Advice On Freeview Tv Please

[Millie's Mum and Dad]

Hi
We're new motorhomers, having picked up our 2008 Bolero last week. It's fitted with a Status 530 aerial and we've had a VisionPlus LED16DVD telly fitted (12v and 240). We got a beautiful picture on the CL we stayed at this weekend, just to try everything out, but only a few TV channels and a handful of radio channels, although we expected to be able to pick up all the freeview channels (in particular I was looking for Create and Craft!). Am I missing something here? Do we need something extra to see Freeview. At home, we have Sky and as caravanners, we carried a spare Sky box and Camos PAPSA sat dish, so are pretty ignorant as far as freeview is concerned.

 

[Figaro]

Sounds like you need a sat dish fitting to use your sky subscription. Free view channels will vary dependant upon signal

 

[Stroppy Bird]

This recent thread might be helpful to read through.

http://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/tv-reception.109418/#post-1435652

I suspect like in the above thread it will be the aerial that is the issue.
I have one of the avtex ones which works well.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

The weather conditions will affect the freeview channels you pick up as well as where you are.

 

[teensvan99]

Hi.

We fulltimed for over 7 years and the only cheap TV route to go is a crankup sat system. £550 plus a cheap fortic star sat box from maplins will last you years and you can watch tv out of the UK. Our system on our last van was still working well when we sold it after 10 years of use.

steve & ann. -------------- teensvan99

 

[TerryL]

You seem to have all you need for Freeview reception, although I agree the Status 530 aerial ain't the best. Cheapest option might be to replace it.

By the way, you did re-tune your TV to the local transmitter didn't you?

 

[Wildman]

The channels available vary from area to area as they use different multiplex so some channels will be stronger than others. Improve matters with a decent antenna or switch to Freesat using a sat dish and decoder.

 

[pappajohn]

I assume you are pointing directly towards the transmitter mast and have thecorrect orientation on the aerial...horizontal or vertical.....it makes a big difference..

Digital tv is critical for accurate alignment and a few degrees off the mast will lose most of the channels.

 

[Cal54]

Why not invest in a signal finder. I have found it a lot easier to tune in my TV to the correct mast when travelling since investing in the little black box. Recommended to me by Dave Newell.

 

[The Wino]

Depends also on the local area in Whitby the local transmitter only give the main chanels. Might be best to try a few other locations before spending more.

 

[ABZSteve]

Why not invest in a signal finder. I have found it a lot easier to tune in my TV to the correct mast when travelling since investing in the little black box. Recommended to me by Dave Newell.

Hi Carol, can you post a link please, I think I will buy one of these, cheers, Steve.

 

[Cal54]

n

This is the link I hope. You can get them at most accessory shops but I got mine from Amazon.

 

[sdc77]

Instead of paying you could get the free android app called UK aerial alignment.
Works well showing direction and wether vertical or horizontal

 

[peterc10]

Instead of paying you could get the free android app called UK aerial alignment.
Works well showing direction and wether vertical or horizontal

Yep this app is good. I have rarely found it any problem to get at least some digital channels. The cost of a decent satellite set up is such that I don't think it is worth it. There are enough crap channels on freeview, I don't need any more.

 

[M1ke]

Every area you visit requires that you retune your television to obtain all the channels. Give that a bash before investing in any further equipment.

 

[ABZSteve]

n

This is the link I hope. You can get them at most accessory shops but I got mine from Amazon.

Thanks Carol

 

[tick59]

A lot of the Free view channels need internet to view. fun!!! fun!!! fun!!!

 

[Terry]

may SOUND STUPID BUT THE 530 IS A DIRECTIONAL AERIAL -HAVE YOU TURNED/TUNED IT to where you are plus the tv will need to be retuned -usually first time installation
terry

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Every area you visit requires that you retune your television to obtain all the channels. Give that a bash before investing in any further equipment.

We found this to be the best option when we had our status arial-never had any issues after a quick retune -give it a try before you spend any hard earned.

 

[WillH]

The number of Freeview channels available varies wildly from one area to another. At home we only get 23 channels, the mainstream ones, yet when we visit Edinburgh I can get somewhere around 160. As someone said above it depends on how many multiplexes they use, are really how much the broadcasters are prepared to invest. A low population area will always have less channels than a densely populated are. Unfair as we all pay the same fee.

 

[pappajohn]

A lot of the Free view channels need internet to view. fun!!! fun!!! fun!!!

Since when ?

The only time you need a web connection is for extra encrypted/pay to view channels which are not free view.....the clues in the name......
we currently recieve 130 freeview channels at home inc around 20 radio channels and we dont connect to the internet.

 

[irnbru]

I assume you are pointing directly towards the transmitter mast and have thecorrect orientation on the aerial...horizontal or vertical.....it makes a big difference..

Aah so that explains why the app always says horizontal or vertical. Never realised I had to put the aerial that way and not just aim it in the direction shown Still usually get most channels but this is good to know.

 

[pappajohn]

Aah so that explains why the app always says horizontal or vertical. Never realised I had to put the aerial that way and not just aim it in the direction shown Still usually get most channels but this is good to know.

Yes, get the orientation wrong and you might get some channels....but not many and only the strong ones.