Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: platty on 01 December 2008, 18:56:59
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I am trying to sort the aerial out in my house. When I moved in there was an old UHF aerial, big long thing in the loft which was replaced by a new aerial especially for digital signal.
I first ran a cable out of the loft and straight into my Digibox. Tuned it all in and got great reception on all channels once I had pointed the aerial in the right direction.
But, when I swapped the cable back to the original one and plugged the Digibox into the wall socket - the reception wasn't very good on perhaps half of the channels :( I then established that the signal strength must be deteriorating somewhere along the route.
I have got 2 further sockets, in the bedroom and in the kitchen. There must be a splitter somewhere - but where do you think I could find this?
Sorry about the long post :-[
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I am trying to sort the aerial out in my house. When I moved in there was an old UHF aerial, big long thing in the loft which was replaced by a new aerial especially for digital signal.
I first ran a cable out of the loft and straight into my Digibox. Tuned it all in and got great reception on all channels once I had pointed the aerial in the right direction.
But, when I swapped the cable back to the original one and plugged the Digibox into the wall socket - the reception wasn't very good on perhaps half of the channels :( I then established that the signal strength must be deteriorating somewhere along the route.
I have got 2 further sockets, in the bedroom and in the kitchen. There must be a splitter somewhere - but where do you think I could find this?
Sorry about the long post :-[
To start with all the cable should be of digital quality, not the old analoge stuff.
Then you need a power driven multi-set booster box in your loft to distribute, via separate (ditigal) cable, the aerial signals to each room/tv. :y :y
All splitters should be disregarded as they dissapate the strength of the signal. ;)
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As Lizzie said really, my integrated freeview telly struggled a bit on the old loft ariel, recently bought a little freeview plasma/lcd telly for the bedroom, no chance running two. Local company came round, fitted two loft ariels, booster & new co ax, 20 mins. £100 (in cash) 8-)
Got ALL channels & music up & downstairs & ready for the digital change over. :)
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In this case Lizzie, I agree not.
A PF100 or equivalent cable will be better and mainly down to the screening (double screened braid plus foil) but, its by no means essential for digital use. The only real major benefit is that the better screen should reduce losses slightly and stop the pickup of stray signal via the coax which in tern reduces multipath (the one thing digital cant realy tolerate).
As for the splitters, I am all for them....of the right type and in the right setup. Some splitters are resistive and hence lossy (over and above the fact that the signal will be 50% down on each branch), the better ones utilise a balun transformer which reduces the loss.
The thing with any succesful reception setup is to get the right aerial and to be quite frank, the wideband ones (there is no such thing as a digital aerial, this is a marketing con) they sell in the likes of the sheds are both a rip off and only average quality.
The ideal setup would be a good quality high gain aerial of Yagi or Log-periodic setup and a balun based splitter.....get the gain in the aerial rather than adding harmonics in an electronic amp (there noisey buggers).
If your aerial cant support this then you are faced with needing an amp (although only to overcome splitter losses as you cnt realy boost a poor signal!).....the theory is to sight it as close to the antenna as possible so you can boost the signal before any cable loss....but, be warned, cheap amps are noisey buggers and can inject multipath interference back into the antenna!
My current wideband aerial of choice......a Televes DAT45.
As for this issue.....you need to find where and how the other wires are spliced in.....to many times I have found the cores and screens just twisted together giving major inpedance miss matching (which on ayagi, caues it to squint!)....even by the pros :y
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In this case Lizzie, I agree not.
A PF100 or equivalent cable will be better and mainly down to the screening (double screened braid plus foil) but, its by no means essential for digital use. The only real major benefit is that the better screen should reduce losses slightly and stop the pickup of stray signal via the coax which in tern reduces multipath (the one thing digital cant realy tolerate).
As for the splitters, I am all for them....of the right type and in the right setup. Some splitters are resistive and hence lossy (over and above the fact that the signal will be 50% down on each branch), the better ones utilise a balun transformer which reduces the loss.
The thing with any succesful reception setup is to get the right aerial and to be quite frank, the wideband ones (there is no such thing as a digital aerial, this is a marketing con) they sell in the likes of the sheds are both a rip off and only average quality.
