Laptop USB Freeview TV Receiver & Recorder

Niall0001

As I am operating within a tight budget will this be sufficient to view RTE & English channels or, if not, is there an equivalent that is?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/August-DVB-T205-Freeview-Receiver-Recorder/dp/B002EHVP9C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328192419&sr=8-1

Also: do these devices work through the internet or, as I suspect, does the signal travel solely through the aerial attached?

Hope to use this through HDMI into my TV. Any help greatly appreciated.

lensman

For picking up Saorview they need an proper aerial attached, the supplied mini aerial may work if you are in an ideal location, you won't pickup the UK channels either unless you are living along the SE coast or up north but still doubtfull, you can get the same usb dvb-t tuner on ebay for around €7 shipped....you could also get a USB dvb-s tuner & pickup the uk channels free, although you would need a dish.

Niall0001

Thanks for the advice. Living on the 4th floor of an apartment block in the middle of Drogheda town centre. Would this constitute an ideal location?

& is there a better alternative that would provide better results that you can recommend?

Niall0001

How about this combination?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/FREEVIEW-DIGITAL-RECEIVER-RECORDER-MEMORY/dp/B003YT5XLU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1328200741&sr=8-3

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Satgear-Sky-Freesat-dish-kit/dp/B00281N538/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328200862&sr=8-1

Johnboy1951

Niall0001 wrote: »

As I am operating within a tight budget will this be sufficient to view RTE & English channels or, if not, is there an equivalent that is?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/August-DVB-T205-Freeview-Receiver-Recorder/dp/B002EHVP9C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328192419&sr=8-1

Also: do these devices work through the internet or, as I suspect, does the signal travel solely through the aerial attached?

Hope to use this through HDMI into my TV. Any help greatly appreciated.

Satellite dish for Free to view channels (mostly UK) and Aerial for Saorview ...... feed both to a combi Set Top Box like the Ariva 120 and attach an external HDD to the USB port of the STB.

That gives you HD via HDMI to your TV, and all the Irish and UK channels that are available free.

lensman

This chap is up your neck of the woods & he can advise & supply all you need, he's sound.

Niall0001

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Satellite dish for Free to view channels (mostly UK) and Aerial for Saorview ...... feed both to a combi Set Top Box like the Ariva 120 and attach an external HDD to the USB port of the STB.

That gives you HD via HDMI to your TV, and all the Irish and UK channels that are available free.

Thanks for the advice, but does not compute. Is a STB not connected by SCART? & why would I connect a HDD to it? To record TV?

Know absolutely nothing about this, as you can see, & any information I've come across presumes that you already have an aerial &/or satellite dish - which I don't.

STB

Niall0001 wrote: »

Thanks for the advice, but does not compute. Is a STB not connected by SCART? & why would I connect a HDD to it? To record TV?

Know absolutely nothing about this, as you can see, & any information I've come across presumes that you already have an aerial &/or satellite dish - which I don't.

Well you are going to need one a connection to one or both depending on what channels you require, regardless of the hardware you use. Its the way signals are received! Most Apartment complexes have communal dishes/aerials piped to each apartment, so you wont necessarily need your own aerial/satellite dish.

Do you have a television ? How old is it ?

You live in an Apartment complex. What connections are on the wall ? Take a picture and post it here ?

Find out if you are connected up for satellite or UHF already. Have you tried conecting an aerial lead from the wall plate to the TV ?

If you are then you may just need to buy that ferguson box to get the free to air stuff (bbc's itv ch4 etc). Also the complex may have an aerial conenction going to each apartment also, it should be distinguishable from the wall plate on the wall.

lensman

Niall0001 wrote: »

Thanks for the advice, but does not compute. Is a STB not connected by SCART? & why would I connect a HDD to it? To record TV?

Know absolutely nothing about this, as you can see, & any information I've come across presumes that you already have an aerial &/or satellite dish - which I don't.

The ariva 120 combo is an STB which can tune into both the new Saorview Terrestrial channels & Satellite channels because it has two signal inputs at the rear, you connect an aerial for Saorview & a dish for satellite, the ariva also has USB input/output which allows you to connect an external HDD for recording & playback using the ariva's inbuilt media player. the scart connector on the ariva is really for connection to older TV's but it also has HDMI output for connecting to newer high definition TV's

Niall0001

STB wrote: »

Well you are going to need one a connection to one or both depending on what channels you require, regardless of the hardware you use. Its the way signals are received! Most Apartment complexes have communal dishes/aerials piped to each apartment, so you wont necessarily need your own aerial/satellite dish.

Do you have a television ? How old is it ?

You live in an Apartment complex. What connections are on the wall ? Take a picture and post it here ?

Find out if you are connected up for satellite or UHF already. Have you tried conecting an aerial lead from the wall plate to the TV ?

If you are then you may just need to buy that ferguson box to get the free to air stuff (bbc's itv ch4 etc). Also the complex may have an aerial conenction going to each apartment also, it should be distinguishable from the wall plate on the wall.

In Dublin at the moment but just texted my landlord to find out re satellite/aerial connectivity. From memory there is what appears to be an aerial port in the bedroom & just a UPC connection box in the living area, but I won't be signing up with them. Just want terrestrial & free English channels. Have SkyGo from family subscription set up & get free internet via my smartphone courtesy of 3 (when I top up by €20 a month).

TV is a 2 year old Samsung flat screen LED. Don't have exact model to hand.