New to NZ (Freeview vs Freesat, HD capabilities, UK kit compatible?)

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muncedog

35 posts

Geek

#137947 13-Dec-2013 23:36

So... new to NZ and just moved in a rental property. Has a Sky dish, and I think a UHF aerial, but will double check in the light in the morning! Either way some sketchy cabling so some work to be done...

Ultimately, Whats the state of Freesat HD/Freeview HD. From some research my gut feeling is Freesat has limited HD channels?

Also do many tv models shipped here contain freesat tuners? Otherwise Skybox with no subscription free channels is an option.

In short, what TV/Kit do I spend my money on?

Secondly, I am pretty sure its not compatible, but would my UK 'PlayTV' PS3 device work here?

Thanks!

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1554 posts

Uber Geek

#952004 14-Dec-2013 03:21

what's FreesatHD?

Most common sat service in NZ is between Sky (paid) or Freeview. Freeview satellite service has no HD channels

Terrestrial Freeview is HD and most new TVs have built in Freeview terrestrial tuners (but not sat tuners).
you can check here to see if you live in a Freeview terrestrial area.

as far as I'm aware Sky has no free channels. You need a subscription to watch even their rebroadcast of fta channels.

ScuL

487 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#952005 14-Dec-2013 05:31

There shouldn't be any problem using European/UK electronics in NZ provided you have the right plug. TV formats are the same and everything is based on 50Hz due to 230V power (unlike Japan/Canada/US) ..

Haere taka mua, taka muri; kaua e wha.

hdinsider

552 posts

Ultimate Geek

#952023 14-Dec-2013 08:14

ScuL: There shouldn't be any problem using European/UK electronics in NZ provided you have the right plug. TV formats are the same and everything is based on 50Hz due to 230V power (unlike Japan/Canada/US) ..

I'm not sure that a UK freeview UHF tuner would work at all here. NZ specs are quite specific. MHEG5, Dolby and H264 under DVB-T (not DVBT-2). I'd buy in NZ and not bring them over. TVs are cheap here. PlayTV would probably be ok though.

don't mess with me.... i'm the hd insider....

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#952025 14-Dec-2013 08:25

I'd suggest you have a good look at this site.
http://www.freeviewnz.tv/equipment-installation/what-do-i-need.aspx

muncedog

35 posts

Geek

#952029 14-Dec-2013 08:42

Thanks all!
Yea the majority of TVs in the UK are free view tuner based., but freesat offered more channels and HD first ( I think, at least in my area!)
However also got stung as different receiver is needed for Freview HD. As theey use different standard dvb-t2?

I will be buying a TV here, it was more which tech I should go for I.e freeview!

Hopefully there is a UHF outside! Already spent 5 hours yesterday ripping up the drive to fix telephone line with chorus!

ScuL

487 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#952046 14-Dec-2013 09:31

hdinsider:
ScuL: There shouldn't be any problem using European/UK electronics in NZ provided you have the right plug. TV formats are the same and everything is based on 50Hz due to 230V power (unlike Japan/Canada/US) ..

I'm not sure that a UK freeview UHF tuner would work at all here. NZ specs are quite specific. MHEG5, Dolby and H264 under DVB-T (not DVBT-2). I'd buy in NZ and not bring them over. TVs are cheap here. PlayTV would probably be ok though.

It depends on how new/old your TV set is. Most TVs sold for the European market are Japanese/Korean anyway which are produced in multi-format standards. My TV was made before DVB-T2 existed so can't get any freeviewHD in the UK either, but the modern ones should have a range of specs.
My comment was more so directed towards the PS3 though!

Haere taka mua, taka muri; kaua e wha.

muncedog

35 posts

Geek

#952200 14-Dec-2013 16:07

Cool, thanks for the advice so far!

Next question is, going for an LED LCD, using for gaming also so hoping for at least 100hz refresh, not too sure if clearmotion etc technologies will help or just add lag - guess I will look for game mode devices!

