How to get Digital Channels on a College Campus

Raoul

On campus in DCU. They have UPC in each room. I have a 40 inch saorview 400Hz HD tv and SD looks crap. Unfortunately, all we can get is SD channels. The setup in the college has not changed since NTL about ten years ago.

Is there anyway I could get the HD channels? Even if I have to use an additional aerial. I am in a room that is facing into a big park so if I could even get an additional aerial or something that would be great. Any ideas? Anyone?

The Cush

For the Irish channels maybe an indoor aerial pointing at the nearest transmitter to you - http://www.saorview.ie/get-saorview/make-the-switch/coverage-map/

Raoul

What sort of indoor aerial though? Just a simple aerial (rabbit ears) from a 2 euro shop or something? Or something more expensive?

http://www.dealz.ie/leisure-and-entertainment/electrical/tv-and-audio-accessories/digital-indoor-tv-aerial This couldn't possibly work could it?
Or this:
http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/1074815/Trail/searchtext%3EAERIAL.htm

The Cush

Raoul wrote: »

What sort of indoor aerial though? Just a simple aerial (rabbit ears) from a 2 euro shop or something? Or something more expensive?

Rabbits ears are VHF, TV is transmitted in the UHF band so an aerial something like this - http://cpcireland.farnell.com/mercury/sto2/set-top-aerial-olympik-2/dp/AP00025

Raoul

The Cush wrote: »

Rabbits ears are VHF, TV is transmitted in the UHF band so an aerial something like this - http://cpcireland.farnell.com/mercury/sto2/set-top-aerial-olympik-2/dp/AP00025

Cheers. I need something indoor though. That isn't indoor is it?

Raoul

Raoul wrote: »

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/1074815/Trail/searchtext%3EAERIAL.htm

Went and bought this one. It said UHF on it so figured I may aswell chance it and it worked. However, what I didn't realise was that there are only 8 channels and two in HD. I thought you could get BBC, Channel 4 and UTV, like I can get in Louth.

ardmacha

Raoul wrote: »

Went and bought this one. It said UHF on it so figured I may aswell chance it and it worked. However, what I didn't realise was that there are only 8 channels and two in HD. I thought you could get BBC, Channel 4 and UTV, like I can get in Louth.

I expect you are not studying geography, DCU is further from any BBC transmitter than Louth.

Raoul

ardmacha wrote: »

I expect you are not studying geography, DCU is further from any BBC transmitter than Louth.

Well...as soon as I didn't get them I thought about it and realised why. But when I went out and bought it I wasn't thinking about it properly. No big deal though, I just wanted to watch the football in HD.

The Cush

Raoul wrote: »

I need something indoor though. That isn't indoor is it?

Yes it was.

Raoul

The Cush wrote: »

Yes it was.

Thanks for the quick response earlier anyway.

winston_1

Raoul wrote: »

Went and bought this one. It said UHF on it so figured I may aswell chance it and it worked. However, what I didn't realise was that there are only 8 channels and two in HD. I thought you could get BBC, Channel 4 and UTV, like I can get in Louth.

I see Argos are quoting up to 45 dB gain. They are lying, that type of loop aerial (it is technically a quad) would have about 1 dB of gain, if that. To get 45 dB gain you would need a parabolic dish several metres in diameter.