BBC/UTV and them when Saorview kicks in?

a1zz

How will they be picked up after OCT 24?

Do they still come in on the Aerial or will people need an old Sky Box/Dish or how will it work??

mike65

saorview = Irish channels only

everything else (SLY, UPC, etc) the same as now

a1zz

mike65 wrote: »

saorview = Irish channels only

everything else (SLY, UPC, etc) the same as now

Oh, so I'll still have them through the Aerial?

Richard

a1zz wrote: »

How will they be picked up after OCT 24?

Do they still come in on the Aerial or will people need an old Sky Box/Dish or how will it work??

Saorview isn't kicking in - its already running. There will bea stronger signal (nod reception in NI will be better) but that's it.

If you get the UK channels through an aerial now via analogue a digital TV should be able to pick them up digitally from 24th.

Richard

a1zz wrote: »

Oh, so I'll still have them through the Aerial?

If you have a Saorview TV/Box.

A Freeview box from the UK will also work, but probably won't get any Irish channels. A Freeview HD box will, however.

Ronnie Raygun

a1zz wrote: »

Do they still come in on the Aerial or will people need an old Sky Box/Dish or how will it work??

It depends on where you're picking them up from. If it's a transmitter in the north, you should be alright if you have the correct receiver. If you're in Mayo, say, & getting them from a local "deflector", then you'll need a satellite system, whenever they get around to turning off the deflectors. Will be by the end of this year afaia.

stevire

Ronnie Raygun wrote: »

It depends on where you're picking them up from. If it's a transmitter in the north, you should be alright if you have the correct receiver. If you're in Mayo, say, & getting them from a local "deflector", then you'll need a satellite system, whenever they get around to turning off the deflectors. Will be by the end of this year afaia.

If I'm reading it right for folks in Mayo, a Freeview HD box will not be able to pick up UK channels from a standard aerial?

Sam Russell

stevire wrote: »

If I'm reading it right for folks in Mayo, a Freeview HD box will not be able to pick up UK channels from a standard aerial?

Exactly. Peole in Mayo receiving BBC from an aerial are receiving from a deflector system. These must cease by the end of the year.

However, they can receive a full UK TV service from a satellite dish and a Freesat receiver. A cheaper free to air receiver will provide a simillar number of channels but will require a retuning as channels move around. Freesat does the retuning automatically. The satellite points at the same satellites as Sky.

It is by far the best solution.

MarkK

stevire wrote: »

If I'm reading it right for folks in Mayo, a Freeview HD box will not be able to pick up UK channels from a standard aerial?

Yes, only people who can pick up tv signals directly from transmitters in Northern Ireland will be able to pick up UK Freeview from a standard aerial.

You will get more channels for free on satellite anyway.

If you get a "Combo box", connect it to an aerial (for Saorview) and a Sky type satellite dish and you will get the Irish Channels, BBC 1,2,3,4, ITV 1,2,3,4, Channel 4 and many more.

A full list of what's available is here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_free-to-air_channels_at_28%C2%B0E

formerly scottish paddy

FreeSAT boxes are being sold really cheaply in the North by Tesco on a price par with Saorview boxes.

snaps

formerly scottish paddy wrote: »

Freesat boxes are being sold really cheaply in the North by Tesco on a par with Saorview boxes.

freesat boxes or freeview boxes

marclt

Freeview (digital tv via an aerial from a UK based transmitter).

Standard Definition (SD) boxes sell from £17.99 in UK stores. They won't be any use for Saorview.

High Definition (HD) boxes sell from around £35 and will pick up all Freeview channels and *should* in the majority of circumstances will pick up Saorview from Irish based transmitters.

Freesat (digital tv via satellite, offering a selection of freely available UK channels).

SD boxes sell in the UK from £29.99.
HD boxes sell in the UK from £59.99.

In terms of usability, Freesat boxes tend to be easier to use because the EPG self updates to take account of changes in channel frequency. Free To Air (non-freesat) boxes need to be retuned and therefore can be more complicated to set up and maintain.

