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  • 24-03-2016 11:59am
    #1
    Luck100
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 878 ✭✭✭


    I'm looking for a bit of advice to get me started on the free broadcast thing.

    I just moved in to a new house. It already has a satellite dish and wiring in place - I'm guessing it was used for sky. No tuner boxes, so I'd like to try out something quick and cheap to see how we like it. I'm new to the free broadcast scene - is it basically just SaorView on terrestrial (antenna) and FreeSat via the dish? I was looking at picking up the 4ife SV-402 at Power City:
    http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-24-SV402

    So I can just plug that in to the existing satellite cabling? Do I need a signal booster? And would I need a separate UHF antenna for the SaorView? I'm in Dublin (Castleknock) so I'm hoping a smallish indoor antenna would work (ground floor and first floor locations).

    I can see lots of threads here discussing much more advanced (and expensive) tuner boxes - do they offer any additional channels or services that the 4ife doesn't? Or is it just a matter of more tuners, better interface, integrated HD for DVR, faster channel changing etc?


Comments

  • #2
    amikoalien2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 214 ✭✭amikoalien2


    There is a thread here on 4 life
    May be worth a look
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056762422


  • #3
    Atlantic Dawn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 84,763 ✭✭✭✭Atlantic Dawn
    M


    If you want 7 day EPG and little bother retuning or doing anything technical your best option is a Humax Freesat PVR for the UK Freesat channels and a Saorview Walker PVR for the Irish Saorview channels.


  • #4
    steveon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,905 ✭✭✭steveon


    Had the misfortune of installing a 4IFE Sv 402 today for a local store, took me hours to tune the channels in and put them in order, continious problems with the HD channels moving on me, it will not find rte 1+ 1 until after 7. If you scan the terrestrial it moves all the channels again on you after you spend hrs moving them, worst box 4ife has ever brought out avoid at all costs....


  • #5
    amikoalien2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 214 ✭✭amikoalien2


    steveon wrote: »
    Had the misfortune of installing a 4IFE Sv 402 today for a local store, took me hours to tune the channels in and put them in order, continious problems with the HD channels moving on me, it will not find rte 1+ 1 until after 7. If you scan the terrestrial it moves all the channels again on you after you spend hrs moving them, worst box 4ife has ever brought out avoid at all costs....
    Well there you go op not looking too good
    May be worth a punt on something like a ariva ?
    Cheap and cheerful


  • #6
    Luck100
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 878 ✭✭✭Luck100


    amikoalien2 wrote: »
    Well there you go op not looking too good
    May be worth a punt on something like a ariva ?
    Cheap and cheerful

    Thanks for the warnings guys! I saw the previous thread on 4ife but the 402 is a newer model. No better quality than before I guess.

    I see an ariva 252 model online. Any place to get these locally? That's the main reason I was looking at the 4ife unit - I could just pop down to Power City and pick one up to try.


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  • #7
    Luck100
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 878 ✭✭✭Luck100


    Ah yes, almost forgot: what about antennas? Would I get away with one of those smallish indoor antennas (not the ones for the Attic, the small ones you have near the TV). I see a few models that have an amp built in. I'm in Castleknock so my nearest broadcast tower is about 15k South.


  • #8
    Gerry Wicklow
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,568 ✭✭✭Gerry Wicklow


    Luck100 wrote: »
    Ah yes, almost forgot: what about antennas? Would I get away with one of those smallish indoor antennas (not the ones for the Attic, the small ones you have near the TV). I see a few models that have an amp built in. I'm in Castleknock so my nearest broadcast tower is about 15k South.
    Forget the ones with a built in amp/booster. They are a con. You can't boost a signal if the aerial isn't getting it. If the aerial can 'see' the mast on 3Rock or Kippure you might have a chance of success but it is not recommended for reliable service. Get a cheapo one from a Euro shop and try it. If it doesn't work then no great loss.


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