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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

About TV at uni/does it need aerial?

21 replies

Serin · 29/11/2019 08:01

DS is in halls. I'm thinking of getting g him a TV for his birthday next week.
I know he will need a licence but what about an aerial?
Do TVs come with one built in or do I need to purchase one separately? I was hoping to get something he could just lift out of the box and plug in.
I know that I should know this Blush

OP posts:
LIZS · 29/11/2019 08:07

Check the room for an aerial port.

Original poster
Serin · 29/11/2019 08:08

Thanks LIZS there isnt one Sad

OP posts:
hellsbells99 · 29/11/2019 08:26

If you haven’t got access to an ariel, then you either need to buy a smart TV that can connect to the WiFi to get things like iPlayer or also buy something like an Amazon fire stick or Now TV box.

MrKlaw · 29/11/2019 08:28

you can buy separate aerials but consider reception might be pants. Also consider whether they might be able to manage with an ipad or laptop - then you wouldn't need a license if they only use iplayer with the device on batteries

LIZS · 29/11/2019 08:30

It may have an internal aerial or you could buy an indoor one if not.

titchy · 29/11/2019 09:24

Students don't watch tv! They watch stuff online. Given that there's no aerial, and the signal from a portable aerial probably won't be good enough I think you'll have to rethink sorry.

titchy · 29/11/2019 09:26

WiFi quality in halls unlikely to be good enough for a smart tv - my dcs often ended up using 4g even for FaceTime calls because the WiFi kept dropping out.

Twolittlebears · 29/11/2019 09:27

You do need a licence to watch BBC iPlayer

MarchingFrogs · 29/11/2019 10:54

Students don't watch tv!

Possibly the OP"s does, though, if it's being considered as a birthday present?

Girls don't game, either- but DD bought herself an XBox One out of her earnings last year and has just requested a new monitor as her 'big' Christmas presentSmile

Original poster
Serin · 29/11/2019 11:43

Thanks everyone, his older sister and younger brother stream everything and laugh at him for watching TV so I know where you are coming from.
But he is not really into tech at all, he likes to be out on his bike/rugby/rowing/climbing. Unfortunately cant at the moment following nasty accident in the summer.
Thought he would like to watch debates/news/sport etc and just have it on in the background.
I'm going to try the shops in a minute, maybe there will be a black Fri bargain Grin

OP posts:
MyDcAreMarvel · 29/11/2019 11:44

Can’t he just use his laptop?

Original poster
Serin · 29/11/2019 11:50

MarchingFrogs Last week I spent a whole morning playing Nintendo Switch games with my colleague on our day off!
It beat sitting in Costa coffee.
Shes 52 and im 51 Grin

OP posts:
Kazzyhoward · 29/11/2019 11:50

My 17 yo son wanted a TV in his bedroom for a Christmas present last year. We got him one, plus extended our Sky subscription so he could watch TV via Sky (no aerial in his room). We wondered why he wanted one when he watched TV on his ipad but he insisted he'd watch it. He's had it nearly a year and it's barely ever switched on. He just watches TV on his ipad. He even watches Premier league football matches on the ipad via Sky even though he could watch them on his big TV. So, I think some other posters on here are right - he probably doesn't need and won't watch a TV in his room.

Lyricallie · 29/11/2019 11:52

I had one when I was living as a warden in halls in London. I just got an internal aerial and stuck it up next to my window. Did the job and was relatively cheap on Amazon.

Original poster
Serin · 29/11/2019 11:53

MyDCareMarvel.
He could I guess but wifi dips and drives him mad.
I thought you just bought a telly and plugged it in like in the olden days.
I dont want yo buy it and then ig eont work Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
Serin · 29/11/2019 11:54

Ahh thanks Lyric, so I will look at ones compatible with internal aerial and/or firestick.
Thanks all.

OP posts:
MyDcAreMarvel · 29/11/2019 12:02

Fire stick will have the same WiFi issues , get a free view one with indoor aerial.

BackforGood · 01/12/2019 22:12

Titchy - I think that depends on your halls. Both ds and dd1 have had excellent wifi in halls - they complain(ed) when they get / got home Grin

Kazzyhoward · 02/12/2019 09:48

Do Unis really have poor/dropping WIFI on their on-site accommodation? That's awful if they do. I'd have thought they'd have top of the range WIFI?

Or do you mean private accommodation away from the Uni - as that would depend on the landlord and local infrastructure.

I just assumed on site Uni accommodation would have brilliant WIFI. It's definitely something we'll be asking/checking when we go to do Uni offer-holder visits shortly. That would be a deal breaker for our son.

titchy · 02/12/2019 12:51

Do Unis really have poor/dropping WIFI on their on-site accommodation?

IME yes! It's not the quality of the connection btw (campus ones are probably eduroam accessing Janet which is about as fast as you can get), but the sheer quantity of people accessing very data heavy content will screw with the available bandwidth. Imagine 1000 students all streaming a film in HD at the same time....

Original poster
Serin · 04/12/2019 18:30

Update, TV is installed and working brilliantly via a fire stick. Didnt need an indoor ariel.
Thanks to all for your help.

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