Totally confused re. switchover options!

milliebear00001

My situation is that I currently receive my main TV signal via a Sky box and dish (free channels only) and my upstairs telly via a weak analogue signal via a portable aerial. Come switchover, I will replace my old TV with a new one, but have no idea what the best option will be for getting a signal for it! I am assuming the portable aerial signal won't be strong enough, so do I buy a rooftop aerial (resent having to do this as am in a rented property) or is there some way to connect via my existing Sky dish? Don't fancy loads of new cabling though? I want the cheapest, simplest way really as I rarely watch upstairs anyway. The TV I buy will obviously be equipped to receive a digital signal, so I won't need a digibox up there.
Help!

davemurgatroyd

You have two main options if you do not want to fit a new aerial

1 Another satellite receiver - will mean change of lnb (bit on arm in front of dish) with more outputs and cable to bedroom. - Cost cable (?) + lnb £10 (ebay) + digibox (free on freecycle, £2 upwards car boot sale or ebay)
2 Coax cable from RF2 output on Sky digibox to bedroom and fitting a "magic eye"/sky link would enable use of Sky remote in bedroom to control Sky box. Make sure new TV also has analogue tuner for this option. Cost cable (?) + magic eye £5 upwards B&Q, ebay etc.
Cable 50p to 75p per metre from Screwfix, B&Q ebay etc.

With option 1 different channels can be watched in each room, whereas with option 2 only one channel can be watched simultaneously in both rooms.

milliebear00001

Thanks but I am still confused! Both those options would require me to source materials and or pay somebody to fit. Does Sky offer such a service, or am I looking at somebody independent? Given the cost of fitting, would I be better just getting a common or garden aerial fitted? That way, I avoid all the wiring issues inside the house, and only need worry about conection externally (there is an aerial socket in the bedroom - just nothing connected externally to it!)

MarkLS12

When is your area changing over?

Until changeover only low power Freeview is available, at switchover the power is increased so your current portable aerial may be fine.

Changeover is in two steps.
In the first step, only BBC 2 shuts down & the Digital BBC channels replace it.
Then a month later the other channels shut down, then the digital ITV and C4 channels should then be available.

I suggest you wait until the BBC2 shutdown date, you then have a month to try freeview and see if it works before the rest of the channels go.

milliebear00001

I'm in Granada region so we lost BBC2 last week! Just tried digital telly and can't pick up anything using my portable aerial.

MarkLS12

Having an external TV aerial fitted might be your best bet then.
Satellite is likely to be more expensive as described by davemurgatroyd.

There is one other option if you will not want to watch both TVs at the same time.
You could use a wireless video sender.
No wires, but may be a little tricky to set up.