can i use a sky satelite dish with freeview?

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › can i use a sky satelite dish with freeview?

hamish225

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Topic # 56841 25-Jan-2010 21:43

since theyre going to phase out normal tv i guess im going to need to get freeview for my tv, my question is, can i use the existing sky dish we have now (its being used by sky on a different tv)

:/

Lurch

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Reply # 292992 25-Jan-2010 21:50

Yes, just get a DVB-S set top box and plug it in. I recommend one with a blind scan as it grabs all the channels it can find. I've got an old Hyundai box that I havent used in awhile that use to work really well. HSS-760a... http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/hyundai-hss760a-digital-satellite-receiver-p-359.html

Although if you are in the DVB-T coverage area I recommend that over the DVB-S service mainly because of the crap quality via Satellite...

hamish225

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Reply # 292993 25-Jan-2010 21:51

im in christchurch and i have no idea what a DVB is... haha

Valok

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Reply # 292994 25-Jan-2010 21:56

using your sky dish gets u standard definition freeview (DVB-S) and if u were to use a UHF aerial (DVB-T is terrestrial) u would get Hi Def freeview (much better quality)

hamish225

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Reply # 292997 25-Jan-2010 21:59

oh. we have a uhf areal, but no tv that even has hd so that wont matter haha

hamish225

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Reply # 292998 25-Jan-2010 21:59

thanks by the way :)

Mattv

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Reply # 293003 25-Jan-2010 22:07

As you are in Christchurch and can presumably get normal TV from Sugarloaf at the moment you would be better off getting a DVB-T (Terrestrial) box. However as you don't have a HD TV I really wouldn't bother yet unless you really want the extra channels on freeview, which really aren't that great. The old signal will be on for quite a while still and new TV's (with Freeview DVB-T built in) and set top boxes keep getting cheaper so you may as well wait a bit.

hamish225

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Reply # 293018 25-Jan-2010 22:49

when are they stoping it anyway?

richms

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Reply # 293022 25-Jan-2010 22:57

They will announce when they will stop it in 2012 or when it gets to a certain percentage of people with digital.

Even if you dont have a full HD display, being able to get a proper aspect picture is one very good reason to go digital right now.

Richard rich.ms

hamish225

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Reply # 293023 25-Jan-2010 22:59

hmm true, well i have to wait till the end of the year anyways. gots to save my pennys hahaha

Balchy

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Reply # 293049 26-Jan-2010 08:07

What is the quality of satelitte versus SD sky? I am looking at getting rid of mysky - happy with standard definition but might have to go terrestrial if the SD freeview is worse than SD sky

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Spyware

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Reply # 293064 26-Jan-2010 09:08

Balchy: What is the quality of satelitte versus SD sky? I am looking at getting rid of mysky - happy with standard definition but might have to go terrestrial if the SD freeview is worse than SD sky

I generally use Sky as a reference to lowest image quality obtainable in broadcast TV, I think most intelligent people would. I think the bitrates support that finding but wll admit Freeview satellite approaches Sky.

Ross

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cyril7

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Reply # 293072 26-Jan-2010 09:46

If you are watching TV1 or 2 on Sky then you are watching the FreeView feeds, Sky no longer use their own feeds for TV1/2. Although last time I looked they still had them on their mux, but I guess it will eventually go.

Cyril