Looking for help/guide for D.I.Y Freeview|HD install!

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › Looking for help/guide for D.I.Y Freeview|HD install!

brakelateandturn

34 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#111578 7-Nov-2012 20:48

Hi all.

I'm ditching Skytv because its just gotten too expensive. $27/week is too much especially considering I hardly watch the thing!

So, I will need to install freeview UHF in my house. I live in west Christchurch and I'm roughly 10km from Sugarloaf.

I'm planning to do the whole job myself.

Is there anywhere I can find a complete list of the hardware needed?
Do I need an expensive aerial or will a $40 job do the trick?
Do I need an expensive receiver?, keeping in mind that I'm not needing 500GB of storage or anything massive like that.
Can I buy ready made lengths of RG6 cable or will I need crimper etc?

That's all the questions I can think of atm :) Thanks for any and all help.

1 | 2

1961 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 136

#714350 8-Nov-2012 19:27

Is there anywhere I can find a complete list of the hardware needed?

Not really but not difficult to figure out.
Basically a UHF antenna and RG6 coax with f connectors each end and an f to pal adaptor to plug into TV.

Do I need an expensive aerial or will a $40 job do the trick?

Given your location a minamal outside antenna should suffice. Possibly may work OK with an indoor antenna.

Do I need an expensive receiver?, keeping in mind that I'm not needing 500GB of storage or anything massive like that.

If you have a Freeview TV then you can already watch Freeview. Might even get a signal with a short piece of wire stuck in the TV socket if only 10km line of sight from Transmitter. I could here at arount 10km line of site from Waiatarua but went to a 47 element UHF as I run more than one tuner of the antenna thru a splitter. If you want to record then you'll need some sort of PVR or a PC with TV Tuner. I have a Panasonic Blu Ray recorder because it has plenty of storage, will play and record to Blu Ray and DVD and that's what I wanted. Also have a Tuner card in the PC.

Can I buy ready made lengths of RG6 cable or will I need crimper etc?

Yes but I'd be wary of moulded on plugs as the quality could be suspect. Better to get top quality quad RG6 and use crimp plugs. I used screw on connectors only because I don't have a crimp tool. Never had any problem with the screw ons.

Check out Freeview Shop and Computerstore. Jaycar, Bunnings and Mitre 10 have aerials, connectors, tools and cable too.

Jaxson

8172 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1332

Trusted

#714360 8-Nov-2012 19:51

What TV do you have, model numbers if possible?
Do you need the ability to record?

wally22

504 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 128

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#714391 8-Nov-2012 21:17

If you are ditching Sky then you must have a dish, so unless you really need HD, you can get a Satellite Set Top Box and just plug it in.

brakelateandturn

34 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#714398 8-Nov-2012 21:34

I would like to have the ability to record and also to set and forget type record similar to MySky, but I do not need a lot of storage. I also would prefer to have HD at least in the lounge and will probably just go SD in the bedroom.

My tele is a 42" Panasonic Viera Model# TH-42PV7AZ and its quite a few years old and does not have freeview built in.

Jaxson

8172 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1332

Trusted

#714406 8-Nov-2012 22:02

Ok lots of things you could do.

If you've come from MySky I'd suggest a freeview approved PVR so you get the easy series linking etc.

You could opt for satellite reception of freeview. This doesn't have HD but is the easiest to install in your situation. With a 720 max resolution TV to be honest satellite would probably be ok. Satellite is 576 and freeview HD is 576 on all but the main 3 channels, which are 1080. A 720 set falls somewhere in the middle is all. Freeview HD is the preferred method and you should really be aiming to receive this.

Satellite would use the exact same dish but if you're opting to switch to freeview HD then the cable to the existing satellite dish could be reused if you attached a UHF aerial to it. Just an idea which could save a bit of cable pulling in some cases.

Not sure what your budget is as typically DIY attempts can mean either you're just plain keen or you're trying to do things cheaply. Point is most PVR's are going to cost a fair bit, regardless of storage size.

nickb800

2735 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 829

Trusted

#714413 8-Nov-2012 22:17

Back to your original questions:

I'm not sure what you mean by a $40 antenna, but this one should suit you, and is around that price http://www.electricaldirectltd.co.nz/ecommerce.php?func=14&DCI=95&DPT=p&DPI=3499&S=14f1517a8a288ea8357a80ebb6dbe26b

You can get compression crimpers for around $30, but if you just want the cable there are a few people on trademe that offer custom cable lengths with compression crimps already installed such as this auction http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/tvs/cables-aerials/auction-528367618.htm

Simply, you will need an antenna, mount to attach the antenna to the roof, cable with connectors on each end, and a freeview decoder. If you want things to be tidy then you might want a wall outlet rather than just a cable coming out of a hole in your floor/wall.

