TDT boxes
 

I need one & see there are a few on the market. I kind of like the small one you plug straight in the wall for about 35e - do they give the same range of channels as the digibox sized ones?

Anyone got any feedback on the best to buy or avoid? & at what price.

Cheers all, stopped raining here now.

Re: TDT boxes
 

we got a Best Buy brand from Eroski - it has a DVD player incorporated

I think that was about 35 euros:blink: we get 27 channels, more than enough IMO

until today we've had no problems - except for some reason the remote seems to have packed up & there's no other way of operating it, so back dh is going with it




& yes - we did change the batteries;)


edit - he's back - they swapped it - no quibble!

Re: TDT boxes
 

Like with most things, it's a much of a muchness.
I have to agree that ones that rely solely on remote can be a prob.

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Thanks for the replies - I bought the Eroski one (well minus the dvd 22e). I set it up & all the channels are there, plus the radio.

Why was Baywatch not broadcast in English? just the spanish option.

What other english programs are there?

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there seems to be little rhyme or reason as to what will be in available in English - except the older the programme, the less likely -although there are exceptions

whenever you see something that you know was originally in English, just change the language

some of our channels are permanently switched to English -for things like NCIS & Numbers for the OH (la sexta?)

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Do you watch it for the talking:o

Re: TDT boxes
 

some TDT receiver now hav USB ports on them
this allows a USB data stick to be attached.
in many cases this can be used for recording the TDT channel.
on others it can also be used to play movies and TV programmes that you may have downloaded

I have had some bad issues when people have bought Siemens TDT receivers...I have seen a few with very poor tuners inside

Re: TDT boxes
 

Thanks to those idiots at BT-Fortec-Arrakis I have been without the Internet for 66 days. Got it back yesterday so can ask for help. I am not a very technical person and I have lost all but one of my Spanish TV channels. I understand that I need to buy some sort of box - having read the above - but not sure what to ask for and how to set it up. Do I just plug it somewhere between the aerial and the back of the TV? Will it affect my SKY input for the British channels? Sorry to be so thick but you can't be good at everything - can you?

Re: TDT boxes
 

tdt is spanish digital television. you plug your spanish ariel into the box, and then the scart from the box into the tv.

it´ll only interfere if you run out of scarts, if, in that case, just go to the todo/chinese/bazaar shop and buy a multi scart adapter thingy for 1,80€ ish.

Re: TDT boxes
 

Thanks very much - it is appreciated. Off to Carrefour in the morning.

Re: TDT boxes
 

Only to add that bfg is right about connections and configuring your menus.
I wouldn't pay above 30 euros for a box.

Re: TDT boxes
 

you may also have to change the polarization of your aerial.

analogue channels are received on aerial on one polarizatoin (verticals), digitals on the other (horizontal).

so you will need to look at the aerial and see if it requries adjusting.


personally i hate the cheap multi scart things.
I prefer to daisy chain things together...why do you think most things have two scarts...you can link things up....

so, for example, a dvd scart cable can go into vcr scart socket on a sky box, the tv scart can go to the VCR scart on a TDT box, and the tv scart on the tdt box goes to the TV.

you can get many types of tdt boxes, some with uSB ports for recording and playback - even playing things you have DL from tinternet...

HD TDT is coming soon, - calan9 hd is already available in some valencia areas...so more boxes required

Re: TDT boxes
 

What do you mean by "more boxes" required? Does the TV to receive TDT channels, has special built-in aerial so you don't need any box? Is it digital TV that you need to buy to receive free TDT channels? Do you mean that HD TV is coming soon besides digital TV to receive free TDT channels?

I'm confused as to which type of TV I should get to receive free TDT channels without subscribing to anything & without any special box, just use the built-in aerial.
Thanks.

Re: TDT boxes
 

TDT is digital TV via a TV aerial.
Not only do you need a TDT receiver box, but you will also need to change the configuraton of the aerial.
Some TVs have the TDT tuner built in so you do not need a seperate box.
TVs with TDT built in usually have a TDT logo on them
YOu can get about 30ish free digital TV channels via TDT.
there are currently only ONE pay TV channel - golTV - a football channel about 15e per month

If you have a HD Ready TV then you will require a HD TDT receiver / box.
IF you have a HD TV with TDT built in then you do not need any TDT receiver as it will be build in.

"just use the built-in aerial." TVs do not have built in aereals - aerials go on the roof. Do you mean built in TDT receiver / tuner ?

I mean by "more boxes" that many people ony have a cheap or standard definition box, but they will need to buy a HD box should they wish to view the HD TDTD channels that will become available later this year.

Re: TDT boxes
 

so does that mean you won't be able to see them at all?

or just that you won't see them in HD?

Re: TDT boxes
 

I would just add to that, that if you have an HDTV with a built in TDT box, it will not necessarily receive HDTV - another HDTDT box will be needed.

Some of the very latest UK TVs have Freeview HD built in but they are very rare.

