Freeview or not Free View ?

[JB]

Sorry if this is a bit off topic.

Just been looking at this digital terrestrial TV box :-

http://www.lidl.co.uk/uk/home.nsf/pages/c.o.20080826.p.Digital_Terrestrial_Receiver_.ar7

The 5th bullet point states "does not receive Freeview" This has me a bit foxed as I didn't think there were any other terrestrial TV transmissions. Could it perhaps mean it won't handle some sort of EPG but will still allow you to tune in and view the channels?

Not actually going to buy one as I think it is expensive but just curious as to what it would receive.

Any gurus?

[Rik]

TBH, JB, I can't make any sense of the spec. I wonder whether it's actually a satellite box, mis-described. It's the only thing I can think of to explain the number of channels they claim.

How's the weather in Spain?

[JB]

How's the weather in Spain?

Yes it does seem a strange spec Rik.

31C here today but have been working hard in the heat as we have my son and his girl friend arriving tomorrow for a week. Have been cleaning out the guest apartment and shopping for their fridge. Sweeping and power washing the pool area.

In will be along in a moment with a comment 

[Rik]

You can bet on it.

[MoHux]

.................. In will be along in a moment with a comment 

Never mind the comment....... tell him to bring a broom!!

Mo

[Lance]

A quick search on Silvercrest only turned up satellite recievers 

[Inactive]

Oh dear...Lidl are not doing very well, I just got that email from them, it is dated April 2006 .. 

99% certain that it is a Satellite Receiver, that has been badly described, it looks the same as one that I have. Free to Air only, cannot easily be patched, so fairly useless.

31 Degrees...nice..  8)

[Lance]

I think Lidl sold them in March or April 07 (for £59.99), so maybe you picked it up then, In?

[Inactive]

There is no way I would pay £59.99 for a Lidl Sat Receiver Lance, mine was £29.99, about 2 / 3 years ago.

The ones at £59.99 I think were portable / caravan kits.?

[Lance]

Quite possible, In, as I only had a very quick google and wasn't paying too much attention! 

[JB]

There is no way I would pay £59.99 for a Lidl Sat Receiver Lance, mine was £29.99, about 2 / 3 years ago.

I have the same Lidl one here in Spain. Bought it a couple of years ago in UK and brought it over. I just use a dish pointing at 19 degrees east which gives us BBC World and Sky News amongst others. We are not big TV viewers so that is perfectly adequate for our needs over here.

There was an 'illegal' TV service here for the Brit expats which rebroadcast the main Sky and BBC channels. However, last week it was closed down by the Guardia Civil (National Police). Doesn't bother us but there are 1000's of people over here now without their Corry or East Enders 

The remote control pictured in that Lidl advert isn't the same as mine which is why I didn't make the connection with a satellite receiver and I didn't notice it was from 2006 

[Inactive]

Depending on your location and dish size, you would be better off with a Sky Receiver, with dish at 28 degrees. The best Sky Receivers are Pace 2600 and Thomson 4212, anything else isn't as good in Spain.

You will get a far greater choice of " free to air " channels.

I had heard that they were closing down the " microwave " systems in Spain, I bet Murdoch is behind it.

Only the email is headed 2006, I think the item will be available next week, I agree, the remote control is different to mine as well.

If it is a Freeview Receiver, it is well over priced, I still think that it's a Sat Receiver.

[JB]

Thanks for the info In.

I might do that one day but we don't really watch much TV, even when we are in Cheshire. For now, and especially in summer, all we need is the news to keep us abreast of world events. I have a very good friend in Javea and even with a 2 mtr dish he still loses BBC2 most evenings.

I used to really be into satellite TV with a steerable dish in UK. I used to enjoy watching feeds before they 'went live'. Quite interesting watching some of the famous correspondents during the setting up and rehearsal phase. I think most of those are encrypted now days.

[Inactive]

Thanks for the info In.

I might do that one day but we don't really watch much TV, even when we are in Cheshire. For now, and especially in summer, all we need is the news to keep us abreast of world events. I have a very good friend in Javea and even with a 2 mtr dish he still loses BBC2 most evenings.

Fair enough, there is no way you will get BBC 1 or 2 on a small dish, but you can get CH5 ( with an ex-subscription card ) as well as numerous other channels, anyway, your set up is fine for your needs, as you say.

I have a motorised dish in the UK, it keeps me " abreast " of what is happening in Europe.. 

Anyway back to the pool for you... 8)  the usual grey sky here.

[talos2]

I think the main pointer here is "Freeview",  that is a terestial digital transmission only. I think they meant "Freesat", a satelite transmission for which you need a decoder card this Mc cant use.
Would be alright for picking up the unscrambled sats though.

[Inactive]

I think they have completely messed up on the description, full stop.

They need a Lidl more training.. 

[Rik]

[JB]

I have a motorised dish in the UK, it keeps me " abreast " of what is happening in Europe.. 

Been there done that, programming PIC chips on smart card PCB's.

Blush!

[Inactive]

  Same here, but it is much easier these days, just programme the box, about 3 minutes done , no cards required  ...  sorted.

[JB]

Same here, but it is much easier these days, just programme the box, about 3 minutes done , no cards required  ...  sorted.

I'm very tempted get a box and get back into it again but the sensible side of me says NO.

[Rik]

Why be sensible, think of all the fun you miss that way?

[Inactive]

Just a Technomate Receiver required ( about £50 ) together with a serial null modem cable ( couple of quid ), download software and loader FOC, sorted. 8)

Far more fun than sitting in the pool all day ( not )..  

[JB]

Just a Technomate Receiver required ( about £50 )

Stop it !!

[Rik]

It's usually me spending other people's money, JB.

[Inactive]

Stop it !!

BTW it seems that all of the microwave TV suppliers in Spain are to get targeted by the  if they havn't been already.