Saorview on UPC?

Ethics11

Hey

I bought my first Saorview enabled TV there at Christmas (link). I live in the Lucan area. I'm subscribed to UPC digital for the main sitting room, and UPC analogue piped to the rest of the rooms.

I don't have any antenna on the roof.

I set up the TV in the second sitting room (connected to UPC analogue only) and set it to autotune. To my surprise, it tuned in all the UPC analogue stations and all the Saorview stations with perfect quality. I assumed then that UPC were pumping Saorview down the cable (along with UPC analogue and UPC digital).

After setting up the TV I noticed all the dust and dirt behind the TV and decided to unplug everything, move it, and clean up. When I plugged the TV back in, no Saorview, so I set it to tune again and it found them, but the picture was unwatchable, and very pixelated...if there at all. I tried a few more movements, and moving cables and everything, but now the channels won't even tune in.

I did a bit of googling and, correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems that UPC don't pipe down Saorview on the cable. So....

How was I picking it up?? Was the coax cable that runs from the wall to the TV acting as an antenna (which I probably disturbed when cleaning up)?

If this is the case, do you think a simple rabbit's ears in the room will be enough to pick up Saorview?

I obviously only have one antenna input on the back of the TV, so can I just use a simple Y splitter to plug both the rabbits ears and UPC analogue cables in to the tv?

Thanks for your help,

E11

John mac

probably same answer as here

badly shielded upc acting as aerial.

Ethics11

John mac wrote: »

probably same answer as here

badly shielded upc acting as aerial.

Yeah, I can't see any other reason to be picking it up to be honest. But going forward, can I split my one antenna input on my tv into 2 and connect both UPC analogue and rabbits ears to it to receive UPC and Saorview?

Thanks a million.

E11

Sam Russell

The short answer is no.

But the long answer is yes. You need a grouped combiner to mix the two signals together (if you are in Dublin) as Saorview is on Channel 54 and UPC do not use analogue channels that high. A Triax TFC 3537 will do the job. If you have a strong signal (which you appear to have) then a rabbits ears (or a simple aerial) will be good enough to feed into the combiner with UPC going into the other. Output goes to the TV. Cost - about €20.

icdg

Bear in mind, before going to all that trouble, is that 5 of the 8 channels on Saorview are on UPC (both analogue and digital), and the others are just simulcasts and repeats.

Sam Russell

icdg wrote: »

Bear in mind, before going to all that trouble, is that 5 of the 8 channels on Saorview are on UPC (both analogue and digital), and the others are just simulcasts and repeats.

But those channels will be in glorious Digital clarity and one will be in HD. You will also get the DAB radio channels - and it will be subscription free.:)

You might be so impressed that you will get a Freesat tuner (and dish) and go FREE forever.:):)

Hotblack Desiato

That's true Sam, but my mother in law asked me whether this Saorview thing would affect her, and I said that if she's happy enough to keep paying for analogue UPC then there's no point in doing anything.

Just as most people who listen to music aren't hi-fi buffs, most people who watch TV aren't all that interested in HD or 'digital quality', certainly not if it's a trade-off between quality and quantity! Murdoch had this all figured out years ago when he realised that most people would be happy with 'inferior' PAL signals on analogue satellite compared with the 'superior' D-MAC signals BSB had - Sky was cheaper and had more channels.

Sam Russell

ninja900 wrote: »

That's true Sam, but my mother in law asked me whether this Saorview thing would affect her, and I said that if she's happy enough to keep paying for analogue UPC then there's no point in doing anything.

Just as most people who listen to music aren't hi-fi buffs, most people who watch TV aren't all that interested in HD or 'digital quality', certainly not if it's a trade-off between quality and quantity! Murdoch had this all figured out years ago when he realised that most people would be happy with 'inferior' PAL signals on analogue satellite compared with the 'superior' D-MAC signals BSB had - Sky was cheaper and had more channels.

As they say, you cannot beat free.

The picture quality from both Saorview and Freesat is as good as it gets, and you do not need to be a TV buff to notice it. UPC analogue is not great from a picture quality point of view, and it is not free. That last point should persuade most people I would have thought.

watty

Yes, UPC analogue or MMDS is pointless. Saorview + Freesat far better.

Want Football? Go support your local team or watch it with friends in a Pub. Could cost less and be more fun than TV sub.

Hotblack Desiato

I agree it's pointless in that you're paying for something you can get for free.
But to do so you need to invest in new equipment, you will not get a 'push one button on the remote get all the main Irish and UK channels', it's easier for many (especially older) people to stick with what they have, and any cost savings would be in the longer term and require an upfront investment.