Trolling freview install guy?

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grasshoper

164 posts

Master Geek

#107059 6-Aug-2012 13:49

So someone I know lives a way out from the city semi-rural area and has just brought a new tv with freeview built in. He contacted an install person about getting an aerial installed and he said that a decoder will be necessary as well as an aerial? I'm on telstraClear so I don't know the first thing about how freeview works, but that doesnt sound right to me?

is he a rip off or is this correct? Does he even need an aerial?

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8953 posts

Uber Geek

#668294 6-Aug-2012 13:54

If you are in a Freeview|HD (terrestrial antenna) reception area, and have a new TV with built in Freeview, then no decoder is required.

If there is only satellite reception in your location, then built in Freeview is no good (in general terms, there's no such thing as a TV with a sat tuner available in NZ), then you will need both a sat dish, and a decoder/receiver.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#668296 6-Aug-2012 13:54

He may need an aerial. He may already have one.
He definitely won't need any set top box additional decoder if the TV alreaydhas it built in, which most new TVs do these days.

RunningMan

8953 posts

Uber Geek

#668299 6-Aug-2012 13:55

Have a look at this for coverage info for your area.

http://www.freeviewnz.tv/coverage.aspx

sleemanj

1490 posts

Uber Geek

#668302 6-Aug-2012 13:57

NonprayingMantis:
He definitely won't need any set top box additional decoder if the TV alreaydhas it built in, which most new TVs do these days.

As runningman said, the TV will be Terrestrial Freeview only, and the first poster said the person lives way out in the country, so they may well be outside of the terrestrial coverage and have to go sat.

If they go sat, they need a decoder.

---
James Sleeman
I sell lots of stuff for electronic enthusiasts...

grasshoper

164 posts

Master Geek

#668306 6-Aug-2012 13:59

Thanks for your replies. The freeview coverage check website says 'very likely with high aerial' and 'very likely with freeview satelite'. So this means he needs an aerial but wont need a decoder as his TV has it built in?

RunningMan

8953 posts

Uber Geek

#668311 6-Aug-2012 14:03

grasshoper: Thanks for your replies. The freeview coverage check website says 'very likely with high aerial' and 'very likely with freeview satelite'. So this means he needs an aerial but wont need a decoder as his TV has it built in?

Most likely be OK with just the TV, as long as there is a decent antenna, and perhaps an amplifier as well.

Having said that, the only sure fire way of knowing is to get out on site, and see how it goes. The antenna installer you tried already may have some local knowledge, suggesting that it may well be a weak area.

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#668315 6-Aug-2012 14:07

grasshoper: Thanks for your replies. The freeview coverage check website says 'very likely with high aerial'

This is not by any means a guarantee that it will work. UHF by it's very nature is subject to all kinds of vagaries from path obstructions and local conditions, including the weather.

Satellite on the other hand, is pretty much guaranteed as long as you are clear of tall trees etc in a Northerly direction.

grasshoper: So this means he needs an aerial but wont need a decoder as his TV has it built in?

If the UHF aerial works, great, that's all he will need, perhaps with an amplifier as RunningMan already said.

But for satellite, a decoder will be required. There's no way to be sure until your friend tries a UHF aerial in the intended place.

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grasshoper

164 posts

Master Geek

#668329 6-Aug-2012 14:28

Tried a uhf aerial and it is quite choppy, some channels work, some don't so will most likely go for the satellite option.

Cheers for your help.

RunningMan

8953 posts

Uber Geek

#668338 6-Aug-2012 14:34

grasshoper: Tried a uhf aerial and it is quite choppy, some channels work, some don't so will most likely go for the satellite option.

Cheers for your help.

What size antenna, and what is the cabling like?

Terrestrial would be better than sat if you can get it going - no mucking around with a STB, and you will get some channels in HD.

knoydart

904 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#668343 6-Aug-2012 14:43

If you want the HD services and you are on the verge of reception, the cost of an installer visit and maybe an amplifer might be worth it

grasshoper

164 posts

Master Geek

#668351 6-Aug-2012 15:00

Just tried with bunny ears, thats all he has. According to the install guy, he is right on the verge of reception and satelite is the best way to get clear reception.

RunningMan

8953 posts

Uber Geek

#668352 6-Aug-2012 15:02

If you tried with bunny ears, and it's choppy, then it's pretty certain you'll get a good signal with an outdoor UHF antenna. Far easier and cheaper than going satellite.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#668365 6-Aug-2012 15:21

RunningMan: If you tried with bunny ears, and it's choppy, then it's pretty certain you'll get a good signal with an outdoor UHF antenna. Far easier and cheaper than going satellite.

+1
Try a UHF antenna first.
Terrestrial HD is far superior to Satellite.

grasshoper

164 posts

Master Geek

#668366 6-Aug-2012 15:21

Yeah perhaps UHF is the better way to go, however I don't really want to fork out the money for a uhf aerial only to find reception isnt good enough. At least with satelite I can be pretty certain.

RunningMan

8953 posts

Uber Geek

#668379 6-Aug-2012 15:30

grasshoper: At least with satelite I can be pretty certain.

If you almost get it with bunny ears, then that's pretty certain too.

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