Newbie question re Freeview

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Newbie question re Freeview

technicaljoe

248 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#28841 13-Dec-2008 16:42

Hi all,

I'm really new at building a HTPC...
As my question would probably hint, that I'm really really really new at this...

Anyway, my place at the moment has a satellite dish (presumably wired for Sky), but no sign of an aerial...... I am able to receive all the normal channels directly from wall socket to TV (no Sky). I'm contemplating to convert a spare desktop into a HTPC and record Freeview by getting a WinTV-Nova-T-500 tuner card. So, my question is, since I can't see an aerial on the roof, would the WinTV-Nova-T-500 tuner card work? And what's the story with a house without a sign of an aerial but can still watch TV without Sky???

This is the tuner card I'm considering:
http://www.ascent.co.nz//productspecification.aspx?ItemID=363655

Thanks for everyone's help in advance!

JT

eXDee

4033 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1070

Trusted

#183906 13-Dec-2008 18:55

You need to make sure you have a UHF antenna, and that it's pointing at the correct transmission tower or the Freeview HD card won't work. Sure theres no antenna anywhere on the roof/walls? What about in the attic, i've heard thats common overseas.

technicaljoe

248 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#183936 13-Dec-2008 22:10

Hi eXDee,

Thank you for replying to my post! Really appreciate it!

I don't see an aerial on top of the roof, only a satellite dish. However, there are some space between the ceiling and roof, so you could be right about it being hidden away, I will check tomorrow. From what I could see in the neighbourhood, half of them don't have aerials either, just satellite dish.

Since you mention the aerial is the key of getting the Freeview HD card to work, and I'm renting this place (unlikely to get new aerial installed), are there other kind of cards that will work with Freeview over satellite dish?

Many thanks!

JT

boby55

1539 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 38

Trusted

#183940 13-Dec-2008 22:31

yes you canget freeview via satilite but it is only SD, HD is only on the DVB-T Network just look for a DVB-S card for freeview sat

lchiu7

6521 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 543

Trusted

#183965 14-Dec-2008 06:48

A couple of things

1. Perhaps the aerial is in the attic?
2. There used to be an aerial but was disconnected. However the cabling to the aerial works well enough as an aerial for you
3. The Nova T comes with a UHF portable aerial - depending on where you live (if you have line of sight to a transmitter) then that might be all you need

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

technicaljoe

248 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#183981 14-Dec-2008 10:01

Thanks everyone for your comment, all very much appreciated!

I poke my head into the attic space, and could not see anything that looks like an aerial. However, I did see a black cable that looks like a TV cable of some sort that linked to where roughly the satellite dish is.
So, I guess my options are:1) Get a satellite dish compatible card, but lose the HD content2) Get a portable UHF aerial (potentially not very good reception?)3) Get some sort of Freeview-less TV card
Any recommendation?
JT

boby55

1539 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 38

Trusted

#183982 14-Dec-2008 10:10

Don't get a non freeview card unless u plan to upgrade it when Analog tv gets shutdown.

Your best bet will be get a Freeview sat card, Quality will still be better than standard Tv, Unless you know other people in your area can get prime UHF then you proberly cannot get freeview hd.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

eXDee

4033 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1070

Trusted

#183986 14-Dec-2008 10:39

I'm interested how your TV reception is good with no visible antenna. If you have line of sight to the transmission tower a small indoor UHF antenna can work.
As mentioned freeview satellite is an option.

technicaljoe

248 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#184123 14-Dec-2008 21:31

I'm very close to Waitakere foothills at Henderson with clear view of Waitarua transmitter. I can't see anything resemble TV aerial internally or externally (apart from a black TV cable thing in the attic space). The reception I get is almost crystal clear, apart from Prime TV, which is somewhat grainy but watchable. There is no special jack point in the living room, just a normal TV jack. Does Sky use a special connector? (Sorry, I never use Sky before)
I'm very confused as how I manage to get good reception with no aerial or Sky service... So, would a indoor UHF aerial work being where I am?
I was hoping to get that Nova T card and work on this as my Christmas break project...

mcraenz

1140 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 222

#184185 15-Dec-2008 08:38

Depending on the specs of your spare desktop I'd recommended going with DVB-S Freeview (using the sky satellite dish). If you want to go with DVB-T Freeview (UHF Antenna) then you'll need a pretty decient PC with a PCI Express NVIDIA 8500GT graphics card. Freeview HD requires "decoding" this is not a trivial task. For your first HTPC DVB-S will provide good results with less* hassel. BUT do be prepared to put in a fair bit of work/time to get everything up and running.

Help me build a better way of doing politics in Aotearoa New Zealand

political.nz

technicaljoe

248 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#184189 15-Dec-2008 09:19

The spare desktop PC is a pretty embarrassing setup...

A Dell Dimension 8300:
- P4 2.8 with hyperthreading
- 1GB RAM
- 2 IDE HDD (120GB and 80GB)
- GeForce FX 5200 128MB
- Has 2 vacant ancient SATA ports

A couple of things I'm thinking of doing...
1) Get either DVB-S or DVB-T (probably DVB-S based on what mcraenz says
2) Get another 1GB of RAM at some point? Not sure if it helps
3) Get one of those green power WD SATA HDD

Any comments or advices? :)

limegreen

103 posts

Master Geek

#184863 17-Dec-2008 21:14

If you have a good line of sight to the transmitter, you're probably fine without an aerial, or just using rabbit ears.

I was selling off an old TV on trademe, and demonstrated it to a prospective buyer using a 20cm piece of wire I had lying round, with perfect reception (we have line of sight to transmitter). Obviously that's not digital TV, but I reckon you should be alright.

HTPC: Silverstone LC16-MR Silver, Corsair VX450W PSU, AMD X2 5200+, 2Gb RAM, Gigabyte MA-770 DS3 Mobo, ASUS 9400GT Silent, 1TB Western Digital HDD, 1TB Samsung EcoGreen, 1.5TB WD external; LG DVD Writer, Hauppage HVR2200, Hauppage T-500, 2xArtical Cooling PSD fans
Work: ASUS UL30A w/ 27" external 1080p LCD display
Workhorse: AMD 3600, 1Gb RAM
Phone: Samsung Galaxy S II on Telecom XT

Geekzone support

Support Geekzone with one-off or recurring donations Donate via PressPatron.

technicaljoe

248 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#184870 17-Dec-2008 21:42

Thanks everyone! :-)

I really appreciate all replies and advices!