Basic ariel question for Freeview

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aboylikedave

243 posts

Master Geek

#171138 7-Apr-2015 18:54

Hi there

I have been watching Freeview via a satellite and box (Globo from the excellent Freeviewshop.co.nz a few years ago). However I have just bought a new Panasonic TV and realised that a) my Satellite box is scart to scart which my TV doesn't have and b) it would be good to get rid of my box if possible now that my TV has Freeview.

Question 1: Am I right in saying that the Freeview built into my TV will only work using signal from an ariel?

I do have an ariel on the roof which runs what seems to be a coax cable

with a converter into the traditional 'female' ariel socket (same as the one on the back of the TV)

.
However when I use a male to male ariel lead to connect my TV to this it doesn't pick up any channels on the auto scan.

Question 2: What might I be doing wrong? Should the ariel just work?

All pointers appreciated!

Cheers

My EPL football websites: Get the results but hide the score of your team at HidetheScore.net. Compare league positions with wage bills at RealPremierLeague.net.

mattwnz

20155 posts

Uber Geek

#1278593 7-Apr-2015 19:11

I presume your mean Aerial, and not the Font ! Couldn't resist, because you had it wrong at least 6 times.

Anyway yes you need a proper UHF aerial for your TV. Satellite dish won't work. But you have to be in a Freeview Terrestrial area to get a signal. Such aerials are less than $100, and I have a small inside one which works perfectly. This will produce far better picture quality than your satellite freeview box. You may also be able to get a scart to composite converter for your existing box, as my freeview box came with one.

aboylikedave

243 posts

Master Geek

#1278602 7-Apr-2015 19:18

mattwnz: I presume your mean Aerial, and not the Font ! Couldn't resist, because you had it wrong at least 6 times.

Anyway yes you need a proper UHF aerial for your TV. Satellite dish won't work. But you have to be in a Freeview Terrestrial area to get a signal. Such aerials are less than $100, and I have a small inside one which works perfectly. This will produce far better picture quality than your satellite freeview box. You may also be able to get a scart to composite converter for your existing box, as my freeview box came with one.

Ha! I thought I was being so clever in knowing that the font was spelt 'Arial' so I must have spelling right as 'Ariel'!

Why might the lead from my Aerial not work? Is it just a standard UHF Aerial with a coax cable converted into the correct aerial socket as per my pictures? Or does the first picture mean that I have the wrong lead?

My EPL football websites: Get the results but hide the score of your team at HidetheScore.net. Compare league positions with wage bills at RealPremierLeague.net.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#1278622 7-Apr-2015 19:25

You should find all the info you need here

http://freeviewforum.co.nz/resources

RunningMan

8955 posts

Uber Geek

#1278623 7-Apr-2015 19:26

Most common reason for an unknown antenna not working would be that it has a masthead amplifier that requires a power injector (supply) to work that has been removed. Alternatively, old and corroded.

You could re-use your sat receiver, but at least get a scart - component cable to get the best possible picture from it.

Gradine

77 posts

Master Geek

#1278633 7-Apr-2015 19:43

Any recent TV that you buy will have terrestrial AND satellite tuners aboard.
So, if you have had your (old) TV running through a tuner "box: then you can now just plug the aerial directly into the aerial in connector on rear of TV.
Suspect that you will need to select an option as to the signal source (UHF terrestrial or satellite) when you first of all tune in your new set.
Good going and watching!

RunningMan

8955 posts

Uber Geek

#1278641 7-Apr-2015 19:57

Gradine: Any recent TV that you buy will have terrestrial AND satellite tuners aboard.

Really? I would suggest these are very much the minority, although there are certainly a few models around with DVB-S tuners now.

Spyware

3762 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1278655 7-Apr-2015 20:15

Gradine: Any recent TV that you buy will have terrestrial AND satellite tuners aboard.
So, if you have had your (old) TV running through a tuner "box: then you can now just plug the aerial directly into the aerial in connector on rear of TV.
Suspect that you will need to select an option as to the signal source (UHF terrestrial or satellite) when you first of all tune in your new set.
Good going and watching!

Really, except for Panasonic TVs sold in NZ. Image quality on DVB-S is also so poor that to consider it would be foolish.

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aboylikedave

243 posts

Master Geek

#1278672 7-Apr-2015 21:05

So - it seems that a) it is preferable to use DVB-T via an aerial but b) there is something wrong with mine. (I'm assuming my Panasonic TV won't take DVB-S input).

Any advice on my best option - should I call out an aerial specialist to have a look at mine, or just consider getting a new one without an amplifier fitted, since a fairly basic one will do the job?

