TV choice to minimize equipment

share_bear

This seems to span both Terrestial and Satellite so I'll have to post in each section...


I haven't really kept up to date with the developments in free television viewing, and as I try to catch up, I am becoming a little confused....please help.

It appears that I can get Saorview (limited list of Irish channels only) by purchasing a SaorView approved TV and connecting it to an indoor aerial, no settop box required.

but...

Is it possible to get a TV with an internal sat turner, i.e. to also connect a satallite dish directly to the TV without having to go through a set-top box? If so, how do I tell what TV's have this when looking in Argos, Harvey Normans etc?

Or is a set-top box a must-have for satellite?

Is there a TV with the in-built ability to record (not relying on a set-top box)?

Also, if going Freesat, can I also receive the main Irish channels via Saorsat - i.e. eliminate the need to bother with an aerial at all?

I am looking to do several TVs in the house and looking for the best result on a budget.

Thanks in Advance

steveon

share_bear wrote: »

This seems to span both Terrestial and Satellite so I'll have to post in each section...


I haven't really kept up to date with the developments in free television viewing, and as I try to catch up, I am becoming a little confused....please help.

It appears that I can get Saorview (limited list of Irish channels only) by purchasing a SaorView approved TV and connecting it to an indoor aerial, no settop box required.

but...

Is it possible to get a TV with an internal sat turner, i.e. to also connect a satallite dish directly to the TV without having to go through a set-top box? If so, how do I tell what TV's have this when looking in Argos, Harvey Normans etc?

Or is a set-top box a must-have for satellite?

Is there a TV with the in-built ability to record (not relying on a set-top box)?

Also, if going Freesat, can I also receive the main Irish channels via Saorsat - i.e. eliminate the need to bother with an aerial at all?

I am looking to do several TVs in the house and looking for the best result on a budget.

Thanks in Advance

You can indeed get tv's with a sat tuner as well as a saorview tuner built in and there are a number of providers such as Sony, Samsung Lg as well as others.

The best by far is the Sony range but they are the most expensive on the list, however when it comes to a tv guide most will only tell you what is on now and next on the sat side of things.

Some tv's will also have smart functions most are extremely poor at present so check what the tv has before you commit to buy and make sure it has a built in wireless card if you dont have a network cable present at your tv's location.

share_bear

Please can anyone recommend small cheap TVs with both Sat and Saorview tuners built in? The ones on the saorview website are more towards top of the range.

Also, is it possible to combine Aerial and sat onto one cable for distribution, splitting out again just before each tv?

steveon

share_bear wrote: »

Please can anyone recommend small cheap TVs with both Sat and Saorview tuners built in? The ones on the saorview website are more towards top of the range.

Also, is it possible to combine Aerial and sat onto one cable for distribution, splitting out again just before each tv?

I haven't seen anything smaller than a 32 inch. Cheapest ones are walker or finlux which are the same set.

You can use a diplexor to combine the sat n terrestrial signals down the one cable but should ensure a good cable is used if its black rg6 grade it should ve ok.

share_bear

steveon wrote: »

I haven't seen anything smaller than a 32 inch. Cheapest ones are walker or finlux which are the same set.

You can use a diplexor to combine the sat n terrestrial signals down the one cable but should ensure a good cable is used if its black rg6 grade it should ve ok.

What would be typical cost from an installer to get aerial, sat dish, and diplexed distribution to a few different points in a 3-bed semi please?

Kristopherus

share_bear wrote: »

What would be typical cost from an installer to get aerial, sat dish, and diplexed distribution to a few different points in a 3-bed semi please?

€300.00 to €500.00. Get a few quotes if you can. You should go the extra mile if you can & get the house "future" proofed by having as many sockets as you can. And maybe cable the gaff for internet as well. It will be a once-off cost for the complete set-up.