Geekzone

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).

brakelateandturn

34 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#714727 9-Nov-2012 15:02

Jaxson:

Not sure what your budget is as typically DIY attempts can mean either you're just plain keen or you're trying to do things cheaply. Point is most PVR's are going to cost a fair bit, regardless of storage size.

I could just get the pro's in to do it, but that would be no fun! I've just bought the house I've been renting and I'm in DIY mode. Better get some DIY done before the DIY honeymoon is over lol.

Interesting what you guys say about the Sky dish cables, I never even considered them. I think I will try to use those cables because they were professionally installed and are neat and tidy.

I have an aerial already on my roof but I don't know if it is a UHF one? Even if it isn't UHF at least I have all the mounting points there for a knew aerial and the mounting points are right beside my sky dish, nice and easy.

After seeing the cost of the PVR receivers I think I will just go with a standard receiver! Is there any benefit in buying a more expensive receiver in terms of picture quality?

Thanks for all the help so far :)

Jaxson

8172 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1332

Trusted

#714743 9-Nov-2012 15:20

UHF Aerials are the long and skinny type. eh:

VHF aerials have the very long rods on them and are not suitable for freeview HD.
If yours looks like this then it's not suitable:

Personally if you're just after a base receiver I'd go with one of the warehouse options. They're good value for money and feature the MHEG5 EPG, which is basic but clear. I've used the satellite version but assume (others will comment on this) that the terrestrial/satellite version is ok too. Nothing stunning, just good value for the money.

http://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/red/catalog/product/Transonic-UHF-Freeview-Set-Top-Box-TC2884STB?SKU=1538182

Yes, the satellite cable is the same as you'd use for an aerial install so it's a handy option in some cases. If you have/had an aerial, perhaps the cable was ok on that? If not then you'd need to lay a new run, which depending on the cable age, may not be a bad thing.

brakelateandturn

34 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#714817 9-Nov-2012 16:54

This is my aerial. Its looking pretty bad.

Spyware

3818 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1366

Lifetime subscriber

#714820 9-Nov-2012 17:02

Its UHF so should be fine. Only thing with those is that gain drops off at top of band, e.g., analog Prime on channel 62. Will be fine for 32,34 and 36 where Freeview are located.

Spark Max Fibre using Mikrotik CCR1009-8G-1S-1S+, CRS125-24G-1S, Unifi UAP, U6-Pro, UAP-AC-M-Pro, Apple TV 4K (2022), Apple TV 4K (2017), iPad Air 1st gen, iPad Air 4th gen, iPhone 13, SkyNZ3151 (the white box). If it doesn't move then it's data cabled.

Jaxson

8172 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1332

Trusted

#715024 10-Nov-2012 08:09

Yeah if you can find where that existing aerial cabling leads to, then you can plug in a freeview decoder box and try it. A good place to start.

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.

brakelateandturn

34 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#715123 10-Nov-2012 13:07

I grabbed a DVB-T from the warehouse. It doesn't have the screw in connector like I was expecting so I can not use the sky dish lines :(

wally22

504 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 128

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#715136 10-Nov-2012 13:53

All is not lost...
You need one of these, example supplier in web link
Belling Lee Plug to F Type Adaptor
http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/belling-plug-type-adaptor-p-243.html

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 136

#715140 10-Nov-2012 14:00

brakelateandturn: I grabbed a DVB-T from the warehouse. It doesn't have the screw in connector like I was expecting so I can not use the sky dish lines :(

Bunnings and Mitre 10 have adaptors f to pal.

brakelateandturn

34 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#715208 10-Nov-2012 16:24

SWEET! I'll grab a few connectors later today.

One more question. My Sky dish has about 3 or 4 wires coming off of it. Can I fit some type of adapter/splitter to merge 4 into 1 with the 1 being attached to my UHF aerial and the 4 going into the house? Will it work or will it effect picture quality?

1 | 2