As with everything, the better the spec, the higher the price.

Mr Cumulonimbus

marclt wrote: »

High Definition (HD) boxes sell from around £35 and will pick up all Freeview channels and *should* in the majority of circumstances will pick up Saorview from Irish based transmitters.

Possible issue re Technisat boxes. Thread here from earlier this year.

Link: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056531170

Mr. Rabbit

a1zz wrote: »

How will they be picked up after OCT 24?

Do they still come in on the Aerial or will people need an old Sky Box/Dish or how will it work??

Gosh, where on earth have you been for the last couple of years ?

Sofiztikated

Mr. Rabbit wrote: »

a1zz wrote: »

How will they be picked up after OCT 24?

Do they still come in on the Aerial or will people need an old Sky Box/Dish or how will it work??

Gosh, where on earth have you been for the last couple of years ?

That's highly rude. Tbh, I'm here looking for the same information for my mother. Most of the official info is for RTE channels, and BBC and ITV channel info is slim, or a touch confusing.

JonathonS

Sofiztikated wrote: »

Most of the official info is for RTE channels, and BBC and ITV channel info is slim, or a touch confusing.

That's because most of the info comes from Saorview. Mr Rabbitte and his predecessor have evaded their responsibility to provide a proper public information campaign along the lines of Digital UK.

If you search this forum you will find what you need to know.

zg3409

OK. If you are in Mayo and you want the Irish and UK channels you need a TV aerial AND a dish.

You will also either need a two boxes, one for the Irish channels and another for the UK channels via Satellite or one box called a combo (combined satellite and aerial)

Combo boxes are a little neater, but the two box solution is better if recording is very important to you and if you want a 7 day guide on the UK channels. Some combo boxes lose UK channels from time to time. Genuine FreeSAT boxes automatically refind lost channels and show 7 day guide on UK channels.

If you intend installing a dish I would recommend to get a professional to do it. It's not easy. You would need to decide for yourself if you want a combo box or a seperate Saorview and FreeSAT box. An installer will supply the boxes. Beware of installers providing non approved boxes. Get a few quotes for installation and try to use an installer approved by one of the trade bodies:
http://www.saorview.ie/equipment/installers/

Hotblack Desiato

JonathonS wrote: »

That's because most of the info comes from Saorview. Mr Rabbitte and his predecessor have evaded their responsibility to provide a proper public information campaign along the lines of Digital UK.

I don't see how it could or should be within the remit of the government or RTENL to advise people on how to receive non-Irish channels.

JonathonS

ninja900 wrote: »

I don't see how it could or should be within the remit of the government or RTENL to advise people on how to receive non-Irish channels.

I meant a campaign to inform the Irish public on ASO in Ireland.

Similar to the one mounted by Digital UK to inform the UK public on ASO in the UK.

I have no problem with a government funded campaign telling those in overspill areas around the border how to continue to receive UK channels. Digital UK have done the reverse for the N Irl public.

MarkK

JonathonS wrote: »

I meant a campaign to inform the Irish public on ASO in Ireland.

Similar to the one mounted by Digital UK to inform the UK public on ASO in the UK.

What do you think is missing from the Irish campaign that was in the UK campaign?

The main difference is the "Switch-over help scheme" which gave discounted or free boxes to the disabled and over 75s, which should also have been done here.

Other than that, the publicity campaign seems to have been more intense in Ireland than it has been in Britain.

JonathonS wrote: »

I have no problem with a government funded campaign telling those in overspill areas around the border how to continue to receive UK channels. Digital UK have done the reverse for the N Irl public.

What do you mean? the UK DTT web page coverage checker does not include any of the Saorview transmitters on it and you can only use it for UK addresses.

