I'm planning to get a Freeview set top box thingy, and a search on my postcode comes up:

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FREEVIEW covers your area for the postcode xxxxxx ** but you probably need a new type of aerial.

The search indicates that FREEVIEW covers your postcode but as well as an box (or integrated digital television) you probably need a new type of rooftop aerial.

Why a different aerial?

Because FREEVIEW signals in this area use a different transmitter or frequency than your existing analogue television. Unless you already have one, you need a different type of rooftop aerial for digital reception. We recommend a "wideband" aerial.
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What is a wideband aerial, how much does one cost, and do I have to get it fitted by someone else or will I be able to do it myself? I can't believe it's so complicated!

All advice warmly welcomed.

There say all that above.....but my freeveiw i use a 20 year old indoor arial and it works 100% mine


:D :D

'Analogue' TV signals are transmitted on a band of frequencies.

Radio and TV aerials work best at a particular frequency; they'll still give good performance away form that frequency but will be less efficient.

Manufacturers make TV aerials to cover a range of available 'Channel' frequencies, and an aerial fitter will select the aerial that is best for teh area in which you live.

HOWEVER.....Freeview signals might be transmitted on a frequency that's outside the 'local group' of frequencies that your aerial is configured for and so might not be received as clearly as your analogue TV signals. A 'wideband' aerial is designed to accomodate a wider range of channels than is normally required, and so would accomodate the normal analogue signals as well as the new Freeview signal.

As has been pointed out, you might get away with it, or you might not. Very much depends upon the area of Sheffield you're in.

Hope this helps!

Joe

In my experience if you are in a reception area and you get a good picture on channel 5 you may not need a new airiel.

Originally posted by Fudbeer
In my experience if you are in a reception area and you get a good picture on channel 5 you may not need a new airiel.

That's a good rule of thumb! I'd go with that!

:)

Ah, that also explains why buying an aerial booster made no difference.
Looks like my box will be going up in the loft to join the 'ronco buttoneer' and the 'miracle chopper' then.

You will need an aerial which can pick up UHF channels 21 to 68 group W for Sheffield Crosspool. the Digital Tv service is broadcast on UHF 39/42/45/53/57/60 until at least 2009

Originally posted by 40summat
Ah, that also explains why buying an aerial booster made no difference.
Looks like my box will be going up in the loft to join the 'ronco buttoneer' and the 'miracle chopper' then.

Sometimes an aerial booster will actually make stuff worse by causing overloading or amplifying interfering signals.

Joe

Originally posted by JoeP
Sometimes an aerial booster will actually make stuff worse by causing overloading or amplifying interfering signals.

Joe

Yes that's exactly what happens just made a bad signal worse.

Do you know anyone who would lend you their Freeview STB for a couple of hours ? - probably the best way to check reception on your present aerial, or you could ask around any neighbours who have Freeview if they had to have a new aerial.

Old aerials often work quite well with the local transmitter at Crosspool if you can see it from the chimney stack, but old aerial downleads are usually a problem with Freeview which really needs the kind of downlead [CT100] required for a Sky box.

The is a discussion group for Freeview at

http://groups.google.com/group/uk.tech.digital-tv?hl=en

where you can use the ''search this group'' facillity for 'wideband aerial' or 'best STB' etc.

Many thanks to all for clarification - I now understand (a) why it says I need a new aerial, (b) that as I have very poor Channel 5 reception, I'm likely to need a new aerial, and (c) that it's going to cost me. (I'm in Pitsmoor, by the way - don't know how Crosspool came into the conversation).

So another question - what *is* it going to cost me? How much is an appropriate aerial? And how much does it cost to fit it?

TIA

Crosspool is the nearest transmitter to you. :)

A decent Freeview Set Top Box about £50 to £60.

An aerial and erection £100 to £150.

It's still worth checking with neighbours about reception, the on-line checker isn't 100% reliable.

If you are in a position to fit it yourself, you can buy a wideband digital aerial from B+Q for about £40. It will need to be Vertically polarised, ie the main sticks being up and down rather than across, AND pointing in the right direction. I know this sounds obvious but people have them pointing in all sorts of directions. Best way to set it up is to point it where everybody else's is, then put TV on channel 5 (which should now have a much-improved signal) and tweak it left and right until you get the best signal. Then, with a bit of luck you should be OK when you connect the Freeview box.
PS The reason its best to use CH5 to test it is that their signal is very low power compared with 1 to 4.

Originally posted by davep
If you are in a position to fit it yourself, you can buy a wideband digital aerial from B+Q for about £40. It will need to be Vertically polarised, ie the main sticks being up and down rather than across, AND pointing in the right direction. I know this sounds obvious but people have them pointing in all sorts of directions. Best way to set it up is to point it where everybody else's is, then put TV on channel 5 (which should now have a much-improved signal) and tweak it left and right until you get the best signal. Then, with a bit of luck you should be OK when you connect the Freeview box.
PS The reason its best to use CH5 to test it is that their signal is very low power compared with 1 to 4.

Thanks for this reply - much appreciated.

I'm starting to think this may be harder than I thought. Does the aerial have to be *outside* the house, or can I put it in the roof space? I'm not sure I want to have to go up on to the roof myself - not too keen on heights. At present we seem to have a half share in an aerial with next door, and it's stuck on their roof.

Why can't they just pipe cable up to the top of Pitsmoor and save me all this aggro?

It IS possible to get a signal with a loft-mounted aerial but chances are it needs to be outside, so you may be better off getting someone to fit it for you. I know it will cost, but you could always sell the computer to pay for it !!!!! Only Kidding.

Ive just bought a freeview box and it says the same thing, is it not possible for me to buy a portable one?

In my experience if you are in a reception area and you get a good picture on channel 5 you may not need a new airiel.


I get PERFECT picture on Five, Perfect picture on BBC2, and good picture on 3 and 4 - but BBC1 is just completely unwatchable - hardly even get sound on it.

(Yes I've checked it's not a ghost signal.. it's the only BBC1 in the whole frequency range).

Blake aerials trade counter on Rutland Rd will sell you an aerial far cheaper than B&Q and will make sure it's the right one for your needs.
regards Mick.

Has anyone used something like this? If so, any good?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?C=SEO&U=SiteMapByDept&ModuleNo=44188