Series link - any boxes support it yet?

Windows Media Center downloads a 14 day EPG if it has web access. Along with series link, it can watch for keywords or partial titles, etc.

Article on ASO in the Indo today - http://www.independent.ie/national-news/32000-homes-must-fork-out-240-or-face-a-tv-blackout-3155620.html

Saorview approved PVRs appear to be on the way, in testing at the moment according to the last line of the article

New Saorview-approved set-top boxes that also allow you to record programmes easily -- like the Sky or UPC boxes -- are also being tested to entice more customers.

The Cush wrote: »

Article on ASO in the Indo today - http://www.independent.ie/national-news/32000-homes-must-fork-out-240-or-face-a-tv-blackout-3155620.html

Saorview approved PVRs appear to be on the way, in testing at the moment according to the last line of the article

Brain Geraghty, Saorview's Digital Reception Manager was on George Hook's radio show last evening. He says he expects to see Saorview PVRs in the shops before ASO.

http://www.newstalk.ie/2012/featured-5-slideshow-homepage/georges-guide-to-the-digital-switchover/

galtee boy wrote: »

There is an article in today's Irish Star ( sorry, don't know how to provide link ), about the lack of a Saorview PVR and about how those who have already bought Saorview set top boxes, are only now copping on that these boxes cant record and do series link etc.

Also a letter in the Irish Times on Monday on this issue. If Saorview's own Digital Reception Manager is to be believed, it's looking good for Saorview PVRs within the next 2 months.

Saorview turn-on a digital turn-off?
Mon, Aug 27, 2012

Sir, – In two months, with the help of Saorview, Ireland will complete the “giant leap forward” away from analogue TV and into digital TV. Unfortunately, this big leap forward is accompanied, in my opinion, by an even bigger leap backward.

Up to now, I have been able to watch one programme while recording another on my DVD recorder. Under the new system this will no longer be possible. My new Saorview Combi-box which cost €200 allows me to record only the programme on-screen.

A Saorview representative has advised me that “at present, there are no Saorview-approved boxes on the market with PVR functionality. However, within the coming months, this situation is likely to change as the manufacturers react to this evident demand in the marketplace. As such, for the time being there will be restrictions in terms of recording; the TV must remain set to the channel from which you are recording”. Big leap forward, how are ye! – Yours, etc,

VINCENT Mac CARTHY,
Cloncat,
Athboy PO, Co Meath.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/letters/2012/0827/1224323032118.html

Brian Geraghty also said that if you hook up your "old" vcr or dvd recorder via a scart lead to the Saorview box, you can record away to your hearts content. He did'nt elaborate, and Grumpy George didnt ask, if you can watch 1 channel/record another.:rolleyes:

According to a comment posted over on its Facebook page Saorview say that Walker have a PVR in for testing at the moment and should be available by early Oct.

Kevin Gorman
Is there any Saorview approved tuner/recorders available, ones with a built in hard drive like what they have in Uk for Freeview?
Yesterday at 5:01pm

Saorview Hi Kevin. At present most of the boxes allow you to record to an external hard drive or memory stick, however Walker have a box in test that has a built in hard drive. We expect this to be available in stores around early October.
8 hours ago

http://www.facebook.com/saorview

thetwangman wrote: »

I have to say that I am weary of all this whinging about the lack of Saorview approved dual tuner PVRs. Sky (Satellite) and UPC (Cable) boxes need dual tuners, Saorview (Terrestrial) boxes do not. How may tuners does your man's DVD recorder have? Probably only one. My VCR and DVD recorder only have one tuner. I can watch record one channel and watch another because my TV has its own independent terrestrial tuner. The fact that dual tuner PVRs are not absolutely necessary for digital terrestrial television is actually a step forward. Manufacturers are aware of this. When the public realise that they won't actually need a dual tuner PVR when they eventually replace their old TV, the demand for dual tuner PVRs will not be there. There is life after Sky and UPC. The way things had to be done for satellite and cable is not the same for terrestrial. Lets put an end to this dual tuner mindset. A single tuner PVR will do just fine if your TV is Saorview approved.

Will you come into the 21st century, in this day and age, a VCR and DVD recorder, is the equivalent of rubbing two rocks together to make fire ! A Saorview pvr with series link, will allow people to break away from Sky and UPC if they want, and still allow them pretty much all the joys of using a Sky+ box without the subscription. Add on a Freesat pvr and once the initial cost is covered, no more fees for having all Irish and UK channels plus hundreds more, fully recordable, live pause etc etc, which only a fully approved pvr with series link can provide. No messing around with tapes, discs or USB sticks.

