Getting Irish channels

Rufus50

Hi All,

Looking into options for our broadband and TV package.
Currently with Sky for basic TV package and broadband but now that year contract is up we are looking into other options as it is much too expensive for what we need.

Ideally all we use are the Irish channels, 2FM (which we can get via radio or phone), and sky sports news (but again not essential).

So basically its the Irish channels we hope to get along with broadband.

Just looking into options. We have a sky dish up and have gone over the year contract now. Have seen in posts you can get free to air channels from the sky box once we cancel contract but these are UK channels.

Would we need an aerial for Saorview (we have smart TV) or is there any other way of getting these? Ideally dont want to have to put up another aerial and wire it etc to TV as our house is fairly new and all wiring is behind walls etc.

Any info/advice would be great

Cheers

Gerry Wicklow

You will need some sort of aerial for the Irish Saorview channels. In some cases it is possible to "piggyback" the signal onto the existing cables from you dish to save extra wiring. If you had SkyQ you have to return the Sky box. The LNB on the dish will also need to be changed if it was SkyQ.

sligojoek

Is there a coax outlet near your TV? If there is then the chances are there's a cable going to the attic. Depending on your location you might get away with an attic aerial.

Newport81

I just bought a cheap tv aerial off amazon and stuck it into the back of the tv. It tuned in all the irish tv and radio stations

sligojoek

All depends on the "lie of the land" I live about 7 or 8 miles km from Truskmore but for 5 years I couldn't get a signal because i was in the shadow of a ridge of mountains. Had to pay Sky. No choice. However, since Saorview was launched, they built a taller mast and I can now see the tip of it standing at my back door. An installer told me NSFW

You could stick your mickey in the back of the tv and you'd get a picture

:D:D

People living closer to it and still in the shadow have to point to Longford or Mayo or the "Sky".

garrettod

sligojoek wrote: »

An installer told me NSFW

You could stick your mickey in the back of the tv and you'd get a picture

:D:D

Did it work?

icdg

None of that here, please!!!!!!!!!!!

darlett

Newport81 wrote: »

I just bought a cheap tv aerial off amazon and stuck it into the back of the tv. It tuned in all the irish tv and radio stations

Hi, if you dont mind could you put a link to that please? I've a relatively old tv from the late 2000s, I suppose I'd need a saorview box for starters? Or just invest in a new tv with that stuff built in??

dulpit

darlett wrote: »

Hi, if you dont mind could you put a link to that please? I've a relatively old tv from the late 2000s, I suppose I'd need a saorview box for starters? Or just invest in a new tv with that stuff built in??

The TV might but may not have a saorview tuner. Throw up the model number and people will be able to advise. Based on age though, it's unlikely.

Re. aerial - those internal aerials are fine if you are very close to the mast, but if you're not they'll do nothing. Here's an example: https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-All-Unamplified-Indoor-Digital-Black/dp/B001R545GW/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2QD1JTMH8G5OI&keywords=one+for+all+aerial&qid=1585567616&sprefix=one+for+all+aeri%2Caps%2C131&sr=8-6

sligojoek

icdg wrote: »

None of that here, please!!!!!!!!!!!

I apologise . I had a few cans on board and didn't think it through. I appreciate this is not After Hours. It won't happen again.

Ger Roe

dulpit wrote: »

The TV might but may not have a saorview tuner. Throw up the model number and people will be able to advise. Based on age though, it's unlikely.

Re. aerial - those internal aerials are fine if you are very close to the mast, but if you're not they'll do nothing. Here's an example: https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-All-Unamplified-Indoor-Digital-Black/dp/B001R545GW/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2QD1JTMH8G5OI&keywords=one+for+all+aerial&qid=1585567616&sprefix=one+for+all+aeri%2Caps%2C131&sr=8-6

Agreed on the mast proximity (signal strength) requirement.

If that antenna works for you, you would probably get the same result using a stretched out coat hanger. I'd say it's only useful in an area where the signal is so strong that the aforementioned unnatural act would also work. :eek:

For an antenna to be effective in any real sense, it actually has to look like an antenna - for correct freq group and polarisation. You need to know what transmitter you are pointing at and what it's technical characteristics are.

Newport81

Ger Roe wrote: »

Agreed on the mast proximity (signal strength) requirement.

If that antenna works for you, you would probably get the same result using a stretched out coat hanger. I'd say it's only useful in an area where the signal is so strong that the aforementioned unnatural act would also work. :eek:

For an antenna to be effective in any real sense, it actually has to look like an antenna - for correct freq group and polarisation. You need to know what transmitter you are pointing at and what it's technical characteristics are.

True I actually tried the clothes hanger and still got the channels with that but I couldn’t make it stay in it kept falling out! I live in city center also so signal prob really good for that reason

rameire

dulpit wrote: »

The TV might but may not have a saorview tuner. Throw up the model number and people will be able to advise. Based on age though, it's unlikely.

Re. aerial - those internal aerials are fine if you are very close to the mast, but if you're not they'll do nothing. Here's an example: https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-All-Unamplified-Indoor-Digital-Black/dp/B001R545GW/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2QD1JTMH8G5OI&keywords=one+for+all+aerial&qid=1585567616&sprefix=one+for+all+aeri%2Caps%2C131&sr=8-6

I have a tv in the attic that I had a cable sitting in the connection and I was able to get the Irish Channels but it was not a stable reception. So actually purchased the one in the link you have and I have had no issues.
Location is Clonee D15.

Recently cancelled my sky. want to have the Irish Free to Air and UK satellite free to air channels on another TV.
Have a Sky satellite with 2 cables, purchased another similar antenna and the TV I have is LG SM8200PLA, it has a satellite and a cable tuner.

Im assuming all I need to do is connect one of the sky cables and the antenna into the tv and add a usb hard drive to facilitate record, pause, rewind activity?