What are my Free to Air Options?

deisedude

Hi there, moving into a new house and was thinking of getting Saorview. The previous tenant used UPC so that should be easy enough to get sorted again but really only want the tv for watching the odd match so FTA would be beter. The issue is there is no aerial and is its rented accommodation I can't get one installed. I know indoor aerials rarely work so I guess thats out too.

Is there any other options out there or will I just have to go with UPC?

homer911

Where are you located and what direction does your TV room face?

Do you have a satellite dish?

If all else fails, UPC are doing good deals at the moment

deisedude

homer911 wrote: »

Where are you located and what direction does your TV room face?

Do you have a satellite dish?

If all else fails, UPC are doing good deals at the moment

Galway City and it would be facing west.

No dish currently installed on the house and don't think the landlord would allow me to either which is fair enough

iba

deisedude wrote: »

Hi there, moving into a new house and was thinking of getting Saorview. The previous tenant used UPC so that should be easy enough to get sorted again but really only want the tv for watching the odd match so FTA would be beter. The issue is there is no aerial and is its rented accommodation I can't get one installed. I know indoor aerials rarely work so I guess thats out too.

Is there any other options out there or will I just have to go with UPC?

If you get a combo box like an Ariva, a pair of rabbits years might work (Lidl rabbits years at €9.99 work for me) or you just put an aerial in the attic (indoors) (this also works for me and costs about €13 or €14 from satplanet.

Also a dish does not necessarily have to go on a house, it could for example be mounted on a back/side wall or even just on the ground.

deisedude

iba wrote: »

If you get a combo box like an Ariva, a pair of rabbits years might work (Lidl rabbits years at €9.99 work for me) or you just put an aerial in the attic (indoors) (this also works for me and costs about €13 or €14 from satplanet.

Also a dish does not necessarily have to go on a house, it could for example be mounted on a back/side wall or even just on the ground.

Might try the rabbit ears. Not the end of the world financially if it doesnt work!

winston_1

deisedude wrote: »

Might try the rabbit ears. Not the end of the world financially if it doesnt work!

So called rabbits ears are VHF aerials only suitable for DAB and FM radio not UHF TV.

This is what you need:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TELECAM-TCE2000-performance-indoor-aerial-Black/dp/B000G73ZIQ

GerardKeating

deisedude wrote: »

Galway City and it would be facing west.

No dish currently installed on the house and don't think the landlord would allow me to either which is fair enough

For Saorview, Galway city is covered by one of two Transmitter. Maghera or Tonabrocky.

Maghera covers large tracks of Clare, Galway and into Mayo. Tonabrocky cover the city itself.

it would take a year or two for the investment in Saorview and FreeSat to pay for itself, and if you are renting and move every other view, might not be worth the hassle. Are you also planning to get Broadband, if so UPC for TV and BB might be the most economical option.

iba

winston_1 wrote: »

So called rabbits ears are VHF aerials only suitable for DAB and FM radio not UHF TV.

This is what you need:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TELECAM-TCE2000-performance-indoor-aerial-Black/dp/B000G73ZIQ

Well then the Rabbits ears that lidl sell must be UHF.

Perhaps they are not called Rabbits ears, but I gurantee you that they work - I have used them myself as have tow other people that I know.

iba

GerardKeating wrote: »

For Saorview, Galway city is covered by one of two Transmitter. Maghera or Tonabrocky.

Maghera covers large tracks of Clare, Galway and into Mayo. Tonabrocky cover the city itself.

it would take a year or two for the investment in Saorview and FreeSat to pay for itself, and if you are renting and move every other view, might not be worth the hassle. Are you also planning to get Broadband, if so UPC for TV and BB might be the most economical option.

You can set up a sat system for very little. €70 for a combo box like an Ariva 150. And then you can buy a dish and LNB on Adverts.ie for €30 or so.

http://www.adverts.ie/satellite/sky-freesat-mk4-satellite-dish-w-single-lnb-lastest-design-free-fast-postage/5223880

http://www.adverts.ie/satellite/ferguson-ariva-150-hd-combo-new-model/5280097

I just posted the 1st links I found - probably get it even cheaper if you look a bit harder.

So all in with the rabbits ears €110 or with the aerial like the link below €115:

http://sat-planet.ie/index.php?route=product/product&path=25_79_81&product_id=103

I think UPC or SKY charge about €30 a month so you will cover your cost in 4 months and then free TV forever and you can take it with you when you move.

Regards

P.S. Ok maybe they are not called rabbits ears but just aerials:

http://www.techtir.ie/radio-tv/uhf-aerials

deisedude

winston_1 wrote: »

So called rabbits ears are VHF aerials only suitable for DAB and FM radio not UHF TV.

This is what you need:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TELECAM-TCE2000-performance-indoor-aerial-Black/dp/B000G73ZIQ

Does this pick up the english channels only? Or once used with the relevant box does it matter?

deisedude

winston_1 wrote: »

So called rabbits ears are VHF aerials only suitable for DAB and FM radio not UHF TV.

This is what you need:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TELECAM-TCE2000-performance-indoor-aerial-Black/dp/B000G73ZIQ

Does this pick up the english channels only? Or once used with the relevant box does it matter?

