BBC Freesat

GemQuin

Hello,

Just need some advice on freesat please?

My freeview has packed in - I cannot get a picture at all. But so has my analogue signal - which makes me think there is a problem with my outside ariel, is that right? I live in block of flats and have tried to call the council but with no luck.

Therefore I am thinking of getting BBC Freesat. I only have as SD TV and at the moment I'm not really in a position to get an HD TV though I'd love one. So my question is - should I wait until I can get an HD TV? Is it worth getting Freesat just in SD? Also - should I wait for a PVR and will you be able to get an SD PVR? Any ideas at all of the cost of these approx?

Just trying to decide whether to wait or buy - but I only have watchable reception in BBC1 and 2 at the moment. The other alternative is to the the SKY £75 'pay once watch forever' thingy but I think BBC Freesat will be a better investment.

What do you think? Any ideas? Sorry I am totally techie dyslexic so need all the help i can get!

Thanks in advance

Ben_Doone

What is SD PVR.?

fitshase

The HD box will still play SD channels on your SD television so if you are planning to go HD in the near future then go for the HD box (only HD channels are BBC HD and ITV HD on Freesat).

You will still need a dish installed (which will require the permission of your flat's freeholder) and buy the box.

I'm not aware of any PVRs for Freesat yet (although I am happy to be corrected), but they are definitely worth getting for ease of use (if you record lots).

Alternatively you can buy a DVD or HDD recorder to go with the box and record that way.

alared

A digital TV aerial can cost anything between £175 - £250 depending where you live.

FreeSat is £80 for installation and boxes start from £49-99.

Take your pick, but everyone will,sooner or later, need a digital aerial when they switch off analogue,so FreeSat might be the cheapest route.
FreeSat have promised 200 channels by the end of the year.

penrhyn

If you have a communal aerial then your neighbours may be having problems too, worth checking strength in numbers and all that. Could be a problem with the distribution amplifier. If its a council owned property they may have a view on installing dishes. When I lived in a flat we were not allowed to fit our own external dishes aerials etc.

BTW There is no such thing as a digital aerial, you may need a wideband or a high gain one so you can receive digital broadcasts, the aerial itself in an analogue device.

mymatebob

penrhyn wrote: »

If you have a communal aerial then your neighbours may be having problems too, worth checking strength in numbers and all that. Could be a problem with the distribution amplifier. If its a council owned property they may have a view on installing dishes. When I lived in a flat we were not allowed to fit our own external dishes aerials etc.

BTW There is no such thing as a digital aerial, you may need a wideband or a high gain one so you can receive digital broadcasts, the aerial itself in an analogue device.

Thank you - too many people think that there is such a thing and it annoys the hell out of me

GemQuin

Brilliant - thanks for all the advice guys. Much appreciated.

M4RKM

Ben_Doone wrote: »

What is SD PVR.?

SD - Standard Definition
HD - High Definition
PVR - Personal Video Recorder (a hard drive based on, not a tape based system)

loyalstokie

Before you got and buy yourself a freesat dish and box go and have a look in B&Q or maplin to see what they have got. We got a full size dish (can't find it on the website) with box for less than £100 and freesat comes to about £150. It picks up the signals from the Astra and eurobird satallites, but i don't know if it is HD.
If you can't have a wall-monted dish mabe a caravan one would be better?
AND one VERY important point to make - as you live in a block of flats - make sure you can point the dish in the right direction (about SE or SSE)

deanos

alared wrote: »

A digital TV aerial can cost anything between £175 - £250 depending where you live.
.

Jesus are they made of Gold your way

mymatebob

And if you buy a "digital" aerial then you are a mug!