Saorview in a ground floor apartment

Dara Mac Donnell

Hi I have just taken possession of a ground floor apartment in Dublin city centre.
I would like to just have Saorview for now as I will only use the apartment occasionally and don't want to pay Virgin or some other provider a large monthly fee.
I borrowed a neighbour's portable aerial to test it out. He gets reception from the Three Rock transmitter fine as he is on the top floor of the block. When I tested it I could only get radio and not TV. The signal for channel 30 was better than 33. I don't know if the TV is broadcast on channel 33.

Anyway what I am wondering is if I used a more powerful aerial if it might make a difference or am I just snookered unless a communal aerial is put up in the block.

I don't know if the idea of a more powerful aerial makes sense technically.

Thanks

decor58

Dara Mac Donnell wrote: »

Hi I have just taken possession of a ground floor apartment in Dublin city centre.
I would like to just have Saorview for now as I will only use the apartment occasionally and don't want to pay Virgin or some other provider a large monthly fee.
I borrowed a neighbour's portable aerial to test it out. He gets reception from the Three Rock transmitter fine as he is on the top floor of the block. When I tested it I could only get radio and not TV. The signal for channel 30 was better than 33. I don't know if the TV is broadcast on channel 33.

Anyway what I am wondering is if I used a more powerful aerial if it might make a difference or am I just snookered unless a communal aerial is put up in the block.

I don't know if the idea of a more powerful aerial makes sense technically.

Thanks

When you say you could only get radio, what type/model tv do you have,FreeView sd tvs won't show Saorview pictures but you would get radio. You would need a Saorview /FreeView HD tv at minimum to view the Saorview channels. As regards the aerial, we're you getting a strong signal on the borrowed aerial, if so then the tv type (sd/hd) may be to blame. The Saorview channels are broadcast on both 30 and 33, RTE 1, VM3 are on 33, RTE 2 ,VM1 &2,TG4 are on 30.

Dara Mac Donnell

Hi I was getting a strong signal for 30 and less so for 33 on the borrowed aerial which was one of these
https://www.currys.ie/ieen/tv-and-home-entertainment/tv-accessories/tv-aerials/one-for-all-sv9420-design-amplified-indoor-tv-aerial-10135386-pdt.html#tab5
I am wondering if one of these would make a difference?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/SLx-27769RG-Performance-Freeview-Wideband/dp/B001ACV7E0/ref=pd_lpo_23_t_0/257-9900469-6555705

The TV is an old Panasonic TX-L37S10B LCD HD TV. We have a similar old Panasonic HD TV in our house and it shows both Saorview and Freesat via Amiko combo box. I think Saorview should display fine on the one in the apartment?

elfy4eva

Dara Mac Donnell wrote: »

Hi I have just taken possession of a ground floor apartment in Dublin city centre.
I would like to just have Saorview for now as I will only use the apartment occasionally and don't want to pay Virgin or some other provider a large monthly fee.
I borrowed a neighbour's portable aerial to test it out. He gets reception from the Three Rock transmitter fine as he is on the top floor of the block. When I tested it I could only get radio and not TV. The signal for channel 30 was better than 33. I don't know if the TV is broadcast on channel 33.

Anyway what I am wondering is if I used a more powerful aerial if it might make a difference or am I just snookered unless a communal aerial is put up in the block.

I don't know if the idea of a more powerful aerial makes sense technically.

Thanks

I set up an indoor ariel for my mam in north Dublin recently bought the cheapest one in Argos which claimed 3KM distance. It got signal but was unreliable and easily interrupted. Bought the next one up which boasted 9km which was better but still choppy on some channels. finally bought one that was for 15KM and it works without issue. So buying a bigger range seems to help alright. Hope that helps you.

decor58

Dara Mac Donnell wrote: »

Hi I was getting a strong signal for 30 and less so for 33 on the borrowed aerial which was one of these
https://www.currys.ie/ieen/tv-and-home-entertainment/tv-accessories/tv-aerials/one-for-all-sv9420-design-amplified-indoor-tv-aerial-10135386-pdt.html#tab5
I am wondering if one of these would make a difference?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/SLx-27769RG-Performance-Freeview-Wideband/dp/B001ACV7E0/ref=pd_lpo_23_t_0/257-9900469-6555705

The TV is an old Panasonic TX-L37S10B LCD HD TV. We have a similar old Panasonic HD TV in our house and it shows both Saorview and Freesat via Amiko combo box. I think Saorview should display fine on the one in the apartment?

The spec on the TV shows FREEVIEW SD, the Amiko box was acting as the tuner in your home, most likely through a HDMI cable to the tv.

Johnboy1951

Dara Mac Donnell wrote: »

...

The TV is an old Panasonic TX-L37S10B LCD HD TV. We have a similar old Panasonic HD TV in our house and it shows both Saorview and Freesat via Amiko combo box. I think Saorview should display fine on the one in the apartment?

