New build advice for free view TV

Fatmeathman

Hi complete newbie to all of this, just bought a new build house in meath (dunshaughlin), each bedroom and living and kitchen are wired for TV (according to the information I got). I am looking to get free view Irish and UK channels for free (if possible). I have no issue with a one time installation cost, but don't want an ongoing sub,.. any advice greatly appreciated !

Gerry Wicklow

The cheapest and easiest way is to get a large aerial setup pointed north for the UK FreeView system which I'm guessing should be available in Dunshaughlin. Irish channels also come from a normal aerial. The advantage of this setup is that you only need a basic splitter/amplifier to supply the signal to all the rooms.

If a good enough signal is not available by aerial from the north, you will need a satellite dish for the Free-To-Air (FTA) UK satellite channels. You will still need the aerial for the Irish channels as they are not easily available by satellite. Just how complex the aerial/satellite setup will be depends on your needs.
Do you want a centralised system where all the recordings etc are kept on one box? Do you want all channels available to all TVs? Do you want recording ability in different rooms? Are you reasonably comfortable with computers?
If you want a reasonably versatile setup where different people can watch/record different things at once, you have 2 main choices. 1 system uses a type of IPTV where you have a central unit that does all the tuning and recording. This is then accessed from each room by a small computer or Smart TV. The 2nd choice uses a device called a multiswitch which divides the satellite signal before sending it to each room. Each room would then need its own satellite box or a TV with satellite tuner(s).
If you only wanted recording in 1 room and basic viewing elsewhere, you could opt for a multiple LNB (the yoke on the dish arm) wired directly to each room. You would still need a box or tv with the right tuners in each location.

Fatmeathman

wow thanks a million, big help.
The option that I am thinking of is "1 room and basic viewing elsewhere" So all TV s will be up to date SMART TV with the right tuners I presume. So basically my requirements will be Ariel for Irish channels most likely a dish for UK. The multi switch option seems the easiest way to watch different stuff in different rooms ?

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

The cheapest and easiest way is to get a large aerial setup pointed north for the UK FreeView system which I'm guessing should be available in Dunshaughlin. Irish channels also come from a normal aerial. The advantage of this setup is that you only need a basic splitter/amplifier to supply the signal to all the rooms.

If a good enough signal is not available by aerial from the north, you will need a satellite dish for the Free-To-Air (FTA) UK satellite channels. You will still need the aerial for the Irish channels as they are not easily available by satellite. Just how complex the aerial/satellite setup will be depends on your needs.
Do you want a centralised system where all the recordings etc are kept on one box? Do you want all channels available to all TVs? Do you want recording ability in different rooms? Are you reasonably comfortable with computers?
If you want a reasonably versatile setup where different people can watch/record different things at once, you have 2 main choices. 1 system uses a type of IPTV where you have a central unit that does all the tuning and recording. This is then accessed from each room by a small computer or Smart TV. The 2nd choice uses a device called a multiswitch which divides the satellite signal before sending it to each room. Each room would then need its own satellite box or a TV with satellite tuner(s).
If you only wanted recording in 1 room and basic viewing elsewhere, you could opt for a multiple LNB (the yoke on the dish arm) wired directly to each room. You would still need a box or tv with the right tuners in each location.

Gerry Wicklow

Each satellite tuner needs its own coax feed from the dish. If you want a box (or tv) to be able to record and watch a different channel it once, it then needs 2 cables from the dish. LNBs come in quad or octo (4 or 8) output types. Using a quad you could have a recording box in one room and a single feed to 2 other rooms. An octo would allow recording/viewing in say, 2 rooms, with 4 other connections for elsewhere. If you needed even more options than this for more rooms, a multiswitch comes into play. The idea of a multiswitch is to take the original quad 4 outputs from the dish and send them to as many points as required.

It is possible to "piggyback" the signal from an aerial onto the same satellite coax and split it out again at each point as required.

Johnboy1951

The alternative to running coax cables to each TV point, with suitable TV tuners or STBs at each location would be to centralise the tuners in a dedicated 'media press'.
As this is a new build this might be the more appropriate choice .... depending on a number of factors.

A single coax cable from a suitable LNB (UNicable type) to a tuner box (or boxes using splitter - Unicable compatible) in the media press, and a terrestrial aerial feed to another tuner box could be worth considering.

Those tuner boxes connect to the server via network cable attached to your Local Network (LAN).
A small server box (lightweight PC like a R-Pi or such) can be used to control access to the tuners by the users; provide the channels to all devices connected to the LAN (including mobile devices); manage recordings and storage and so on.
At each TV point, either the TV would have suitable software to interface with the 'server' or else more lightweight PC boxes (such as R-Pi or Android boxes) would be used for user interface and display of chosen channel.
Those client boxes at the TVs connect to the server box in the media press via the LAN, and all TV channels are served as 'data' to each. The client box then provides the display to the TV.

Laying a good LAN during the build with all rooms fed back to the media press is highly recommended, even if this scheme is not used.

IMO this is the most versatile of options, but it does come with some caveats ...... the main one being YOU are responsible for it and its continuing correct operation.
If you are a complete technophobe don't even consider doing this yourself.
But if you are reasonably comfortable using computers and installing and configuring devices then it might suit.
Having everything centralised means there is one main point for managing things, but on the other hand, there is also one main point for failure which would take down all clients.

It is most definitely not for everyone, but it can be done if sufficient planning is done first, and at a reasonable cost considering the functions and versatility it provides.

Fatmeathman

Thanks all this really convinced me that its a job for a professional anyone good recommendation for an installer in the meath area if they could PM me that would be great. Thanks again....