Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Questions on Saorview

Options
  • 14-10-2011 10:15pm
    #1
    obi604
    Registered Users Posts: 5,549 ✭✭✭


    Hello,

    All of these q's are probbaly buried somwhere in boards but cant find them

    so first, ill start with a few comments which I think are correct, these may be a bit simplistic but here I go

    > Saorview can be got by an aerial and a normal television. The aerial must be connected to one of these Saor view set top boxes and in turn connected to the TV. So more a less if your current TV only has a basic aerial, just plug this in to your new saor view set top box , do some setup and away you go.

    > In order to avail of HD via above, you must have a HD TV

    > If you do not have an external aerial and set top box, you can get saorview via a special TV with built in Saorview, so all you need is this TV, no aerial, no set top box

    > you get 9 channels via both of the above ways

    My q's are

    1. Will the saorview set top box work via a satellite dish e.g. a sky dish.......or does it only work with an aerial ??

    2. Does this new Saorview thing allow pause, rewind record etc. ??

    3. If a person for example had cabled UPC to their house i.e no aerial or satellite. If this person wanted to have saorview, would they have to

    a) Install an aerial and buy a set top box

    OR

    b) buy a new TV with the built in saorview


    4. Would saorview work with these " rabbit ears " only on a normal basic televiision ?

    5. Could sky/upc work along side saorview ? 2 set top boxes etc. ??

    Sorry for all the stoopid q's


«1

Comments

  • Options
    #2
    LIS
    Registered Users Posts: 144 ✭✭LIS


    Ok saorview is recieved on an aerial for the most part.there is a service in the pipeline called saorsat.regardless of the tv being new or old you still need an aerial.rabbit ears would only work if you are in a good signal area.the saorview tv doesn't require a box.yes it will work alongside sky or upc.but is not on sky or upc.it will record via a usb at the rear of the box but you would need an external flash drive ,usb stick or hard drive.if you have sky or upc you wont lose rte when the switchover takes place.just if you must buy a saorview box make sure it is an approved one.you will find more info at saorview.ie . Hope this helps,regards john


  • Options
    #3
    The Cush
    Registered Users Posts: 15,522 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    obi604 wrote: »
    If you do not have an external aerial and set top box, you can get saorview via a special TV with built in Saorview, so all you need is this TV, no aerial, no set top box

    > you get 9 channels via both of the above ways

    My q's are

    1. Will the saorview set top box work via a satellite dish e.g. a sky dish.......or does it only work with an aerial ??

    2. Does this new Saorview thing allow pause, rewind record etc. ??

    3. If a person for example had cabled UPC to their house i.e no aerial or satellite. If this person wanted to have saorview, would they have to

    a) Install an aerial and buy a set top box

    OR

    b) buy a new TV with the built in saorview


    4. Would saorview work with these " rabbit ears " only on a normal basic televiision ?

    5. Could sky/upc work along side saorview ? 2 set top boxes etc. ??

    Sorry for all the stoopid q's

    To receive Saorview an aerial connected to a Saorview set top box (STB) or integrated digital tv (iDTV) will be required.

    1. Aerial required for Saorview

    2. No dedicated Saorview PVRs available yet.

    3. Aerial always required for both STB and Saorview TV. Rabbit ears/internal aerial may work in strong signal areas.

    4. Saorview reception requires an aerial and Saorview receiver (STB or iDTV)

    5. Yes


  • Options
    #4
    Digifriendly
    Registered Users Posts: 4,038 ✭✭✭Digifriendly


    The Cush wrote: »
    To receive Saorview an aerial connected to a Saorview set top box (STB) or integrated digital tv (iDTV) will be required.

    1. Aerial required for Saorview

    2. No dedicated Saorview PVRs available yet.

    3. Aerial always required for both STB and Saorview TV. Rabbit ears/internal aerial may work in strong signal areas.

    4. Saorview reception requires an aerial and Saorview receiver (STB or iDTV)

    5. Yes

    Have just been informed in another thread that Sony Freeview HD 500 PVR with twin tuner does Saorview. So whether that counts as 'dedicated Saorview PVR' I'm not sure. See - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=75059463#post75059463


  • Options
    #5
    The Cush
    Registered Users Posts: 15,522 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    Digifriendly wrote: »
    Have just been informed in another thread that Sony Freeview HD 500 PVR with twin tuner does Saorview. So whether that counts as 'dedicated Saorview PVR' I'm not sure. See - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=75059463#post75059463

    It's not Saorview approved but as posted it works with the Saorview channels as it has a DVB-T2/MPEG-4 tuner/decoder. Sony lists it and the 1TB model on its Irish site - http://www.sony.ie/product/hd-digital-tv-recorders.

    Mary Curtis, RTÉ's Director of DSO who was at the Saorview tent at the ploughing championships at the end of Sept said there would be an approved PVR on the shelves by Christmas, don't know which manufacturer. It may not be a DVB-T2 model and so not suitable for the future FreeviewHD channels in NI.

    The Sony model you mention might be the best choice for Saorview/Freeview and FreeviewHD in 12 months.


