Just Left SKY, Now Very Confused... How To Get TV??

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BLazeD

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#230399 22-Feb-2018 11:36

lol I can't even believe I am typing this, but how the heck do I get TV now SKY is gone?

We moved into this house about a year ago. There was a SKY jack in the wall (with the pin that you screw in) and the installer plugged the STB into that and it worked.

TV is an older LCD with no Freeview built-in btw - http://www.lg.com/nz/tvs/lg-55LW4500 bought in Australia.

Returned my SKY box the other day and thought I could use a coaxial cable with an adaptor to plug into the SKY jack and the antenna connector on the back of the TV. Did a tune and no go.

So I did some hunting and found another wall jack, not the SKY type with the pin, but the old style from 10+ ago - normal coaxial I believe they are called, so I didn't need to use my adaptor thingee. I plugged a cable from that to the TV and did a tune - no go!

Sometimes I can get THREE and some other channels with nothing plugged into the TV at all BTW! wtf... Also I can see the SKY dish on the roof but not sure if we still have the older other type of aerial. I'm assuming it's there somewhere.

Now I am reading about the digital switch over etc... I have always had SKY from before then until now. Does this mean that I 100% need either SKY or a Freeview tuner to access TV? If so, how can I sometimes see THREE just fine with nothing plugged into the TV but power??

TBH I probably would have kept SKY basic to avoid all this mucking around. Freeview tuners seem to start at $100 from what I can tell, and then I'm not even sure which wall jack I would need to use!

Thanks for any help

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#1962159 22-Feb-2018 11:47

You need to look at the house and see if it has a UHF aerial, you should have checked all that before you did this thread. Unsure how you can sometimes get some channels unless you are close to the repeater, but even then a bit odd.

If you dont have a UHF aerial then get one installed, and buy a device that has Freeview, such as a cheap Samsung or Panasonic DVD player, or better yet, a HDD recorder

If you have an Apple TV4, you can get the FTA channels, 1,2 and 3 on that with their OD app. Unsure if the app also plays live or not

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trig42

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#1962160 22-Feb-2018 11:49

First, if you saw Three, your TV must have a Freeview Tuner. The only way to get broadcast TV, other than Sky, is Freeview. There is no Analog transmission.

Do yo have an Aerial on the roof? If yes, what type. You need a UHF aerial for Terrestrial Freeview.

Where are you located? If you are getting occasional TV without an antenna plugged in, you must be in an area that can get Terrestrial freeview (over UHF).

Sounds like you need an antenna on the roof, cabled into the jack point with the 'older' normal coaxial socket.

Or, you could pick up a Freeview Satellite box (not HD, less choice in boxes) and connect it to the plug the sky was connected to.

Groucho

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Ultimate Geek

#1962174 22-Feb-2018 12:15

As I see it you have two options:

SATELLITE
You should be able to buy a Freeview SATELLITE set top box that picks up the free to air channels via satellite. This box should be able to plug into the same Sky socket on the wall. Once the box is tuned you should be fine.

TERRESTRIAL/UHF
If you can, take tdgeek's suggestion of having a UHF aerial installed if you don't already have one. The advantages to UHF are no rain fade which you get with satellite and TV1, TV2, TV3 and Duke are all broadcast in HD with Dolby Digital 5.1. FTA satellite transmission is only broadcast in SD. Terrestrial also carries any regional TV stations you might have in your area.

The link you supplied for your TV is for the NZ model which appears to have a DVB-T tuner which will pick up the FTA channels via terrestrial. Despite buying it in Australia if there's a NZ country option in the TV setup you should be able to simply plug a terrestrial aerial straight into your TV and it'll just work after a retune.

If you don't have joy there you can get a Freeview terrestrial (UHF) set to box and go that way.

Note there are two types of set top boxes - satellite and terrestrial (terrestrial is sometimes known as "Freeview HD" and requires a UHF aerial).

chiefie

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#1962177 22-Feb-2018 12:18

To be honest, it is probably cheaper and better, to get a new TV.

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Groucho

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#1962185 22-Feb-2018 12:33

chiefie:

To be honest, it is probably cheaper and better, to get a new TV.

Did you follow the link that was posted? It's a modern-ish 55" Full HD, 3D TV with a digital tuner built in which will be much more expensive to replace than a very basic $100+ Freeview tuner. Even if they did buy a new TV they still don't have confirmation of how to get a signal into it.

stinger

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#1962186 22-Feb-2018 12:33

chiefie:

To be honest, it is probably cheaper and better, to get a new TV.

