Total novice- coax splitter to combine saorview and upc analogue- problem

Breckle

Hi, thanks in advance for the help. As the title says, i am trying to combine my UPC analogue signal and saorview on one tv. The tv only has one aeriel input, with just the UPC cable plugged in I receive perfect UPC analogue channels. With just my UHF indoor aeriel plugged in I receive adequate saorview reception. However, when I use a coax splitter to put both in at once, the UPC analogue channels become fuzzy and the saorview signal disimproves. Is there any (simple) way I can receive both in good quality?

mackersdublin

This might be worth a try...

When you're doing a full digital and analogue scan on your tv, don't put the cable into the tv, until the scan has passed ch33

As Channel 4 on UPC and Saorview from Three Rock (30&33)

Breckle

mackersdublin wrote: »

This might be worth a try...

When you're doing a full digital and analogue scan on your tv, don't put the cable into the tv, until the scan has passed ch33

As Channel 4 on UPC and Saorview from Three Rock (30&33)

Thanks, which cable do you mean? The splitter with both cables inserted into it?

mackersdublin

Yeah, both cables

The Cush

One obvious problem is UPC analogue Channel 4 shares the same UHF frequency (UHF Ch. 30) as Saorview Mux 1 carrying RTÉ2, TV3, TG4 etc. so there is a conflict there that you can do nothing about when you combine both at the TV input.

The splitter may also be causing problems for both the analogue channels and the Saorview channels by causing some signal loss.

The indoor aerial may not be feeding a good signal to the TV and being further reduced by the splitter.

You could add a separate cheap Saorview box and connect it to the TV via HDMI/scart thus avoiding conflict with analogue Channel4 and splitting the signal or use an old VCR/DVD to feed the UPC analogue channels to the TV via scart.

Cogg

mackersdublin wrote: »

This might be worth a try...

When you're doing a full digital and analogue scan on your tv, don't put the cable into the tv, until the scan has passed ch33

And doing this would leave you with what, exactly? What's the point?

The Cush

mackersdublin wrote: »

This might be worth a try...

When you're doing a full digital and analogue scan on your tv, don't put the cable into the tv, until the scan has passed ch33

As Channel 4 on UPC and Saorview from Three Rock (30&33)

Saorview from Kippure (UHF 54 & 58)? If the indoor aerial is good enough and within Kippure coverage.

Scan the UPC analogue channels first with the indoor aerial disconnected then do a digital scan of Chs. 54 & 58 with the aerial connected.

Cogg

Shouldn't have to point this out but, the indoor aerial will still be picking up the Three Rock signal, regardless of what is stored on the TV. Three Rock would need to be filtered out.

The Cush

Cogg wrote: »

Shouldn't have to point this out but, the indoor aerial will still be picking up the Three Rock signal, regardless of what is stored on the TV. Three Rock would need to be filtered out.

You'd still lose analogue Channel 4 but maybe OK Saorview from Kippure.

Using a separate Saorview receiver or VCR/DVD would remove any conflict.

Breckle

Thanks all. How would I tune in the channels if I connect the saorview up via DVD player?

Breckle

So none of these suggestions have worked for me so far. I have heard mention of a diplexer, would one of those solve the problem?

The Cush

Breckle wrote: »

Thanks all. How would I tune in the channels if I connect the saorview up via DVD player?

Should have said DVD recorder.

The Cush

Breckle wrote: »

So none of these suggestions have worked for me so far. I have heard mention of a diplexer, would one of those solve the problem?

No, basically a splitter/combiner by another name.

Breckle

The Cush wrote: »

Should have said DVD recorder.

Ok, so I tune in the saorview channels via a DVD recorder then? Sorry for the very basic questions. The TV doesn't seem to allow me separately tune in digital and analogue. So do I tune both analogue and digital, but with the UHF aeriel for saorview attached to the TV via the DVD recorder? Would an external hard drive capable of recording do the same trick? I want to get one anyway to record the digital channels.

Cogg

The Cush wrote: »

Using a separate Saorview receiver or VCR/DVD would remove any conflict.

Yes, & OP should make sure to use good quality, well screened cable for connections from UPC point to tuner, minimise effects of the cable itself acting as an aerial.

The Cush

Breckle wrote: »

Ok, so I tune in the saorview channels via a DVD recorder then?

No, an analogue VCR or DVD recorder won't work with Saorview.

You have 2 options as I mentioned above either the aerial into a Saorview STB and from there to the TV via scart or HDMI with the analogue cable coax into the TV for the analogue channels or the analogue cable coax into a VCR/DVD recorder and from there into the TV's scart with the aerial connected directly into the TV for the Saorview channels.

Whichever option you use only the analogue or the Saorview channels will be tuned in via the TV, the other channels will have to be viewed via the box connected to the scart or HDMI.

Breckle wrote: »

Would an external hard drive capable of recording do the same trick? I want to get one anyway to record the digital channels.

No. To record the Saorview channels you require a Saorview or Freeview PVR or a Saorview STB with an external HDD attached. To record the analogue cable channels you require a VCR or DVD recorder.

Cogg

Breckle wrote: »

Ok, so I tune in the saorview channels via a DVD recorder then? Sorry for the very basic questions. The TV doesn't seem to allow me separately tune in digital and analogue. So do I tune both analogue and digital, but with the UHF aeriel for saorview attached to the TV via the DVD recorder? Would an external hard drive capable of recording do the same trick? I want to get one anyway to record the digital channels.

