Would an UK TV work in Spain?
Sep 14th 2011, 2:14 pm
#1
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Would an UK TV work in Spain?
Hi everyone.
First of all, I'm not from the UK, I'm a spaniard who is moving to Ireland in a couple of weeks for, at least, 6 months. I came across this forum while I was looking for the answer of this question.
The thing is that due to the high price of moving my TV to Ireland and bringing it back in the future (and also the fact that it's almost 4 years old though) I've been thinking of buying one once I'm there, probably importing it from the UK due to the lower prices.
Do you think that I'll have any problem to get TDT HD channels in Spain with a TV that is "Freeview enabled"?
Thank you in advance!
First of all, I'm not from the UK, I'm a spaniard who is moving to Ireland in a couple of weeks for, at least, 6 months. I came across this forum while I was looking for the answer of this question.
The thing is that due to the high price of moving my TV to Ireland and bringing it back in the future (and also the fact that it's almost 4 years old though) I've been thinking of buying one once I'm there, probably importing it from the UK due to the lower prices.
Do you think that I'll have any problem to get TDT HD channels in Spain with a TV that is "Freeview enabled"?
Thank you in advance!
Sep 14th 2011, 2:38 pm
#2
MODERATOR
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Costa Valencia
Posts: 14,800
Re: Would an UK TV work in Spain?
As Concierges for the Spanish section of BE we would like to say hello and welcome.
BE is a very large expat website, so if you have problems finding your way around we have concierges who will try to direct you. The moderators for the Spanish forums are Mitzyboy and Fred James, moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE. Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderador who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge of the issues of living in Spain. At the top of the page you will find a quirkily named thread called Free Beer which is full of important and useful information. Hope you enjoy your time participating in the forums.
Please let us know if you need any further help.
Rosemary and Graham
BE is a very large expat website, so if you have problems finding your way around we have concierges who will try to direct you. The moderators for the Spanish forums are Mitzyboy and Fred James, moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE. Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderador who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge of the issues of living in Spain. At the top of the page you will find a quirkily named thread called Free Beer which is full of important and useful information. Hope you enjoy your time participating in the forums.
Please let us know if you need any further help.
Rosemary and Graham
Sep 15th 2011, 9:26 am
#3
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,749
Re: Would an UK TV work in Spain?
Hi everyone.
First of all, I'm not from the UK, I'm a spaniard who is moving to Ireland in a couple of weeks for, at least, 6 months. I came across this forum while I was looking for the answer of this question.
The thing is that due to the high price of moving my TV to Ireland and bringing it back in the future (and also the fact that it's almost 4 years old though) I've been thinking of buying one once I'm there, probably importing it from the UK due to the lower prices.
Do you think that I'll have any problem to get TDT HD channels in Spain with a TV that is "Freeview enabled"?
Thank you in advance!
First of all, I'm not from the UK, I'm a spaniard who is moving to Ireland in a couple of weeks for, at least, 6 months. I came across this forum while I was looking for the answer of this question.
The thing is that due to the high price of moving my TV to Ireland and bringing it back in the future (and also the fact that it's almost 4 years old though) I've been thinking of buying one once I'm there, probably importing it from the UK due to the lower prices.
Do you think that I'll have any problem to get TDT HD channels in Spain with a TV that is "Freeview enabled"?
Thank you in advance!
I did the same a few years ago. My TV with digital tuner I bought in the UK works perfectly in Spain and picks up the Spanish digital channels
Best of luck!
Sep 15th 2011, 9:47 am
#4
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Re: Would an UK TV work in Spain?
Same here - we bought ours from Tesco supermarket last year, it was dead cheap (compared to Spanish ones) and it works perfectly out here 
Sep 15th 2011, 9:55 am
#5
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Re: Would an UK TV work in Spain?
That's great!
Thank you both
Now the only thing that I'll have to take care about is the compatibility with the Irish digital system. So hard to purchase a TV that works in 3 different countries
Thank you both
Now the only thing that I'll have to take care about is the compatibility with the Irish digital system. So hard to purchase a TV that works in 3 different countries
Sep 15th 2011, 2:31 pm
#6
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Re: Would an UK TV work in Spain?
They even have Tesco there
http://www.tesco.ie/
Sep 15th 2011, 3:07 pm
#7
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Re: Would an UK TV work in Spain?
Well, I'd do it if there was a good deal, but according to my research the prices in the UK are lower. Specially on websites such as amazon.co.uk or richersounds.com. Anyway I'll consider all the options
Sep 15th 2011, 4:54 pm
#8
Was called something else
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Re: Would an UK TV work in Spain?