This isn't going to help if the OP doesn't have a UHF aerial.

The *cheapest* option is to buy a satellite freeview decoder, which can be picked up for a lot cheaper than the cost of an aerial installer.

Behodar

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#1962187 22-Feb-2018 12:38

tdgeek: Unsure how you can sometimes get some channels unless you are close to the repeater, but even then a bit odd.

I've heard of it happening in strong signal areas. Even connecting a cable - with nothing on the other end - can help. But a proper UHF aerial will of course be ideal.

engedib

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#1962188 22-Feb-2018 12:40

Just get an Android based media player and watch Freeview using a Kodi add-on.

For some reason I cannot insert the link, just google for it.

MCSE+M/S, MCITP

stinger

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#1962190 22-Feb-2018 12:48

engedib:

Just get an Android based media player and watch Freeview using a Kodi add-on.

AFAIK, you would only be able to watch TVNZ and Mediawords (Three, Bravo, Edge, Three Life). The beauty of Freeview is the rest is where the best television is (especially Māori TV, Choice and Al Jazeera).

YMMV.

freitasm

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#1962195 22-Feb-2018 12:52

Summary:

For Freeview with HD and Digital sound, check you have a UHF antenna and get either a recorder, set top box or Freeview HD-compatible TV.
For Freeview Satellite (no HD), get a set top box and plug where the SKY box was before.

My technology disclosure

engedib

254 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1962198 22-Feb-2018 12:55

stinger:

engedib:

Just get an Android based media player and watch Freeview using a Kodi add-on.

AFAIK, you would only be able to watch TVNZ and Mediawords (Three, Bravo, Edge, Three Life). The beauty of Freeview is the rest is where the best television is (especially Māori TV, Choice and Al Jazeera).

YMMV.

This is the list of channels: https://goo.gl/DELoD8

MCSE+M/S, MCITP

B1GGLZ

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#1962209 22-Feb-2018 13:13

Everybody seems to be missing the point that the OP stated that this is a TV bought in Australia, so it may not be capable of receiving all NZ Freeview Channels unless it is a fairly recent model. Depends on the FW. Do a factory reset first then select country location as NZ if the FW allows. Then it is necessary to make sure there is a UHF antenna on the roof (a Sky dish won't work without a Sat tuner in the TV) and connected to the TV. Then tuning should be straight forward.

dolsen

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#1962214 22-Feb-2018 13:16

Just throwing in another option.

If you are in such a strong signal area that without an aerial connected you sometimes get enough signal to tune, you may be able to just get an internal aerial and get enough signal.

So - your options.

1 - internal aerial Pro - HD, cheap. Con - may get loss of signal occasionally.

2 - external uhf aerial - Pro - best signal and quality Con somewhat expensive (if not already there).

3 - Freeview sat receiver - Pro - Cheapish (cost between option 1 and 2). Con - low picture quality. Extra remote to use.

4 - New tv with satellite tuner. Con - Expensive (most cost), Low picture Quality, loss of 3D. Pro - 1 remote.

If it was me, I'd be looking if there is a uhf aerial, if not, I would try my luck with an internal aerial.

B1GGLZ

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#1962215 22-Feb-2018 13:18

stinger:

engedib:

Just get an Android based media player and watch Freeview using a Kodi add-on.

AFAIK, you would only be able to watch TVNZ and Mediawords (Three, Bravo, Edge, Three Life). The beauty of Freeview is the rest is where the best television is (especially Māori TV, Choice and Al Jazeera).

YMMV.

Not So. I've got a media player with Kodi and just recently installed an add-on that receives all the OZ and NZ Freeview channels plus their EPGs online. Works perfectly. Records channels to USB HDD too so it may be the way of the future?

chiefie

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#1962229 22-Feb-2018 13:57

B1GGLZ:

Everybody seems to be missing the point that the OP stated that this is a TV bought in Australia, so it may not be capable of receiving all NZ Freeview Channels unless it is a fairly recent model. Depends on the FW. Do a factory reset first then select country location as NZ if the FW allows. Then it is necessary to make sure there is a UHF antenna on the roof (a Sky dish won't work without a Sat tuner in the TV) and connected to the TV. Then tuning should be straight forward.

Hence why I suggested maybe a new TV for NZ... then obviously the necessary aerial needs for the signal - if OP doesn't want the use of STB.

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