The ideal setup would be a good quality high gain aerial of Yagi or Log-periodic setup and a balun based splitter.....get the gain in the aerial rather than adding harmonics in an electronic amp (there noisey buggers).
If your aerial cant support this then you are faced with needing an amp (although only to overcome splitter losses as you cnt realy boost a poor signal!).....the theory is to sight it as close to the antenna as possible so you can boost the signal before any cable loss....but, be warned, cheap amps are noisey buggers and can inject multipath interference back into the antenna!
My current wideband aerial of choice......a Televes DAT45.
As for this issue.....you need to find where and how the other wires are spliced in.....to many times I have found the cores and screens just twisted together giving major inpedance miss matching (which on ayagi, caues it to squint!)....even by the pros :y
I was going to say that but discretion got the better of me!!!! [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif]
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Lol.... having studied comms for many moons......and having done some antenna thoery etc at Uni....plus having been involved in bloody pulse masks, return loss and noise immunity testing....you get to know more than your average aerial fitter on this subject!
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Lol.... having studied comms for many moons......and having done some antenna thoery etc at Uni....plus having been involved in bloody pulse masks, return loss and noise immunity testing....you get to know more than your average aerial fitter on this subject!
Thats going to be my problem in the new year, I shall be wanting a new aerial, just checked the price of the one you mentioned on fleabay, then went to check the price on CPC. Quite a difference when you add the carriage.
The problem with Aerial fitters are they they go for the cheapest. I like the Aerial mentioned just on looks alone so I would easily if someone showed me something flashy that looked the part.
Armed with what Mark has posted I at least feel at ease asking what Aerial and cable the guy will be using and see what replies I get.
I also want/need to split the signal 4 maybe even 5 ways (maybe double outlet for a TV tuner card in my PC)
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Lol.... having studied comms for many moons......and having done some antenna thoery etc at Uni....plus having been involved in bloody pulse masks, return loss and noise immunity testing....you get to know more than your average aerial fitter on this subject!
Thats going to be my problem in the new year, I shall be wanting a new aerial, just checked the price of the one you mentioned on fleabay, then went to check the price on CPC. Quite a difference when you add the carriage.
The problem with Aerial fitters are they they go for the cheapest. I like the Aerial mentioned just on looks alone so I would easily if someone showed me something flashy that looked the part.
Armed with what Mark has posted I at least feel at ease asking what Aerial and cable the guy will be using and see what replies I get.
I also want/need to split the signal 4 maybe even 5 ways (maybe double outlet for a TV tuner card in my PC)
very practical..no need for remote :)
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Lol.... having studied comms for many moons......and having done some antenna thoery etc at Uni....plus having been involved in bloody pulse masks, return loss and noise immunity testing....you get to know more than your average aerial fitter on this subject!
Thats going to be my problem in the new year, I shall be wanting a new aerial, just checked the price of the one you mentioned on fleabay, then went to check the price on CPC. Quite a difference when you add the carriage.
The problem with Aerial fitters are they they go for the cheapest. I like the Aerial mentioned just on looks alone so I would easily if someone showed me something flashy that looked the part.
Armed with what Mark has posted I at least feel at ease asking what Aerial and cable the guy will be using and see what replies I get.
I also want/need to split the signal 4 maybe even 5 ways (maybe double outlet for a TV tuner card in my PC)
I would go for a DAT45 with MRD (head amp) and then a loft splitter.....buy on ebay and pay for fitting.
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I should add that with a quality aerial.....a diyer can get a very good signal just aligning using a compass (having taken the bearing from a map) in areas with reasonable simple signal conditions. Plus most aerials have a good 10-15 degree acceptance angle!
One of the reasons why some installers have to use an alignment meter is becasue tehy use cheap nasty Yagis (at anything from 3 quid upwards) which actualy have a 300ohm balanced dipole....connect this to 75 ohm coax and the array squints and no longer has the main reception lobe down the axis of the beam!
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Whats the difference between the DAT 45 and DAT75?
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Whats the difference between the DAT 45 and DAT75?
About 800mm......ask Matchless....he bought the wrong one.....its rather huge!
Real answer is of course its higher gain.....narrower acceptance angle....but beware, its big (nearly 2m's long), heavy and as a result needs a stronger pole to take the wind loading
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And beware, some of the Televes aerials are orange....so make sure you ask for a black one!