HOWEVER:
even today some TVs and digital terrestrial set top boxes will not work 100% in Spain!
Just today I saw a UK "freeview" HD Ready TV one that did not scan all of the available SPanish TV frequencies. It also only allowed you to select "english, Welsh and gaelic" as second language options, which means that they could not select the "english audio" tracks that are actually identifed as "Dos, MUL, VO, QAA" by the Spanish broadcasters.
So, if you want to bring a TV from Ireland and UK, make sure it has the "european" settings avialble, and you are not just restricted to UK Freeview options only.
even today some TVs and digital terrestrial set top boxes will not work 100% in Spain!
Just today I saw a UK "freeview" HD Ready TV one that did not scan all of the available SPanish TV frequencies. It also only allowed you to select "english, Welsh and gaelic" as second language options, which means that they could not select the "english audio" tracks that are actually identifed as "Dos, MUL, VO, QAA" by the Spanish broadcasters.
So, if you want to bring a TV from Ireland and UK, make sure it has the "european" settings avialble, and you are not just restricted to UK Freeview options only.
Sep 15th 2011, 11:30 pm
#9
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Re: Would an UK TV work in Spain?
ISTR reading a specn for a tv where they said it wasnt suitable for use in Ireland - was that Argos ??
Sep 16th 2011, 6:31 am
#10
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Re: Would an UK TV work in Spain?
Would it not be possible to go over the border into Northern Ireland (UK) and buy one there? My family are originally from Ireland and I remember my uncle, who lived just south of the border, going up to Enniskillen in the north to shop
Sep 16th 2011, 6:42 am
#11
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Re: Would an UK TV work in Spain?
Yes that's perfectly possible (though I'm moving to Limerick). But it's pretty much the same than buying one in a website.
If I end up getting one from the UK I'll ask before about using it in Ireland.
So far seems like some of them are OK for that and some others not.
Missing some channels in Spain would be a problem also (unless it's just telecinco) that's strange, I'll have to be careful.
If I end up getting one from the UK I'll ask before about using it in Ireland.
So far seems like some of them are OK for that and some others not.
Missing some channels in Spain would be a problem also (unless it's just telecinco
) that's strange, I'll have to be careful.
Sep 16th 2011, 11:14 am
#12
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: In the middle of 10million Olive Trees
Posts: 12,053
Re: Would an UK TV work in Spain?
Yes that's perfectly possible (though I'm moving to Limerick). But it's pretty much the same than buying one in a website.
If I end up getting one from the UK I'll ask before about using it in Ireland.
So far seems like some of them are OK for that and some others not.
Missing some channels in Spain would be a problem also (unless it's just telecinco) that's strange, I'll have to be careful.
If I end up getting one from the UK I'll ask before about using it in Ireland.
So far seems like some of them are OK for that and some others not.
Missing some channels in Spain would be a problem also (unless it's just telecinco
) that's strange, I'll have to be careful.
Sep 16th 2011, 3:33 pm
#13
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Posts: 20,156
Sep 16th 2011, 4:23 pm
#14
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Location: In the middle of 10million Olive Trees
Posts: 12,053
Re: Would an UK TV work in Spain?
I'm old enough to know the word ..
nah, bought it at Argos on vy sp offer, embarrassingly forgot all I have been taught, and told other people, didnt check the connections to find the TV has no SCART input, then the OH told me it was at least 10 when we met 20 years ago !!
and its the best little tele in the house
its going to Spain and I will set it up when I get there.
Sep 16th 2011, 5:48 pm
#15
Was called something else
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Re: Would an UK TV work in Spain?
The one i say the other day you could change the country to "Spain" but it still missed the Ant3 channels on chanenl 69, and still had the UK language options only!
OK, the misisng freqency will not be an issue in a few years time, when the channels move to the stronger "lower" frequencies, and the higher freqencies are sold off (a bit of money for the Gvmt!), but the changing lanague option would still be an issue.
Also, make sure you get a HD TV, and not a HD Ready TV.
A HD TV should get the Spanish HD TDT channels.
The HD ready TV will need a seperate HD TDT set top box for the HD TDT channels.
OK, the misisng freqency will not be an issue in a few years time, when the channels move to the stronger "lower" frequencies, and the higher freqencies are sold off (a bit of money for the Gvmt!), but the changing lanague option would still be an issue.
Also, make sure you get a HD TV, and not a HD Ready TV.
A HD TV should get the Spanish HD TDT channels.
The HD ready TV will need a seperate HD TDT set top box for the HD TDT channels.