  • Options
    #6
    icdg
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 11,587 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    Moved to terrestrial.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #7
    Brian P
    Registered Users Posts: 187 ✭✭Brian P


    ....Another Saorview question (apologies if the answer is staring me in the face in the forum but I can't see it). On RTE 2 HD will the sound, when a modern film is shown, be broadcast in dolby digital i.e. will the blue light on my amp. light up?


  • Options
    #8
    Sam Russell
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 19,532 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sam Russell


    Brian P wrote: »
    ....Another Saorview question (apologies if the answer is staring me in the face in the forum but I can't see it). On RTE 2 HD will the sound, when a modern film is shown, be broadcast in dolby digital i.e. will the blue light on my amp. light up?

    It is in the spec but whether RTE do broadcast it or not will be up to them. No sign of series link and that is also in the spec. I would have though they could have broadcast at least one radio channel in Dolby, just to show they can, just as RTE 2 HD was coded as HD even though it was SD all most of the time.


  • Options
    #9
    starlight09
    Registered Users Posts: 263 ✭✭starlight09


    will one aerial work two saorview set top boxes in a very good signal area


  • Options
    #10
    Ronnie Raygun
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,351 ✭✭✭Ronnie Raygun


    One aerial will work as many boxes as you like, provided you keep the signal strength & quality at acceptable levels by using the correct splitters and/or amplifiers.

    Two boxes off a strong signal should be no problem with a passive split.


  • Options
    #11
    Sam Russell
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 19,532 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sam Russell


    starlight09 wrote: »
    will one aerial work two saorview set top boxes in a very good signal area

    The aerial arangement for Saorview is the same as for analogue TV, and not like the arangement for satellite. That is if you have enough signal, you can split the signal, if not, then you can boost the signal and then spilt it. Saorview is broadcast on UHF (although it could use VHF) so if you get TV3 from an aerial (which is UHF), you will get Saorview. If you get TG4 from an aerial, you will probably get Saorview (as most, but not all TG4 sites are going digital). Some relays will not be going digital. (Only 51 sites of the 144 analogue sites are going digital). However, digital carries further.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #12
    watty
    Registered Users Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    We have an ordinary 8 way TV distribution amp. Quality is over 90% on all TV points.


  • Options
    #13
    OisinMc97
    Registered Users Posts: 2 ✭OisinMc97


    Hello all im new to this and i dont know how to even post, This was the first thing i found so i wrote this.

    I'm buying a new tv from argos in the republic , But i want to get freeview along with saor view! I am just wondering is it possible ? Will I have to buy the tv in the north?

    I live in leitrim and only 25-30 mins from the boarder! All help would be great , Thank you very much!!!!!


  • Options
    #14
    MarkK
    Registered Users Posts: 721 ✭✭✭MarkK


    A Saorview TV will work for Freeview but may not pick up the HD channels on Freeview.

    If you post the model number of the TV you are thinking of buying you may get a more exact answer.


  • Options
    #15
    zg3409
    Registered Users Posts: 6,658 ✭✭✭zg3409


    OisinMc97 wrote: »
    Hello all im new to this and i dont know how to even post, This was the first thing i found so i wrote this.

    I'm buying a new tv from argos in the republic , But i want to get freeview along with saor view! I am just wondering is it possible ? Will I have to buy the tv in the north?

    I live in leitrim and only 25-30 mins from the boarder! All help would be great , Thank you very much!!!!!

    The best thing is to buy a "FreeVIEW HD" NOT a Freeview TV. You will need to buy it in Northern Ireland.

    Ideally buy a TV that is Freeview HD and Saorview approved. Either way you may have problems with TV guides etc as both standards are slightly different.

    You probably won't get the UK Freeview channels well until November this year, so re-scan in November to get every channel.


  • Options
    #16
    MarkK
    Registered Users Posts: 721 ✭✭✭MarkK


    zg3409 wrote: »
    The best thing is to buy a "FreeVIEW HD" NOT a Freeview TV. You will need to buy it in Northern Ireland.

    It's not necessary to buy in Northern Ireland.
    For example the Samsung UE32EH5000 (which does Freeview HD and Saorview) is sold by Argos in the Republic.


  • Options
    #17
    Ronnie Raygun
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,351 ✭✭✭Ronnie Raygun


    OisinMc97 wrote: »
    I'm buying a new tv from argos in the republic , But i want to get freeview along with saor view! I am just wondering is it possible ?

    You realise Freeview is a terrestrial service, not satellite?

    Are UK analogue terrestrial channels currently receivable in your area?


  • Options
    #18
    Paddysniper
    Registered Users Posts: 206 ✭✭Paddysniper


    Hello.
    Say a house has a number of old tvs, will the house need a set top box per tv or can a set too box handle a number of tvs?


  • Options
    #19
    Gerry Wicklow
    Registered Users Posts: 4,544 ✭✭✭Gerry Wicklow


    1 box per TV


  • Options
    #20
    blue66
    Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭blue66


    Hi, I'm also a newbie here...living in Galway.

    I need to get a new TV anyway and would ideally like one that will pick up saorview without the need for a separate saorview box.

