Digital TV boxes

[Potatoman]

Hi - My TV reception is not perfect but i get a half descent picture. Would i get the freeview digital channels ok without an ariel upgrade? the postcode-check says no, but a friend close by can get it.

[BillyNoMates]

Impossible to say for sure as there are so many variables. Chances are if someone very close by then yes under the right circumstances - most important being a decent properly installed aerial and good quality cabling.

Depends on which transmitter you use, how far from it you are, which type of decoder you use - some are more sensitive than others.

Why not borrow you friends digibox and try it ?

[captainhaz]

A handy rule of thumb for digital reception is if you can receive channel 5 with your normal aerial, then you'll probably be able to receive digital tv.

[Hammer]

The aerial for digital TV has to point at a different receiver than for terrestrial, so no guarantees unless you try it.

Could you borrow your neighbour's box and try that?

[BillyNoMates]

Depends which transmitter hammer.

Most transmit both digital and analogue but you are right -  the smaller ones may only do either but not both.

[desertrat]

I did a postcode search and it said that I needed an aerial upgrade. I bought a freeview box to try it and if it didn't work then I would have bought a new aeriel. It worked with the old aerial. The suggestion to borrow your friends box is a good one.

[Hammer]

I stand corrected!

The point I was making was that terrestrial reception is no indicator for digital reception.

[BillyNoMates]

I agree - bit like comparing apples & oranges ! ;)

[richb14]

I plugged my cable form the tv into my NTL socket and recvieved a few extra channels, dont know if this helps you, but it might help others.