Chorus Dodgy Box in Cork

speedfreak

Hi all
my mother in law has chorus digital in Cork. The service is a joke. The box regularly breaks down saying "no signal received". So we have to turn it off, wait a bit, and turn it on again (which takes a few minutes). Its really annoying. Also, there's no EPG (although there is a search and scan banner). I presume there should be an EPG?? We are trying to convince her to get Sky Digital. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to throw that poxy sagem box out an upstairs window!!

sceptre

Originally posted by speedfreak
I presume there should be an EPG??

On Chorus Digital? Yes indeed. Supposedly it's rather nice.

watty

Yes perhaps the Sagem box and "Chorus" * EPG would be nice if the box was fed with a good signal (perhaps an armoured underground cable?).

Did Sagem or a a 3rd party do the EPG. (I'd guess it wasn't Chorus).

Does anyone know if the Digital MMDS/Sagem uses:
QPSK (meant for Satellite, same as QAM =4)
QAM (typical bits per symbol > 16, meant for Cable)
CODFM (Meant for DTT, which is what Digital MMDS is really).
(CODFM uses multiple carriers, each with QPSK or QAM modulation in each mux/transponder slot)

I mean is it the *SAME* box as Chorus use for Digital Cable? Is it specifically for MMDS, DTT, Satellite or Cable orignally?

If I get a model number I can check it out with Sagem. (maybe)

watty

If it is the SAGEM ITD 4000
then
- DVB-T ETSI standard compliant
- code rate: 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8
- demodulation: QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM
- OFDM mode: 2k / 8k

Which means unlike the Analog MMDS rubbish it is the right (and decent) tool, so any problems would be down to poor system engineering:
* Poor site/ alignment of receive aerial
* Not enough gian on dish (bigger dish needed)
* Poor site, install or low power on transmitter


It also means a suitably programmed PC DTT card or DTT receiver connected to an MMDS dish and downconvertor may pickup any "clear" channels.

Which is perfectly legal.

Only tapping/connecting a cable or decrypting/descrambling a signal without paying is illegal. Picking up *ANY* FTA (Clear) TV signal (analog or digital) is perfectly legal.

Anyone tried a freeview box on an MMDS downlead (you need to feed +12V up the cable via a DC/RF splitter to power the downconvertor). You might need a Labgear VHF to UHF convertor, though for "clear" analog MMDS I found that an old Sky ADX+ in "plus" mode adds 500MHz and drives a UHF only TV with the VHF (It needs to be on the +12V "live" side of the cable to the downconvertor).

com7

there is an epg on the box .its just not set up properly !

secret_squirrel

I had chorus digital in swords before I moved, and I took the box with me (and they still havent collected it 2 months later).

Mine is a Sagem 4210 if that helps at all.

The EPG is ok more informative, but less slick than sky's. And you only get it if you know the various techy codes to plug in. But you can still get all the channels if you put it into auto scanning mode. In that mode it just behaves like a glorified analog cable box..although the picture is crystal clear.

One downside with it tho...connect it & a video to your TV in series and the signal appears to be overamplified and causes interference on the video. At least I assume thats the cause.

Oh the the banner is too damn big. especially with now/next engaged it takes up 3/4 screen.

It also appears to be the only way to get a decent picture from chorus in Swords is via the box, since their analog signal looks like its coming from a portable tv antenna.

watty

Was it cable or MMDS in Swords?

(I never saw Chorus ANALOG cable or MMDS in Limerick anyplace that was watchable)

In Ballinteer Dublin we got rid of Cable (It had CMTV and Childrens channel so a while ago) as it was so bad, cant remember who was provider

secret_squirrel

Im pretty sure it was bog standard cable, and from calling to complain about the picture quality on several occasions, I learnt Swords had an offshoot from their main cable network (or possibly across from their main network via an attenna/base station arrangement.) What ever it was it must have used sellotape and stickyback plastic, because even with digital you could get major artefacts and frame dropouts.

watty

The 4210 isn't listed on Sagem. It will be a cable box then, The Digital MMDS ought to use a different system, and the "normal" 4000 is certinally a DTT (not cable) receiver.

Essentially Digital MMDS, technically is DTT, even if it is licenced and "treated" as "wireless cable".

secret_squirrel

its the ICD 4000 (not ITD) ...with a different model number on the back..well same box anyhow, similar specs from memory.

watty

Originally posted by secret_squirrel
its the ICD 4000 (not ITD) ...with a different model number on the back..well same box anyhow, similar specs from memory.

I'd guess:
iCd = Cable
iTd = Terrestrial

Different Transmission modulation techniques.

Please I hope Chorus isn't using CABLE boxes (ICD4xxx) for DIGITAL MMDS but TERRESTRIAL boxes (ITD4xxx).

If they are using ICD4xxx for digital MMDS (aerials on roof) them that explains why there are some much reports of "freezes" and such problems.