Difficulties in going digital in Wellington – a simple solution for simple me?

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leemillerau

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#129492 17-Sep-2013 22:39

Hi all

Trying to get my head around what is the most suitable TV/home theatre setup for us when we go digital here in Wellington.

The problem is where we are we cannot get UHF reception so our choices are either Freeview satellite or Freeview via Vodafone or something where we ignore Freeview altogether and do something completely different.

I’ve still got 6 months left on the current DSL ISP contract with Snap and don’t really want to have to pay that out – so Vodafone is not an immediate first choice but is a longer term fallback possibility.

We are renting so the place does have a satellite dish installed but I’ve no idea how long since it was last used and whether with the lichen growing over it it is even still usable. Besides the channel choices for Freeview satellite really suck – no Sommet Sport channel.

Anyway have been thinking about our viewing habits – we really only watch TV1 news plus a few selected documentaries and occasional DVDs. I guess I’d watch a bit of sport if it was easily available and have been thinking about the EPL online plus maybe the AFL overseas streaming package for next season. Maybe 10-15 hours a week in front of the TV max. I had Foxtel (the Australian equivalent of Sky) for a few years and got bored with it by the end.

Current setup is nothing – an HD capable TV that is several years old plus VDSL plus wifi network plus an old PC running Windows XP plus a laptop. I’ve also got some media files stored on the Nexus 7 for travelling – but simply copied across via USB cable as required.

So options and thoughts which I’d welcome some advice on –

Option 1. Buying a secondhand basic PC to hook up permanently to the TV with HDMI cable + a wireless keyboard and mouse to run it from the couch + shortcuts to various streaming sites (TVNZ, SBS Australia for some sport, maybe Hulu etc) thru a browser and a VPN like Hola or witopia + some software to play DVDs and MP3 etc (currently using VLC and Media Monkey) + wifi internet access

Option 2. Something more complex if you can recommend something simple to setup and operate (I’m definitely not going to build my own HTPC – I know my limits). I’ve been reading posts here and elsewhere about HTPC and NAS options or Roku or ??? Everything seemed overkill for the amount of media that we actually own or plan to watch – but I’m prepared to look at any suggestions.

Any comments on either of my options or other suggestions or anything relevant most welcome

Thanks
Lee

michaelmurfy

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#897292 18-Sep-2013 02:23

I'm in the same situation (in Wellington too) but have Sky, works well for me as the flatmates foot most of the bill and I just have multiroom off that account. For you it's possibly worth grabbing a Freeview Satellite decoder and using something like an old laptop or media centre to stream content over your VDSL connection, if you know somebody with Sky willing to give you a login you can also use iSky for sports except this is not in HD.

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Apsattv

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#897296 18-Sep-2013 04:35

In what part of Wellington do you live in that has NO UHF terrestrial Freeview service?

sbiddle

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#897301 18-Sep-2013 06:22

Apsattv: In what part of Wellington do you live in that has NO UHF terrestrial Freeview service?

There are quite a few pockets large that don't (biggest is many parts of Aro Valley), but I'd be intereseted to know this as well and to know whether it's simply the OP believing they have no coverage, or whether an installer has confirmed this.

B1GGLZ

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#897324 18-Sep-2013 08:38

Have you entered your address in the Freeview Coverage website to actually confirm you are not in a UHF area?
http://www.freeviewnz.tv/coverage.aspx
If you really can't get UHF that leaves you with either Freeview Satellite or Sky.

leemillerau

37 posts

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#897818 18-Sep-2013 16:47

Thanks for everyone's feedback and interest.

Maybe I should have been a bit more specific -

1. I live in Glenmore St Kelburn just up from the top end of the Botanic Gardens and tucked in at street level against the side of the valley
2. I have checked the Freeview Coverage website which says no UHF coverage at my address and that Satellite or thru Vodafone are my choices for both Freeview and Sky. Also just had a quick look at the Kaukau coverage map which shows that this valley as "uncertain" for UHF reception
3. Currently poor FTA analogue reception anyway - TV1 with flecks, TV3 with ghosting and TV2 visible but not watchable, and that's it.

On that basis it looks as tho it would be a waste of time trying to check out UHF coverage unless you have specific knowledge that UHF reception is possible in my location. The complicating factor here is that any upgrades I do by adding a UHF aerial is for the benefit of the landlord as well as for me.

Still would appreciate some help/advice around alternatives that take me away completely from using broadcast TV - or am I better off asking those questions in another Geekzone forum? And if so, is Home Theatre or HTPC more appropriate?

Thanks again

Lee

B1GGLZ

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#897930 18-Sep-2013 19:14

Doesn't look good for you on the coverage maps but you may get a signal from the Fitzherbert Infill Transmitter.
http://www.freeviewnz.tv/coverage/coverage-maps.aspx
What about your neighbours? Do any of them have UHF antennae? Looking at your Street on Google maps there seems to be lots of houses with UHF antennae pointing in the direction of Fitzherbert.
You'd really need to get in a Pro with the proper equipment to see if you can get enough signal.