Interesting article in the Mail yesterday http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-properly.html

Re: TDT boxes
 

Perhaps this should read "that if you have an HDTV with a built in TDT box, it will not necessarily receive HDTV - another HDTDT box MAY be needed.

I have seen C9 HD available on many HDTVs using the inbuilt tuners and not with a seperate set top box.

But with HD Ready TVs then yes you will need a HD TDT set top box.

Again there is a difference between HD Ready TVs and HDTVs.

Re: TDT boxes
 

To view the HD channels you will need a HD receiver - be it a seperate TDT HD set top box or with it built in (in many HDTVs)

(in the same way you can only watch BBC HD on a HD sat box (Sky or freesat HD boxes))

However, you can use a HD receiver on a non HD TV, but you will not see the channels in HD!

Re: TDT boxes
 

thanks - that's what I thought

Re: TDT boxes
 

These marketing terms have caused a lot of confusion.

In the UK a HD ready set usually means that it is only capable of showing HDTV at a resolution of 720p and a Full HD set is capable of showing it in 1080i.

Almost all HD TVs are now sold as Full HD but it does not guarantee that the TDT tuner will be HD - you have to check that carefully when buying a new set.

If the TV is more than a few months old, even though it may have been described as Full HD it is unlikely to have a HD TDT tuner.

It is beginning to become a big issue in the UK as millions of people are expecting their existing Full HD sets to be able to receive the World Cup via Freeview in HD - wrong!

Re: TDT boxes
 

I do not understand this thread at all! Some things seem not to reach into my brain. Ask me about Pensions or Benefits and I'll be a mine of information, but digital TV? Too complicated.

Anyway, to the point. We have lost most of our Spanish TV channels.

We have a little satellite set-up that we bought from Lidl about five years ago, it receives (in English) CNN, BBC World, CNBC Europe, EuroNews, many German and other continental channels. It has an 80cm dish.

Should we be able to pick up our Spanish TV on this or do we need to do something else?

PLEASE answer in words of one syllable, without abbreviations, otherwise I will not understand it.

Thanks.

Re: TDT boxes
 

Spanish "old" analogue channels have been switched off (apart from the odd local channel). Hence why you are getting a white banner saying "Go Digital". This has been known to happen for the last 5 or so years, so it is not anything new.

Spanish digital channels (TDT) have been around for a few years now - and you can get around 30ish digital spanish channel.

To get Spanish digital you need a digital terrestroial (TDT) set top box or a TV with built in digital; terrestrial (TDT) capabilities.
You will also need to change your aerial configuration so that it is configured to receive the digital signals.

On satellite (Astra1 - where your lidl dish is pointing to at the moment) there are a few spanish tv channels for free - they are more local chanels (Telemadrid TV canarias) and TVE International. To get any of the "analogue" channels you have lost via this satellite dish you have to subscribe to D+ to watch (spains satellite company)

You cannot get TDT via satellite (yes techies i know you can but I am not going into that now!) TDT is terrestrial. Satellite is extraterrestrial.

Re: TDT boxes
 

Thank you.

Yes we did know about the analogue channels being switched off but were told we would be OK because we had this LIDL box.:confused:

Anyway, we are not terribly bothered, we can get one or two local Spanish channels and can watch Formula One in German. Just wondered if we should be able to get them or not.

I think we will go the whole hog at some point and get SKY or the equivalent but we will need a new TV too, so it will need saving up for.

Thank you again for your advice.

Re: TDT boxes
 

You realise that if you move your dish around to the UK satellites at 28 east, you can get BBC Sports stream, BBC News, euronews, sky news, cnn, and about 30 other watchable channels in english (assuming your dish is about an 80cmdish),.

(your dish is currently pointing at astra 1s at 19 east)

BBC Sports streams show F1 in english, and pretty much any sport bbc have it is available on there - horsie racing is on at the moment...


Maybe your lidl box is a TDT / Sat combi...so it can do both satellite and TDT - without knowing the make and model and whats written on the box it is difficult to know...

Re: TDT boxes
 

The dish LOOKs as though it is pointing south-ish?:confused:

It is an 80cm dish.

When my husband set it up, he just used the tuning device that came with it. We don't know which satellite it is pointing at.

On the box it says Silvercrest SL65 DVB.

If he just twiddles with it for a bit to see if he can get it to 28 East, then if it doesn't work we can always put it back how it was using the tuning device can't we?

Thanks for your help.

Re: TDT boxes
 

the Silvercrest SL65 is a satellite only version.


you can try! mark up all the positions and angles first BEFORE you move the dish, as this will help you relocate your exisiting position should you move the dish.

you may have to perform scan of frequencies to load up the UK channels - they are located on the astra 2 and eurobird 1 satellites. if feelomng good, scan freq 12207 v 27.5 2/3 - if you are on the correct satellite you will get Sky News UK. If not then you dont have the correct satellite.

It is a bit hit and miss with basic beepers / needle indicaotrs, as these just show that you are on A satellite, not the correct stellite you want...hence why pros use various other electronic meters that they can isolate individual satellites and frequencies to ensure they are on the correct satellites.

