Best option for apartment dweller

Cyrus

My complex is wired for UPC, at the moment i have the horizon box, 240mb BB, phone.

My discounts have expired and its around 75 a month now.

Really i only need the BB and the basic irish and uk stations.

Assume saorview isnt an option for me (even tho i have compat tvs) due to the apartment.

Any other ideas on what i could do?

Eire Go Brach

Cyrus wrote: »

My complex is wired for UPC, at the moment i have the horizon box, 240mb BB, phone.

My discounts have expired and its around 75 a month now.

Really i only need the BB and the basic irish and uk stations.

Assume saorview isnt an option for me (even tho i have compat tvs) due to the apartment.

Any other ideas on what i could do?

Well depending where you are. All you need is rabbits ears for Saorview. You dont need a dish.

Cyrus

Eire Go Brach wrote: »

Well depending where you are. All you need is rabbits ears for Saorview. You dont need a dish.

blackrock

i suppose i could try it out

winston_1

Eire Go Brach wrote: »

Well depending where you are. All you need is rabbits ears for Saorview. You dont need a dish.

NO. So called rabbits ears are VHF aerials for FM and DAB radio. You need a UHF aerial preferably on the roof but you might be able to use this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Telecam-TCE2000-Indoor-Aerial-Antenna/dp/B00IUC9CZ4

For UK channels unless you are right near the border you need a dish and that does need to be outside.

zefer

Try rabbit ears (obviously with a stb box). I use them in my house for saorview and it works perfectly

winston_1

zefer wrote: »

Try rabbit ears (obviously with a stb box). I use them in my house for saorview and it works perfectly

NO. As I have already said rabbits ears are VHF aerials for FM and DAB radio. If you have to use an indoor aerial at least get one designed for TV. A wrong aerial will only work in exceptionally strong signal areas.

As you have compatible TVs you don't need a set top box either.

coylemj

winston_1 wrote: »

NO. As I have already said rabbits ears are VHF aerials for FM and DAB radio. If you have to use an indoor aerial at least get one designed for TV. A wrong aerial will only work in exceptionally strong signal areas.

Rabbit's ears is Dublin slang for an indoor aerial, nobody sells VHF aerials any more.

listermint

winston_1 wrote: »

NO. So called rabbits ears are VHF aerials for FM and DAB radio. You need a UHF aerial preferably on the roof but you might be able to use this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Telecam-TCE2000-Indoor-Aerial-Antenna/dp/B00IUC9CZ4

For UK channels unless you are right near the border you need a dish and that does need to be outside.

If used the small magnetic one that came with both my TVs in my apartment and they worked an absolute charm.

So you get Saorview for free,

You could also explore Android Boxes for TV OP, there are various ones available with varying degrees of success. You just need the Broadband.

Cyrus

listermint wrote: »

If used the small magnetic one that came with both my TVs in my apartment and they worked an absolute charm.

So you get Saorview for free,

You could also explore Android Boxes for TV OP, there are various ones available with varying degrees of success. You just need the Broadband.

i have a htpc already, what type of thing works?

winston_1

coylemj wrote: »

Rabbit's ears is Dublin slang for an indoor aerial, nobody sells VHF aerials any more.

Don't think so. I've seen the term on Australian and US web sites and in every case it means a VHF aerial with two rods in a V formation.

There are some with an additional UHF loop but there is little point in buying those as all you use is the loop which can be bought separately and is smaller and more discreet.

Digifriendly

winston_1 wrote: »

Don't think so. I've seen the term on Australian and US web sites and in every case it means a VHF aerial with two rods in a V formation.

There are some with an additional UHF loop but there is little point in buying those as all you use is the loop which can be bought separately and is smaller and more discreet.

As here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipole_antenna#Set-top_TV_antenna

zefer

winston_1 wrote: »

NO. As I have already said rabbits ears are VHF aerials for FM and DAB radio. If you have to use an indoor aerial at least get one designed for TV. A wrong aerial will only work in exceptionally strong signal areas.

As you have compatible TVs you don't need a set top box either.

No, I don't have a compatible TV. I use rabbit ears for my signal with a stb as I've said already.

winston_1

zefer wrote: »

No, I don't have a compatible TV. I use rabbit ears for my signal with a stb as I've said already.

My post was actually directed at the OP who said he had a compatible TV. Maybe that was not clear. Sorry.

Anyway as I have said twice rabbits ears are VHF aerials. If they work for you good luck, you must be in a strong signal area where any bit of wire will work. Generally using the correct UHF aerial is recommended.

Gerry Wicklow

Rabbits ears is a generic term which most people would understand to mean a set-top aerial. It's much like you would 'do the hoovering' with your Dyson or drill a hole with your Black and Decker.

winston_1

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

Rabbits ears is a generic term which most people would understand to mean a set-top aerial. It's much like you would 'do the hoovering' with your Dyson or drill a hole with your Black and Decker.

Not at all. I already said that rabbits ears are a VHF aerial with two rods in a V shape in post 10. This was backed up in post 11. I've never known anyone to refer to a UHF loop as rabbits ears.

coylemj

winston_1 wrote: »

Not at all. I already said that rabbits ears are a VHF aerial with two rods in a V shape in post 10. This was backed up in post 11. I've never known anyone to refer to a UHF loop as rabbits ears.

It was not 'backed up' in post #11, an entry in Wikipedia carries as much weight as a post on boards. What you read in Wikipedia is the opinion of the last person who edited the article. In Dublin people say 'rabbit's ears' when they mean 'indoor aerial'. It's the same as the way people still refer to 'telegraph poles'.

Thurston?

coylemj wrote: »

... It's the same as the way people still refer to 'telegraph poles'.

It's not the same: 1 pole looks pretty much like another, no matter what it's carrying.

A Yagi or log-periodic aerial looks nothing like a rabbit's ears.

coylemj

Thurston? wrote: »

It's not the same: 1 pole looks pretty much like another, no matter what it's carrying.

A Yagi or log-periodic aerial looks nothing like a rabbit's ears.

Completely missing the point.

Thurston?

coylemj wrote: »

Completely missing the point.

I might be missing whatever daft point you are trying to make but, you are aware why the aerials with a pair of rods in a V got nicknamed 'rabbit ears' in the 1st place? Do you want me to post a picture of a rabbit?

This association of 'rabbit ears' with indoor aerial needs to be broken in the minds of those contemplating buying set-top aerials for UHF reception, so they might at least consider getting a more effective type.

Eire Go Brach

Well it seems I started a bit of a debate.

All I know is that Rabbit ears the V thing worked for me when I tried them out.

I live in an apartment in Clondalkin.

I thought the poster thought he needed a dish. But at least we know all they need is a basic aerial.