Freeview digital arial

DonnyDave

[quote=[Deleted User];28753861]Thank you all for your replies. I'm currently using Sky in my living room, but I've seen a small 7in TV at maplins with built in digital receiver/digital aerial. I'm rather tempted to get this to use in my kitchen as it sounds a very simple process (if it works) without having to pay extra for sky multroom or indeed run cables across to the kitchen. This is why I thought that if my next door neighbour is able to receive freeview, then so should I despite the freeview website stating that I can't get freeview in my area. Is my thinking correct or will I be wasting my money? I don't particularly want to install an outside aerial if I can use an indoor aerial. I don't have an outside aerial, so unfortunately I can't try a freeview box.[/QUOTE]
I would expect that when it says "no coverage", that it will not be receivable at ground level, and especially not with any indoor aerial type you describe. Hence, I strongly suspect that the Maplin device will not work, not because it's faulty or poorly designed, but because the signal at ground level indoors at your location is not strong enough for its aerial.


Further, more in depth (techy) explanation:

Your neighbour is receiving the Freeview signal at some distance from the ground - i.e. rooftop height. He probably has a large directional aerial to which all helps to 'collect' the passing signal at that height. At ground level it is much weaker.

So in some areas reception will be possible at ground level (and at roof level). In others it may only be receivable at roof level. It's not clear cut; the further from the transmitter, the more weaker the signal becomes until the only place a decent reception can be got is at roof top level.

As I said above, it's not clear cut as to whether you can get Freeview at your location. So at what point should the Freeview website change from saying you can get a signal to you can't?

[Deleted User]

Thank you Donny and Inactive for your replies. From what you say, it doesn't sound worth spending around £100 on a small TV if I can't get it to work. I'm sure it will work with an outside aerial since my neighbour has proved that point, but to then spend another £200 or so to fit an aerial, well I don't think it's a viable option. I think I'll wait till 2012 when my area is scheduled for the switchover - perhaps it will be better then. :j