What is the best TV/Streaming set up?

jwof2006

Hi all,

We have just moved in to an old 1980s built home, and have limited experience in the different ways of getting the TV set up.

At the minute we have a non-smart TV that has not got Saorview imbedded in it. Currently all we are doing is streaming Netflix and RTE Player via our Google Chromecast, and it is working okay in fairness, however we would like to be able to just watch terrestrial tv without the hassle of turning on the player etc.

There is an aerial on the house and a satellite dish to the side of the house. In the corner where the TV is there is an aerial wall plug but also two TV like cables coming down from the roof.

My understanding is that the best idea might be to get a Saorview box and connect it to the tv and to the wall socket (and also via wifi)and access terrestrial tv this way, does this make sense? What are the best Saorview boxes? Has anyone got any for sale?

What is the story with the cables coming down from the roof, are they obsolete? Is the satellite dish obsolete?

Thanks all, looking forward to your responses. And if anyone is selling a Saorview box please let me know.

Thanks,

Jack

Jack

muloc

Do you know anyone with a combi box you could borrow?

2 cables from picture 1 into the back

You'd find out quick enough what's working

This sort of thing

https://www.did.ie/products/ferguson-ariva-175-combo-receiver-black-ferg-ariva-175-combo

Charles Babbage

A modern TV will pick up Saorview if you just plug the aerial cable into it, no need for a box except for extra stuff like recording. Others will have better advice, but that aerial is does not look like a typical UHF aerial. A simple way to assess aerials and whether they are pointed the right way is to look at neighbouring houses. If you know someone locally then their setup would be informative.

jwof2006

Thanks guys. Will try the aerial direct into the tv first, and if no luck will try a combibox for the two aerials coming from the roof. I had a look in the attic, one of the cables is from the satellite dish and one from the aerial.

The aerial one also seems to have a connection running down into the wall so I guess that connects to the wall socket.

The Cush

The lower aerial looks like a wideband UHF grid, aka a bowtie grid antenna (better pic required). If so it should be ok for Saorview reception. The bowties on the aerial should be facing the direction of the transmitter.

Saorview coverage checker here - https://saorview.ie/en/check-coverage/

The upper aerial looks like an old VHF band 1 aerial, for Maghera Clare?, (or possibly VHF band 3) am open to correction on this as I have never seen this type in my area. VHF TV aerials are defunct in any case since Oct 2012, and should be removed.

Are the coax cables from those two aerials combined somewhere ?

The aerials may have been out of use since the sky dish was installed, using it for reception of the Irish channels.

The dish should be ok for satellite reception provided the LNB on the dish arm and cabling are ok.

If you're looking to upgrade the TV consider a Walker combi model, comes with both Saorview and FTA satellite tuners, they also have a selection of apps like Netflix, RTÉ player etc.

jwof2006

Thanks The Cush. Yea the two aerials seem to be combined in the attic. -Hopefully the wall socket will work as would like to push the two roof cables back into the attic if possible. Thanks for the info regarding the top aerial.

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122106042#Comment_122106042

Are the two ceiling cables for the Sky dish, I assume they were installed much later than the aerials.

The aerial cables can be separated now as the upper aerial is no longer in use.

c2r

Agree with removing the combiner for the VHF.

Also, if you don't want the ceiling cables you can combine potentially a feed from the satellite with the UHF from the bottom aerial and send both down the run to the wall plate.

Something like this in the attic https://cpc.farnell.com/triax/340110/tv-satellite-combiner-with-f-connectors-5-2400mhz/dp/ap01305

and replace the wallplate with this

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175302704710?chn=ps&_ul=GB&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-166974-033325-9&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=175302704710&targetid=2275367127251&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=20341&poi=&campaignid=21347184370&mkgroupid=165933472791&rlsatarget=pla-2275367127251&abcId=9429218&merchantid=263025381&geoid=20341&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI97Dl2sy8hwMVZYxQBh2VuBivEAQYAyABEgKktvD_BwE

Obviously the advantage of having the two cables from the satellite though is if you want to record one channel at the same time as watching another.

The cable running through the wall might be of suspect quality also so you may want to test some things out first.