freeview question

mr_accountant

Hi folks, hoping you can help

Ive see aldi have a freeview digital receiver on sale this Thursday for £22, and i have a small TV upstairs which i use an indoor aerial for with good clear pictures, for terrestrial TV only

Before going out to buy the receiver i thought i would try the ntl cable one i have from the main TV downstairs. Ive tried this unit upstairs but it appears its not working, keeps comin up with 'sorry service is tempoararily suspended'. as soon as soon i take it back downstairs and hook it up with the ntl TV cable it stars working normally again.
Do the ntl boxes have something in them to prevent them from operating outside their own network?

Are there any thought or reviews of the one for sale at aldi? is it work the risk to see if it works on the tv upstairs with the indoor aerial?
http://www.aldi.co.uk/special_buys/special_buys_pid_46623.html
.html

johnmc

??? ntl cable box runs from the ntl network it is NOT a freeview box, but a DIRECT CONNECTION to ntl.

The big problem you will have with Freeview is the aerial. The signal is much weaker so unless you are within spitting distance of the transmitter it's unlikely you'll get it on a small portable aerial.

If you search the forums there are are many threads on this subject.

mr_accountant

Thanks, that explains that then!

Re the indoor aerial i read a site that if the indoor aerial was showing clear pictures for terrestrial TV, the digital receiver may work with the indoor aerial. a search on this site shows people having mixed results.

Moneymaker

Are you asking if a cable TV receiver can be used for Freeview?
If so, the answer is no.

Ariel is a brand of washing powder. A Freeview receiver needs an aerial. To determine what type of aerial might work you can get info here:
http://www.!!!!!!.uk/freeview.htm

mr_accountant

Moneymaker wrote:

Are you asking if a cable TV receiver can be used for Freeview?
If so, the answer is no.

Ariel is a brand of washing powder. A Freeview receiver needs an aerial. To determine what type of aerial might work you can get info here:
http://www.!!!!!!.uk/freeview.htm

i think you've found the problem, maybe if i try persil, i may get freeview:D

Moneymaker

My mum used to swear by "Omo" for getting mud out of my shorts. But, seriously, it's impossible to predict whether a particular aerial and box will work at your location. Look at that link above. There's more info here:
http://www.!!!!!!.uk/tech/freeview_problems.htm
http://www.!!!!!!.uk/tech/logperiodic.htm

jembie

I just bought a freeview box for my Daughter for £17.99 and I got an indoor digi aerial from Argos for £14.99.

I checked them all and they are working fine and got all the channels.

tawnyowls

Sorry to hijack, but which aerial? I get Freeview no problem through the aerial, but haven't had much success with the portable, so a new aerial would be useful.

jembie

tawnyowls wrote:

Sorry to hijack, but which aerial? I get Freeview no problem through the aerial, but haven't had much success with the portable, so a new aerial would be useful.

This is the aerial I have.

thefirs

Mr_A wasn't that far off the mark after all. Ariel!

mr_accountant

Ill buy the receiver and see what the reception is like. Btw my aerial is the same as this one for sale on ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MERCURY-DIRECTOR-PLUS-AMPLIFIED-TELEVISION-AERIAL_W0QQitemZ5873243252QQihZ008QQcategoryZ73383QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem
Do aldi give refunds if the receiver is ok, but the problem is the weak signal?