Buying a TV up North, are there any issues?

ve

Hi, I am considering heading up North shortly to pick up a TV for approx €650 - 700. I had my eye on the Sony Bravia KDL40V4000 as it ticked all the boxes. I went in to my local Currys down the south here and althought the picture quality looked decent, I thought the actual build quality of the TV looked a bit flaky (plastic-y) around the LCD panel. Apart from I've heard reports that is a good set, but I'm still not 100% on what I should go for. 40"+ 1080p are musts.

My motive for creating this thread was primarily in relation to any issues with using a TV bought up North down here in the South. I will be connecting the TV up to both analogue (NTL/UPC) and digital inputs. I remember years ago my parents having to purchase a UHV VHF converter box to get a TV they bought in the UK to work over here. Is that day gone?

Also I've heard people saying that some TVs with Freview tuners will not auto setup if they cannot find a Freeview broadcast. So off the top of your head are there any differences (apart from price ) between buying a model up there or down here.

Many thanks for your help, because I wouldn't want ot hand over a wad of cash and end up with something that wouldn't work.

ehutchroi

ve wrote: »

Hi, I am considering heading up North shortly to pick up a TV for approx €650 - 700. I had my eye on the Sony Bravia KDL40V4000 as it ticked all the boxes. I went in to my local Currys down the south here and althought the picture quality looked decent, I thought the actual build quality of the TV looked a bit flaky (plastic-y) around the LCD panel. Apart from I've heard reports that is a good set, but I'm still not 100% on what I should go for. 40"+ 1080p are musts.

My motive for creating this thread was primarily in relation to any issues with using a TV bought up North down here in the South. I will be connecting the TV up to both analogue (NTL/UPC) and digital inputs. I remember years ago my parents having to purchase a UHV VHF converter box to get a TV they bought in the UK to work over here. Is that day gone?

Also I've heard people saying that some TVs with Freview tuners will not auto setup if they cannot find a Freeview broadcast. So off the top of your head are there any differences (apart from price ) between buying a model up there or down here.

Many thanks for your help, because I wouldn't want ot hand over a wad of cash and end up with something that wouldn't work.

Hi ve,

i am having the same problem myself wondering if they will work down here but i am fairly sure they would, the new digital tv works off scart and the old problem was coax cable from the wall and the "cats ears". the analogue worked off different frequencies I think. With the new modern digital services I dont think there will be a problem.

It was my fathers birthday a couple of weeks ago and we bought him a 40V4000. We were very impressed with the picture and sound, over all an excellent set at a great price.

When we opened up the box there was adds for freeview everywhere saying "freeview on this tv", that made me think it came from the uk, actually certain!!!!

We live in dublin so we tuned the pipe into the tv no problem, then we set up our ntl box and that was ok. But there is a "digital" button on the tv remote and when you hit it, the names of all the freeview channels come up and 5 or 6 even worked!!!! so i am almost sure it will work, go for it because i am!!!!

Cat5

ehutchroi wrote: »

Hi ve,
the new digital tv works off scart



Your thinking of a digital decoder Digital terrestial is a Rf signal ..Tv set needs a digital tuner to receive signal..some companys advertise it as free view (wrongly)

On the analogue side I cant help..as far as I knew all the uk stuff is a differnet band to here..But when you select the region during setup it sorts it all out ..
if not it could mean having to watch all your tv through your video...Would have thought some one in the know would have replied to this thread sooner..

Plascebo

Was actually wondering the same myself. Remember years ago you had to buy an adaptor with any tv bought from the UK/North to be able to tune in your "pipe" stations.

LordSutch

I would advise extreme caution if you are to purchaes a UK TV, I was about to do the very same thing, but have abandoned the idea after being warned by posters about UHF/VHF issues + what if it becomes faulty?

I am in the market for a 32" LCD TV (see Thread), and I have now decided to buy it down here in one of these shops > Dixons/ Currys/ Power City/ PC World/ DID?

Good luck if you do decide on a UK TV set, but you'd better know your onions really well.

Sykkes1

I think the issue is around the CATV (cable TV) support. On the UK model PX's and PZ's,they support UK CATV while the Irish models PV's and PY's support hyper-band CATV. So if you have cable TV, this may not work due to the differnet frequency band... but i'd like someone who has bought one to confirm as nothing is ever straight forward due to the lack of detail from Panasonic on each model.

ehutchroi

Bought my tv up north, man in sony centre Belfast told me all sony tv's in north come from sony ireland in the south so they will DEFINITELY work


Currently watching pipe channels on my new sony which i saved 600euro on
NO ISSUES at all works fine!!!!!

Sykkes1

Thats good to hear ehutchroi, i have panasonic on the brain at the moment and that's what i was referring to. I know they have diff. model numbers in the UK and Republic but the only thing i can see different is the CATV band support.

moylsie

im thinking of buying a samsung led oop nawth and im wondering will i have the same problem

Zonda999

moylsie wrote: »

im thinking of buying a samsung led oop nawth and im wondering will i have the same problem

You'll have no problems with a samsung. Any of their UK tvs will work with analog and digital terrestrial tv here:)

Gus99

I have a slight variation on the original question. I was thinking of purchasing a Samsung LED Series 8 TV online from a UK retailer, but am concerned over the warranty issue. The manufacturer warranty will cover me for one year, but I think the retailers extended 5 year warranty would not cover Ireland. Is it an option to buy extended warranty from someone in Ireland? I rang Samsung and they gave me a number to call, but they were UK based. They could not quote me for Ireland (without having already purchased ), but for a UK resident the price would be £360 which seemed excessive, compared to the £150 for the retailers policy). Has anyone bought from abroad and added an extended warranty? ...thanks