Freeview Box help

DazzaMc

Please someone help me!

I'm desperate to get a freeview box! But need help! Don't know if I can use it, I only have one scart socket and that's in my video player. Then the aerial goes into the video player, with a cable to the tv. Can I use the freeview box through this scart socket on my video?

OR. I have 2 connections on the back on my tv, one says "video in" and one says "audio in," don't know what cable is needed or anything ?

Please someone help me! Thanks!

before_hollywood

erm......
freeview on a non scart tv then?
i think you will need a box with an rf modulator (best ones are humax), and then connect an rf lead from the box to the tv, and connect the video to the box via the scart socket.
i think???
can anyone tell me if this is right?

gizmoleeds

DazzaMc wrote:

OR. I have 2 connections on the back on my tv, one says "video in" and one says "audio in," don't know what cable is needed or anything ?

Are they little round ones? The Video In is yellow and the audio in is white, right?

If so, these are called RCA. You can get a scart->RCA adaptor which you would plug into the scart socket on the freeview box and then use RCA cables to connect to the TV.

This is what you need. Ebay seems to be the best place for things like this.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Scart-to-SVHS-3-x-RCA-Phono-TV-Adaptor-Converter-Box_W0QQitemZ5818775563QQcategoryZ96942QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

You would also need two RCA cables.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-3-RCA-to-3-RCA-1-5m-Audio-Video-Lead-phono_W0QQitemZ5817705397QQcategoryZ15067QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

(these cables are very overpriced though, but they are not that easy to find in the shops - they're all gold-plated etc.)

This would give the best quality picture, but you could also get a box with an 'RF modulator', like before hollywood suggested (which means you just tune in the freeview box like another channel). They are not easy to find though and might cost quite a bit more.

jobbingmusician

Warning - you will need a very decent TV ariel to be able to use Freeview as well. A standard roof ariel is not necessarily good enough. Check with your neighbours who have Freeview to see if they needed to change their ariel and if so, how much it cost them!

(Having said this, Freeview is worth having if you can afford this cost It would even be worth buying a cheap new TV from somewhere like Asda to have it, IMHO)

DazzaMc

I was actually gonna ask you all about cheap tv recommendations - my tv is pretty old and could do with a new one.

It's for my bedroom, so don't want anything amazingly big, around 21 inch, decent make / manufacturer, teletext and nice design. Cheap!

windym_2

I bought a scart extender like this one http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5342378.htm.

I plug all the stuff in.

Don't know best buys on TVs but there is bound to be a thread. Tesco.com have http://www.tesco.com/electrical/Product.aspx?R=8229685 don't know if youve got a large store near you, perhaps more choice in there.

Check out places like https://www.pricerunner.co.uk and https://www.kelkoo.co.uk when you have found one you like.

windym_2

You also need to read this thread, first page, about 2nd or 3rd post, the smallest freeview which plugs straight into you tv and everything else comes out of it.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=1017001#post1017001

DazzaMc

"You also need to read this thread, first page, about 2nd or 3rd post, the smallest freeview which plugs straight into you tv and everything else comes out of it."

You seem to have neglected the fact that my tv has no scart socket. Can I plug a freeview box into my video player? Or is buying an rf lead the only option? And will this decrease picture quality in any way?

gizmoleeds

eastchristina wrote:

Warning - you will need a very decent TV ariel to be able to use Freeview as well. A standard roof ariel is not necessarily good enough. Check with your neighbours who have Freeview to see if they needed to change their ariel and if so, how much it cost them!

Not true. I used to use an indoor aerial and got a fine picture despite the fact that, at the time, I was in an area "unable to receive" freeview.

DazzaMc wrote:

You seem to have neglected the fact that my tv has no scart socket. Can I plug a freeview box into my video player? Or is buying an rf lead the only option? And will this decrease picture quality in any way?

You can plug the freeview box into the video player.

If you connect by an RF cable this will decrease the picture quality, but by no more than connecting to the video with scart and then the video to the TV by RF.

If you read my post above then I explained what the inputs to your TV were and how to connect to these (thus getting a better quality picture).

DazzaMc

Ok. So the cheaper option would be just to plug the freeview box into the video player right?

I've found an scart to rca (2 cables) lead on ebay for 1.99!

Which should I do??

And where to buy the cheapest freeview box? I've seen some trendy ones for 39.99 in tesco!

windym_2

You need to read this http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=94925&highlight=freeview has boxes for £30.