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Whats the difference between the DAT 45 and DAT75?
Just found some info
http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/level5/module.jsp?moduleId=cpc/274460.xml
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i have a televes 45 that does indeed look nice. the only reason i got it was that it was on a steal of an offer from http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Aerials_Index/index.html 3 years ago. in my mis-informed naivety back then i fell for the 'digital' aerial blurb as well. Worst thing is I haven't even connected it to anything as i still only use cable tv!! It just looks pretty on my chimney ;D I had plans for freeview boxes and to ditch telewest/virgin but haven't got round to it!
Having read around the web and especially info from this website hat has a heck of a lot of fun, useful and techy knowledge:
http://www.aerialsandtv.com/index.html
I realised how RF signals can be really picky and it's a precise non exact science! ('Black Art' they call it!) It is true that digital signals are less forgiving than the old analogue but it really depends where in the county you are!
I'm pretty sure that I made a booboo with the televes though. Living four miles away from one of the most powerful transmitters in the country i should've gone for a Band B DM-log periodic type aerial that would get all the channels and not put too much gain on it. So maybe when i get my ladders out again and borrow a roof climber one i may swap the blooming thing! first thing will be to test the signal tho, i may well get away with attenuating it down!
as for home RF networks i've fitted a few with pf100 and rg6/58/59 cable and all have been fine. They had individual cables to each room from the loft and a double run to the main av place. so the tv/freeview can get the aerial signal, then send it all back up to the splitter and then everyroom can tune in to freeview, dvd, anything! my bro loves it.
in his loft we fitted this: http://www.screwfix.com/prods/69457/Electrical/TV-Range/Amplifiers-Distribution/Labgear-Home-Distribution-Unit-8-Way
but it was cheaper then! and there's a fab wholesaler in birmingham that does all av stuff at a fraction of retail sheds and online alike. Only thing is knowing what to buy!
to answer the OP, i would've thought the splitter would be in the loft, but it may well be under a floorboard somewhere. or even the cables could be looped in and out of each aerial socket having been twisted together? (YIKES! :o)
If you can't find the installed stuff, i'd be inclined to start afresh and then you know it's all up to scratch.
sorry bout my long reply post, but i spent a long time researching onetime! :y
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Just attenuate the aerial signal just before the reception point.....as long as there is no MRD then you cant exactly over drive the cable!
And beware of being close to transmitters....the elements dont transmit down very well from the high masts (the actual UHF element will eb right at the top insdie the white fibreglass casing) and you get a shadow around the base a few miles in diameter....here you end up picking up reflections rather than a direct signal.
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Shielded cable as far as I am concerned is a must, any amplication must be loft based but you can also have too much boosting.
My install (paid for) was an early digital setup at the limits of Sutton Coldfield.
Large wideband on the peak of the roof, then CT100 to the amp, CT100 downlead to the PSU, then CT100 leads to all appliances.
The postcode checkers so no reception - no problem here with 8 different digital tuners over the years.
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Shielded cable as far as I am concerned is a must, any amplication must be loft based but you can also have too much boosting.
My install (paid for) was an early digital setup at the limits of Sutton Coldfield.
Large wideband on the peak of the roof, then CT100 to the amp, CT100 downlead to the PSU, then CT100 leads to all appliances.
The postcode checkers so no reception - no problem here with 8 different digital tuners over the years.
BTW my installers were the first in the area to do digital installations, and got a mention in the press (CAS)
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Shielded cable as far as I am concerned is a must, any amplication must be loft based but you can also have too much boosting.
My install (paid for) was an early digital setup at the limits of Sutton Coldfield.
Large wideband on the peak of the roof, then CT100 to the amp, CT100 downlead to the PSU, then CT100 leads to all appliances.
The postcode checkers so no reception - no problem here with 8 different digital tuners over the years.
All coax is shielded......its just the quality that varies....
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And as said, there is no such thing as a digital install.....only a good analogue one!
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Just attenuate the aerial signal just before the reception point.....as long as there is no MRD then you cant exactly over drive the cable!
