, RTÉ1/2, TV3, TG4 only?

PenguinMan

Peter Rhea wrote: »

A photo of the aerial would clear things up, a bit dark out now though.

Is the upstairs tv's aerial cable plugged into a wall outlet or does it have its own indoor aerial?

I'll get a photo in the morning when it's brighter . The TV upstairs is plugged into a wall outlet which goes to the antenna.

Peter Rhea wrote: »

There was a similar query a while back from someone who had analogue MMDS diplexed with a UHF aerial (all through one cable to tv RF in).

We still don't know what this OP has.

I'm sorry, but I don't understand this .

The Cush wrote: »

http://www.rtenl.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Saorview-DTT-October2010.pdf


Which basic analogue channels, RTÉ1/2, TV3, TG4 only?

Channels are RTÉ1/2, TV3, 3e, Setanta, Sky News, Sky 1, MTV, Nick, Channel 4, TG4, could be missing another one or two there.

Peter Rhea

PenguinMan wrote: »

I'm sorry, but I don't understand this

MMDS is a wireless system used by the cable companies in areas where they don't have actual cables. For reception it generally uses a square mesh 'dish' type aerial with an lnb to downconvert the signal to frequencies that can be used by the tv's tuner. This feed can be combined with one from a 'normal' terrestrial aerial to include the national broadcast channels on the same system.

The Cush

PenguinMan wrote: »

I'll get a photo in the morning when it's brighter . The TV upstairs is plugged into a wall outlet which goes to the antenna.

Does the aerial on the roof look anything like this MMDS aerial or these UHF aerials.

PenguinMan wrote: »

Channels are RTÉ1/2, TV3, 3e, Setanta, Sky News, Sky 1, MTV, Nick, Channel 4, TG4, could be missing another one or two there.

Looks like the UPC analogue cable channels. Your TV point appear to be connected to the UPC cable and not an aerial. A basic UHF aerial connection would only give you analogue RTÉ1/2, TV3, TG4 and the 8 Saorview channels.

PenguinMan

Peter Rhea wrote: »

MMDS is a wireless system used by the cable companies in areas where they don't have actual cables. For reception it generally uses a square mesh 'dish' type aerial with an lnb to downconvert the signal to frequencies that can be used by the tv's tuner. This feed can be combined with one from a 'normal' terrestrial aerial to include the national broadcast channels on the same system.

Okay, thanks. Honestly not sure if this is what we have. We've had it for years and it's always just been there! . However, I've just been told that a few years back high winds damaged the aerial and most of it had to be taken down from the roof in case it fell off, but like I said earlier Saorview is working on the TV upstairs.

Any advice as to where to go from here?

PenguinMan

The Cush wrote: »

Does the aerial on the roof look anything like this MMDS aerial or these UHF aerials.



Looks like the UPC analogue cable channels. Your TV point appear to be connected to the UPC cable and not an aerial. A basic UHF aerial connection would only give you RTÉ1/2, TV3, TG4.

Whatever we have/have left on the roof is definitely nothing like the MMDS aerial.

Would it help if I posted a pic of what it's connected to on the wall?

Peter Rhea

PenguinMan wrote: »

. . . Saorview is working on the TV upstairs.

Any advice as to where to go from here?

Does this upstairs tv get all the UPC channels?

PenguinMan

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Does this upstairs tv get the UPC channels?

No, I don't think so. But afaik it does have RTÉ1/2, TV3 and TG4 on a fuzzy, non-Saorview channel in addition to the perfect Saorview one.

The Cush

PenguinMan wrote: »

However, I've just been told that a few years back high winds damaged the aerial and most of it had to be taken down from the roof in case it fell off, but like I said earlier Saorview is working on the TV upstairs.

Was the aerial used to receive the UK channels previously?

A pic of the TV point probably wouldn't help as it could be connect to the UPC feed also.

PenguinMan

The Cush wrote: »

Was the aerial used to receive the UK channels previously?

A pic of the TV point probably wouldn't help as it could be connect to the UPC feed also.

I'm not really sure what it was used for, and I'm sorry I can't be more specific . Downstairs, we can get ITV1/UTV/Channel 4 though even at the moment.

Peter Rhea

There's probably a feed from this (upstairs) aerial downstairs too, but from what you've posted, I would imagine the whole system is in need of an overhaul.

PenguinMan

Peter Rhea wrote: »

There's probably a feed from this aerial downstairs too, but from what you've posted, I would imagine the whole system is in need of an overhaul.

Right... What exactly would need to be done do you know, and is it expensive? And thanks for all the help

The Cush

PenguinMan wrote: »

Any advice as to where to go from here?

The upstairs TV may be connected to what remains of the aerial on the roof but the downstairs TV point appears to be connected to the upc cable and not the aerial.

To get Saorview downstairs you will have to get the aerial feed downstairs either via the existing cable if possible or by running a new cable from a distribution amp connected to the existing aerial or a new aerial if the existing one is in bad condition.

As to where you go from here that will depend how your existing setup is wired, as Peter says above it may require a bit of an overhaul. Difficult to recommend what you require without knowing what the existing setup is.

Peter Rhea

You'll probably only require a modest exterior installation, since you already have Saorview reception with what seems to be the remains of a very old system.

The rest will depend on what internal cabling needs to be sorted out.

Gipo3

If possible bring the small tv from upstairs down to where the new tv is and see if you can get saorview channels.

cankles

UPC and Sky receive their transmission of saorview channels from Rte, TV3 etc directly. They then pass it on to you the consumer via basic cable (which is what you seem to have), digital etc. the switchover to Saorview will not affect you on this TV if you keep your subscription to UPC. You will continue to receive rte etc as you do now.

Peter Rhea

We're all fully aware of that, the OP was trying to get some technically decent quality tv with the added bonus that it's free.

PenguinMan

Sorry for disappearing for a day or two there! I took the big TV upstairs to test out Saorview there, and nothing! I'm really confused because both the Saorview website and the LG website are telling me that my TV is Saorview approved, but yet it won't work. Would it need a firmware update to receive Saorview or would that be a waste of time?

Peter Rhea

Assuming you're searching for channels correctly . . . the other tv probably has a more sensitive tuner than the 'big' one & can (just about, I'd imagine) function with a poor quality Saorview signal.

PenguinMan

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Assuming you're searching for channels correctly . . . the other tv probably has a more sensitive tuner than the 'big' one & can (just about, I'd imagine) function with a poor quality Saorview signal.

Okay. I was just using the auto tuning method. There is a manual option, is there a list of frequencies available?

Gerry Wicklow

For Dublin 3 Rock is 738000 Channel 54

The Cush

PenguinMan wrote: »

Okay. I was just using the auto tuning method. There is a manual option, is there a list of frequencies available?

http://www.rtenl.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/SAORVIEW-Frequencies-Rev-1.0.pdf
http://coverage.rtenl.ie/RTENLcoveragechecker.php

You may have to upgrade yor aerial.