Does anyone know of a way to network a few rooms to have freeview when the switchover happens without having to drill new holes for an external aerial into each room? Could a network be made wirelessly which allows people in different rooms to watch different channels?
Home network
The easiest and probably most reliable way to distribute UHF TV signals from one aerial to several TV sets is via cables. Unless you live in an area where set top aerials work reliably. Re-broadcasting the UHF signals received by the aerial on the same or different UHF frequencies to small aerials plugged into the TVs is possible but requires a licence that you are almost certain never to get.
The alternative is to use a shed load of AV senders. One pair per TV. But these would need the transmit end to be connected to a Freeview box as a source of video and audio. And to allow each TV to work independently that means as many Freeview boxes as TVs. The downside is the limited amount of radio spectrum for these devices so the potential for mutual interference is high. And since they share the same space as WiFi there is potential for the senders and WiFi networks nearby to cause mutual interference.
And since they use the same frequencies as WiFi if you have trouble getting a WiFi signal from living room to bedroom you are likely to have the same trouble getting an AV sender to work.
Cabling really is the best solution.
The alternative is to use a shed load of AV senders. One pair per TV. But these would need the transmit end to be connected to a Freeview box as a source of video and audio. And to allow each TV to work independently that means as many Freeview boxes as TVs. The downside is the limited amount of radio spectrum for these devices so the potential for mutual interference is high. And since they share the same space as WiFi there is potential for the senders and WiFi networks nearby to cause mutual interference.
And since they use the same frequencies as WiFi if you have trouble getting a WiFi signal from living room to bedroom you are likely to have the same trouble getting an AV sender to work.
Cabling really is the best solution.
Originally Posted by lean_go:
“Does anyone know of a way to network a few rooms to have freeview when the switchover happens without having to drill new holes for an external aerial into each room? Could a network be made wirelessly which allows people in different rooms to watch different channels?”
“Does anyone know of a way to network a few rooms to have freeview when the switchover happens without having to drill new holes for an external aerial into each room? Could a network be made wirelessly which allows people in different rooms to watch different channels?”
have you got aerial points in the rooms already ? What sort of distribution system are you using.
You should only need to update your rooftop aerial (assuming your existing aerial is not good enough) and distribute that signal.
Thank you both for taking the time to reply. The previous owner either took out or didn't install aerial points so have just been using those argos booster aerials but the signal will very likely be too weak after the switchover.
Is the idea that after the analogue goes off the digital signal will be boosted a lot more? If so should I wait till the switchover to see if I can get a strong enough signal via booster aerials? Or will what I get now be roughly what I get after the switchover?
Is the idea that after the analogue goes off the digital signal will be boosted a lot more? If so should I wait till the switchover to see if I can get a strong enough signal via booster aerials? Or will what I get now be roughly what I get after the switchover?
If you are receiving from Crystal Palace (assume your location really is London?) then after DSO there will be a considerable increase in the output of the digital muxes. So if you can get any sort of digital reception at the moment it should improve a lot.
If though you are on a relay at the moment with no digital then the digital signals will more than likely be comparable to the current analogue levels. So if you are on a relay and get reasonable analogue now you should get decent digital after DSO. Though you might not get the full compliment of channels.
Also what type of aerial are you using. You just say "Argos" which means nothing. Those One For All loop things should be thrown away. In my experience they are next to useless, may as well try a bit of damp string (likely to get more signal!
). I had one and despite boasting 40 odd dB of gain it wouldn't pull in any signal. A cheap Tesco aerial (one that looks like a miniature roof aerial) that cost under a tenner with no amplification worked OK in the same location. Go figure.
If though you are on a relay at the moment with no digital then the digital signals will more than likely be comparable to the current analogue levels. So if you are on a relay and get reasonable analogue now you should get decent digital after DSO. Though you might not get the full compliment of channels.
Also what type of aerial are you using. You just say "Argos" which means nothing. Those One For All loop things should be thrown away. In my experience they are next to useless, may as well try a bit of damp string (likely to get more signal!
). I had one and despite boasting 40 odd dB of gain it wouldn't pull in any signal. A cheap Tesco aerial (one that looks like a miniature roof aerial) that cost under a tenner with no amplification worked OK in the same location. Go figure.
