Freeview TV Channels for New build.

haisharif

Hi All,

We just got our new build home completed last week and we moved in. I have a digital TV with inbuilt set top box. We use to rent since last 3 years and always use to get all the freeview channels without the need of an Aerial. Just plug in to the TV socket and got all my freeview channels. I use to live in Staines.

Now in my new home, i tried conecting my TV to the socket and re-tune but no luck. I dont even get a single channel. So not sure whats happening.

- Do I need a Aerial to get freeview. My new home is in Bracknell. (around 10 miles from Staines)
- If yes, do I need an internal aerial or external. Internal is cheap and no need to install whereas, external needs to be installed by professionals as far as I understand with a service charge around 99 quid which i find ridiculous.

Rather than paying 99 pounds to just install the aerial, I can go with sky or virgin which only charges 30 quit for setup and i get the antenna free.

Guys, if any of you are living around, please help me with your suggestions.

I would like to spend as less as possible as I m running short of cash. Has put all my savings to buy my dream little home.


Thanks

paulczar

are you sure there wasn't and aerial at the other end of the cable in your old house? I'm almost certain there would be.

If your new build was like mine you have to supply your own aerial. but the cable is installed and runs from the living room up into the loft. I fitted an external aerial in the loft myself. Fairly easy if all youve to do is connect the cable.

haisharif

Yes there are three cables in the loft but I am sure there is no aerial. I guess these are for TV, Cable and FM but I am not sure which one is what.

macman

Cable TV connection would not be run into the loft, because it comes in at street level (or slightly below it).
You can't get any sort of terrestial TV, digital or analogue, without some sort of aerial. Your previous house must have had a loft aerial if there was no visible external one. You may get away with a set-top aerial for Freeview, but the odds are you won't.
I don't get why people will happily spend £500 on a new TV, but not £100 on the external aerial that is necessary to get a decent picture on it?

ckerrd

Are the three cables going to different rooms?

This was what happened in a relative's house. All the cabling was there to the points in various rooms, but there was nothing connected to them in the loft space.

Are you in an area where you can get freeview from your local transmitter?

If you go for Sky or Virgin you may not have to pay much for a set-up but there will be a commitment to pay a monthly charge. You could go down the Freesat route

Is Virgin cable available to you?

haisharif

Thanks guys for all the responses.

I just checked with virgin, looks like there is no optic fibre available in my area though I like to join virgin.

So my only options are sky or external aerial. I will try to get a quote for installing external aerial and if its reasonable i will go with that.

I dont hear good things about sky so quite hesitant to go with them but if I have no options I will take a chance.

MFWannabe

You have the following options:
1) Check freeview is available in your area on the freeview website. If it is then you need an aerial; will need to be an external aerial to get best picture and most available channels.
2) Get freesat which will involve purchasing freesat box and having to pay to have a dish installed
3) Get Sky. You would be able to get set up and box cheap but then you will have to pay a monthly charge. You could have it for 12 months and then you could buy a freesat box if you didn't want to carry on paying for Sky. That way you will have already have had the dish installed
4) See if you can get Virgin if cable is available in your area (would need to check on their website). Again installation could be cheap but you will have to pay a monthly fee

Hope this helps

paulczar

ckerrd wrote: »

Are the three cables going to different rooms?

This was what happened in a relative's house. All the cabling was there to the points in various rooms, but there was nothing connected to them in the loft space.

thats exactly what happens in my house. I installed an aerial with booster/splitter box in the loft.

almillar

Buy an aerial and try it in the roofspace? I got a dish and aerial fitted at my new home and the installer kept the aerial inside, with a booster, and I get an excellent freeview picture in 3 rooms, you don't necessarily need to go out on the roof!

hethmar

Our aerial is in the loft and works fine for freeview.

david39

Why don't you ask your neighbour how they receive terrestrial signals? Although it is not 100% certain that adjoining houses will have similar receptions strengths, it is a good indication. Have a look round you - does everyone else have an aerial on the roof? - if not, you probably won't need one either.

Most well-populated districts have good signal strength so why not buy a good-standard loft aerial and fit it yourself - or get a friend to help you. It isn't rocket science and it should come with a diagram showing where to connect the cable - your most difficult problem will be to decide which of the three cables goes to the room with the television.

Google "setting up a tv aerial" and you'll probably find straight forward advice on how to get it pointing in the right direction.

Helpful info on : http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/freeviewadvice.html