Inbuilt Freeview Rotorua

[mark1978]

Hi everyone, I just got a new TV Panasonic TH-L32X10Z and it has a inbuilt freeview.... but.... I do not know how to use it!
I went into the settings of the TV and let it search for channels but it can not find anything, It is not clearly explained in the manual, does ANYONE know how to do this???
Much appreciated!!

[herbie_g]

Hi everyone, I just got a new TV Panasonic TH-L32X10Z and it has a inbuilt freeview.... but.... I do not know how to use it!
I went into the settings of the TV and let it search for channels but it can not find anything, It is not clearly explained in the manual, does ANYONE know how to do this???
Much appreciated!!

According to the Freeview website, DTT isn't available in Rotorua at this point in time, which is why your scan bought no results.

I would have thought the sales person would have informed you about this before they sold you the telly. It's a pretty big oversight.

There are two versions of Freeview in NZ. One is land-based (DTT), which serves 75% of the population. DTT is what is installed in your TV, and is recieved by a UHF aerial on your roof - transmission is in HD. The other method is by satellite, which is received by 99.99% of the country, however there is no HD transmission.

If you want freeview, the only option (unless you want to fork out more big $$$$) would be to buy a freeview satellite box and connect that to your TV. Bear in mind the channel line-up between DTT and satellite varies as well. So one channel that is available on DTT may not be availble via satellite, etc...

If it were me, I'd go back to where ever you bought the TV and demand a Freeview satellite box as compensation for not informing you that the Freeview component of your TV won't work in your area.

Sorry about the bad news, but I hope it helps clear things up a bit.

Cheers,
Herbie.

[kiwisteve]

You may be able to receive a signal from Mt Te Aroha with a large antenna
provided the Te Aroha channels for DT are not used for analogue near you
and if signal level is strong enough

[mark1978]

Hi Guys, fantastic for your replies, the tv was swapped by panasonic because the other one we had had a fault, so they gave us their latest model which is this one.
I have freeview in the bedroom (via SKY dish), is there any change I could get a cable back to the new tv so I can catch the freeview channels?

So basically, 1 signal comes in, which is SKY, then a splitter splits the signal to our SKY box and the other signal goes to our bedroom where our Freeview box is (its a DSE one, the wife wanted it because of the Olympics some months ago)

[kiwisteve]

If you have another freeview satellite box connect that via Component leads for best quality and use an rg6 cable for the satellite signal

[Apsattv]

You should call some antenna installers and ask about reception from Te Aroha as your new TV is an HD one. Freeview terrestrial will look far better on it if you can get a signal.

[kiwisteve]

Already suggested but the terrain in between is pretty bad

[Apsattv]

80K / 50 Miles? Distance not impossible

Might be clear depending on where you are in Rotorua? download the DTT pin for Te Aroha and have a look?

[kiwisteve]

They look like they come from the flat earth society !! lol
The only sure way is to try !! :D:D:D

[shadownz]

What about Kopukairua? I just tried a path from that to Rotorua, only 45kms and 1 range in the way by the looks

[kiwisteve]

Think that one is lower power and may have directional antenna towards Tauranga but worth a try possibly provided the dtt frequency is clear in Rot ( no analogue )

[herbie_g]

What about Kopukairua? I just tried a path from that to Rotorua, only 45kms and 1 range in the way by the looks

Probably a low power infill site, and not transmitted back in that direction.

Agreed best bet would be Te Aroha, but like I indicated earlier - at what cost? could run into the late hundreds/early thousands... At which point satellite would be the best option - and probably more reliable for the average punter.

[kiwisteve]

It was mentioned as more of a challenge rather than a practical viewing option . I cant see DTT going to Pukepoto in the near future either so yes D1 is probably the best short term solution in that area

:D:D:D:D

[shadownz]

A Pair of 91 element UHF antennas pointed to Mt Te Aroha would do the job?

[kiwisteve]

I have just been discussing this with an electronics person in rotorua
the opinion is it might work over by the airport side of the lake !!
:D:D

[shadownz]

The Kordia maps for DVB-T do indicate some coverage in rotorua, but looks to me you need to be up a hill to get it, but I could be reading it wrong

[Apsattv]

Well the point is be a pioneer and try!

You can see in the google pic that near to the lake is reasonably clear in that direction.

80K on UHF isn't not exactly impossible!

[kiwisteve]

True I run over 71K and a very obstructed path and so far near %100 reliabliity

[shadownz]

over how much of a degraded signal can it work on?
I'm aiming to get freeviewHD working on my parents tv later this year.
In a retirement complex in matamata, all houses served on a cable network where at the headend they rebroadcast FTA channels (to analouge from freeview satellite) on the UHF band and also send a amplified satellite signal from optus d1 down it also. I have noticed some of the Mt Te Aroha channels are there but fairly weak (in their original positions)

[Apsattv]

You may find that the Rebroadcast modulator Tv1/2 etc on UHF are on the same channel as the Te Aroha digitals which will kill your chances.

See Te Aroha thread for the Channel numbers.

[kiwisteve]

How bad can the signal be ?? well it did some tests with a small antenna ,
a two way splitter feeding the DTT set and an analogue set

I used Maori TV as the ref on analogue and the Kordia MUX on DTT

I reduced signal so that the analogue was noticeably snowy ,but still good colour and sound present . Digital was still producing ex results .

Reducing signal so the analogue was just dropping colour intermittently , very snowy , the digital was then showing freezes and squawks on the sound

This signal also contained noticeable ghosting on analogue

so yes its fairly rugged :D:D:D

[Dimwitt]

Hell.. Matamata must be all of 20 - 30km from Te Aroha. No obstructions at all.. Id expect a 10cm peice of wire dangling off the back of the set to pull in DTT... With regard to Rotorua Te Aroha, Its defianately there.. Allthough, i would reccomend a survey. A Quik walk around with a signal stregth meter will soon reveal it all.. i done an install up past the Agrodome a few months ago.. I ended up with signals in the mid to high 30s, which yes is low. The antenna uses was via a 91 Element using 34db on the Mast. So far my mate is very happy... I'm pretty much in the same situation myself in the BOP.. Having no locall DTT, Te Aroha was my only option.. While signals are in the Mid 30s at the mast, with 34db of amp, its pretty much bullet proof.

Give it a try .. You might be pleasantly surprised.

[shadownz]

I was having a talk to the guy at the local 100% store today and he said they have tried to do around 6 installs at this complex my olds live in and the signal down their private cable is too weak for it to work.
The rules of the body corp agreement also state your not allowed to put any external aerials up (incl satellite dishes). But from reading the post about how much power Mt Te Aroha has, I'm under the impression just using Rabbit Ears will do the trick