ChatterBank6 mins ago
Getting freeview
10 Answers
Where we live we cannot currently get freeview.
If we were to buy a booster ariel would we be able to pick it up then?
If we were to buy a booster ariel would we be able to pick it up then?
Answers
Best Answer
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.You should be able to check if you can get freeview in your area by checking on this website
http://www.freeview.co.uk/home
http://www.freeview.co.uk/home
If the postcode check says that you currently can't get any Freeview channels, then it's extremely unlikely that adding an aerial booster will help.
However, if the postcode check says that you can get a few channels now but you'll have to wait until the digital switchover for the full selection, you might be able to get the full selection now. (I've had Freeview for several years, as have most of my neighbours, but the postcode check says that the signal isn't strong enough around here). However, you'll need a good quality aerial, such as this one
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=P T18U&DOY=29m2
with good quality cabling. You might also need a signal booster. (Adding a signal booster to an existing, 'bog standard' aerial is unlikely to help).
I suggest asking around your neighbours to see if anyone has managed to get a decent Freeview signal. If it's possible, someone will have almost certainly have already done it.
The alternative is to opt for Freesat (which is similar, but not identical to Freeview). If you've not got any satellite equipment, it will cost you �150. If you've got a dish but nothing else, you can buy a Sky box for about �20 on eBay and then buy a FreeSat card, from Sky, for �20. If you've got a dish and a box, you just need the FreeSat card for �20. Those prices are one-off payments. There's no subscription to pay:
http://www.freesatfromsky.co.uk/
Chris
However, if the postcode check says that you can get a few channels now but you'll have to wait until the digital switchover for the full selection, you might be able to get the full selection now. (I've had Freeview for several years, as have most of my neighbours, but the postcode check says that the signal isn't strong enough around here). However, you'll need a good quality aerial, such as this one
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=P T18U&DOY=29m2
with good quality cabling. You might also need a signal booster. (Adding a signal booster to an existing, 'bog standard' aerial is unlikely to help).
I suggest asking around your neighbours to see if anyone has managed to get a decent Freeview signal. If it's possible, someone will have almost certainly have already done it.
The alternative is to opt for Freesat (which is similar, but not identical to Freeview). If you've not got any satellite equipment, it will cost you �150. If you've got a dish but nothing else, you can buy a Sky box for about �20 on eBay and then buy a FreeSat card, from Sky, for �20. If you've got a dish and a box, you just need the FreeSat card for �20. Those prices are one-off payments. There's no subscription to pay:
http://www.freesatfromsky.co.uk/
Chris
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[quote="12bore"]If the postcode check says that you currently can't get any Freeview channels, then it's extremely unlikely that adding an aerial booster will help. [/quote]
I live in an area where there is �officially� no Freeview reception, but thanks to a top of the range antenna (Telves Dat75) plus the fact that we are 170 metres ASL helps enormously. True we do suffer the odd fade out on one or two channels, but by and large reception is sharp and clear at least for the small number of programs we want to watch.
I live in an area where there is �officially� no Freeview reception, but thanks to a top of the range antenna (Telves Dat75) plus the fact that we are 170 metres ASL helps enormously. True we do suffer the odd fade out on one or two channels, but by and large reception is sharp and clear at least for the small number of programs we want to watch.
I too live in a no coverage post code, that didnt deter me from trying it , I took the advice of a friendly aerial man and he came and tested it , he said with this aerial and booster box and a good quality freeview box (sony) it will be ok , and it is , I had done the cable thing years ago , it was expensive and to be honest there is not that much that I miss from cable to freeview......