Any other tips for good models or ones to avoid? etc or comparison websites? Thinking around the 40" mark....

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B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#952219 14-Dec-2013 16:32

muncedog:
I will be buying a TV here, it was more which tech I should go for I.e freeview!

Any new TV you buy will only be for NZ FreeviewHD digital terrestrial. Although it will still have an analogue tuner there is no longer any analogue transmission in NZ, there is only FreeviewHD on UHF and maybe the odd asian or fringe type station plus Igloo.
As far as Satellite is concerned your only options are Freeview Satellite using a Set Top Box (and which will be SD only) or Sky TV. Very difficult to locate a TV with a satellite tuner.
What mode you use (satellite or Terrestrial) depends on where you live and if you want HD or not.
Your best option is to buy a MyFreeview Recorder or PVR which will work fine or your UK TV. Or get both a recorder and TV.

muncedog

35 posts

Geek

#952225 14-Dec-2013 16:46

Coool thanks,

Yea I was never actually considering using a UK TV - that was more directed towards the play tv ps3 device - which would be great if it worked as I can then use my (yet to buy ps3 in nz) as a recorder, of I assume HD? Anyone had experience with this - I oly ever used on UK SD tv to record....

UHF sounds the way to go as even with sky box (free to air) doesnt sound free, or at least not for HD!

So any advice on a gaming TV anyone or specs to look out for /avoid?

Apsattv

2388 posts

Uber Geek

#952633 15-Dec-2013 18:37

Buy a samsung smart TV and you can region set it to the U.K and loadup your BBC iplayer and other apps. Via a cheap dns or vpn service.

bazzer

3438 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#952880 16-Dec-2013 08:50

muncedog: Coool thanks,

Yea I was never actually considering using a UK TV - that was more directed towards the play tv ps3 device - which would be great if it worked as I can then use my (yet to buy ps3 in nz) as a recorder, of I assume HD? Anyone had experience with this - I oly ever used on UK SD tv to record....

UHF sounds the way to go as even with sky box (free to air) doesnt sound free, or at least not for HD!

So any advice on a gaming TV anyone or specs to look out for /avoid?

PlayTV works in NZ. I never used it extensively, preferred a separate PVR but it worked OK. It's terrestrial and HD.

kegnkiwi

56 posts

Master Geek

#954668 19-Dec-2013 10:09

Uk tv's certainly do work in nz as I took by sony bravia over to nz and it worked out the box, something interesting to know my sony smart tv when connected to the internet it nz re-wrote its software for the nz market. This was a little annoying as skynews uk is difficult to get in nz. I also took with me a tmtwin satellite box and also a dreambox. The uk linux satellite box images have a plugin called on demand and it allows access to the bbc iplayer and it use to be 4od and all the other ondemand services from the uk. NZ sky i way behind what you will be used to in the uk and the normal base sky box in nz are rubbish. If you go for one try and get the pacebox with a blue card and you will be able to put the card in a linux box and use the pvr functions the gold sky card you cannot do this with. I'm now back up in the uk but if I was going down there I would get myself a cheap raspberry pi and install xbmc so you have access all the latest stuff via 1channel.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#954700 19-Dec-2013 10:53

kegnkiwi: Uk tv's certainly do work in nz as I took by sony bravia over to nz and it worked out the box

Did it work on analogue and digital or just on analogue?

kegnkiwi

56 posts

Master Geek

#955203 20-Dec-2013 02:28

Actually that part I could not answer the house we rented was in Russell. There was no aerial so we used dvb-s. There was no digital active 3 months ago and analogue was awfull or it was with rabitt ears.

Spyware

3761 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#955209 20-Dec-2013 06:23

So you are saying that you really have no idea if the inbuilt digital tuner could receive any NZ DVB-T transmissions at all???

P.S. I don't think that the functioning of the analog PAL tuner was under question.

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