USB dongle V mifi hotspot

nportland

Hi dad doesn't want broadband contract as only renting. watches freeview through normal tv aerial. Channels he can get less than what expected through normal TV aerial in his area according to freeview. So aerial maybe position wrong but he got no say in that.
He watches only couple hours tv in evening. No gaming etc.or ultra HD etc.

 I got a cheap dongle working ok with freeview with couple of extra channels, the ones he like best like 5etc. But say flickering. He only needs signal for tv .
My brother recommended the VODAFONE MiFi 4G Mobile WiFi 30 GB Hotspot , which i understand runs out of time if u don't use it.  I think Vodafone will not allow me to unlock it. But if only 90 day contract maybe will after that period?
But if not going produce stronger/more reliable signal i think it will b expensive thing to try .

Thanks for any advice 

Rodders53

First go over the UHF TV aerial cables and connections with a fine toothed comb.  Remake any suspect hand-made plugs (and sockets).  Try different cables if using any moulded plug fly leads from a wall socket.  Keep hdmi and TV aerial cables well apart.

Check with Landlord if there is anything wrong with the aerial and especially if there is an aerial amplifier (or power box for one) that may be missing or switched off.  That may make a big difference.  Better Landlords would want a happy Tenant with working TV reception - aerials and cables don't last forever and need occasional maintenance or repair.

The mains PSB channels (including the HD ones: BBC One101, BBC Two 102, ITV 103, C4 104 and (Channel) 5 105) are always transmitted with the strongest signals in any given area.

So the SD versions 1, 2 are on BBC A mux;  3,4,5 SD on the D3&4 mux and as stated 1-5 in HD are on the BBC B mux.  Check the TV has tuned to the correct transmitter - some TVs mess up tuning and store a 'wrong transmitter' first and leave better quality reception versions in the 800s.

Perhaps use a manual tune rather than auto and the detailed prediction tool for the frequencies: https://www.freeview.co.uk/corporate/detailed-transmitter-information

Newcad

I have to ask here, just for balance, who is proposing any change?

Is your dad happy with what he currently has access to watch?

In other words does he actually want any more than he currently has, or are you trying to upgrade his gear to something he wouldn't use anyway?

Sorry but I've heard more than once "My son/daughter got me this new thing thinking they were helping me. I don't use it but don't tell them that.

PS. What Freeview channels you can get can depend on location and what transmitter you can connect to. Relay transmitters broadcast less channels than Primary transmitters do.

PPS. Your brothers idea is simply mobile broadband rather than landline broadband.

flaneurs_lobster

The bigger the device then the stronger the signal - all other things being equal - usually.

So dongle <-- mifi <-- 4G router

What network are you using in the dongle? Having a decent mobile signal is probably more important than the device you are using, especially if the device is close to whatever it's connecting to.

Does your phone have hotspot? Try that if it's a different network. 

The Vodafone mifi is OK, you can find something similar at CeX for less than £20. 

Vitor

OP (or brother) seems to have confused over-the-air TV broadcasts and streaming over 4G data link. A MiFi device won’t improve TV reception, and Freeview signal issues are usually solved with better aerials or alignment, not with data-based solutions like MiFi.

If a "cheap dongle" brings in more Freeview channels then the main aerial sounds wrong type for the transmitter or pointing off axis

jshm2

You can watch more TV over Youtube and apps than ariel/sat If the TV has Wifi then just buy a cheap phone or mifi - makes little difference. Get a data SIM for 10GB or whatever costs a tenner down your way, and pop it into device and turn on hotspot. Connect TV to hotspot and you're good to go. 

Should last you a couple of months at least. 

Vitor

A 30GB data plan would give around 10-12 hours of streaming at 1080p / HD.

Newcad

Just to note that data usually costs more on a phone plan than on a mobile router (mifi) plan.

So if this is meant to be long term then a mobile router is preferable to a cheap phone hotspot.