Using Sky satellite dish to provide FreeView signal???

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › Using Sky satellite dish to provide FreeView signal???

matt17

92 posts

Master Geek

#196575 4-Jun-2016 22:28

I’ve just ditched Sky (yahoo!) and have returned their STB. Their satellite dish is still present on the roof, and I figured I could simply plug its cable into my TV (a 2015 LG SmartTV). Sadly, that didn’t have the desired effect as the TV’s tuner didn’t pick up any channels when it did the scan. I don’t watch much TV so am reluctant to buy any additional equipment (e.g. a FreeView box) unless I absolutely need one to view free to air channels.

What do I need to do to my existing setup, to get it to function? Does the dish itself need to be realigned to a FreeView satellite?? I don’t have a UHF aerial on the roof. I used the FreeView coverage checker : it said FreeViewPlus and MyFreeviewPlus are my best options at my address.

Thanks in advance,

Matthew

pugsy33

63 posts

Master Geek

#1565865 4-Jun-2016 22:34

Without a uhf antenna you won't get freeview HD on that tv. You will need a freeview satellite set top box,and connect it to the existing dish. No realignment of the dish required at all. If you go down the uhf aerial side of things , you need to make sure freeview HD coverage is in your area.

Benoire

2798 posts

Uber Geek

#1565866 4-Jun-2016 22:34

Unless your TV has dvb-s/2 as its input you wont get Freeview without a UHF aerial as most TV inputs are dvb-t which requires a UHF input.

matt17

92 posts

Master Geek

#1565893 4-Jun-2016 22:51

Aha - thanks. Would that info be contained in the tech specs for my particular tv?

I'd quite like to be able to record the odd tv programme - so maybe I need to get a Freeview box.

Does a UHF aerial generate a better pic than a satellite dish?

nzlegs

52 posts

Master Geek

#1565894 4-Jun-2016 22:53

You will require hat isknown as a 'dual tuner' to receive satellite signals with that TV and unfortunately you do not say that it is so fitted.
In this instance you would be using the dish cable as an aerial. There is a bit of electronics at the focus of the dish, called an LNB requiring electricity to power it. This derived from the special tuner, whether it be a Set Top Box or satellite tuner. The power is then fed up the cable while keeping the signal coming down separate. Most rational manufacturers don't put circuitry into UHF tuners for feeding power up aerial cables so if a dual tuner is not fitted, a set top box is required.

Benoire

2798 posts

Uber Geek

#1565896 4-Jun-2016 22:54

matt17: Aha - thanks. Would that info be contained in the tech specs for my particular tv?

Yes it would, it will either use DVB-s (satellite) or DVB-T (terrestrial) and might also mention UHF for the DVB-T bit; otherwise you can post your TV model here and one of us can provide you with the answer... My gut feeling is that it will be a standard DVB-t set as most are and you will either require a UHD aerial installed and cable run / connection to the existing cable or it will be a freesat box that is basically going to connect how the Sky box did.

matt17

92 posts

Master Geek

#1565898 4-Jun-2016 22:59

Thanks again - you're all so helpful!!

My TV is an LG, 49UF770V

Benoire

2798 posts

Uber Geek

#1565899 4-Jun-2016 23:01

matt17: Aha - thanks. Would that info be contained in the tech specs for my particular tv?

I'd quite like to be able to record the odd tv programme - so maybe I need to get a Freeview box.

Does a UHF aerial generate a better pic than a satellite dish?

to answer your edit I don't think Freeview via satellite is currently in HD so if you want HD quality on the main channels you'll need to go Freeview via UHF. If you want to record like the skybox did you can get a Freeview box with this functionality built in but I would suggest a FreeviewPLUS box instead as that will function better.

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Benoire

2798 posts

Uber Geek

#1565901 4-Jun-2016 23:05

Well according to the specs it is a dual format tuner; I presume you've tried to connect the old cable that went from the sky box in to the tv and it had a place to screw in? Does it have two connections on the back; one threaded and the other like it should have something pushed in? UHF connections just push in rather than screw in?

To tune, maybe you should be using a different source setting? My Samsung has the normal HDMI etc. inputs but also separate analogue and Digital inputs; you may have two due to the two tuners?