The Cush

deisedude wrote: »

Does this pick up the english channels only? Or once used with the relevant box does it matter?

It's an indoor terrestrial aerial for a Saorview TV or STB and like any other indoor aerial should only be used if the Saorview signal is good enough where you locate it.

In the UK it'll receive the UK channels when connected to a Freeview TV or STB provided the signal is good enough etc.

Johnboy1951

deisedude wrote: »

Galway City and it would be facing west.

No dish currently installed on the house and don't think the landlord would allow me to either which is fair enough

Would you not be best advised to discuss things with the landlord before making any decisions?

He might permit a Sat dish and DTT aerial to be fitted together somewhere ..... but you won't be sure unless you ask

winston_1

deisedude wrote: »

Does this pick up the english channels only? Or once used with the relevant box does it matter?

Aerials are not racist. I would not have suggested it if it was not the right one.

winston_1

iba wrote: »

Well then the Rabbits ears that lidl sell must be UHF.

Perhaps they are not called Rabbits ears, but I gurantee you that they work - I have used them myself as have tow other people that I know.

What a silly thing to say! Wet string will work in a strong signal area, that does not mean wet string is a UHF aerial.

Professionals don't use the wrong type of aerial because they may work in a strong signal situation, nor should you.

dodzy

GerardKeating wrote: »

it would only take a year or two few months for the investment in Saorview and FreeSat to pay for itself

FYP

petronius

Ideally try get a Saorview/Freesat combo setup.
An attic Aerial pointing towards your Saorview transmitter is 50euro with cabling
rabbits ears, or the saorview compat DTT can work but are a bit volatile - there are youtube videos about building your own dtt aerial including one which you stick to the window.
-
for circa 200/300 you can get a saorview/freesat combo box, sat dish and saorview compat aerial - installation maybe for 100euro more

Ed Pig

iba wrote: »

... Ok maybe they are not called rabbits ears but just aerials

You think so?! If you haven't already worked it out, "rabbit ears" is just a colloquial term for VHF indoor aerials, due to their 2 long elements giving them a resemblance to the auditory apparatus of said burrowing animal.

UHF indoor aerials will often take the form of a loop (often included with the "ears" to make a combined VHF/UHF aerial). Better are the more directional Yagi or Log-Periodic types.

Ed Pig

petronius wrote: »

... or the saorview compat DTT

What is "the Saorview compact DTT"?

petronius

Oops I meant Saorview Compatible set-top aerial(rabbits ears) . I have an old set of 1960s UHF rabbits ears bakalite and brass it looks like, which work for saorview although RTE1 is a bit dodgy

winston_1

petronius wrote: »

Oops I meant Saorview Compatible set-top aerial(rabbits ears) . I have an old set of 1960s UHF rabbits ears bakalite and brass it looks like, which work for saorview although RTE1 is a bit dodgy

But rabbits ears are NOT Saorview compatible because they are VHF aerials for DAB and FM radio. How many times does it have to be said?

iba

petronius wrote: »

Ideally try get a Saorview/Freesat combo setup.
An attic Aerial pointing towards your Saorview transmitter is 50euro with cabling
rabbits ears, or the saorview compat DTT can work but are a bit volatile - there are youtube videos about building your own dtt aerial including one which you stick to the window.
-
for circa 200/300 you can get a saorview/freesat combo box, sat dish and saorview compat aerial - installation maybe for 100euro more

Why would you pay 200/300 plus 100 installation when you can do it for less than 120 yourself?

Ed Pig

iba wrote: »

Why would you pay 200/300 plus 100 installation when you can do it for less than 120 yourself?

What makes you think everyone can manage installation of a satellite & terrestrial TV system?

iba

Ed Pig wrote: »

What makes you think everyone can manage installation of a satellite & terrestrial TV system?

This is your first day on baords. The idea is to help people. So stop filling it up with unhelpful sarcastic remarks.

Ed Pig

iba wrote: »

This is your first day on baords. The idea is to help people. So stop filling it up with unhelpful sarcastic remarks.

I think you need to check the definition of sarcasm, among other things.

Where have I been unhelpful? At least now you know what the "rabbit ears" name applies to, & you might stop advocating their use for Saorview reception. Fine if someone has 1 of these aerials lying around & want to try it, but we shouldn't be sending folks out to buy VHF aerials for a UHF service.

The Cush

iba wrote: »

This is your first day on baords. The idea is to help people. So stop filling it up with unhelpful sarcastic remarks.

I don't think it's his first day on boards

bilbot79

How does one install a free to air system themselves? Would I have to run a cable down the stairs from the attic and under the rug etc?

I'm not much of a diy aficionado but I'd give it a go if I had some clear instructions?

iba

bilbot79 wrote: »

How does one install a free to air system themselves? Would I have to run a cable down the stairs from the attic and under the rug etc?

I'm not much of a diy aficionado but I'd give it a go if I had some clear instructions?

Probably better drilling a hole through the wall to close to where your TV is.

Or maybe you have an airvent near your TV that you could slide it through.