question about aerial

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › question about aerial

enozkeeg

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#113185 8-Jan-2013 22:16

My understanding is that Prime broadcasts on UHF in NZ. I currently have great reception with my current aerial, so do I need to get a special UHF aerial to get Freeview?

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
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#741975 8-Jan-2013 22:26

Are you in a Freeview terrestrial coverage area? Do you have a UHF antenna?

enozkeeg

84 posts

Master Geek

#741997 8-Jan-2013 23:51

I would be surprised if I wasn't (Lower Hutt). And that was kinda my question: "I currently have great reception [of Prime which I believe is UHF broadcast] with my current aerial, so do I need to get a special UHF aerial to get Freeview". Sorry if I worded it poorly

RunningMan

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#742093 9-Jan-2013 10:04

There is nothing special about a Freeview|HD UHF antenna. If the one you have is in serviceable condition (including cabling), as well as you living in a Freeview|HD area (check http://freeviewnz.tv/coverage.aspx) you should be fine.

scuwp

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#742139 9-Jan-2013 11:47

I think the short answer is "No". If you are already getting prime then you should not have any problems getting Freeview with the same aerial provided you have a digital tuner equipped TV or have a set-top decoder.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

enozkeeg

84 posts

Master Geek

#742354 9-Jan-2013 16:02

scuwp: I think the short answer is "No". If you are already getting prime then you should not have any problems getting Freeview with the same aerial provided you have a digital tuner equipped TV or have a set-top decoder.

That was certainly my thinking, but I don't think my aerial is a UHF one, just a standard one that came with the house. I guess I don't want to risk it and grab a box, and then have to fook around with an aerial, although I hear people even have really good success with rabbit ears getting Freeview.

knoydart

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#742381 9-Jan-2013 16:53

The Freeview coverage maps and checker are pretty conservative in their information. If you are receiving Prime in Lower Hutt, then your Freeview terrestrial should work fine.

Depending on where you are, you will get coverage from Fitzherbert, Kau Kau or Haywards so plenty of options for reception. A basic DTT box should be sub $100 to get you started as well.

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B1GGLZ

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#742448 9-Jan-2013 19:16

enozkeeg:I guess I don't want to risk it and grab a box, and then have to fook around with an aerial, although I hear people even have really good success with rabbit ears getting Freeview.

You'll have to grab a box or a new TV before 29 September because there won't be any analogue TV to watch after that in the Wellington area. As you get Prime OK now the current antenna should work fine.

enozkeeg

84 posts

Master Geek

#752259 28-Jan-2013 20:26

grabbed me a Igloo, works great with my current aerial.

Deev8

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#752703 29-Jan-2013 15:14

enozkeeg: I don't think my aerial is a UHF one, just a standard one that came with the house ...

There is a common misconception about UHF aerials not being "standard". In the major cities UHF TV broadcasts have been happening for quite a long time - Sky TV started UHF broadcasts in the early 1990s and free to air analogue TV broadcasts on UHF strated in the late 1990s. That's long enough for UHF aerials to become standard in a lot of homes.

enozkeeg

84 posts

Master Geek

#752731 29-Jan-2013 15:47

shh don't tell anyone, there is profit to be made, and they are busy flogging things people don't need - like telling people they need to spend 300 bucks for an HDMI cable

bfginger

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#752751 29-Jan-2013 16:23

Trackside was broadcasting on UHF back in 1992 and Max TV and Cry TV began in 1993.

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alasta

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#752958 29-Jan-2013 22:06

bfginger: Trackside was broadcasting on UHF back in 1992 and Max TV and Cry TV began in 1993.

I distinctly remember the original CTV covering the big snow of 1992, so they must have been up and running by that stage.