Yes, I have been living under a rock....

[tim-b]

Hi all,

The last TV I bought was a 14" CRT in 1999. That disappeared years ago so we've just been watching on the computer up until today when I picked up a new telly, a whopping 32"er no less! Unfortunately I can't find an aerial socket, just a 'shotgun' coaxial(?) cable like the one shown here poking through the wall. I'm guessing previous owners had the aerial and socket removed when they had sky installed....the dish is still there.

As I know even less about sky setups than tv's, I'm hoping someone can tell me what my options are for getting terrestrial TV up and running - do I need to have a normal aerial installed or can I use the existing dish through an adapter or freesat box or something? TV is a Samsung UE32H6400...

TIA!

[varsas]

Assuming the dish is pointing at the astra satellite (which is what Sky uses) then you can pickup freesat on it, you just need a freesat Set Top Box (I don't believe your TV has freesat built in). A quick search turns up this:

http://www.freesat.co.uk/get-freesat/all-boxes

which shows boxes from £50. You do not need a subscription, the only other thing you need is an HDMI cable to plug the box into the TV (well, and a license!)

Those cables from the wall look like 'F' type connectors to me, as used by satellite dishes. I dare say they connect to the LNB (reciever/filter) on the dish, it would be one of those you plug the freesat box into. I think.

Edited by varsas on Monday 21st December 22:21

[allnighter]

tim-b said:

Hi all,

The last TV I bought was a 14" CRT in 1999. That disappeared years ago so we've just been watching on the computer up until today when I picked up a new telly, a whopping 32"er no less! Unfortunately I can't find an aerial socket, just a 'shotgun' coaxial(?) cable like the one shown here poking through the wall. I'm guessing previous owners had the aerial and socket removed when they had sky installed....the dish is still there.

As I know even less about sky setups than tv's, I'm hoping someone can tell me what my options are for getting terrestrial TV up and running - do I need to have a normal aerial installed or can I use the existing dish through an adapter or freesat box or something? TV is a Samsung UE32H6400...

TIA!

According to the manual http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/20140... your model just like mine 7000 & 9500 will pick up Freesat with a direct connection straight into the TV with no external box whatsoever. Just plug the cable from the dish straight into the f connector (Ant 2 in Sat) and plug in the aerial into (Ant 1 in).

[varsas]

I stand corrected. You shouldn't need an aerial as well though.

[sploosh]

When my aerial broke I fitted a digidome in the loft. Very easy to fit and signal is excellent. I was dubious as it doesn't look conventional, but brilliant.

[tim-b]

Thanks, all good info

allnighter said:

ccording to the manual http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/20140... your model just like mine 7000 & 9500 will pick up Freesat with a direct connection straight into the TV with no external box whatsoever. Just plug the cable from the dish straight into the f connector (Ant 2 in Sat) and plug in the aerial into (Ant 1 in).

Thanks, but my TV doesn't have Ant1 or Ant2 sockets or any other that fits these - just 1 normal TV socket marked 'AIR/CABLE'. Do you think an adapter to convert one or both f connectors into the standard aerial (like this) would work? It does say this in the manual you posted (p19) "It is best to connect the both connectors using a Multi-Switch or Diseqc. Switch, etc and to set Aerial Connection Type to Dual" although I don't know whether that refers to my situation. Anyone know if it would be worth trying a Diseqc switch for this?

If that's not an option I'll look into a freesat box or a digidome

[jet_noise]

Dear tb,

if the set hasn't got a satellite receiver then no amount of cable plug converters are going to work. You need a "box" to go 'twixt the dish cables & your TV.

I'm in a borderline terrestrial reception region, previous owners left a dish and cables, had Sky.
I bought a 2nd hand Humax Foxsat satellite receiver/PVR (think digital hard disk video recorder) on *bay for £80 a couple of years ago. Works well,

regards,
Jet

[allnighter]

tim-b said:

Thanks, all good info

allnighter said:

ccording to the manual http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/20140... your model just like mine 7000 & 9500 will pick up Freesat with a direct connection straight into the TV with no external box whatsoever. Just plug the cable from the dish straight into the f connector (Ant 2 in Sat) and plug in the aerial into (Ant 1 in).

Thanks, but my TV doesn't have Ant1 or Ant2 sockets or any other that fits these - just 1 normal TV socket marked 'AIR/CABLE'. Do you think an adapter to convert one or both f connectors into the standard aerial (like this) would work? It does say this in the manual you posted (p19) "It is best to connect the both connectors using a Multi-Switch or Diseqc. Switch, etc and to set Aerial Connection Type to Dual" although I don't know whether that refers to my situation. Anyone know if it would be worth trying a Diseqc switch for this?

If that's not an option I'll look into a freesat box or a digidome

No is the short answer. terrestrial and satellite are like chalk and cheese. Terrestrial connections do not require any voltage. Satellite connections are 'live' with vertical frequencies at 14V and Horizontal ones at 18V to power the LNB on your dish. It looks like I have looked at the wrong instruction manual (6400) so my apologies for the confusion. The best course of action for you would be to get a Freesat satellite box and plug it to your dish and connect via HDMI to your telly. You can only connect your normal roof aerial to your current TV for freeview channels viewing. Freesat needs a satellite box for your setup.

[tim-b]

Thanks again all. I did think the TV had freesat integrated but realise that it's actually freeview, must have confused that with the other one on my shortlist...

So in conclusion, I've got 2 options to get broadcast telly?

1. buy a freesat box
2. get an aerial/digidome and use the freeview integrated into the tv

So one last question, assuming that's correct; is there any pro/con to either? I'm thinking a freesat box will be easier but would consider an aerial for freeview if it's significantly better?

Thanks again,

Tim

[varsas]

tim-b said:

So one last question, assuming that's correct; is there any pro/con to either? I'm thinking a freesat box will be easier but would consider an aerial for freeview if it's significantly better?

Thanks again,

Tim

If anything freesat is better; with more channels, and more of them in HD. You are also more likely to get all the channels perfectly on freesat, freeview (over an aerial) works great but does depend on a good signal.

[tim-b]

varsas said:

If anything freesat is better; with more channels, and more of them in HD. You are also more likely to get all the channels perfectly on freesat, freeview (over an aerial) works great but does depend on a good signal.

Awesome, thanks fella!

[jet_noise]

varsas said:

If anything freesat is better; with more channels, and more of them in HD. You are also more likely to get all the channels perfectly on freesat, freeview (over an aerial) works great but does depend on a good signal.

Mostly WHS ^.
But although there are more channels they don't include Dave or Quest. The latter in particular I dip into on an occasional but regular basis
Why not have both a box and a freeview antenna?

regards,
Jet

[sploosh]

Daft idea. Have you checked your roof to see if there is an aerial up there? Unusual for a house not to have one. May be a case of tracing where the cable is and reconnecting.