[christiani]

Hey everyone,
I have just moved into a shared house for uni, which has no aerial on the roof, and has poor signal quality if I try to get channels through my Terratec Cinergy 2400i DT Dual DVBT PC TV Tuner, used with a power boosted tv aerial (£30 worth that you'd get in a large supermarket).
I just wondered what the best way to get freeview channels through my tv card would be.

We have just got virgin cable fitted (broadband, tv and phone). There are a few small adapters to change the cable plug into a tv aerial socket. What would happen if I ran a cable from the cable with the tv aerial connected to it to my tv card. As it's cable, I would have thought nothing would happen. Would it just act as a normal tv aerial?

If this wouldn't work, what would any suggestions be for the cheapest way to achieve me goal! lol

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

[Boostrail]

No Freeview can only be received via an aerial. VM have now switched off their analogue signals in most areas so you will get nothing via the TV tuner card.

Dont forget that depending where you are your locality will go through the total digital switchover phase sometime over the next 2 years at which time most Freeview transmiiters will up their signal strength by a factor of 10. This will happen on Winter Hill serving the "Granada" Lancs etc. region in Nov/Dec this year.

If your TV Tuner card also has direct inputs (usually coded Red White and Yellow) Then you could get another V or V+ box and connect this. You will however probably be charged extra rental dependant on your current package.

[christiani]

Thanks for your reply mate.

Firstly, my tv card is compatible with digital channels, and I've received a few freeview channels when using the portable powered aeriel I spoke of, but with poor signal quality.

My area had recently switched (I live in Plymouth), which is also why I've found it very suprising that I can't receive a good signal. However, there is no aeriel on the roof and the house has thick walls etc. The best reception with this aeriel is found when placed on the window sill. I guess that says it all! lol

My card only has a tv ariel socket on it.

Any more ideas or suggestions :s

[Boostrail]

Have you re scanned since DSO? Plymouth is served by Caradon Hill and three relays. Any indoor TV aerial should be located as near to or in the centre of a window facing towards one of the transmitters. Note that the relays are often vertically polarised compared to main transmitters being usually horizontal i.e the aerial needs to have its plane vertical rather than horizontal.

As the father of recent Uni students who rented accom at their Uni towns my first recommendation would be to push the landlord to replace the current aerial system which given that DSO is complete is clearly inadequate.

[christiani]

Thanks for the info mate.

I've also had the idea of buying a 52 element outdoor aerial (£28), and putting it in the attic (door to the attic in my bedroom).
Sound like a good idea?

[Boostrail]

This could work if there is adequate room to mount the aerial pointed i the right direction. (Have look round at nearby rooftop aerials to get idea of direction. also you will see whether they are mounted horizontal - for main transmitter or vertical for a relay.) It would appear that a group A aerial would be better than a wideband fo0r the main transmitter as the channels of the new multiplexes are all close together on C21-C30. A Group A aerial will give higher gain on these channels than a Wideband.

see
Freeview on Caradon Hill TV transmitter - page 1 | ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002

[christiani]

Thanks for the info mate.

I had a sneaky peak in the attic last night, and found not one but two aerials! Hopefully one of them will work ok. I just have to go up close to see if they have any cable attached to them! lol

[Julie]

The OP original question has been answered so thread has now been closed.

Any further discussion regarding Freeview should be conducted in that forum.

Thanks.