I want to watch TV, but don't know how!

[MockneyReject]

I really would like to have a TV.
I currently watch catch up, on my phone, but my eyes aren't great and it just doesn't feel like 'watching telly'.

My flat is crap (not just in this respect) and I'm not very interested in tech, but there must be a way to have and to watch TV.

No WiFi (landlord won't allow a phone line), no satellite dish ('historic' location/building), no cable (town centre) and one really short ariel point in a downstairs room, not the one I want to put a TV into.

Is there some sort of device, a box or a stick or something, that will allow me to watch more than just the few channels I can see downstairs on the old Freeview TV thing I've tried out, in the room with the ariel point? It's brown wire and covered in old paint and I can't work out where it comes from or goes to, as there are lots of wires going up and down the outside and I'm not sure what any of them are for. There must, presumably, be an ariel, but I can't see one. I can't see the roof, in fact. There's a mesh thing all over it.

What am I missing, here?

You can purchase an extension aerial lead which you plug into the existing aerial inlet and run it to whatever room you want to watch TV in.

Argos sell them - www.argos.co.uk/product/9304329 would something like this work?

Can you ask a neighbour?

Presumably, just so it clear you are currently watching catch up using your phones data?

And the aerial point that's down stairs gets freeview?

Can your landlord stop you getting a phone line?! I never knew that

could you get a small indoor satellite like this? it will allow you to watch sky or freesat x

If you get an indoor aerial that you plug into a freeview box you should be able to get pretty much all the freeview channels. Where you live can mean sometimes the channels vary but I believe almost everywhere will get at least 50 channels these days. You can buy basic freeview boxes for about £20 and the indoor aerials don't cost much more.

Not being flippant but honestly I’d look to move.

Get an aerial engineer out to look at it and fit a longer wire. Shouldn't be an expensive job.

I'm pretty sure your landlord can't stop you having a phone line! Have you asked him why he doesn't want to allow it? I can't imagine anyone wants to rent somewhere they can't have WiFi these days!

could you get a small indoor satellite like this? it will allow you to watch sky or freesat x

I will warn that indoor satellite dishes rarely work as they need a direct line to the satellite, very occasionally you get a window that points in the right direction but it isn't guaranteed as even double glazing can stop it.

We used to live in a flat where the aerial pointwas in the bedroom. We got an aerial extension and ran it along the wall into the living room.
Can your landlord really stop you getting a phone line? What I'd his reasoning? I cant imagine a flat with no wifi is that appealing to most people.

My DD uses her phone as a wireless hub sometimes. I've no idea how to actually do it, and you would obviously need loads of data but it is possible.

If you have a smart TV it would also probably be possible to screen the TV from the phone, either wired or wirelesly, my DD has done it before with a tablet. Again you would need someone more experienced with tech to tell you how to do it.

The old wires are likely for an analogue signal so wouldn't work.

When I first moved into this house there was no aerial or internet so for the 6 weeks it took me to get it all sorted I bought a mini Wi-fi hub from curry's. it's basically a 4g internet router that I connected my TVs to so I could watch streaming services, catch up tv and YouTube.

I live here because it was available when I needed somewhere, and unfortunately I can't afford to move.

I've asked the agency and they say the landlord won't allow a phone line. I didn't know when I first moved in, so signed up for a phone line/WIFI, but the agency phoned me up and said the landlord has contacted them and was really annoyed.

There are no neighbours.

The extension linked looks like it could be the answer - thanks for that.

I'd never heard of an indoor satellite dish! Does anyone use one? Does it really work?

Ah, CaptainKirksSpookyghost, x-posted. Thanks for the advice.

No pesky double glazing here, mind!

I run two 4K TVs -amazing clarity of picture on these aerials because I didn’t want the disruption of new plug points- first class reception.

Oh, I'm not really sure what a 4K TV is. I know that a smart TV is an internet TV, but that it needs WiFi. I read up a while ago, but got overwhelmed by all the options! I would like a smart TV, but don't think it's an option 😕

I realise I've consistently misspelled 'aeriel' btw. There is a reason for that 🥺

It’s been a while since I’ve used one but you can get a dongle to run the internet on which might plug into your tv or maybe it’s possible to run it off your phone?

I’m only vaguely aware of these as possibilities so perhaps research it a bit, including how much data would cost those ways. It could work out prohibitively expensive. (I can’t stress enough I don’t really know what I’m talking about! )

Have to say I also think your ll is an oddbod for having such an issue with phone lines. It’s so inconvenient but I know you have to make do with what you can sometimes.

4K just means the quality of the picture. It goes Standard definition < High Def < Full HD < 4K.

So weird that you aren't allowed a phone line! What decade does he think it is? What if you needed to call the emergency services?

You can get a dongle that plugs into laptop or acts as a mini wifi router, these use sim cards like a mobile phone to get mobile data which you can use as your house internet. Obviously you then need to pay a contract or PAYG internet charge.

And, yes, I currently use my phone data to watch i-player.
The old TV downstairs gets Freeview channels, though they're quite limited.
I just keep reading/hearing about stuff I'd like to watch, hut it always seems to be on Netflix or something I don't get.

Thanks for the suggestions - I'm just checking them out, now. I just realised that I probably shouldn't trail an extension lead up the stairs...

, I currently use my phone data to watch i-player.

You can use your phone as a wifi hotspot, if you are on Three you can get the go binge package which means Netflix doesn't use data. I'm pretty sure other Networks have similar.

So if you did get a smart TV this might be an option (It's how i do it).

depending on your phone and TV, you could stream whatever you watch on your phone/tablet through your TV. It will use your data so you’d need a high data plan (giff gaff do an unlimited one for £20 a month, with calls and texts). You could also get Netflix on your phone and watch it through your TV which could feel more like watching proper TV ?

I've just seen the "tv player" app also doesn't use Data with go binge.

I have a sim only pay monthly set up. It's £20 p/m and includes 45gb data, and SM is 'free', so doesn't come out if that. It generally lasts me the whole month.

I haven't met the LL in the almost 2 years I've lived here. I wasn't allowed my bike in the premises, either, and I was 'told off' when a friend visited with a pushchair, so maybe he/she is actually a bit of an oddball.