Do I need a TV ariel?

Tranquil

Hi all,

I have recently bought a smart TV, with Freeview Play installed on the TV, however it hasn't arrived yet. The property I am in at the moment has some old Sky cables and a tv ariel point that has been tested by a tv ariel installer who said was not 'live', so I am not sure why it was there. It is in the wrong place anyway and would have needed to be moved/extended even if it was 'live'.

I have been quoted £150 for an outdoor tv ariel to be installed through my upstairs neighbour's loft, however, I am wondering that if my TV is 'smart', will I be able to access everything through the internet anyway?
I'm aware that I will be able to access apps like bbc iplayer etc. but I want to be able to access Freeview channels and scroll through channel lists for live tv...but also keen to save on any cost I can.
Any advice would be appreciated!

exiled_red

A smart TV will allow you to watch stuff on demand but for live TV you still need an aerial or a dish

ukcarper

If the sky cables are working you could buy a Freesat set top box

https://www.humaxdirect.co.uk/humax-hb-1100s-smart-freesat-receiver-now-with-wifi.html

cranford

My LG smart tv has a freesat receiver built in, check whether yours has first.

Inner_Zone

There is a recent post on here (not yet finalised I seem to remember) and another on AV Forums where it appears some Vestel sourced Smart sets won't allow setup to continue without an aerial signal.

Nick_C

exiled_red wrote: »

A smart TV will allow you to watch stuff on demand but for live TV you still need an aerial or a dish

Won't that depend on what channels one wants to watch? You can watch BBC programs live through iPlayer. I don't know whivh other channels allow live TV through apps.

molerat

With Freeview Play sets many of the stand alone apps are not included as they are all integral within the main app and the set requires an aerial input to set the system up.

psychic_teabag

Tranquil wrote: »

I have been quoted £150 for an outdoor tv ariel to be installed through my upstairs neighbour's loft,

...but also keen to save on any cost I can.

Rather than having your own ariel, could you share your upstairs neighbour's ariel ? Perhaps provide a splitting amplifier so that their signal doesn't suffer ?

(I'd be wary of relying too much on smart features - not convinced that manufacturers can be relied upon to keep all features working once a model is superseded.)

[Deleted User]

Will your upstairs neighbour agree to an aerial in their loft? Can't you just have one installed on the external wall of the room the TV will be in?