Edit. P.S. Try asking your landlord to investigate. Most seem to be pretty obliging with TV aerials.

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#897976 18-Sep-2013 20:21

I live in Whitby. Zero UHF reception on our street. One of the nice guys on geekzone even came and waved his wand around to see if there was any signal and nada. We've got mysky in order to get something close to HD. To make matters worse they aren't upgrading the current repeater to digital so we will never get UHF. :-(

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leemillerau

37 posts

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#898738 19-Sep-2013 21:42

Thanks for your contributions everyone.

I did a bit of playing around last night to be sure that I hadn't done something silly and missed out on UHF channels when I set the TV up - the result a very very weak signal from Maori TV and otherwise nada.

So have decided to give option 1 a go (i.e. streaming through a browser) using my wife's laptop for a start as proof of concept and then working our way up to something a bit more flash if that looks good.

Will report back at some stage on the results

Lee

JimmyH

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#898778 19-Sep-2013 23:01

1. One option is to get a pro in. My FV signal (also in Wellington) was very marginal, even with a rooftop UHF aerial. For a couple of hundred he replaced the aerial (somewhat of an improvement) and added a masthead amplifier (massive improvement). So, other than a bit of pixellation on the TVNZ mux, I now have working reception.

2. Use the satellite dish you have, assuming it works. borrow a decoder or buy one to test it (the cheap ones are around $70 in sales). Then either get a cheap satellite decoder, or build the PC you are thinking about, but add a satellite tuner to get the NZ channels. If the dish works, neither option (a decoder or adding a satellite tuner to an existing PC) is expensive.

3. Vodafone cable. But, you get stung with ongoing fees so probably not optimal given your stated preferences. If you are going to pay for that, you might as well go the whole hog and get sky.

Apsattv

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#898804 20-Sep-2013 01:54

leemillerau: Thanks for your contributions everyone.

I did a bit of playing around last night to be sure that I hadn't done something silly and missed out on UHF channels when I set the TV up - the result a very very weak signal from Maori TV and otherwise nada.

So have decided to give option 1 a go (i.e. streaming through a browser) using my wife's laptop for a start as proof of concept and then working our way up to something a bit more flash if that looks good.

Will report back at some stage on the results

Lee

On which frequency did you find the Maori TV signal CH number? so we locate which transmitter you are receiving.

B1GGLZ

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#898834 20-Sep-2013 08:13

The fact that you can receive Maori TV indicates UHF reception is possible. However you haven't told us what antenna you currently use for TV. If it's just an old VHF one then replacing with a UHF only antenna could make a big improvement. Theres no way you would get Freeview on a VHF antenna in your location. Plus I suspect Maori TV is being transmitted only from Kaukau and you might be able to get Freeview in your location from Fitzherbert but not Kaukau.

leemillerau

37 posts

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#898890 20-Sep-2013 10:10

In response to various questions -

1. I don't know what frequency I found Maori TV on - I am tuning using a Sony Bravia HD TV a few years old plus a bit of fine tuning but I'm not sure where I look in the TV menus to find out what frequency I've ended up on (did I mention anywhere that I am not super tech savvy?). How do I find this out? I have read the manual (which is very basic IMHO) but it is all based around auto-tuning.
2. Looking at the aerial from the ground it looks as though it has a UHF component to it and it also looks as though it is pointed at Kaukau rather than at Fitzherbert. Houses further down the street are definitely pointed at Fitzherbert but there is just a minor kink in the valley side which tucks us in behind a ridge that may be blocking line of sight to Fitzherbert (speculation and would require a longer ladder and more climbing equipment than I have or a technician to confirm)

At this stage I know that if I want to get Freeview then I am going to have to get an installation technician in to check out what reception I can get and then sort out any alterations needed with the landlord.

B1GGLZ

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#898928 20-Sep-2013 11:18

leemillerau: In response to various questions -

1. I am tuning using a Sony Bravia HD TV a few years old plus a bit of fine tuning but I'm not sure where I look in the TV menus to find out what frequency I've ended up on (did I mention anywhere that I am not super tech savvy?).
2. Looking at the aerial from the ground it looks as though it has a UHF component to it and it also looks as though it is pointed at Kaukau rather than at Fitzherbert.
.

OK
I'm guessing your TV is analogue only and does not have Freeview built in? If so the frequency of Maori TV is irrelevant.
Your antenna is probably a combined Low band/High band VHF which is suitable for 50mhz to 250mhz but useless for UHF. It's very unlikely to have any UHF component to it. Hence the poor picture from Maori which is on UHF at Kaukau.
UHF antennae have very short elements and suitable for 500mhz to 800mhz.
Fitzherbert UHF would be worth investigating. Otherwise Sky, Freeview Satellite or Internet based TV.
There's bound to be many more dead areas in Wellington which will come to light after 29 Sept when analogue switches off.