New TV Dilemma

[securespark]

Not for me, I hasten to add!

My MIL got in touch saying her Freesat box (BF SAT 03HD/A) remote has failed.
I'm not sure if it's just the remote or the box itself. I can find remotes on ebay, but not the box.
Having said that, she might upgrade to a new TV.

She has a Sony at the moment, but they don't make Freesat TV's, but they do make TV's with an F type connector?????
Can you still get a signal into these TV's and will it work, or do you need the Freesat gubbins built-in?

Or will she have to give up the idea of a Sony and pick another brand (Pan, LG, Sammy)?

Cheer folks!

 

[Lucid]

Sony does make TVs with Freesat. The Bravia KD43XG8196* is a 2019 model with both a Freeview and a Freesat tuner, and it has sockets for each type of connection.

Any TV that you want to connect to a satellite dish and receive the signals needs a built-in satellite tuner. More specifically, if you want the same channel range as the Bush, then you want something that's described as a Freesat receiver or recorder as opposed to just a generic satellite receiver. It's to do with the TV guide. It lists those channels designated for Freesat.

Back to the sockets...
TVs still use the normal RF coax socket for signals from a TV aerial. It's the Belling Lee coax plug we've been used to seeing on UK TVs for decades. Anything on a TV with a screw thread is either a socket for satellite TV or it's a misidentified socket. I have seen it where the coax connections point down, and one socket sits lower than the other, and since many would presume a TV is Freeview only then it makes it appear like the main socket is on an F connector. It's not, it's just that the Freeview aerial socket is recessed a bit.

Gener changers, adapter plugs, and wires that go from one plug type to another do nothing to change the nature of the signal travelling down the cable, so don't waste your time trying to adapt the signal coming from a satellite dish to plug it in to a normal TV aerial coax socket.


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* Bravia KD43XG8196

 

[winston1]

Have you been round to investigate? Maybe remote batteries. Lot cheaper than a new TV.

 

[securespark]

lucid - Thanks. I did look up TVs on the JL site and clicked to pick out Freesat.. Pan, Sammy & LG TVs came up, but no Sony. And I read the bumpf on the JL website and unless I have missed it, I can't see anything about Freesat regarding that model number. Only by looking up the tech. spec. on the Sony website could I see that.

winston - Thanks. They have swapped the batteries for new twice over and have tested both pairs with a battery tester and in another item.

 

[winston1]

winston - Thanks. They have swapped the batteries for new twice over and have tested both pairs with a battery tester and in another item.

OK. Has the Freesat box been power cycled? Have you been round there to check a scart lead has not fallen out?

 

[Lucid]

lucid - Thanks. I did look up TVs on the JL site and clicked to pick out Freesat.. Pan, Sammy & LG TVs came up, but no Sony. And I read the bumpf on the JL website and unless I have missed it, I can't see anything about Freesat regarding that model number. Only by looking up the tech. spec. on the Sony website could I see that.

TBH, I came by that Sony in a roundabout way.

First I checked with Google if Sony still had Freesat TVs. Then I searched for images of the rear panel. The JL site was one of the first I found. Since John Lewis is a store name most people know, then a link to it has credibility.

I didn't read the JL bumpf either. It wouldn't be the first time though that a retailer didn't translate the manufacturer's product fiche accurately.

As far as your original query goes, the advice remains the same; it's the round smooth socket for TV aerial and the Freeview tuner, and the threaded stubby for satellite dish signals to do with Freesat.

 

[securespark]

OK. Has the Freesat box been power cycled? Have you been round there to check a scart lead has not fallen out?

Thanks. Will check these things. I have not been able to go round.

Lucid: thanks again!

 

[nickjb]

You can check a remote control is functional by looking at the led with the camera on a mobile phone. If they have a smart phone they can do a quick test.

 

[securespark]

Thanks, Nick. Never realised that!

I guess you look at the camera while pressing a button on the remote?

 

[Rad1o]

We had / have freesat boxes but went for a Sony TV in the sitting room with built freesat receiver. The freesat boxes should normally also work when you press the buttons on the front of the box, i.e. on and off and change channels will definitely work even if the remote control is broken.

 

[ericmark]

I bought flipper remote controls for my mother, they will work with most TV's.

As to satellite built into TV rather disappointed, half the channels don't come up, so still use a box under the TV.

 

[Sureitsoff?]

dont get an LG freesat, they have a very convuluted way of switching between sat input and aerial input (damhikt)

 

[winston1]

As to satellite built into TV rather disappointed, half the channels don't come up, so still use a box under the TV.

Satellite channels frequently move transponder or change transmission characteristics. You need to update the TV tuning. Use a list such as Flysat.com for latest parameters.

 

[Mottie]

Panasonic 40” Freeview/Freeview play/ Freesat. £428 with a 5 year guarantee. https://www.johnlewis.com/panasonic...-with-freeview-play-freesat-hd-black/p3565242