Freeview Question (panasonic 42")

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OnceBitten

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Topic # 113577 21-Jan-2013 12:59

We have a 1yr old Panasonic 42” LCD with built in freeview, but have a my-sky decoder, and have never had to use the built in freeview.

However, we are moving house shortly and have decided to give up my-sky, as we need to reign in our finances a bit

Question is – how do we use the built in freeview? The new place we are moving to has a sky dish, so do we just plug the sky aerial connection into the back of our TV? – from memory our TV has a socket on the back for an aerial to plug into but the sky aerial connection is different (screw type?)

I don’t know where the manual for the TV is either unfortunately

Any advice would be helpful!

sbiddle

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Reply # 748179 21-Jan-2013 13:03

Your TV supports Freeview|HD. This is over UHF, not satellite, so you just plug a UHF aerial into it. If you don't have a UHF aerial you will need to install one, or depending on location you may get away with a coathanger..

The Pasnonic site is the simplest place to find all the user manuals.

OnceBitten

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Reply # 748181 21-Jan-2013 13:06

Thanks for that - if we bought a freeview decoder though would that work through the sky dish??

sbiddle

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Reply # 748183 21-Jan-2013 13:11

If you buy a Freeview Satellite decoder, yes. You won't get HD (and the general pucture quality is worse) or 5.1 sound though.

robjg63

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Reply # 748184 21-Jan-2013 13:13

OnceBitten: Thanks for that - if we bought a freeview decoder though would that work through the sky dish??

Yes - a satellite decoder should work from the sky dish, but the freeview satellite picture is 'standard' definition - not high definition.
The picture quality is much better on Freeview HD (UHF aerial and TVs built in freeview tuner).

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Behodar

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Reply # 748202 21-Jan-2013 13:50

The internal tuner also has the advantage of not needing to fiddle with two different remotes. If your TV is only a year old then it can probably also run the TVNZ and Quickflix apps which are apparently coming to Freeview HD in the next few months.

trig42

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Reply # 748205 21-Jan-2013 13:55

I wish Freeview had called the satellite service something else (say, FreeSat?). This question comes up here weekly, and it just shows how confused people still are with Freeview. Nothing against the OP, it is a good question, but one that should not have to be asked.

Most people know if they have a dish or an aerial, they just aren't aware that they are not interchangeable.

B1GGLZ

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Reply # 748227 21-Jan-2013 14:41

OnceBitten: Thanks for that - if we bought a freeview decoder though would that work through the sky dish??

Not unless it's a Freeview Satellite box and if you are in a Freeview HD Terrestrial area why would you?
This site will tell you all you need to know.
http://www.freeviewnz.tv/?gclid=CPz5tqip-LQCFUdfpQodJUAA3g

OnceBitten

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Reply # 748232 21-Jan-2013 15:00

B1GGLZ:
Not unless it's a Freeview Satellite box and if you are in a Freeview HD Terrestrial area why would you?
This site will tell you all you need to know.
http://www.freeviewnz.tv/?gclid=CPz5tqip-LQCFUdfpQodJUAA3g

thanks for that - very helpful!
we are doing an inspection of our new place tonight and I will double check what aerials the place has - I'm pretty sure it's just a sky dish, but will check

I think buying a new aerial and getting it installed could be quite costly?

sbiddle

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Reply # 748233 21-Jan-2013 15:04

OnceBitten: I think buying a new aerial and getting it installed could be quite costly?

That really depends on your location and level of knowledge (ie whether you want to do it yourself). A DIY install could be done for as little as $50 incl aerial, cable and connectors. If you don't have tools or can't borrow them them you're not going to be able to do this. Costs however will depend entirely on your location and contruction of the house.

B1GGLZ

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Reply # 748236 21-Jan-2013 15:13

OnceBitten:

I think buying a new aerial and getting it installed could be quite costly?

Only about $50 if you get the Dick Smith install kit and DIY. Maybe $150 for an installer?
Well worth it to get HD reception and surround sound.
You don't know what you've been missing watching freeview via Sky!

OnceBitten

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Reply # 748288 21-Jan-2013 16:31

B1GGLZ: Only about $50 if you get the Dick Smith install kit and DIY. Maybe $150 for an installer?
Well worth it to get HD reception and surround sound.
You don't know what you've been missing watching freeview via Sky!

yes I see those kits in Dick Smith - the reviews say it is easy to set up so might look into that

OnceBitten

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Reply # 748387 21-Jan-2013 19:17

good news - the house has a sky dish AND a UHF aerial!

B1GGLZ

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Reply # 748412 21-Jan-2013 19:57

OnceBitten: good news - the house has a sky dish AND a UHF aerial!

Great. Don't forget to ask the current/previous residents if they receive Freeview HD OK?