You may not need a UHF aerial!

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › You may not need a UHF aerial!

turb

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Topic # 25410 20-Aug-2008 16:14

On a whim, I tried plugging my crappy old VHF aerial (bits missing) into my nice new Sony Bravia (Freeview built in) and it tuned in to freeview HD. No problems, EPG working nicely etc etc. I think you have to plug it in directly ie not through any other VCR etc etc. Cool.

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Reply # 158392 20-Aug-2008 16:23

Yip there are a few people who have LOS to their closest transmitter who only need a bare wire to get reception...

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Reply # 159096 23-Aug-2008 00:34

i was shocked tonight to find that when I plugged in an old asus u3000 usb dvb-t tuner and a pair of cheap rabbit ears that I managed to get all the freeview channels and the signal was around 60%

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Fossie

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Reply # 159099 23-Aug-2008 01:16

In Auckland I was getting signal with 10m of coax on my floor.

turb

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Reply # 159136 23-Aug-2008 11:32

Are people getting similar results with the STBs I wonder? Do more expensive STBs pick up weaker signals?

I reckon the take-up would be much better if people realised might not have to fork out for a new aerial.

When I spoke to an aerial installer, they said that (apart from FreeviewHD) a UHF aerial would only pick up Maori and Triangle. Is this true? If that's the case why were there so many UHF aerials around?

When I saw how good FreeviewHD looks, I've been having a bit of a wobble over whether to carry on and get Sky HDi (what does the "i" stand for anyway?) . They are coming on the 5th Sep so I guess I've got a bit of time to think about it. Seems like a lot to pay for a PVR, after I've had the first 6 months free with DSE's deal.

For the same price as the Sky box you can nearly get a Blu-Ray player but still no recording facility.

What we need is a freeview-compatible BluRay/DVD/HDD recorder. That can record another channel. For less than Sky's $599. Then flick Sky off. I do like the history channel though...

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Reply # 159137 23-Aug-2008 11:45

The i in HDi means interactive, the box has an ethernet port and future firmware upgrades intend to bring various interactive features via the internet in a manner the current pitiful interactive features cannot do.

Your antenna installer forgot to mention the soon to be phased out UHF Sky service that was the main reason UHF antennas were installed over the last 10-15yrs.

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Reply # 159209 23-Aug-2008 22:57

Lucky for some. I've been trying to use my DSE FV|HD box in my new place which surprisingly doesn't have any external aerial. I've tried bunny ears and that failed, and have tried a booster, but that failed also.

So I'm stuck with normal Sky and it looks horrific in comparison :(

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Reply # 159215 23-Aug-2008 23:12

Where do you live? Can you see any local antennas?

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Reply # 159216 23-Aug-2008 23:19

Mt Cook in Wellington. Not sure where the nearest is. According to the Freeview maps, I have a "Very Likely" chance of picking up FV|HD. Just, not with indoor aerials it seems. I can get Prime reception (on both the aerials I tried), which looks and sounds OK (but not perfect, a bit snowy). When scanning, it does pause on a couple of the channels as if something is there, but I guess there is too much interference that it doesn't pick up anything.

Hmmm, I just had a read of the FAQs and came apon the question about indoor aerials and it said that putting it near a window may indeed work. Will have to try this tomorrow and report back.

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Reply # 159218 23-Aug-2008 23:26

http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/en/product/L4017

I would pick up one of those and see how it goes, again put it near a window. I believe pointing it towards Johnsonville would be your best bet, unless you only face south?

Edit: Fixed the faulty URL.

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Reply # 159241 24-Aug-2008 08:32

From Mt Cook you will be wanting to see KauKau (biggest stick above johnsonville). ensure you use a horizontally polarised antenna.

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Reply # 159251 24-Aug-2008 09:52

I found from Khandallah the UHF antenna supplied with my Hauppauge HVR-900H didn't work that well even though I can see KauKau. I had to use the external UHF antenna on the roof to get decent reception for DVB-T. But interestingly, while my Prime reception is not great (lots of multipath interference) the clear advantage of digital shows up as my DVB-T captures are crystal clear.

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turb

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Reply # 159294 24-Aug-2008 12:23

Just looked at that DSE aerial: "a modern design which looks good on your TV"

lol!

oops...sorry moderators...I'm Laughing Out Loud

Still if it means you can get FV|HD I guarantee you're going to be admiring what's on the screen, not what's sitting on top.

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sneakattack

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Reply # 159321 24-Aug-2008 13:44

Thanks guys, should've come to you first before buying anything.

I got one of these http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/48b0bbd409b14c702740c0a87f3b072e/Product/View/L4660

I held it up to the window (yes, stuck on facing south) and found a particular point where reception is fine, it picked up the channels and worked well. *but* if I moved it in any which way by a hairs bredth, then it would go all craptacular. The position is also a very inconvenient one as well. Would one of those you suggested (yes, very stylish :P ) possibly be better than the one I got already, or shall I just swap (again) for that one to check it out, or shall I give up?

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Reply # 159346 24-Aug-2008 16:15

I do recommend you try the one I suggested, it tends to be better than the amplified ones in most situations.
http://www.dse.co.nz/pages/dse/products/L4017.htm

sneakattack

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Reply # 159358 24-Aug-2008 17:20

Cheers, I'll pick one up tomorrow after work and try it out.

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