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| Thread ID: 89173 | 2008-04-22 23:29:00 | Question about digital tv | DeSade (984) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 661506 | 2008-04-23 00:47:00 | Yeah thats what I wanted to hear, but the dish itself, will it need to be configured and will it be usable. Don't want to buy one when one is sitting there. You will need to set the LNB (done on the set-top box). Depending on the age of the dish, it should be ok. Do you know when it was last used for Sky? |
somebody (208) | ||
| 661507 | 2008-04-23 00:57:00 | Don't know when it was last used. The LL thinks the previous tenants might have had telstra tv and/or internet but I have no further info. We have been there 2 years so before that. |
DeSade (984) | ||
| 661508 | 2008-04-23 01:43:00 | You could possibly install the set-top box (for Freeview satellite service) yourself, but its a little technical (may need a different LNB (the thing in the middle of the dish), and a signal strength meter to line-up the dish etc, and then tune in the dish/channels on the box), may need to ask the box supplier to get it installed for you: alternatively if you get a good UHF signal (Prime, Trackside etc) on your present analogue service, is much easier to install a Freeview terrestrial STB (easily do it yourself);). | feersumendjinn (64) | ||
| 661509 | 2008-04-23 01:53:00 | Freeview terrestrial STB Whats this? We get a fairly good signal on one TV, the rest are not so good, I thought digital tv had to be satellite |
DeSade (984) | ||
| 661510 | 2008-04-23 06:48:00 | Correct me if I'm wrong but understand there are 2 problems with terrestrial Freeview, one, you can only record the one channel that the TV is running on, two, no Prime. Having a direct line of sight to the Auckland Tower, intend sticking with analogue until these are sorted. | FrankS (257) | ||
| 661511 | 2008-04-23 11:01:00 | Freeview terrestrial STB Whats this? We get a fairly good signal on one TV, the rest are not so good, I thought digital tv had to be satellite There's two ways of receiving the Freeview digital transmission, from satellite (started May 2007), and by UHF terrestrial signal (from your current UHF aerial, started this month), satellite only does standard definition (SD) picture resolution whereas terrestrial transmission is in high definition (HD) which is most useful if you have a late model LCD/plasma Tv capable of utilising a HD(MI) signal. STB means Set Top Box, the device you'll need to decode the signal, there's two types, one for satellite, the other for terrestrial/UHF. See this (http://freeviewnz.tv/) for more info. |
feersumendjinn (64) | ||
| 661512 | 2008-04-23 11:23:00 | Correct me if I'm wrong but understand there are 2 problems with terrestrial Freeview, one, you can only record the one channel that the TV is running on, two, no Prime. Having a direct line of sight to the Auckland Tower, intend sticking with analogue until these are sorted. You'll need two tuners to do this, either by a STB/PVR with two, a Tv with a digital tuner and also a STB, or similar system so it's up to you to 'sort' that; don't hold your breath waiting for Sky to let us watch Prime on Freeview (they're too tight to pay the connection costs). |
feersumendjinn (64) | ||
| 661513 | 2008-04-23 16:58:00 | . . . and for those in the US who also read this thread: The advent of going to DTV has started . . . and yes you can get digital decoders with a government stipend of $40 . 00 to help cover the cost of the conversion . Wal-Mart and others have some at $49 . 00 + tax . . so they are almost all paid for when you check out . These are designed for "over-the-air" broadcast reception only . That means: antennas on the roof or rabbit ears-types that don't use a cable, satellite or FIOS systems . Get the vouchers anyway . . . just in case you decide to drop the premium services and go back to the old (free) way of getting a tv signal . Each family gets two credit vouchers for each household/address . ( . com/converter-box-coupons/" target="_blank">dtvfacts . com) The boxes are injected into the cable between the antenna and the (either) VCR, if you still have one of those dinosaurs, or the antenna input on the back of your set . If you only have a black-and-white tv, they still work well, but you will NOT see colors on it . In this case . . . YOU are the dinosaur! Be warned that there are two different types of decoder boxes . There are ones that will pass the VHF-UHF conventional signals thru them