Benoire

2798 posts

Uber Geek

#1565902 4-Jun-2016 23:07

Right final thing from me before bed... You might need to run autosetup on that tuner if it is a dual tuner; it might not be set for Optus D1 and the frequency of the LNB might be of... For reference Sky supplied LNBs operate at 10750 MHz (10750000 KHz) and the TV might be looking for a different LNB setting.

matt17

92 posts

Master Geek

#1566003 5-Jun-2016 11:37

Ooh, this is getting complicated!

1. It sounds like my TV IS able to to receive the signal from the dish - and I assume that the TV is able to provide the power to run the LNB?

2. Does A FreeView PLUS box have the ability to be programmed remotely - like I was able to do MySky box does? (it looks like my TV has the ability to programme to record onto a USB device, so even though it might not be able to be programmed remotely, it would do.

If I can’t get HD via the dish, I’ll have to put another aerial up there as I’m not happy watch SD TV on a 4K TV! I know I won’t get 4K, but HD would be nice.

I’ll have a look at the TV tuner settings to see if I need to alter any settings there, given that it’s a dual tuner. I do note that in the ‘satellite settings’ part of the TV it says : Satellite #1, OPTUS D1 160.0E, LND Frequency 11300 and I have the option to edit this info - but to what?? The cable from the dish is currently screwed into the rear of the TV, into a port marked : 13/18V, 700mA Max, LNB Satellite IN

There’s also a port alongside is marked ‘antenna/cable IN’ and is a normal push in connector - I assume this is the UHF connector.

Benoire

2798 posts

Uber Geek

#1566004 5-Jun-2016 11:41

matt17:

Ooh, this is getting complicated!

1. It sounds like my TV IS able to to receive the signal from the dish - and I assume that the TV is able to provide the power to run the LNB?

2. Does A FreeView PLUS box have the ability to be programmed remotely - like I was able to do MySky box does? (it looks like my TV has the ability to programme to record onto a USB device, so even though it might not be able to be programmed remotely, it would do.

If I can’t get HD via the dish, I’ll have to put another aerial up there as I’m not happy watch SD TV on a 4K TV! I know I won’t get 4K, but HD would be nice.

I’ll have a look at the TV tuner settings to see if I need to alter any settings there, given that it’s a dual tuner. I do note that in the ‘satellite settings’ part of the TV it says : Satellite #1, OPTUS D1 160.0E, LND Frequency 11300 and I have the option to edit this info - but to what?? The cable from the dish is currently screwed into the rear of the TV, into a port marked : 13/18V, 700mA Max, LNB Satellite IN

There’s also a port alongside is marked ‘antenna/cable IN’ and is a normal push in connector - I assume this is the UHF connector.

Ah hah! there you go -> OPTUS D1 160.0E, LND Frequency 11300 - Change the value in bold to 10750 and that will give you access to the satellite as I said previously Sky run 10750 on their LNBs. The main thing though is you won't get HD from the satellite system yet as there is not enough capacity, to get HD you'll have to go UHF which will involve a new aerial and cable run...

Your TV also appears to be FreeviewPlus certified, so if you do go down the UHF route, do that first and then see what it can do.. If it can record to USB and has freeview plus then really you won't need an external box and I don't think any have the same remote record as Sky as they're not connected to a provider.

matt17

92 posts

Master Geek

#1566176 5-Jun-2016 20:43

It worked!! Thanks so much.

Now just to figure out if I can get the LG remote to control the TV's volume given that the TV's sound is playing through the amp...

I've got a Logitech programmable remote, however it doesn't have the 'magic pointer' capability that the LG remote does - nor the voice activated feature. I can do everything via the LG remote (except change the volume) and it seems crazy to have the amp's remote (which is terrible!) or the Logitech remote out just to alter the volume. Any ideas about this?

Benoire

2798 posts

Uber Geek

#1566179 5-Jun-2016 21:11

If you can enable CEC on the amp then it might work, should be in options as CEC / HDMI link or Simplink if LG have retained that... Not sure whether your amp does this or not, but you might have to google CEC and your amp model number...

If it doesn't, then I don't think you can control your amp without another remote.

matt17

92 posts

Master Geek

#1566195 5-Jun-2016 21:54

My amp (a Denon AVR-1801) is pretty old - maybe 15 years?!? It doesn't even have HDMI ports....so doubt it'll have the CEC/HDMI link you speak of. I did see a reference to Simplink when searching around the TV’s settings, looking for a way to have the LG remote control the amp.

Maybe I’ll have to use the Logitech remote after all… :-(