Re: TDT boxes
 

There is a HD TeleMadrid channel as well so I'm now going to see if I can buy a HD TDT box. I've just looked on the El Corte Ingles website and they don't advertise as having them. Where could I buy one and what sort of price would I be looking at with or without a HDD for recording?

Re: TDT boxes
 

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

I have printed this out and shown it to my husband, he thinks he understands it.

Basically we have to keep going until we get Sky News when performing the frequencies scan?

He will have a go in the very near future. :)

Sorry to be so thick about it, you've been very patient.

Re: TDT boxes
 

Most electrical shops do TDT boxes, but HD ones are not very well stocked at the momenet....due to them not having many HD channels at the moment.

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I thought the aerial is indoor & not on the roof. Is there a built-in indoor aerial to receive free TDT channels? I don't know what is exactly required, ie receiver, tuner, etc.

I don't watch football & I'm not bothered about HD TV. All I want is a basic TV which allows me to watch free channels.

What should I be looking for when I go to the shop to get a TV which allows me to receive free TDT channels without subscribing to anything?
Thanks.

Re: TDT boxes
 

An indoor portable aerial will work, but not as good as an outdoor aerial on the roof.

They need to be positioned precisly and in all the ones I have seen in use DO NOT get the full compliment of digital channels.

A aerial (preferably an outdoor one), possibly a masthead amplifier and power supply (that goes inside and gives power to the amplifier), a TDT receiver / set top box or a TV with TDT built in.

Aerial and amps and tdt boxes are available from most electical sores, even DIQ places like Leroy Merlins.

A TV with the TDT logo on it!
Or ask the assistant if it has TDT abilities!

Re: TDT boxes
 

Hi again Guy!
A question - when you say 28E, does that mean due East with an altitude of 28 degs...or 28 degs. East of south?

My husband has tried to find the 28E you mentioned by pointing the dish due East and then moving it up & down, but our 'bleeper' does not indicate any other satellites at all. Neither does the TV pick anything up in where he thought the satellite might be.

He has put it back to its original position. This is about 26 degrees East of magnetic South (a guess by hand-held compass) and quite low in the sky.

Here's some more information that might help you to give us advice, this is the information we have about two of our channels.

BBC World: Astra 1 - Freq 11597 - Sym Rate 22000 - Polarity Vertical - Video 0163 - Audio 0092 - PCR 0163

CNN: Astra 1 - Freq 11778 - Sym Rate 27500 - Polarity Vertical - Video 0165 - Audio 0100 - PCR 0165

Hope this helps.

If there is nothing more we can do, sobeit.

Re: TDT boxes
 

UK TV comes from the astra satellites at 28 degrees east of south

Your dish was originally on 19 degrees east of south - which is wherethe BBC and CNN channels you mention are.

All satellites are located over the equator - where they need to be for their geostationary orbit - so they "point" at the same place on earth all day.

Re: TDT boxes
 

Thanks again for your help, we'll try agin, sorry to be so thick!

Re: TDT boxes
 

Does moving the dish affect the doobing of the LNB?

Re: TDT boxes
 

As The Guy said, the sats are over the equator. What confuses people is the position referred to of 28.5E. That is the position where the sat is overhead and in the case of the Astra sats that is somewhere over Greece.

That means that if you are in Spain (or the UK) you will have to point the dish in the direction of Greece, not just at 28.5E.

In Granada province that means you need to point it at about 45 degrees east not 28.5 degrees which you might assume.

There is an excellent site which will tell you the direction that you need to point the dish at http://www.dishpointer.com/

Re: TDT boxes
 

You can get indoor aerial and out door aerials.
Outdoor aerials tend to be a lot better than the indoor ones.
Indoor aeral can be used but they require a lot of moving to find the best location, which may still be in a weak area of the house (blocked by walls and concrete) as ideally you need a good line of sigth to the masts for the signal Hence why an aerial on the roof is better than an indoor one.

See post 22 that tells you what you need - aerial, (maybe an amplifer and power supply), and TDT tuner.
The TDT tuner can be a seperate TDT box, or it can be built into a tv.
If it is built into a TV then the TDT logo should be on the TV.
There are 30ish free TDT channels available - depending on your location and what is actually transmiited from the mast you are pointing your aerial to.

Re: TDT boxes
 

Eh?

You may need to tweek the rotation angle (skew) of the LNB a bit to ensure maximum signal...best to try this on "True Movies" channel - frequency 11642 V 27.5 2/3

Re: TDT boxes
 

Doobing is double dutch for I couldn't remember the word skew.
Many thanks for that.

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Will a 7000ft high mountain being in line with the dish make any difference to us receiving the satellite signal?

BTW Fred James, we have tried that website you mentioned and our dish is pointing more or less the right way, but still only receiving Astra 1 although we have tried moving the dish.

Others in the area who receive 'the full Monty' have bigger dishes. Maybe this is what we need?

Think we'll have to call someone in.

Thanks everyone for the help to two people who know precisely NOTHING about this. We didn't even have SKY when we were in the UK, just the five terrestrial channels.