And beware of being close to transmitters....the elements dont transmit down very well from the high masts (the actual UHF element will eb right at the top insdie the white fibreglass casing) and you get a shadow around the base a few miles in diameter....here you end up picking up reflections rather than a direct signal.
:( you mean hopefully i didnt fit one of these? http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MXMRD.html
woops!
although it reads like it won't do anything unless it's powered up from below.
oh i'm gonna have fun when i switch it on eventually!
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WOW!!!! I'm just happy that mine works regardless of why. :o
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Shielded cable as far as I am concerned is a must, any amplication must be loft based but you can also have too much boosting.
My install (paid for) was an early digital setup at the limits of Sutton Coldfield.
Large wideband on the peak of the roof, then CT100 to the amp, CT100 downlead to the PSU, then CT100 leads to all appliances.
The postcode checkers so no reception - no problem here with 8 different digital tuners over the years.
All coax is shielded......its just the quality that varies....
Hence mine using CT100 rather than the cheap brown stuff
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Just attenuate the aerial signal just before the reception point.....as long as there is no MRD then you cant exactly over drive the cable!
And beware of being close to transmitters....the elements dont transmit down very well from the high masts (the actual UHF element will eb right at the top insdie the white fibreglass casing) and you get a shadow around the base a few miles in diameter....here you end up picking up reflections rather than a direct signal.
:( you mean hopefully i didnt fit one of these? http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MXMRD.html
woops!
although it reads like it won't do anything unless it's powered up from below.
oh i'm gonna have fun when i switch it on eventually!
If not powered, it wont be an issue.
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Shielded cable as far as I am concerned is a must, any amplication must be loft based but you can also have too much boosting.
My install (paid for) was an early digital setup at the limits of Sutton Coldfield.
Large wideband on the peak of the roof, then CT100 to the amp, CT100 downlead to the PSU, then CT100 leads to all appliances.
The postcode checkers so no reception - no problem here with 8 different digital tuners over the years.
All coax is shielded......its just the quality that varies....
Hence mine using CT100 rather than the cheap brown stuff
Which will help avoid multipath and interference from external noise sources....but as said, not essential for 99% of installs
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And as said, there is no such thing as a digital install.....only a good analogue one!
Actually there is a difference, but the equipment is the same.
A good analogue install relies on having a grouped aerial to get the 4 channels, the 6 multiplexes usually require a wide band.
One thing around here I do not think there is a spare RF channel anywhere.
Off top of head
40 43 46 50 analogue
41 44 47 51 52 55 digital - Mux D is out of band
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Shielded cable as far as I am concerned is a must, any amplication must be loft based but you can also have too much boosting.
My install (paid for) was an early digital setup at the limits of Sutton Coldfield.
Large wideband on the peak of the roof, then CT100 to the amp, CT100 downlead to the PSU, then CT100 leads to all appliances.
The postcode checkers so no reception - no problem here with 8 different digital tuners over the years.
All coax is shielded......its just the quality that varies....
Hence mine using CT100 rather than the cheap brown stuff
Which will help avoid multipath and interference from external noise sources....but as said, not essential for 99% of installs
With the price of it - not worth not using decent cable, and around here you need decent cable - no really strong TXes
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And as said, there is no such thing as a digital install.....only a good analogue one!
Actually there is a difference, but the equipment is the same.
A good analogue install relies on having a grouped aerial to get the 4 channels, the 6 multiplexes usually require a wide band.
One thing around here I do not think there is a spare RF channel anywhere.
Off top of head
40 43 46 50 analogue
41 44 47 51 52 55 digital - Mux D is out of band
Nope....thats no difference.....a good analogue aerial would also be wide band...the only benefit of a grouped aerial is fractionaly higher gain and thats not requried with a good wide band aerial. In fact a good installer is unlikely to have a grouped aerial on the van for most domestic installs particularly since the advent of channel 5
Hence yet again....this digital aerial thing is a markting con.
There cant be such a thing a a digital aerial....as RF does not propogate as a digital signal...its analogue.
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Shielded cable as far as I am concerned is a must, any amplication must be loft based but you can also have too much boosting.
My install (paid for) was an early digital setup at the limits of Sutton Coldfield.
Large wideband on the peak of the roof, then CT100 to the amp, CT100 downlead to the PSU, then CT100 leads to all appliances.
