Freeview Satelite vs FreeView aerial vs Sky?

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Nic2011

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#78710 6-Mar-2011 17:56

Hi,

Sorry complete novice to technical stuff. We have moved in to a brand new house with no aerial and landlord not paying for any aerial. We have 2 older style TV's but just trying to work out best option. Phoned an aerial company and they came and did a frequency test. $85 later but gave no advice as to what is best to do.

Do you go for easy option of signing up for Sky TV. We aren't huge TV watchers and really only need the basics 1, 2 and 3. Previous house we only had 1, 2, 3 and 4 so not desperate for sky movies or sport or anything.

Do we get an aerial installed and just get free to air channels? Then once analogue finishes in 2013do we then need to buy a Freeview box - but can the aerial still be used? or would we then need to buy a Freeview satelite dish. Or would we best to just buy the Freeview Satelite dish now. We are in Auckland.

Or do we just go with Sky until 2013 and by then things might have changed anyway,

In that case would it be a waste to get an aerial installed if we can no longer use it after 2013 or am I totally confused.

As you can see rather confused...

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#446059 6-Mar-2011 18:35

you just need a UHF aerial installed now, buy a freeview box for ~$100 and you are set for the forseeable future. it will still work when analoguegets switched off.

ajw

1932 posts

Uber Geek

#446064 6-Mar-2011 19:02

NonprayingMantis: you just need a UHF aerial installed now, buy a freeview box for ~$100 and you are set for the forseeable future. it will still work when analoguegets switched off.

Depends whether they have UHF digital coverage. A good quality freeview terrestrial decoder is about $200.

http://www.noelleeming.co.nz/tvs-dvds/freeview-decoders/c10003-c21499-p1.html

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#446066 6-Mar-2011 19:05

you just need a UHF aerial installed now, buy a freeview box for ~$100 and you are set for the forseeable future. it will still work when analoguegets switched off.

As above. UHF Aerial + Freeview terrestrial (not satellite) STB = Problem solved.

bfginger

1271 posts

Uber Geek

#446152 7-Mar-2011 00:13

The $100 Freeview boxes are for Freeview Satellite and won't work with an aerial. The aerial ones cost nearer to $200.

Freeview is available via satellite and also via UHF aerial, the latter is known as Freeview|HD. Freeview|HD has a far better quality picture than Freeview Satellite, and analogue.

Analogue TV1, 2, 3 and 4 broadcast on VHF and not UHF. If you had a UHF aerial you may struggle to receive those via analogue. A VHF/UHF combo aerial will usually work fine for both analogue and Freeview|HD. Another advantage of a Freeview|HD receiver is you can view the full widescreen and also see the electronic programming guide.

What are the model names of your TVs? It'll say on the back of the TV.

Phoned an aerial company and they came and did a frequency test. $85 later but gave no advice as to what is best to do.

That doesn't sound very good. Did they say you can receive Freeview|HD? You could go to the Freeviewnz.tv website and see if you're in the likely reception-aera on their map.