The Amiko tuner is in use, not the TV tuner, which is the reason you can view Saorview channels.

Dara Mac Donnell

OK I guess I need either a new TV or a Saorview box and then repeat aerial test and if no joy with neighbour's aerial buy a more powerful one

athlone573

If I mention rabbit ears it will summon up the local aerial expert.

winston_1

athlone573 wrote: »

If I mention rabbit ears it will summon up the local aerial expert.

Don’t mention them then. So called rabbits ears are VHF aerials for FM and DAB radio, completely unsuitable for UHF TV.

winston_1

elfy4eva wrote: »

I set up an indoor ariel for my mam in north Dublin recently bought the cheapest one in Argos which claimed 3KM distance. It got signal but was unreliable and easily interrupted. Bought the next one up which boasted 9km which was better but still choppy on some channels. finally bought one that was for 15KM and it works without issue. So buying a bigger range seems to help alright. Hope that helps you.

Note ariel is washing powder not a reception device. Aerials don’t have power they have gain. Nor can aerials claim distance. So many things determine whether an aerial will work, distance, power of transmitter, type of terrain, height of aerial, etc.

Your ideal solution is a proper aerial on the roof or possibly in the loft. The plastic one from Amazon is useless, the second one is better. You need an aerial that looks like one not a block of plastic.

greasepalm

I am also on 3 rock and had an outside aerial fitted.

Query on Rte 1 and Rte 2 has the Hd been dropped as service info says 1440 x 1080 ?

Once tv and boxes setup for3 rock channels scan in but no mention hd.

Years ago i used to see Rte 1 HD on the icon.


Have now found out Rte one is broadcast in Hd.

Gerry Wicklow

1440 is RTÉs idea of HD

greasepalm

Cheap gits and 1980 x 1080 on sat.
Cheers

Johnboy1951

greasepalm wrote: »

I am also on 3 rock and had an outside aerial fitted.

Query on Rte 1 and Rte 2 has the Hd been dropped as service info says 1440 x 1080 ?

Once tv and boxes setup for3 rock channels scan in but no mention hd.

Years ago i used to see Rte 1 HD on the icon.


Have now found out Rte one is broadcast in Hd.

It has never been other than 1440x1080 on Saorview.

I don't recall seeing a HD DOG on Saorview.

greasepalm

Pre Saorview days i remember it having Hd and never thought anymore about it.

elfy4eva

winston_1 wrote: »

Note ariel is washing powder not a reception device.

:rolleyes:

icdg

winston_1 wrote: »

Note ariel is washing powder not a reception device. Aerials don’t have power they have gain. Nor can aerials claim distance. So many things determine whether an aerial will work, distance, power of transmitter, type of terrain, height of aerial, etc.

Your ideal solution is a proper aerial on the roof or possibly in the loft. The plastic one from Amazon is useless, the second one is better. You need an aerial that looks like one not a block of plastic.

Winston_1, while I know getting the correct terms right is important, I have warned you on the pendantary a number of times before. As it’s a while since the last time, I feel a warning is sufficient for now, but my patience has limits

Glaceon

greasepalm wrote: »

Pre Saorview days i remember it having Hd and never thought anymore about it.

The HD DOG was there up until they started adding the “Stay at home” message at the first lockdown. In the test days of Saorview they did test at 1920x1080 and 704x576 but it didn’t last.

greasepalm

Yes all bit of a joke with not even getting 1980 x 1020 with good old reliable Irish Television.

Ger Roe

greasepalm wrote: »

Pre Saorview days i remember it having Hd and never thought anymore about it.

I only noticed the HD missing myself this weekend when scanning channels on a new TV - I was looking out for the onscreen HD indication for RTE 1 & 2 and it isn't there anymore.

Dara Mac Donnell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117339744#Comment_117339744

I thought it might be helpful for others if I updated here with the outcome of my scenario. Unfortunately I am not allowed post links.

I had bought one of the basic One For All aerials, model 9420 in Tesco for €20 but I wasn't getting the Saorview channels on my old Panasonic HD TV.

decor58 and Johnboy1951 were correct. My old TV was not compatible with Saorview. So I bought a Edision HD Digital TV Receiver from freetv .ie for €40 and with the aerial cable inserted in that and Edision box connected to TV I could now get Saorview TV and radio channels.

I persisted with the original aerial for a while but found that reception was subject to significant intermittent interference. This got so annoying I went to my local Tesco and bought a supposedly more powerful One for All aerial, model 9143 for around €40. elfy4eva had suggested this above. The newer aerial has worked very well with far less interference.

So I bought a TV box and two aerials for €100 but have TV and radio now for free on my old HD TV. 

Will donate the spare aerial worth €20 as soon as I can find a worthy recipient. 😄

Next job is figure out how to get BBC via an Android box.