My EPL football websites: Get the results but hide the score of your team at HidetheScore.net. Compare league positions with wage bills at RealPremierLeague.net.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#1278691 7-Apr-2015 21:58

aboylikedave: So - it seems that a) it is preferable to use DVB-T via an aerial but b) there is something wrong with mine. (I'm assuming my Panasonic TV won't take DVB-S input).

Any advice on my best option - should I call out an aerial specialist to have a look at mine, or just consider getting a new one without an amplifier fitted, since a fairly basic one will do the job?

Trace the co-ax first. Make sure it is connected directly to a UHF antenna. If their is a masthead amp make sure you have power supply connected to the co-ax. Check on the Freeview site that you are in UHF coverage area and that the antenna is pointed in the correct direction with correct polarity. Idf all else fails hire a Pro with all the right gear.
Can you post a picture of your antenna and advise your location?

P.S. You can get a simple f to pal adaptor to connect that f plug to your TV.
http://www.jaycar.co.nz/PRODUCTS/Sight-%26-Sound---Home/AV-Leads-%26-Adaptors/Video/F-Socket-to-Pal-Plug/p/PA3653

knoydart

904 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#1278694 7-Apr-2015 22:04

Suggest before you call someone out, use the coverage checker on the Freeview website. Then if you are in coverage and feeling like you would have a good yourself maybe post some pictures of your installation so some advice can be offered. Your TV when you dig into the installation menu, should have some basic metering for the signal level and quality. Though it wont be as good as professional gear, its a handy guide for line up.

Freeview also offer coverage maps as PDF's so you can plot your likely aerial direction to, if you are inside DTT coverage.

Good luck

mattwnz

20155 posts

Uber Geek

#1278701 7-Apr-2015 22:12

Spyware:
Gradine: Any recent TV that you buy will have terrestrial AND satellite tuners aboard.
So, if you have had your (old) TV running through a tuner "box: then you can now just plug the aerial directly into the aerial in connector on rear of TV.
Suspect that you will need to select an option as to the signal source (UHF terrestrial or satellite) when you first of all tune in your new set.
Good going and watching!

Really, except for Panasonic TVs sold in NZ. Image quality on DVB-S is also so poor that to consider it would be foolish.

Even on a CRT small TV the picture is pixilated. Feel a bit sorry for people who are stuck with no freeview HD.

aboylikedave

243 posts

Master Geek

#1278708 7-Apr-2015 22:17

Thanks all for your suggestions. I am definitely in range (Auckland), I'll get up there and take a photo.

My EPL football websites: Get the results but hide the score of your team at HidetheScore.net. Compare league positions with wage bills at RealPremierLeague.net.

Angstrom

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1279834 9-Apr-2015 16:56

"Even on a CRT small TV the picture is pixilated. Feel a bit sorry for people who are stuck with no freeview HD. "

Really? I beg to differ. I am on Satellite Freeview and with RGB Scart with a good Freeview box and high end Grundig TV and the picture is stunning. Better than the HD LCDs I see around on terrestrial when I travel. Which is why I have no intention of 'upgrading' my TV for a long time yet. International TV such as France24 etc are better than local Freeview ever since they started exchanging quality for quantity. But the gigabytes of stuff I recorded off SBS are quite extraordinary.

mattwnz

20155 posts

Uber Geek

#1279866 9-Apr-2015 17:35

Angstrom: "Even on a CRT small TV the picture is pixilated. Feel a bit sorry for people who are stuck with no freeview HD. "

Really? I beg to differ. I am on Satellite Freeview and with RGB Scart with a good Freeview box and high end Grundig TV and the picture is stunning. Better than the HD LCDs I see around on terrestrial when I travel. Which is why I have no intention of 'upgrading' my TV for a long time yet. International TV such as France24 etc are better than local Freeview ever since they started exchanging quality for quantity. But the gigabytes of stuff I recorded off SBS are quite extraordinary.

I stand by this, especially with pictures with high detail and fast moving parts to it, it just all pixelates due to the high compression.

SBS isn't freeview, so it probably less compression... I used to get SBS but I think they blocked it to NZ somehow, but I do recall it was a good picture. But that isn't a freeview channel which is what we are discussing.

aboylikedave

243 posts

Master Geek

#1285814 16-Apr-2015 20:22

OK - so what happened is it turns out I had an old non-UHF ariel. I saw a guy up a roof fixing one nearby , and he came round and fitted a new one with cable for $150 cash. All looks good so far.

My EPL football websites: Get the results but hide the score of your team at HidetheScore.net. Compare league positions with wage bills at RealPremierLeague.net.