The postcode checkers so no reception - no problem here with 8 different digital tuners over the years.
All coax is shielded......its just the quality that varies....
Hence mine using CT100 rather than the cheap brown stuff
Which will help avoid multipath and interference from external noise sources....but as said, not essential for 99% of installs
With the price of it - not worth not using decent cable, and around here you need decent cable - no really strong TXes
There is major issue with CT100 in domestic installs though....and that is its minimum bend radius of 70mm......its almost impossible to compelte a neat install without going against this....and doing so crushes the internals badly and negates any benefits. Further to this, there are some real cheap versions about with steel central core and aluminium foil rather than the all coper stuff.
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Do you fancy coming round our house & sorting out my aerial then please Mark? ::) :y :y :y
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Mines all copper.
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Mines all copper.
Mine's all fuzzy in the front bedroom but OK in the others, despite the Heath Robinson set up in the loft ::)
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Well thats a plus as most is not.....the best also has the foam core but again, there are two types and one of them absorbs water.
Plus some copper plate teh central core.
Coax is a minefield....and the vast majority of stuff, no matter what so called designation it has, is often pretty average.
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there's a big section on 'digital' here http://www.aerialsandtv.com/digitaltv.html i find it riveting reading!
you're right bout the digital mux's from Sutton Coldfield being channels 41-55 so almost all within band B. but loads of other areas have big variance!
i heard from a fitter that it was channel 5 that messed up most of the installs in the country, not the digital transmissions, due to it having to be placed outside the original narrow bands of channels!
i know analogue gives a better picture than digital but can't wait til it's off and the digital stuff can be finalised!
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Well thats a plus as most is not.....the best also has the foam core but again, there are two types and one of them absorbs water.
Plus some copper plate teh central core.
Coax is a minefield....and the vast majority of stuff, no matter what so called designation it has, is often pretty average.
hear hear. i've used great cable and had rubbish pictures and used cheap(ish) cable and got on fine. last job i worked on had two projectors, 4 plasmas and 20 tvs. but least it was only video and no RF needed! :y happy days. rg59 all the way............
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Wow! A few more replies than I expected! Thanks for all the info.
I only rent my house, other wise I would have been on the roof and whacked the aerial up. However, mine is in the loft as high as i can get it. The signal strength is of no real concern because on a direct lead it was excellent quality.
So it seems that I will have to try and trace the split - is it likely to be under the floorboards? I might try that. :y
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how bout use a wireless sender from a direct lead in the loft?
i have no idea what is available and whether any are great or not, but in maplins they have allsorts and they'll take it back if you cant get it to do what you want!
try http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=44469
and http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=222153
but there are loads!!!
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I am trying to sort the aerial out in my house. When I moved in there was an old UHF aerial, big long thing in the loft which was replaced by a new aerial especially for digital signal.
I first ran a cable out of the loft and straight into my Digibox. Tuned it all in and got great reception on all channels once I had pointed the aerial in the right direction.
But, when I swapped the cable back to the original one and plugged the Digibox into the wall socket - the reception wasn't very good on perhaps half of the channels :( I then established that the signal strength must be deteriorating somewhere along the route.
I have got 2 further sockets, in the bedroom and in the kitchen. There must be a splitter somewhere - but where do you think I could find this?
Sorry about the long post :-[
To start with all the cable should be of digital quality, not the old analoge stuff.
Then you need a power driven multi-set booster box in your loft to distribute, via separate (ditigal) cable, the aerial signals to each room/tv. :y :y
All splitters should be disregarded as they dissapate the strength of the signal. ;)
DO not use any form of preamplification when using a freeview unless you have to your asking for problems.
avoid a masthead amp get a good quality wideband antenna and a good quality distribution amp if you really need one (if argos sell it then its no use)
Doug
Doug
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this site http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/ has some good info on various coax specs, TV distribution and lots of pics of shoddy work
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Was chatting to SWMBO about going for Freesat.
http://www.freesat.co.uk/
We've got a Philips HDTV and this would be a one-off payment (rather than monthly with Sky). I fancy HDTV! :y
Any thoughts?
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Satellite does not support true HD.....yet.
In fact its quite a disappointing picture....but its so heavily compressed thats its no surprise.