Triax have launched a dual tuner receiver for Saorview. While it's not approved quite yet it should be in the coming months. A dual tuner allows recording of one channel, while watching another. This is a very handy feature absent up until now.

However the more I read the more I am worried this box will not be approved by Saorview as a true PVR and so it may not work with series link. Series link cannot be tested at the moment as RTENL have said they will not send the required signals until an approved PVR box is launched. (Series link information is sometimes on RTE1+1 according to reports)

It seems as if Walker (as opposed to Triax) are going to launch a similar box shortly which may be fully approved as a PVR and will do series linking.

Here is what I have noticed so far

The Cush wrote: »

Currently there are some Approved products that allow recording on an external hard drive. These products are not fully compliant PVRs and do not record subtitles. SAORVIEW is working with manufacturers develop a PVR for SAORVIEW which has an internal hard drive and two tuners. It will be a requirement for this device to record subtitles.

From here:
http://www.saorview.ie/help-support/accessibility/

"internal hard drive" suggests the first Saorview approved PVR will not be the Triax TR212 twin tuner http://www.tvtrade.ie/saorview-set-top-box-receiver.html

If the 212 is not an approved PVR, and RTENL have said they will not send series link information until there is an approved PVR does this mean even if the 212 is approved it will not series link or it may, but RTENL will not send the signals until another receiver with an internal hard drive is approved?

So we may have to wait for the walker

Have any triax TR212 owners attempted to record from RTE1+1 and been offered series link like people on page 2 of this thread?
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056610323&page=2
RTEjr and RTE1+1 seems to be the main place to find out.

zg3409 wrote: »

Series link cannot be tested at the moment as RTENL have said they will not send the required signals until an approved PVR box is launched. (Series link information is sometimes on RTE1+1 according to reports)

Series link is available on RTE+1. I have seen it for "Fair City" soap. I have checked it numerous times and it seems to be there consistently.

sky23 wrote: »

how would you know? would some thing pop up asking if you want to series rec? i tried that on a triax tsc 114 but doesn't seem to work

Yes. It works the same as a Sky box. When you go to record it asks just this show or the whole series. When a certified box is launched it will definitely do this. Many other recording boxes out there may or may not work, most likely cheaper boxes will not. No current Saorview certified box is approved as a recorder, even though many offer the option to record, that part is not certified.

When you go to record it shows a graphic at the bottom of the screen which resembles a stack of discs. It also shows the option of recording a single episode or the complete series.
Cannot say if this is the same as Sky as I am not familiar with that.

the response there "The boxes have to have the function for seried link built in to them and up to now no manufacturer has developed such a box, so the service will only be available as the equipment is developed. Future boxes may have the series link function but we don't have any details of those as yet"

I understood that series link would work with any saorview approved receiver with pvr function when the service started but seems like they are saying we have to buy another now. so will this not work with triax tsc 114?

Just a point to watch out for on the new Triax TR 212 stb. The only aspect ratio options given are 16: 9 and Full despite the fact that the product handbook gives several different variations such as 4: 3 and 16:9 panscan and letterbox choices. I have only purchased this box in the last few days and the supplier has offered to take the box back and give me a refund because the item does not perform as advertised. I have emailed Triax.co.uk requesting a patch but my supplier is not confident that they will take any action. The Triax website itself makes it clear that they do not help end users and deal with trade only. I will probably end up returning the box but in the meantime does anyone know of another twin tuner terrestrial (Saorview) box on the market.

Kilree wrote: »

but in the meantime does anyone know of another twin tuner terrestrial (Saorview) box on the market.

The Saorview approved Walker twin-tuner PVR is expected by mid-Oct according to Saorview.

Walker are currently developing a SAORVIEW Approved box with built in hard drive and it's due to hit stores around mid October.

Inaccurate. Someone is getting the Approvals done for box Vestel developed (Made in Turkey and their SW & HW development is USA & UK). Walker is only a marketing company out of the ashes of Mitsubshi TV distribution in Ireland. Turkish Vestel made the later "Black Diamonds".

Many UK high street Brand TVs and Freeview boxes are actually rebadged Vestel. They are better than many Chinese and HW design has a Philips hertiage so likely higher quality than Apple (Commodity parts, Chinese assembled, only major Apple input is look/feel and GUI).

There may be other approved PVRs launched year and they may be better or worse in terms of features and ease of use.

Or a different badge on the same Vestel box (which isn't actually a bad thing).

Triax for Dishes and Aerials. I'd not buy any electronics from them.