Freeview without external antenna

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Kyanar

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#147292 15-Jun-2014 11:13

From a house in Massey, how likely is it that I can get Freeview DVB-T to work without an external antenna (i.e. just an internal one)? I have just canned Sky because their latest price rise with no benefit to me was the last straw, and all my attempts to get an internal antenna to pick up a good enough signal to decode have been largely fruitless. The house doesn't have an external antenna and the landlord refuses to permit the installation of one because "they don't look nice" (same reason we're forbidden to install a washing line).

Thoughts?

alasta

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#1065921 15-Jun-2014 11:46

A good quality amplified one placed in a window with line of sight to a transmitter is likely to work. If you don't have that ideal scenario then you are probably wasting your time.

You may want to see what options you have to formally dispute your landlord's position - it is my understanding that a landlord can't 'unreasonably' withhold permission to install attachments to the building and this case is clearly unreasonable because it's essential building infrastructure that both yourself and future tenants will require use of.

Alternatively you could use the Sky dish to receive Freeview satellite. The quality is reasonably poor, but it would still be a better solution than a temperamental indoor antenna.

ilovemusic

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#1065957 15-Jun-2014 12:57

landlord allows an ugly sky dish but not an external antenna ?

tell him you want to swap dish for aerial.

bfginger

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#1066072 15-Jun-2014 16:47

What kind of internal aerial do you have? Do you have line of sight to the Waiatarua mast? If so a good quality internal aerial or an external aerial in a flower pot should be able to work.

You may want to see what options you have to formally dispute your landlord's position - it is my understanding that a landlord can't 'unreasonably' withhold permission to install attachments to the building and this case is clearly unreasonable because it's essential building infrastructure that both yourself and future tenants will require use of.

Many people with Sky subscriptions think anybody who isn't a deadbeat will have a Sky subscription. They may have a vague idea of not wanting that Freeview thing available.

I don't think it's worth formally disputing over an aerial. Once your name goes through the tenancy tribunal many landlords will want to blackball you.

B1GGLZ

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#1066097 15-Jun-2014 17:33

Another option that would work is to mount an amplified indoor antenna outside the house under the eaves where there is line of sight to the Transmitter. It would be virtually invisible from a distance.
Or put a standard UHF antenna on a post stuck in the garden or up a tree.

JimmyH

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#1066105 15-Jun-2014 17:51

Can be done if you have a good signal and a good amplified indoor antenna. I got very poor results with a typical amplified antenna in my spare room (which it wasn't feasible to connect to the external aerial). But when I tried one of the higher-end all-in-one brand ones - which (from memory) has over 50db of gain, it worked.

Other obvious option if you still have the Sky dish in place and the cabling is run to the right location, buy a cheap satellite set top box and connect it to the dish. Cheap one should be able to be had on sale for under $100. A better twin-tuner one with a hard drive for recording etc for a couple of hundred. The picture quality won't be as good as terrestrial, but it should work OK.

Personally, if I was renting a place where the landlord wouldn't let me have a TV aerial or a washing line, I would be looking to move.

SATTV

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#1066137 15-Jun-2014 18:50

Forget the amplified antenna, if you have the signal in the dirt, you are going to amplify dirt and it does not work.

I know someone who was in a flat in mt Albert and he built this http://uhfhdtvantenna.blogspot.co.nz/ and he said he never had a problem.

This is a very good antenna design, if you dont want to make one you can buy one http://www.dicksmith.co.nz/antennas/uhf-phased-array-tv-antenna-dsnz-l3087 or http://jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=LT3138&w=uhf+antenna&form=KEYWORD

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coffeebaron

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#1066152 15-Jun-2014 19:39

Landlord cannot unreasonably withhold permission for you to install a Digital TV antenna.
http://www.dbh.govt.nz/digital-television-facilities

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lapimate

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#1066212 15-Jun-2014 21:26

Kyanar: ...doesn't have an external antenna and the landlord refuses to permit the installation of one ...

Does the house have a roof-space? We installed a 91-element antenna (Freeview) under a metal hip roof "looking" through the gable (fortuitous orientation) at the transmitter antenna. Good signal strength, sufficient to drive several TVs. Terrestrial Freeview gives you HD, whereas satellite does not.

Kyanar

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#1066401 16-Jun-2014 09:17

coffeebaron: Landlord cannot unreasonably withhold permission for you to install a Digital TV antenna.
http://www.dbh.govt.nz/digital-television-facilities

According to that, the fact that the property was equipped with said antenna when we moved in means he's legally required to replace it, doesn't it?

MikeB4

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#1066405 16-Jun-2014 09:26

If the property has a Sky Dish it has the facility to receive digital television.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

rp1790

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#1066409 16-Jun-2014 09:29

I don't have direct line of site of Mt KauKau, a few houses in the way but this aerial below works really well pointing in the right direction, inside the window.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/tvs/cables-aerials/auction-740928643.htm

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old3eyes

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#1066455 16-Jun-2014 10:13

Kyanar:
coffeebaron: Landlord cannot unreasonably withhold permission for you to install a Digital TV antenna.
http://www.dbh.govt.nz/digital-television-facilities

According to that, the fact that the property was equipped with said antenna when we moved in means he's legally required to replace it, doesn't it?

He also may show you to the door if you push the matter..

Regards,

Old3eyes

coffeebaron

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#1066494 16-Jun-2014 10:50

Kyanar:
coffeebaron: Landlord cannot unreasonably withhold permission for you to install a Digital TV antenna.
http://www.dbh.govt.nz/digital-television-facilities

According to that, the fact that the property was equipped with said antenna when we moved in means he's legally required to replace it, doesn't it?

Only if it was a working FreeView capable antenna. If it was an old VHF or non-FreeView capable UHF, then he does not have to replace / upgrade this. The main point being is if you want to get one installed at your cost, he can not reasonably refuse this request. Also if it is paid by you, then you can remove when you leave.

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ilovemusic

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#1066529 16-Jun-2014 11:24

The ability to receive Freeview will be another item on the list of desirable factors when searching for an abode.