TV aerial advice please

C

CGP1

Well-known member
Hi folks

Out of date mega technophobe here, hope someone can advise, and equally hopefully that I understand any replies...

We have a Samsung 7400, connected to a very old Sky box, 10+ years old. We're looking to ditch Sky, and are considering just watching Freeview. So I thought it would just be a case of disconnecting all the Sky cables and shoving the aerial straight into the TV. It wasn't.

I was tracing the aerial cables. We have the one from the Sky dish that splits into two and goes into the back of the Sky box. Then there's the actual TV aerial cable from the roof, also into the Sky box at the moment. So surely I should just put that into the TV and it would show all the Freeview stuff? Instead I'm getting something from TV Plus, whatever that is.

There's only one aerial input in the TV that I can see. Would I need to reinstall channels once I've taken it out of the Sky box and reconnected?

Thanks

Steve
 
How old is your TV aerial? I believe you may need to have this updated in order to receive a digital freeview signal.
 
i would suggest so your going to get a better signal through the sky dish and box and you haven't had to spend and money or change anything.
 
Ignore the advice to keep the sky box. You have a new smart TV, it's 4K, so you're not getting optimum picture from the old Sky box, and it's much better to use the features on the tv like netflix, amazon video, iplayer, all the on-demand services, which you don't if you're just using the sky hd box free channels. Ignore all the sky kit, just take the roof aerial feed out of the sky box and plug it into the tv. Then on your TV, go into the settings and find out how to do automatic tuning - you should pick up some stuff, even with an old aerial. You can then use the tv guide built into the TV, and all the features. You'll probably be able to record programmes by sticking a usb stick in the back too. You'll also need to conenct your tv to your broadband - it's a wifi connection, just like connecting your phone.
 
Exactly. Just put the antenna lead from the roof straight into your TV and go to Menu and select Auto Tune.
 
TangerineTractor said:
No
Click to expand...
I put like, but I don't actually mean it.

I have a problem with my Kit DAB, it's plugged into an external DAB aerial and works OK most of the time, but sometimes, especially on BBC programmes such as 6 it gets a hell load of interference rendering it unlistenable when the TV is on (next to it, used for pics and 5Live comms). Other times there is no problem. I can't get to the bottom of it.
 
TangerineTractor said:
Ignore the advice to keep the sky box. You have a new smart TV, it's 4K, so you're not getting optimum picture from the old Sky box, and it's much better to use the features on the tv like netflix, amazon video, iplayer, all the on-demand services, which you don't if you're just using the sky hd box free channels. Ignore all the sky kit, just take the roof aerial feed out of the sky box and plug it into the tv. Then on your TV, go into the settings and find out how to do automatic tuning - you should pick up some stuff, even with an old aerial. You can then use the tv guide built into the TV, and all the features. You'll probably be able to record programmes by sticking a usb stick in the back too. You'll also need to conenct your tv to your broadband - it's a wifi connection, just like connecting your phone.
Click to expand...

I agree this is the best bet. You will also need to change your tv input to "antenna" to get the signal from the aerial. The input button on your tv remote looks like the button on the right:
1601475529630.png
 
fcblackpool said:
I put like, but I don't actually mean it.

I have a problem with my Kit DAB, it's plugged into an external DAB aerial and works OK most of the time, but sometimes, especially on BBC programmes such as 6 it gets a hell load of interference rendering it unlistenable when the TV is on (next to it, used for pics and 5Live comms). Other times there is no problem. I can't get to the bottom of it.
Click to expand...
Interference. Microwaves do it too. Often resolved by shielding the cable or replacing cables with better quality ones. Try plugging them into different plug sockets. I have a dab adapter in my car, useless with one power cable, better with another, needed to change the cig lighter usb adapter to a better one for it to become crystal clear.
 
I'd recommend a freesat HD box as the easiest option. You could literally screw the sky cables to the box, connect a HDMI lead and away you go. You get 180 channels which is 39 more than freeview and the boxes are around £50.

Alternatively give me (Northern Aerials) a ring and I could put you a new aerial and cable on your roof for around £69 👍
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top