Tv from north

gipo2

Buying a Toshiba 32wlt66 from currys in north, but want to make sure vhf stations down here can be received.
Specs for tuner as follows:
Broadcast systems/channels
PAL-I UHF UK21-UK69
PAL-B/G UHF E21-E69
VHF E2-E12, S1-S41
SECAM-L UHF F21-F69
VHF F1-F10, B-Q
SECAM-D/K UHF R21-R69
VHF R1-R12
Video Input PAL, SECAM, NTSC 3.58/4.43

Exact same model is for sale in republic but want to make sure.

byte

Seems it does have VHF.

gipo2

Same exact model in Currys here in Sligo, however by reserving on web in north get it for 250euro less, so Im confident its ok.
Thanks for reply.

L1011

I'm going to guess channels "B-Q" is the Irish VHF allocs, hypothetically extended in to Hyperband. Doesn't support channel A, not that we've used that any time recently :P

BowWow

Was in Currys yesterday, most of their sets now have UK "Freeview", would indicate that specs on sets here and in UK are merging. Staff not very knowledgeable of Freeview/Digital Tuner etc. Only some sets in Powercity had "Freeview". A trip to Currys in NI now seems very worthwhile

SPDUB

Be careful that the tuner isn't set by default to only tune into the UK broadcast band

That happened a few years ago with me where a video recorder I purchased in Dixons was set up only to pick up the UHF band and I had to go deeper into it's menu to enable it to receive VHF broadcasts ( for NTL )

BowWow

SPDUB wrote:

Be careful that the tuner isn't set by default to only tune into the UK broadcast band

That happened a few years ago with me where a video recorder I purchased in Dixons was set up only to pick up the UHF band and I had to go deeper into it's menu to enable it to receive VHF broadcasts ( for NTL )

If spec is PAL I with UHF & VHF is that enough for NTL reception or do you need a certain range? Also what is needed for NTL Digital?

lawhec

The fact that UK companies are selling TV's which can pick up the UK Freeview service in the Republic isn't an indication that the Irish service will use the exact same broadcasting parameters. It's more likely that they're only there because they sell the same equiptment as that in Britain.Shop staff there are unlikely to know much about it as quite simply there is no Irish DTT service, at least a publicly launched service, right now.

Most TVs these days when they say can cover VHF and UHF usually go right up from around 45-864MHz, so it should be OK for analogue cable in Dublin.

BowWow

Northern Correspondent wrote:

TV's which can pick up the UK Freeview service in the Republic isn't an indication that the Irish service will use the exact same broadcasting parameters.

I take it you mean here that the UK use MPEG2 and we "might" use MPEG4. Would it be fair to say that if we do go with MPEG4 then any one who has an MPEG2 receiver will get picture and sound, but wouldn't be able to use interactive services - if there are any interactive services? Or are 2 and 4 exclusive?

lawhec

BowWow wrote:

I take it you mean here that the UK use MPEG2 and we "might" use MPEG4. Would it be fair to say that if we do go with MPEG4 then any one who has an MPEG2 receiver will get picture and sound, but wouldn't be able to use interactive services - if there are any interactive services? Or are 2 and 4 exclusive?

Directly, a receiver which only has a MPEG2 codec chip will not decode an MPEG4 stream, though I believe that a CAM has been developed to allow this. Sound depends on the codec used - MPEG2 uses MP2 (same as DAB) on DTT in the UK, MPEG4 can use MP2 as well but I would expect a more efficient codec, possibly AAC+ would be used for audio.

Richard

BowWow wrote:

Also what is needed for NTL Digital?

NTL Digital uses a seperate set-top box so any modern TV is compatible.

BowWow

Summary then -
A TV, with both Digital and Analogue tuners, bought in NI will get the current DTT trials here at present, but there is no guarantee that will be the case in the future. The TV will be able to receive NTL Digital. If its not able to receive NTL Analogue then it should be possible to go into its menu and reprograme it to get "Irish VHF/UHF".
In Currys in Blanchardstown a Samsung 37" costs €1549.99. In Currys in Newry the SAMSUNG LE37S73BD, complete with a glass stand is on sale for £899stg. A saving of €200 and a stand thrown in - has to be worth the trip.

a bientot

I notice that many Philips tv sets on sale here over the past few weeks have free 'tnt' (television numerique pour tous) thus ready for the French market with French Secam. I wonder are they Mpeg4 enabled also?
Over and over on the terrestrial we are advised that Ireland will choose Mpeg4 so what use is an ultra modern tv set with British Freeview or free TNT?

L1011

Any TNT box with a CI slot should do MPEG4, as their pay-TV channels use MPEG4. They also have VHF DTT in their standard, whereas the UK doesn't - and we have ITU clearance to use VHF after switchoff.

However, they might not work with our analogue TV :P And its still no guarantee of working post-DSO either.

a bientot

MYOB's point here suggests, perhaps, that one should examine these Philips TNT sets to see if there is a C1 slot?
But on the other hand the TNT pay channels are only available from satellite in France (not via the ordinary house aerial) so a decoder would be necessary anyway.
By the way, the eighteen free TNT channels in France are available via the ordinary aerial.
I understand that all (free and pay) freeview channels in Britain and N.I. are accessed via set top box and house aerial........

watty

MYOB wrote:

Any TNT box with a CI slot should do MPEG4, as their pay-TV channels use MPEG4. They also have VHF DTT in their standard, whereas the UK doesn't - and we have ITU clearance to use VHF after switchoff.

However, they might not work with our analogue TV :P And its still no guarantee of working post-DSO either.

The "CAM" for CI slot on some TNT receivers actually a non HD (Ordinary definition) combined MPEG4 to MPEG2 convertor and CAM that takes a viewing card. I held one in my hand in Amsterdam by company that makes them.

So a TNT receiver may be no use for Irish DTT without the CAM supplied separatly with viewing card when you subscribe to the pay channels.


I have an Irish Made (in Shannon!) PCMCIA/PCcard DTT Receiver for UK & French market. It does VHF, unfortunately the SW is rubbish. I am not sure how good the HW is.

watty

BowWow wrote:

Summary then -
A TV, with both Digital and Analogue tuners, bought in NI will get the current DTT trials here at present, but there is no guarantee that will be the case in the future. The TV will be able to receive NTL Digital. If its not able to receive NTL Analogue then it should be possible to go into its menu and reprograme it to get "Irish VHF/UHF".
In Currys in Blanchardstown a Samsung 37" costs €1549.99. In Currys in Newry the SAMSUNG LE37S73BD, complete with a glass stand is on sale for £899stg. A saving of €200 and a stand thrown in - has to be worth the trip.

No. NTL Digital uses DVB-c. Freeview / DTT is DVB-t, incompatible. Any TV will do NTL digital however, as it is only available via SCART from the NTL cable receiver/decoder.

Only some TVs bought in UK have VHF/Hyperband analogue tuner. Most are UHF only.