if they are turned off so you can view the old broadcasts until the full change-over . . . . . . . . . and then there are boxes that once installed can ONLY "see" the digital signals and all else will be blocked out . Even if the box is turned off, the digital-only types must be removed to see standard broadcast . The strength of the signal power seems to be greatly increased . . . where you had snow before, you will get a really REALLY strong clear, perfect digital signal now . All of the digital converter boxes have a screen where you can also fine-tune your antenna for direction and height . It has a real-time signal strength meter that will help you yell to your significant other (who should be on the roof at that time) if the aerial is pointing the correct direction . Where I had just the usual 2,4,5,7,9,11,13 and a few UHF channels, I now get over 40 digital channels . . . and I am about 150 miles from LA . UHF channels like KVCR seem to have many digital sub-freqs (56 . 1, 56 . 2, 56 . 3, 56 . 4, 56 . 5, 56 . 6 . . I think I have found about 5 or 6 of them) . . some play the same shows in different formats others are a day behind which is good for if you miss re-runs of Northern Exposure on Tuesday night and want to see it on Wednesday . Other sub-freqs are in a world of their own and play totally different shows at the same time . I am currently pointed at Mt . Wilson for my signal, although I like to also see Huntington Beach's KDOC . . . and for some strange reason, it comes in strong even though it is the other direction . Go figger! :thanks The usual 2 thru 13 are still there, but they have new numbers like 2 . 1 or 2 . 2 or 58 . 3, etc . The numbers after the decimal are the newest things to learn . Some channels broadcast in letterbox and others in small screen ratios . Others "pan" the scenes . . . ya gotta pick what looks good to youse for your own enjoyment . The colors are vivid, the lines are sharp . . . and if the signal's a weak one, then there will be "drop-outs" with bars or blank areas in the picture . If it goes on for a few more than a 5 second interval, then the box will fault out and tell you to readjust your antenna or re-scan for different channels . Atmospheric changes don't seem to mess with the signal . . but I cannot vouch for tornadoes and sunspots yet . Night seems to be the same as daytime reception . There seem to be no ghosts or snow either . |
SurferJoe46 (51) | ||
| 661514 | 2008-04-23 19:56:00 | Correct me if I'm wrong but understand there are 2 problems with terrestrial Freeview, one, you can only record the one channel that the TV is running on, two, no Prime. Having a direct line of sight to the Auckland Tower, intend sticking with analogue until these are sorted. NZ will have Digital TV on both Satellite and Terrestrial. High Definition will be on Terrestrial. For Satellite Digital you need a Satellite Dish such as a Current or old Sky Dish or you can get a bigger one and pick up a few more channels and/or add additional LNB;s and pick up other Satellites. Also you need a Set Top Box (STB) Satellite Compatible. (Or go down the PC TV Card Route) For Terrestrial High Definition you need a UHF Aerial on poor transmission areas you may need a High Gain UHF aerial to pick up broadcast. You need a Set Top Box (STB) UHF Compatible. For High Definition you would also need it connected to a High Defintion TV Set. (Or go down the PC TV Card Route) Sky TV will start broadcasting High Definition soon. For MySky STB users they will release a MySky2 STB for HiDef. SkyTV owns the rights to broadcast Prime so unless you can pick it up on UHF which a lot do then it will only be available as an encrypted channel. STB's - The Freeview STB's on the market up until recently have been for Satellite and have not normally had built in recorders. The newer ones now available are for Terrestrial/UHF and some of the more expensive ones have built in Recorders, some have dual tuners for recording two channels at a time like MySky has always had. It is just a matter of time before NZ is totally HDTV. Same as the big change from Black & White to Colour TV some 25-30 years ago. In time also our new HDTV's will have built in dual digital tuners so there will be no need for a separate STB. Some countries already have this available such as the UK. DTV Digital TV STB Set Top Box PVR Personal Video Recorder SD Standard Definition HD High Definition I hope some of this helps DeSade |
Bantu (52) | ||
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