FreeSat

AtticusFinch86

Hi all, I'm moving into a new apartment soon and I was wondering if the Freeview boxes (that have the BBCs, ITVs etc) work here in Donegal? and if so, could anyone make any recommendations on a good, reasonably priced model? Also, I'm assuming freeview wouldn't need a satellite dish? Or am I wrong?

Liefelt

Freeview is the UK terrestrial service, not satellite, & is available in some parts of Donegal.

Your TV may already have a Freeview tuner (maybe Saorview too), & won't need a box. Certainly if it works with Saorview, it will work with Freeview (SD anyway).

Post the make & model of your TV, if you need info in this regard.

AtticusFinch86

Thanks for the reply, pretty sure it doesn't have saorview built in but on the off chance it does, It's an LG 42 inch TV. The model number is LH3000-ZA.

So does that mean that if I were to get a saorview box, I might pick up the british channels?

I vaguely remember reading a thread a few years ago that said that if you buy the Freeview box from UK it would pick up UK channels, but then again they may have been talking about a FreeSat box.

byte

I'm pretty sure the 42LH3000 does have MPEG4 DVBT tuner, so should work with Saorview (even though it may not be certified, LG's generally work fine with MPEG4).

Are there TV signals already wired up to the apartment from a communal aerial system?

Best buy nothing until you rig it up and do an Auto Scan, see what it picks up.

Liefelt

Yeah, there's an old thread here, titled 'TVs working with Saorview-the list', & the LH3000 is on it.

AtticusFinch86

I'm a bit confused about how it works. Do I need an aerial, if so, where would I get one? Or is there a receiver built in to the TV?

We also have another LG TV at the house (different model) that has a built in receiver and so that's what's causing me the confusion.

If I were to buy a saorview box, would it work off the bat? i.e. could I just plug it into tv and watch without worrying about aerials/sat boxes etc.


And again, thanks for taking the time to reply

AtticusFinch86

Forget that last post, I've hooked it up to the aerial at home and it seems to be picking up the channels. They're very jumpy but I'd imagine that the aerial has probably been misaligned over time and that's what causing it.

The Cush

You require an aerial to receive Saorview (and Freeview if you're within covrage) connected to the TV or STB tuner.

http://www.rtenl.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Saorview-DTT-October2010.pdf
http://www.saorview.ie/get-saorview/make-the-switch/

The Cush

AtticusFinch86 wrote: »

Forget that last post,

Too late, replied already

AtticusFinch86 wrote: »

I've hooked it up to the aerial at home and it seems to be picking up the channels. They're very jumpy but I'd imagine that the aerial has probably been misaligned over time and that's what causing it.

When was the aerial last used?
Is it pointing at your nearest recommended transmitter - http://www.saorview.ie/get-saorview/make-the-switch/coverage-map/

maringo

I have a TV with freeview built in. It is Saorview compatible. I have lead from my old Sky dish for the free channels and have an aerial for receiving the Irish channels - both plugged directly into the TV. Got a TV guy to put the aerial up - its quite a small one and he fitted it onto the dish bracket outside and aligned it. On scanning the TV found the Irish digital channels on the antenna and the freeview (BBC ITV Chan4 et al) on satellite dish. Some people say an indoor aerial will find the Irish channels but I don't know.

The Cush

maringo wrote: »

Some people say an indoor aerial will find the Irish channels but I don't know.

Depends on signal strength/quality where you locate the indoor aerial, they can also be prone to local interference. An outdoor aerial is generally recommended.

Digifriendly

maringo wrote: »

I have a TV with freeview built in. It is Saorview compatible. I have lead from my old Sky dish for the free channels and have an aerial for receiving the Irish channels - both plugged directly into the TV. Got a TV guy to put the aerial up - its quite a small one and he fitted it onto the dish bracket outside and aligned it. On scanning the TV found the Irish digital channels on the antenna and the freeview (BBC ITV Chan4 et al) on satellite dish. Some people say an indoor aerial will find the Irish channels but I don't know.

Freeview is UK terrestrial service via an aerial . FTA Sat channels are what you are receiving via the dish.