While the Saorview web page cover checker at least covers both sides of the border.

formerly scottish paddy

A lot of the publicity on ASO has been left to Saorview/RTE to provide and PAY for. I really think it is a bit much to expect them to also promote the reception of competitive foreign services. If people want to receive these services they are free to use the Digital UK, Freesat, and SKY websites for all the information they need.
Irish services are covered in N. Ireland since they will be broadcast there under the two governments MOU, Saorview being mentioned as a possible alternative to the NIMM coverage.
If the Dept. of Communications wants to pay for the promotion of UK services then that's their business (and the taxpayer).

JonathonS

MarkK wrote: »

Other than that, the publicity campaign seems to have been more intense in Ireland than it has been in Britain.

Really? You think that the campaign fronted by Gaybo has been more intense than what Digital UK are doing? From pink tube trains (inside and out!) to pink buses to roadcasters plus blanket advertising they actually went a bit over the top. And that is in a country where huge numbers had already made the switch in each region long before ASO. We got a few TV and radio ads from Gay, a leaflet, a national switchover week in mid-sept that is still being advertised on radio and a website that has been updated about once a month. If you are living in Timoleage and wondering why you have lost RTE1 you won't find any answers on goingdigital.ie

MarkK wrote: »

What do you mean? the UK DTT web page coverage checker does not include any of the Saorview transmitters on it and you can only use it for UK addresses.

While the Saorview web page cover checker at least covers both sides of the border.

You are confusing Digital UK and Saorview. The DUK leaflet on ASO in N Irl gives specific info on what equipment to buy if you want to receive Saorview. The Dept leaflet says if you live near the border you might be able to get BBC etc. Brilliant.

Mr. Rabbit

OK. If you are in Mayo and you want the Irish and UK channels you need a TV aerial AND a dish.

Yes, exactly.

A UK Freeview HD set top boix (STB) will receive Saorview, but the channels will be in the 800s. For Saorview to be displayed in positions 1,2,3,4 etc. you'll need an official Saorview STB.

I've made this point before i.e. that elderly people in rural areas of the ROI wont have a clue as to what's going on and will be wondering why they'll have a blank screen on October 24th.

Still, us anoraks have no excuse.

MarkK

JonathonS wrote: »

Really? You think that the campaign fronted by Gaybo has been more intense than what Digital UK are doing? From pink tube trains (inside and out!) to pink buses to roadcasters plus blanket advertising they actually went a bit over the top. And that is in a country where huge numbers had already made the switch in each region long before ASO. We got a few TV and radio ads from Gay,

A few? I got the impression people were sick to the back teeth of watching the Saorview adverts which have been on the go for months. The UK campaign had to be more focused on things like posters and buses as the use of TV advertising was greatly restricted due to the regional nature of the switchover.

Ireland has had the "X 24 October" DOG on analogue, so there has been a near constant reminder of the switchoff on screen. There was nothing to that extent in Britain, they had occasional banner notices appearing instead.

Then there is the regional aspect of the UK switchover with about 50 switchover days, so certainly no one switchover was advertised as well as 24th October has been in Ireland.
For example of the problems, lots of people in North Wales watch ITV Granada. But the Switchover campaign for the Granada region did not cover North Wales so there was lots of confusion in that area.

JonathonS wrote: »

You are confusing Digital UK and Saorview. The DUK leaflet on ASO in N Irl gives specific info on what equipment to buy if you want to receive Saorview. The Dept leaflet says if you live near the border you might be able to get BBC etc. Brilliant.

And as I said, Saorview are giving coverage predictions for NI.
Digital UK do not provide any indications of what coverage Freeview will provide in the Republic. What can Saorview say other than it might work near the border? Until it actually starts broadcasting we will not know who can get it reliably and who can't.
It certainly won't be over 90% of the Republic, while with the NIMUX and Saorview well over 90% in NI should be able to get RTE.

As for specific equipment, A Saorview box will pick up Freeview, so they don't need to give equipment advice.
In NI, a MPEG2 Freeview will not work with Saorview or NIMUX, so it is necessary to mention it.