You need either a separate analogue tuner, such as in a VCR or DVD recorder, for the UPC channels or, a separate Saorview tuner.

The object is to keep the UPC signal out of the Saorview tuner & vice-versa.

Cogg

Breckle wrote: »

I have heard mention of a diplexer, would one of those solve the problem?

A diplexer is a combiner with filtered ports, passing only a certain band of frequencies on each signal path.

The right kind of diplexer could work if you can get a good signal from a transmitter other than Three Rock, say Kippure which uses channels well away from UPC analogue. The filtering on each signal path would hopefully reduce the "wrong" signal enough to make things fully usable.

The Cush

Cogg wrote: »

The right kind of diplexer could work if you can get a good signal from a transmitter other than Three Rock, say Kippure which uses channels well away from UPC analogue. The filtering on each signal path would hopefully reduce the "wrong" signal enough to make things fully usable.

I'd forgotten about them.

This one, a Triax UHF Diplexer TFC 3537, might work provided you can get a good signal from the Kippure transmitter. If the indoor aerial doesn't pull in a good enough signal you will have to go the external aerial route.

With the above diplexer Input 1 (VHF & UHF to channel 35) would connect to the UPC coax and Input 2 (UHF 37 - 69) for the Kippure aerial input, won't work with Three Rock (UHF 30 & 33).

Check here for the recommended Saorview transmitter for your location - http://www.saorview.ie/get-saorview/make-the-switch/coverage-map/

Breckle

Thank you all so much, I think I finally understand!

On a separate, but related note, I got given a sky plus HD box today. I presume that doesn't help my UPC analogue/saorview clash as in the OP? (I know I can use the sky plus box to receive the free to air satellite channels, but that's another days work!)

Grats

As I have a similar issue I might piggy back on this thread!

I have a Sony HDTV and have the terrestrial and satellite tuned directly in via the relevant cables from my aerial/dish. I would like to use my old Sony HDD recorder, for recording and viewing, and connect an external hard drive if necessary also.

Can somebody guide me through the appropriate connections please?

Ps I originally had a Walker box connected to an old tv. I did intend connecting it back up again to the new tv but as I had a lot of trouble with the box I would prefer to ditch it at this stage.

The Cush

Breckle wrote: »

Thank you all so much, I think I finally understand!

If you have further questions just ask.

Breckle wrote: »

On a separate, but related note, I got given a sky plus HD box today. I presume that doesn't help my UPC analogue/saorview clash as in the OP?

Unfortunately not.

The Cush

Grats wrote: »

I have a Sony HDTV and have the terrestrial and satellite tuned directly in via the relevant cables from my aerial/dish. I would like to use my old Sony HDD recorder, for recording and viewing, and connect an external hard drive if necessary also.

What is the model no. of the Sony HDD recorder?
Was it used for recording analogue TV?

Grats

The Cush wrote: »

What is the model no. of the Sony HDD recorder?
Was it used for recording analogue TV?

It's a RDR AT100. I have it since around 2009 and used for recording etc. I did have it connected to the Walker box and managed to record the channel I was watching. However since my big switch over I'm left confused at this stage - as you can see!

The Cush

Grats wrote: »

It's a RDR AT100. I have it since around 2009 and used for recording etc. I did have it connected to the Walker box and managed to record the channel I was watching. However since my big switch over I'm left confused at this stage - as you can see!

Unfortunately I think you're in the same situation with this recorder as it will only record the channel you're watching on the TV. Connect a scart cable from a Scart Out on the TV to a Scart In (Line 1) on the DVD recorder, then select the correct input on the recorder and press record.

Grats

The Cush wrote: »

Unfortunately I think you're in the same situation with this recorder as it will only record the channel you're watching on the TV. Connect a scart cable from a Scart Out on the TV to a Scart In (Line 1) on the DVD recorder, then select the correct input on the recorder and press record.

Recording the channel I'm watching is fine as I expected that. Thanks for the info. With regards to the aerials, do I still connect the terrestrial and satellite directly to the tv?

Breckle

I'm going to buy a DVD recorder to tune in the analogue channels from UPC. Will having this connected allow me to pause/rewind live TV also? (my TV is a samsung UE40HU6900) if so, can you recommend a specific DVD recorder I should purchase?

The Cush

Grats wrote: »

Recording the channel I'm watching is fine as I expected that. Thanks for the info. With regards to the aerials, do I still connect the terrestrial and satellite directly to the tv?

Yes, the DVD recorder is analogue only and so will be of no use for Saorview or satellite.

Grats

The Cush wrote: »

Yes, the DVD recorder is analogue only and so will be of no use for Saorview or satellite.

Ok, thanks again.

The Cush

Breckle wrote: »

I'm going to buy a DVD recorder to tune in the analogue channels from UPC. Will having this connected allow me to pause/rewind live TV also? (my TV is a samsung UE40HU6900) if so, can you recommend a specific DVD recorder I should purchase?

I don't think any analogue DVD recorder had live pause/rewind functionality, they are expensive now I believe and wouldn't be able to recommend any specific one. An old cheap VCR should be able to do the job also.

Breckle

The Cush wrote: »

I don't think any analogue DVD recorder had live pause/rewind functionality, they are expensive now I believe and wouldn't be able to recommend any specific one. An old cheap VCR should be able to do the job also.

Ok thanks. So there is no way that you know of to live pause/rewind analogue channels?

The Cush

Breckle wrote: »

So there is no way that you know of to live pause/rewind analogue channels?

To the best of my knowledge that's correct, someone else may be able to confirm.