Freeview queries.

gam3r · 19 Mar 2006 at 18:37

I was wondering, is there a way to tell how strong freeview signals are in your area? Im in London, SW16 to be precise and im on a hill. I can see Crystal palace communication tower about 1km away.

Im asking this because im thinking of getting a freeview box for my room, and since my room has no aerial output fed into it im thinking of using my existing TV aerial, or buying another specially for freeview.

Thanks for reading.

CurlyWhirly · 19 Mar 2006 at 19:17

I have Freeview.
Before I went ahead with the purchase of a Freeview box I typed my postcode into the Freeview website and got this message:

Yes you can!

Congratulations the postcode you entered is in a FREEVIEW area, although you may need a new type of aerial.

I was going to pay for an upgraded aerial but when I set it up the picture quality was good enough so I have since managed on the standard aerial.

Why not try what I did and enter your postcode into http://www.freeview.co.uk/

gam3r · 19 Mar 2006 at 19:35

Just says

yes you can...Congratulations, the postcode you entered is in a FREEVIEW area. If you want to enjoy over 30 free TV channels, plus digital radio and interactive services, you just need to follow the steps below:...

I've bidded for a box on the bay, 2 hours till time is up though. I just hope i get good amount of channels that i want with a standard TV aerial(not a rooftop)

Sorry, i should have made it much clearer. When i said "i was thinking of using my existing TV aerial", i meant i was thinking of using the aerial that came with my 14" TV, you know the round ones for freeview instead of the rooftop aerial.

CurlyWhirly · 19 Mar 2006 at 21:17

gam3r said:
Sorry, i should have made it much clearer. When i said "i was thinking of using my existing TV aerial", i meant i was thinking of using the aerial that came with my 14" TV, you know the round ones for freeview instead of the rooftop aerial.

Sorry I've never heard of that particular type of aerial :confused:

Tesla · 19 Mar 2006 at 21:42

If you are 1km for Crystal Palace there is the possibility of the signal being too strong but I'm relatively sure you will be fine and get a PERFECT picture aslong as your box is half good.

gam3r · 21 Mar 2006 at 21:03

Tesla said:
If you are 1km for Crystal Palace there is the possibility of the signal being too strong but I'm relatively sure you will be fine and get a PERFECT picture aslong as your box is half good.

With a standard plug in TV aerial? such as :

Tesla · 21 Mar 2006 at 21:55

gam3r said:
With a standard plug in TV aerial? such as :

VERY unlikely.

With a Roof aerial, pretty Likely.

daz · 21 Mar 2006 at 22:52

I got a perfect signal with a little portable aerial on a hill in south London, Denmark Hill to be precise and I could see the Crystal Palace transmitter. You being closer, should be fine.

Tesla said:
VERY unlikely.

Why do you say that?

Have you seen the size of the crystal palace transmitter lol?

carpmaster · 21 Mar 2006 at 22:54

You said you can see the Crystal Palace transmitter. As long as you're not under the transmission you should be fine with pretty much any internal aerial IMO.

gam3r · 22 Mar 2006 at 14:32

Box arrived today. Tried with my existing lil' indoor aerial and it picks up all channels. Problem is on some of them, such as more4 and itv etc the signal quality is 1.

Looks like a i need to go buy a new special indoor aerial

carpmaster · 22 Mar 2006 at 15:11

The best one I have found by far is the Antiference Silver Sensor. I think it's actually called by the revision now e.g. Antiference Silver Sensor MKII or similar.

Around £15 I think approximately. If then doesn't work then you need to get a small external aerial put outside.

gam3r · 22 Mar 2006 at 15:15

Does it use its own power supply?

Tesla · 22 Mar 2006 at 15:37

gam3r said:
Does it use its own power supply?

Aerials do not require PSU's.

daz said:
Why do you say that?

Have you seen the size of the crystal palace transmitter lol?

The structure of the house should attenuate the signal enough.

gam3r · 22 Mar 2006 at 15:46

I found some on the net, which have their own psu's - amps or something like that..

...thar she blows.. This is from the front of the house,

My room is at the back

edit: after watching for abit, i cant seem to recieve bbc1,2, itv1,2,3,4, channel4,e4,more4.

The box picks them up but i got 0 signal quality - Probably need a better indoor aerial.

Funny thing is, e4+1 and more4+1 work perfectly with 10 signal quality

carpmaster · 23 Mar 2006 at 10:21

In the photo, the box halfway down the house is a 2 way splitter. You could replace that with a 3 way splitter and run a new cable around the house and into you room. That's the best way to do it. You would only need a stepladder too as it's not that high. 3 way splitter £5, 20m cable £5 - job done.

big_white_dog84 · 23 Mar 2006 at 19:11

This might sound like a REALLY stupid question, but someone mentioned that it is possible to get freeview though a satellite dish? There is nothing on the freeview site about it, and I'm thinking it is probably not true because someone would need to pay for the signal to be transmitted from space. However if it is true it would make my life easier.

fireblade900 · 23 Mar 2006 at 19:14

The freeview box I have has a strength meter when it is being tuned in. I think my signal strength is around 86%.

Tesla · 23 Mar 2006 at 19:23

big_white_dog84 said:
This might sound like a REALLY stupid question, but someone mentioned that it is possible to get freeview though a satellite dish? There is nothing on the freeview site about it, and I'm thinking it is probably not true because someone would need to pay for the signal to be transmitted from space. However if it is true it would make my life easier.

It's called Freesat.

You need a Sky dish and box and you can get the freesat card from Sky for £20.

E4 and More4 are not on Freesat though (iirc).

big_white_dog84 · 23 Mar 2006 at 20:03

So I could get this if eg I had sky for 12 months then cancelled my contract. So I would still have the box and dish, and just pat £20 to get freesat?

Tesla · 23 Mar 2006 at 20:27

big_white_dog84 said:
So I could get this if eg I had sky for 12 months then cancelled my contract. So I would still have the box and dish, and just pat £20 to get freesat?

AFAIK if you already have sky then you dont need to pay £20