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Was chatting to SWMBO about going for Freesat.
http://www.freesat.co.uk/
We've got a Philips HDTV and this would be a one-off payment (rather than monthly with Sky). I fancy HDTV! :y
Any thoughts?
£300 for a box then the cost of a twin LNB dish, if you can get a box (we are still looking)
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Was chatting to SWMBO about going for Freesat.
http://www.freesat.co.uk/
We've got a Philips HDTV and this would be a one-off payment (rather than monthly with Sky). I fancy HDTV! :y
Any thoughts?
£300 for a box then the cost of a twin LNB dish, if you can get a box (we are still looking)
As I understand it, the £300 box is only if you want a recorder. £140 if you don't.
http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=1500001001&langId=-1&searchTerms=freesat
If you just got a £140 box, could you still record onto a DVD recorder's HDD? (albeit non-High Definition).
Don't understand what a twin LNB dish is, Martin. :-?
Could you enlighten me?
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Nope - you need a PVR to record it - I cannot see any point in buying anything which doesn't record.
It needs 2 or more LNB thingies
I bought something like this
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=47174
Just need to find a PVR
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Nope - you need a PVR to record it - I cannot see any point in buying anything which doesn't record.
It needs 2 or more LNB thingies
I bought something like this
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=47174
Just need to find a PVR
Thanks, Martin. I'm enlightened!
I have just read up about the Humax PVR, here.
http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/4717
They reckon on a 7-10 day lead time. I've read elsewhere that Freesat PVRs are in very short supply.
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Was chatting to SWMBO about going for Freesat.
http://www.freesat.co.uk/
We've got a Philips HDTV and this would be a one-off payment (rather than monthly with Sky). I fancy HDTV! :y
Any thoughts?
£300 for a box then the cost of a twin LNB dish, if you can get a box (we are still looking)
As I understand it, the £300 box is only if you want a recorder. £140 if you don't.
http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=1500001001&langId=-1&searchTerms=freesat
If you just got a £140 box, could you still record onto a DVD recorder's HDD? (albeit non-High Definition).
Don't understand what a twin LNB dish is, Martin. :-?
Could you enlighten me?
my local Tescos are selling sky plus hd boxes pay once watch forever deals for 200 quid i seen them last night
Doug
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Was chatting to SWMBO about going for Freesat.
http://www.freesat.co.uk/
We've got a Philips HDTV and this would be a one-off payment (rather than monthly with Sky). I fancy HDTV! :y
Any thoughts?
£300 for a box then the cost of a twin LNB dish, if you can get a box (we are still looking)
As I understand it, the £300 box is only if you want a recorder. £140 if you don't.
http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=1500001001&langId=-1&searchTerms=freesat
If you just got a £140 box, could you still record onto a DVD recorder's HDD? (albeit non-High Definition).
Don't understand what a twin LNB dish is, Martin. :-?
Could you enlighten me?
my local Tescos are selling sky plus hd boxes pay once watch forever deals for 200 quid i seen them last night
Doug
What about the rental for recording?
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Nope - you need a PVR to record it - I cannot see any point in buying anything which doesn't record.
It needs 2 or more LNB thingies
I bought something like this
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=47174
Just need to find a PVR
Thanks, Martin. I'm enlightened!
I have just read up about the Humax PVR, here.
http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/4717
They reckon on a 7-10 day lead time. I've read elsewhere that Freesat PVRs are in very short supply.
Argos had them in at 17:00 :-[
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Was chatting to SWMBO about going for Freesat.
http://www.freesat.co.uk/
We've got a Philips HDTV and this would be a one-off payment (rather than monthly with Sky). I fancy HDTV! :y
Any thoughts?
£300 for a box then the cost of a twin LNB dish, if you can get a box (we are still looking)
As I understand it, the £300 box is only if you want a recorder. £140 if you don't.
http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=1500001001&langId=-1&searchTerms=freesat
If you just got a £140 box, could you still record onto a DVD recorder's HDD? (albeit non-High Definition).
Don't understand what a twin LNB dish is, Martin. :-?
Could you enlighten me?
my local Tescos are selling sky plus hd boxes pay once watch forever deals for 200 quid i seen them last night
Doug
What about the rental for recording?
