Connecting Panasonic TH-42A400Z to Satellite Freeview in an apartment

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kvngyr

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#150348 19-Jul-2014 17:32

I recently moved in to a new apartment building which has a cable coming from the wall which looks like this (F Connector?):

This wire is coming from the wall

I want to connect it to my recently purchased Panasonic TH-42A400Z which has a digital Freeview decoder, the connection at the back of my television looks like this (female N type?):

In my area (Queenstown) terrestrial Freeview is not available so I assume that there's a satellite dish on the apartment building roof, this signal must then be split to each apartment.

This is where I start to get a bit unsure / confused - as far as I'm aware this model only has the ability to decode a terrestrial (UHF?) digital signal (which might be why it was on sale...), the satellite signal will be using VHF (?).

So with all this in mind, what do I need to watch digital TV here?

Ideally I would like to just buy an adapter to connect the cable coming from the wall to the back of the TV set and use the digital decoder and EPG on the TV, but I'm sure it's not as straight forward as that.

If this isn't possible and I have to purchase a digital decoder which sits in between the cable from the wall and the TV would it be possible to use the EPG on the TV? I don't really want another remote lying around on the coffee table.

I would really appreciate some advice with this!

Cheers!

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#1092087 19-Jul-2014 17:46

You need to buy a satellite set top box (decoder). Price will be around $100 for a basic one, or you can pay more for PVR functions etc.

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#1092088 19-Jul-2014 17:49

Unfortunately you will need a set top box. The set top box will receive it's own EPG. You won't be able to use the TV tuner at all without a UHF terrestrial signal. You will need to use the remote for the set top box to change channel anyway. There's a chance the set top box remote could be set to turn the TV on/off and control volume.

Dunnersfella

4083 posts

Uber Geek

#1092089 19-Jul-2014 17:50

You'll need to get a satellite box, sorry.
Or, return the TV and get a Samsung UA40H5500 series TV (with a built in satellite freeview tuner).
I'd do the latter...

Goosey

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#1092091 19-Jul-2014 17:50

as per previous poster above...

also; as a starting point check out http://www.freeviewnz.tv

kvngyr

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1092126 19-Jul-2014 19:01

Thanks for all the comments - I thought as much but just wanted to check just in case!

Cheers!

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

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#1092312 20-Jul-2014 09:29

kvngyr: Thanks for all the comments - I thought as much but just wanted to check just in case!

Cheers!

And the satellite signal carries it's own EPG. It is not VHF but UHF around 1.2ghz.
I'd also take it back and go for the TV with inbuilt Sat tuner too. As you live in Queenstown where there is no Terrestrial coverage the sales person where you bought it should have explained all this to you.
P.S. As you live in an apartment building it would be wise to contact your building manager first to find out how the signal is distributed. Many apartments have a reception/distribution system where the incoming signals are converted and distrubuted by UHF digital same as terrestrial Freeview. You need to know what the cable is connected to at the other end. However as it is an f plug logic would indicate it is most likely a satellite dish rf feed.

Spyware

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#1092326 20-Jul-2014 10:08

kvngyr:

I want to connect it to my recently purchased Panasonic TH-42A400Z which has a digital Freeview decoder, the connection at the back of my television looks like this (female N type?):

This is where I start to get a bit unsure / confused - as far as I'm aware this model only has the ability to decode a terrestrial (UHF?) digital signal (which might be why it was on sale...), the satellite signal will be using VHF (?).

Cheers!

TV connector is a Belling Lee socket.

Sat signal comes from satellite on Ku band, 12 GHz or so, and is then converted by the low noise block to an L-band (950 to 2150 MHz) signal.

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B1GGLZ

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#1092397 20-Jul-2014 11:11

Spyware:

Sat signal comes from satellite on Ku band, 12 GHz or so, and is then converted by the low noise block to an L-band (950 to 2150 MHz) signal.

Ooops, I was out by a factor of 10. Of course its SHF at 12ghz. Not VHF or UHF.

bfginger

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#1092525 20-Jul-2014 15:53

I suggest you get this one as it has two tuners and lets you record to an internal hard drive.
http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=925716
Hook it up to the TV with HDMI and don't pay more than $15 for the cable if possible.

SATTV

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#1092614 20-Jul-2014 19:23

Before you do anything, speak to the apartment manager.
Quite often apartments multiplex the TV and Satellite signal down the one cable.
Sometimes they may also decode the signal and rebroadcast the signal in an analogue format, all down the one coax cable.

You might be lucky and need an adapter.

I know enough to be dangerous

Spyware

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#1092782 21-Jul-2014 07:04

I would hardly call the analog output any kind of luck, having been witness to many such signals, even in 4 star Auckland Hotels, the inability to even set the aspect ratio correctly soon disappoints.

RunningMan

8882 posts

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#1092800 21-Jul-2014 08:09

Spyware: I would hardly call the analog output any kind of luck, having been witness to many such signals, even in 4 star Auckland Hotels, the inability to even set the aspect ratio correctly soon disappoints.

It's still luck - just very bad luck ;-)

JimmyH

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#1093224 21-Jul-2014 19:25

I second SATTV's advice. While that connector looks like it is probably for a satellite feed, it's not certain that it is and it could be a UHF feed. I have seen UHF fed through cables terminated with an F-connector before. Before you spend a cent, talk to whoever administers the complex and make sure you know what sort of feed it is. Otherwise, there is a risk you will waste quite a lot of time/money.

kvngyr

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1093273 21-Jul-2014 20:36

I'll shoot the apartment manger an email and see if there's any chance the satellite signal's being converted. It's not the end of the world if I have to get a decoder and add to the pile of remotes on the coffee table. At the end of the day we use XBMC to watch most of our content - TV would be mainly for the local news and weather.

Thanks again for all the feedback, this was my first post here but won't be my last. You lot seem like a very knowledgeable and friendly bunch, hopefully I'll be able to add to the community on other subjects which I'm more knowledgeable!

Cheers!

sbiddle

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#1093279 21-Jul-2014 20:57

JimmyH: I second SATTV's advice. While that connector looks like it is probably for a satellite feed, it's not certain that it is and it could be a UHF feed. I have seen UHF fed through cables terminated with an F-connector before. Before you spend a cent, talk to whoever administers the complex and make sure you know what sort of feed it is. Otherwise, there is a risk you will waste quite a lot of time/money.

They're in Queenstown though which has no Freeview|HD coverage. At best it'd be a RF feed of the DVB-S signal.

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