MPEG4 Freeview reception

[SpikeyBush]

Does a Freeview HD box need a stronger signal than a standard one? I currently have an old OnDigital box and get tip top reception but I want to upgrade, having ditched my Sky+HD subscription. I don't want to pay up to £200 getting a Freeview+HD box only to find out that I don't have a good enough signal to avail of the extra services.

The Freeview website where you put your postcode in is no good as the address concerned is not in the UK (but close enough to get the SD signal)

Thanks in advance folks.

[Buenchico]

I'm assuming that you mean Freesat and not Freeview (which is solely a terrestrial service).

Whether you're watching with Freesat, 'FreeSat from Sky' (which, confusingly, isn't the same as Freesat!) or Sky, the signals are exactly the same ones. (They're sent to your dish from a group of satellites known collectively, from their location, as '28 degrees east'). So it would seem reasonable to assume that you'd get good reception with Freesat HD.

However there has to be a small caveat in that different makes and models of equipment for receiving radio signals (including satellite boxes) have differing 'sensitivities' (i.e. their ability to handle weak signals). It's possible, though unlikely, that the box you purchase might have a slightly lower sensitivity than your existing one which (if the signal is very weak) could cause problems.

This map shows the footprint of the Astra 2D satellite, which carries (among others) the BBC channels, including the HD ones, as well as ITV1 HD:
http://www.digitalsat.../astra2dfootprint.gif
You'll see that there's a strong signal over much of France, Belgium and the Netherlands but that it rapidly drops outside of those areas.

Channel 4 HD (along with other channels) is transmitted from the Astra 1N satellite, with this footprint:
http://farm5.staticfl...0339_154a2b494f_b.jpg

NKH World HD (along with many other channels) comes from Eurobird 1:
http://www.vowles-hom.../images/eurobird1.gif

A few free channels are on Astra 2A South:
http://www.outdoorbit...tra_2A_2B_south_L.jpg
or on Astra 2B South:
http://www.lyngsat-ma...ges/astra2b_south.gif

You need to check your location against each of those maps to ascertain the degree of confidence you should have as to whether you can assume that all makes of satellite box will have sufficient sensitivity to provide reliable reception.

Chris

[Lie-in King]

Hi Chris - I was passing through on my way to bed, saw this thread & was interested in the maps you've linked to.

Sorry to have to tell you that the first one doesn't work...

I thought you'd rather know now than later & hope you don't mind my pointing it out?

L-i K

[Buenchico]

Thanks for that, L-i King!

Another try:
http://www.digitalsat...astra2dfootprint.html

[SpikeyBush]

No Chris, I don't mean Freesat. I mean Freeview, the signal I get through my aerial as opposed to the signal I get through my dish. I would prefer Freeview to Freesat as Dave is not available on Freesat and it tends to be a good 'fill in' channel for when there is nothing else on. I can watch TopGear, HIGNFY and QI over and over again and still fall about in fits of laughter.

While the property I intend using this box at is on RoI, being a mere 30 miles from the border with Northern Ireland means I get a perfectly adequate signal on the OnDigital box. Just want to be certain I'll get just as good reception on a Freeview+ HD system before I shell out my hard-earned on one.

[Buenchico]

Well you've certainly got me confused!

You state that you're using an old OnDigital box but such boxes are designed to receive satellite transmissions on frequencies of around 11Ghz. Freeview transmissions are transmitted at around 0.5Ghz, using different technology, so no satellite box should be of any use whatsoever in receiving those transmissions! (That's why I was assuming that you were referring to Freesat).

Entering the postcode for Eniskillen's Erneside Shopping Centre (BT74 6JQ) into the postcode finder here
http://freeview.co.uk/HD
shows that HD transmissions aren't expected to be available at that location until 24 October this year. Given that Eniskillen is very close to the Brougher Mountain transmitter it seems reasonable to assume that anyone else taking a signal from that transmitter will also have to wait until October:
http://www.ukfree.tv/txdetail.php?a=IH350527

Entering the postcode for Belfast's Odyssey Arena (BT3 9QQ) also gives a start date of 24th October for HD services. So it seems reasonable to assume that anyone getting their signal from the Divis transmitter will again have to wait until then:
http://www.ukfree.tv/txdetail.php?a=IJ287750

So there's certainly no point buying a Freeview HD box yet. All three of the Northern Ireland transmitters are currently broadcasting digital services at reduced power (in order not to interfere with analogue services). Once the switchover is complete (on 24th October) the transmitter powers will be substantially boosted so, even if a new set-top box has a slightly lower sensitivity than the one you're currently using, you should have no problem receiving any Freeview services (including the HD ones).

Chris

[SpikeyBush]

Sorry Chris you seem to be mistaken. OnDigtital boxes receive terrestrial digital transmissions and are hooked up to aerials, not satellite dishes. The reason I am in the market for a Freeview+HD box is that it is MPEG4 compatible so will also receive the Saorview signal from my side of the border. These boxes are already for sale in Belfast ready for switchover this October when HD will be available on Freeview here.

My current OnDigital box is connected to my existing aerial and not my dish and receives the full Freeview package that is currently available in Northern Ireland. This time next week my Sky box will be on ebay for 2p.