I will pop back up tommorow morning and find out
Doug
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See my PVR thread - Humax HDR is installed and working and BBC HD IS HD, but only 1080i rather than 1080p
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See my PVR thread - Humax HDR is installed and working and BBC HD IS HD, but only 1080i rather than 1080p
Whats the difference between i and p
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See my PVR thread - Humax HDR is installed and working and BBC HD IS HD, but only 1080i rather than 1080p
Whats the difference between i and p
Interlaced sends half a frame at a time
Progressive sends a whole frame
Interlacing was the first type of video compression
Halves the amount of data
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See my PVR thread - Humax HDR is installed and working and BBC HD IS HD, but only 1080i rather than 1080p
Whats the difference between i and p
Interlaced sends half a frame at a time
Progressive sends a whole frame
Interlacing was the first type of video compression
Halves the amount of data
I am starting to get confussed with it all.
Are there any sites that show all the abbreations and standards etc.
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See my PVR thread - Humax HDR is installed and working and BBC HD IS HD, but only 1080i rather than 1080p
Whats the difference between i and p
Interlaced sends half a frame at a time
Progressive sends a whole frame
Interlacing was the first type of video compression
Halves the amount of data
I am starting to get confussed with it all.
Are there any sites that show all the abbreations and standards etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1080p :)
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So whats next in the way of resoloutions.
As yet I have put off the purchase of a new TV for various reasons.
LCD v Plasma debate
Screen standards
Moving home
and the main one being watching the prices plummet.
I am considering one for when I move in Feb/Mar but if there are any improvemnts on screen standards or technology on the way they I am prepared to wait for things to settle. Also I will be buting a new console so unttill I have moved and unpacked properly I wont have time to relax and enjoy either.
-
So whats next in the way of resoloutions.
As yet I have put off the purchase of a new TV for various reasons.
LCD v Plasma debate
Screen standards
Moving home
and the main one being watching the prices plummet.
I am considering one for when I move in Feb/Mar but if there are any improvemnts on screen standards or technology on the way they I am prepared to wait for things to settle. Also I will be buting a new console so unttill I have moved and unpacked properly I wont have time to relax and enjoy either.
Full 1080P LCD will do you
-
So whats next in the way of resoloutions.
As yet I have put off the purchase of a new TV for various reasons.
LCD v Plasma debate
Screen standards
Moving home
and the main one being watching the prices plummet.
I am considering one for when I move in Feb/Mar but if there are any improvemnts on screen standards or technology on the way they I am prepared to wait for things to settle. Also I will be buting a new console so unttill I have moved and unpacked properly I wont have time to relax and enjoy either.
Full 1080P LCD will do you
Cheers Martin
Need to pick a tely then.
Originally I fancied a Panasonic Vierra, that stayed thesame choice when they advertised they were fitting freesat. But most of thiers are plasma.
I dont want to drop under 42"
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Viera is a good TV still
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Seen a freesat viera, suffered a little from artifacts, though unsure whether excessive compression used on freesat, or 'digital enhancements' which invariably are shite
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just noticed this thread while idly leafing through OOF - i just spent the last 2weeks looking for a shiny new TV and went through the whole LCD/plasma - opted for the Panasonic Viera TH42PZ80 42" plasma - due to a number of factors
1 I love watching sport and every LCD I've ever seen has pixel shadows trailing around (plasma has a way faster response time so a good one won't suffer)
2 Playing XBox - worried that plasmas burn - this isn't the case anymore - in fact in all the studies I've read (I had a fair bit of time on my hands) LCD suffers screen burn very very rarely and plasmas not at all nowadays
3 LCD TV's cant handle black (unless you're prepared to pay £££'s - even then the best LCD can't really match plasma)
anyway - the Viera makes XBox360 look stunning, movies off DVD look amazing - SKY+ looks OK - haven't got SKY HD yet or a blu-ray - but they'll be next (PS3 Santa - please)
very very happy- great set - recommend it to anyone - think I went too big tho - 40" would have been more than adequate - dont think there is a 40" Viera plasma tho :(
;) ;)
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Seen a freesat viera, suffered a little from artifacts, though unsure whether excessive compression used on freesat, or 'digital enhancements' which invariably are shite
BBC HD in general looks fine