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Thread ID: 121682	2011-11-06 03:41:00	Is satellite worth it, or is DVB-T a much better idea?	Agent_24 (57)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1242257	2011-11-06 03:41:00	Recently I found a satellite dish dumped at the end of one of those dead-end roads where people like to dump things . It's about 95cm, and appears to be in good condition (not bent\dented) and even still has the LNB (although perhaps this is broken and explains why it was there) I'm tempted to get it set up (not because I want to, but because they are going to force digital on us) but wondering if I should actually bother? I know practically nothing about satellite, a friend of mine told me it was a bad idea as the reception turns to rubbish when it's cloudy, and having green blocks and other problems all through my TV signal is NOT something I want . having said that, he doesn't have satellite either, so I can't be sure of his claims . I have heard the term "rain fade" used but nobody ever seems to want to talk about it . This does make me a bit suspicious - perhaps those people don't want to admit their high-priced satellite setup is actually rubbish? Would love to hear from anyone who actually DOES own and uses a satellite, and can comment on the performance in bad weather . My analog reception has always been great even during the worst thunderstorms (except when the power goes out :lol:) so I expect a pretty high standard . Considering this, is DVB-T or DVB-S the better choice?	Agent_24 (57)
1242258	2011-11-06 03:48:00	Have you checked the Freeview website to see if you can actually receive Freeview|HD (DVB-T) in your area? If not then satellite is your only option. Rain faid is pretty much non-existant now except in the worst conditions. We've had freeview satellite (DVB-S) at home pretty much since it started and only had rain faid a couple of times during really bad weather.	CYaBro (73)
1242259	2011-11-06 04:01:00	Entering my address into the Freeview coverage checker gives me a green-boxed "Very likely" for both DVB-T and DVB-S How actually likely it is to be correct though, I have no idea.	Agent_24 (57)
1242260	2011-11-06 04:03:00	Get the sattellite, 95cm is big, i would think.	goodiesguy (15316)
1242261	2011-11-06 04:11:00	Get the sattellite, 95cm is big, i would think. It seems to be the next size up from the standard Sky dishes.	Agent_24 (57)
1242262	2011-11-06 04:11:00	Hi Agent. I receive satellite Freeview via an older Sky dish left on the roof by a previous owner of this house. This is not HD. It channels through the Freeview decoder, then through the recorder box and on to the TV. Can only recall weather troubles twice in two or three years and the picture was still legible and then only distorted for a few moments. A nice thing about this setup is that the satellite also relays two channels of Australian SBS (One and Two) which have brilliant programmes including movies, current affairs and international stuff - leaves local broadcasting for dead some evenings. Simply have to have the Freeview box adjusted to "see" the additional channels. In addition I receive HD Freeview from a local hill-top direct to my modern TV which had Freeview built-in. This is received via an elderly Prime arial on the roof and pointing at a local hill-top transmitter. Reception from this transmitter is not supposed to be active until April 2113 but has been running successfully for a long time now in some form of test mode. ( See www.goingdigital.co.nz ) The dual setup allows me to receive and record satellite Freeview and the Australian SBS, while watching another channel on HD Freeview via the former Prime receiver. Bit Heath-Robinson but works perfecly. Re your: "I'm tempted to get it set up (not because I want to, but because they are going to force digital on us) but wondering if I should actually bother?"... as far as I can make out, the coming digital Freeview will not be salellite	Scouse (83)
1242263	2011-11-06 04:17:00	as far as I can make out, the coming digital Freeview will not be salellite Really? I've always heard that satellite will be available for the whole country, but most places will also have the option of DVB-T (Freeview|HD) Or are they going to aim for 100% DVB-T coverage in the future and ditch satellite if that happens?	Agent_24 (57)
1242264	2011-11-06 06:07:00	We have Satellite Freeview in our house bus parked on South Terrace in Karamea on the West Coast (of the South Island). We get excellent reception in all but the most extreme storms. But go for Terrestrial HD if available IMHO.	KarameaDave (15222)
1242265	2011-11-06 06:25:00	Really? I've always heard that satellite will be available for the whole country, but most places will also have the option of DVB-T (Freeview|HD) Or are they going to aim for 100% DVB-T coverage in the future and ditch satellite if that happens? That's correct, Scouse is wrong. It would just cost far too much to get DVB-T to everywhere. You'd end up having transmitters needing to be set up to service a few hundred people. DVB-T is the way to go though, if you have the option. Firstly it's HD (some programs are not made in HD however, but more and more are). Secondly, no signal troubles. We have a satellite stb in the bedroom and a Sony TV in the lounge using the built in DVB-T receiver. Get signal loss whenever it rains hard with heavy cloud cover, which is usually the time that you want to watch tv the most! One thing I will say about DVB-T is that the EPG is painfully slow. This may be to do with the TV though, has anyone else noticed this? Changing between channels on the EPG or days seems to take a lot of time.	pine-o-cleen (2955)
1242266	2011-11-06 06:51:00	It seems to be the next size up from the standard Sky dishes. I would have thought the bigger the better. We have got Sky and we have only had trouble on one occasion when the weather was particularly bad. Have had far more occasions with getting crappy reception via the aerial. Make sure no trees are in front of the dish.	mikebartnz (21)
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