    It seems that I need a Mpeg4 compatable set (and not necessarily just a Saorview "approved" one). In Ireland they seem to be comparatively expensive and somewhat limited in choice but Amazon UK has several freeview cheapies...but how do I know if they are Mpeg4 and thus will work with Saorview??

    I already have an indoor digital "booster" aerial that gets the 4 Irish terrestrial analogue channels.

    'Be most grateful for any advice or redirection to the appropriate board(s).

    Thanks :)


  • Options
    #21
    Peter Rhea
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,285 ✭✭✭Peter Rhea


    Aren't some of those 'cheapies' on the Saorview approved list? Are there any you're particularly interested in?


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #22
    blue66
    Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭blue66


    @ Peter Rhea...Thanks for the prompt response,

    The saorview list seems to be rather limited. The cheapie I was interested in (Digihome LED22913FHD 22-inch Widescreen Full HD LED TV with Freeview) is not on the list but does that mean it does not have Mpeg 4?

    Thanks


  • Options
    #23
    blue66
    Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭blue66


    Just found this hidden in the small print..."The media player supports a wide range of file types for video playback including MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG3, MPEG4, XviD (up to version 1.1.2)."... so I'm guessing that it will be grand???


  • Options
    #24
    zg3409
    Registered Users Posts: 6,658 ✭✭✭zg3409


    blue66 wrote: »
    Just found this hidden in the small print..."The media player supports a wide range of file types for video playback including MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG3, MPEG4, XviD (up to version 1.1.2)."... so I'm guessing that it will be grand???

    If you are saying your TV has these specs so it should pick up Saorview that is not necessarily true. Playback is for playing files from stored media. The tuner part of the TV may not be able to decode MPEG4 TV.

    The best way is to check with a known good Saorview signal or post exact model number and link to manual here.


  • Options
    #25
    blue66
    Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭blue66


    @ zg3409...thanks for that, I suspected as much!

    'Excuse my ignorance but where do I find the exact model number?

    Thanks


  • Options
    #26
    zg3409
    Registered Users Posts: 6,658 ✭✭✭zg3409


    blue66 wrote: »
    It seems that I need a Mpeg4 compatable set (and not necessarily just a Saorview "approved" one). In Ireland they seem to be comparatively expensive and somewhat limited in choice but Amazon UK has several freeview cheapies...but how do I know if they are Mpeg4 and thus will work with Saorview??

    It makes no sense buying a non Saorview approved TV. Non approved TVs may work for now but in the future any slight changes Saorview may make may stop your set from working.

    Buying a non approved set is buying already obsolete technology.

    Non approved sets may not give a 7 day guide. They may not have the new teletext. They may not number channels correctly. They may show the wrong time.

    The reason "Freeview" sets are cheap is that they are obsolete. Even those in the UK should not buy them as they are not compatable with Freeview HD services. There is a reason they are cheap.

    Some people to save money have found the model number of Saorview approved TVs. The same TV may be listed on Amazon etc as being a freeview TV. If you get the exact same model number then it should work perfectly for TV if you set the country to Ireland during setup.

    Very cheap TVs normally have a cheap screen meaning picture quality is not the best, such as black not being very black etc.


  • Options
    #27
    zg3409
    Registered Users Posts: 6,658 ✭✭✭zg3409


    [QUOTE=blue66;81158381where do I find the exact model number?
    [/QUOTE]

    The model number should be on a sticker at the back of the TV.


  • Options
    #28
    Peter Rhea
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,285 ✭✭✭Peter Rhea


    blue66 wrote: »
    The saorview list seems to be rather limited. The cheapie I was interested in (Digihome LED22913FHD 22-inch Widescreen Full HD LED TV with Freeview) is not on the list but does that mean it does not have Mpeg 4?

    The Digihome list on the Saorview site is incomplete. If you click on the link to the Curry's site, you will find more, apparently approved sets, with minor differences in model nos. from those on Amazon.

    I can't find a manual for the LED22913, but the manual for the Saorview approved 22914, here, provides very limited spec. info.


  • Options
    #29
    blue66
    Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭blue66


    @zg3409...I take your comments on board... Many thanks :)


  • Options
    #30
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 91,034 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    blue66 wrote: »
    Just found this hidden in the small print..."The media player supports a wide range of file types for video playback including MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG3, MPEG4, XviD (up to version 1.1.2)."... so I'm guessing that it will be grand???
    NO NO NO

    Playback is not the same as reception !!!!

    It's exactly the same as saying your computer / DVD player can play MPEG4 files. It has nothing to do with what it can pick up off the aerial.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #31
    Peter Rhea
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,285 ✭✭✭Peter Rhea


    A tv sold in the UK as 'Freeview' isn't necessarily obsolete wrt the present Saorview spec. It may have the video decoding capability necessary for Saorview or Freeview HD, but not the correct demodulator for Freeview HD, so while being 'obsolete' by UK standards, might well work fine for Saorview.

    From Jan. 2013, all newly approved Saorview kit will need the same DVB-T2 demodulator as Freeview HD, but T2 broadcasts in ROI could be a long way away.


Advertisement