Cheap dvb-t deals

Effluo

Hi,

I don't think this has already been addressed in this forum so i'm startring this thread.

As i'm sure you are aware the UK switch-over for wales is due to happen, over the next few days...

Most of the people living in the south east of the country have had access to some channells over the old analog.

I've been looking around the internet for the cheapest dvb-t box around and so far how found this one for just about 30euro delivered.
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/151773
It's an A- grade product and i really don't fancy getting it.

Was wondering if anyone has come across any around the net or indeed country which you think is also a good deal.

This is a mini-bargain alert thread!

STB

NO good for Irish DTT though! ie you will not receive RTE1&2/Tv3/Tg4 with it as the likes of that box are old technology.

We use MPEG4 for Irish DTT(the UK use MPEG2).

My advice - You should be looking for something that does both Freeview and Irish DTT if your in Wexford/a border area.

So. Think of one of these.... you'll only end up throwing that other box away.



It'll do both the UK and Ireland in Wexford/Border areas

€99. (pixmania.ie and the likes) It'll be the cheapest you'll find in MPEG4 HD DVB-T receivers.

Effluo

i didn't think that the DTT for ireland was due for another couple of years though??

After reading the combo box sticky i'm all confused now too.
What is the best value for money setup right now?

STB

DvB-T and DVB-S2
The combo box sticky is a combo box for - freesat and terrestrial television (DVB-T and DVB-S2) MPEG4 boxes. That means that you can receive HD satelite signals (via a sat dish) and MPEG4 terrestrial signals via an aerial (ie in the majority of the cases in this country DTT Irish ONLY - but also UK Freeview in areas such as Wexford/N Ireland Border areas).


DVB-T only
Now, the box (The sigmatek) above is NOT a combo box but an MPEG4 H264 Terrestrial DVB-T receiver. It will receive both the British freeview (who broadcast in MPEG2 in Wexford) AND Irish DTT (which broadcasts in MPEG4). That is because this box decodes both MPEG2 AND MPEG4.

The box you linked to above is a standard el cheapo freeview box that will ONLY receive MPEG2 British terrestrial (and only because you are in Wexford). It will not work in ANY other parts of Ireland (except border areas) and only then for British Freeview stations. It will never work for Irish DTT.

And Yes, Irish digital services ARE on and have been for over a year now. And yes you will get Irish DTT in Wexford with that Sigmatek box.

So the question in terms of Value.

A. Buy the Sigmatek - you get Irish DTT (and UK Freeview IF you are in certain parts of Wexford). Its 99 euro plus p&p.

B. Buy the Mvsion HD200 COMBO. You get the same plus satelitte channels depending on which satelitte dish you point at - you will need a sat dish too. €200 without Sat Dish.

Effluo

STB wrote: »

DvB-T and DVB-S2
The combo box sticky is a combo box for - freesat and terrestrial television (DVB-T and DVB-S2) MPEG4 boxes. That means that you can receive HD satelite signals (via a sat dish) and MPEG4 terrestrial signals via an aerial (ie in the majority of the cases in this country DTT Irish ONLY - but also UK Freeview in areas such as Wexford/N Ireland Border areas).


DVB-T only
Now, the box (The sigmatek) above is NOT a combo box but an MPEG4 H264 Terrestrial DVB-T receiver. It will receive both the British freeview (who broadcast in MPEG2 in Wexford) AND Irish DTT (which broadcasts in MPEG4). That is because this box decodes both MPEG2 AND MPEG4.

The box you linked to above is a standard el cheapo freeview box that will ONLY receive MPEG2 British terrestrial (and only because you are in Wexford). It will not work in ANY other parts of Ireland (except border areas) and only then for British Freeview stations. It will never work for Irish DTT.

And Yes, Irish digital services ARE on and have been for over a year now. And yes you will get Irish DTT in Wexford with that Sigmatek box.

So the question in terms of Value.

A. Buy the Sigmatek - you get Irish DTT (and UK Freeview IF you are in certain parts of Wexford). Its 99 euro plus p&p.

B. Buy the Mvsion HD200 COMBO. You get the same plus satelitte channels depending on which satelitte dish you point at - you will need a sat dish too. €200 without Sat Dish.

So the irish dtt hasn't just been on for trials and it is on for good now...?


Sorry but i've just been reading digitaltv.ie and they say differently.

But ok i believe you

Cheers for clearing that up

fat-tony

Effluo wrote: »

So the irish dtt hasn't just been on for trials and it is on for good now...?


Sorry but i've just been reading digitaltv.ie and they say differently.

But ok i believe you

Cheers for clearing that up

The DTT service is in test mode and is subject to frequent outages or changes in configuration. There is no live date guaranteed - maybe next year;) But STB is right - you are wasting your time buying a cheapo Freeview box as it will not receive the Irish DTT service ever.

STB

STB wrote: »

And Yes, Irish digital services ARE on and have been for over a year now. And yes you will get Irish DTT in Wexford with that Sigmatek box.

In theory yes.
But if he's got an aerial pointed at presely,he won't get the irish dtt as presely co channel on 45 renders it un decodable and sometimes betters it where by you actually will get the presely mux working on ch45.
He might get kippure dtt as I do a few miles further north.

Some people have swung their presely group B's round to mt leinster and will then get the mt leinster dtt no bother [Fools! :pac:] and no presely.They've done that thinking that UK reception is no more and they are using their group B or wideband for tv3/TG4.
Typically these people have installed freesat.
Most new set ups in the absense sadly of good advice on probable presely digital reception have gone for freesat with an irish vhf and mt leinster uhf combo.
These people would also get mt leinster dtt handily if they knew about it and have the equipment.

Btw stb,I'm in co wicklow so it's not just wexford that gets UK dtt :pac:

GerardKeating

Effluo wrote: »

Sorry but i've just been reading digitaltv.ie and they say differently.

Looking at the details on that site, i reckon it might have not been updated for a year or more.

STB

Deleted User wrote: »

............

Btw stb,I'm in co wicklow so it's not just wexford that gets UK dtt :pac:

Arkla.. I see. Are you the guy with the 60ft mast in his garden ? That is not an aerial!

jammygit

Irish DTT is still on trial but when launched it will be in MPEG-4. Current test broadcasts from RTE are subject to interruption and change - this is normal for a test transmission.

UK MPEG-2 transmissions can be received in border areas, as well as along the east coast if you have a good enough antenna.

Bob_Harris

For only 30 euro, if you are in a decent reception area, I think it's a good purchase.

There's no real point in paying more than 3 times that just to get the 4 Irish digital channels, when analogue is still on.

Effluo

Bob_Harris wrote: »

For only 30 euro, if you are in a decent reception area, I think it's a good purchase.

There's no real point in paying more than 3 times that just to get the 4 Irish digital channels, when analogue is still on.

that's what i was thinkin

STB

jammygit wrote: »

Irish DTT is still on trial but when launched it will be in MPEG-4. Current test broadcasts from RTE are subject to interruption and change - this is normal for a test transmission.

UK MPEG-2 transmissions can be received in border areas, as well as along the east coast if you have a good enough antenna.

It is NOT a trial. DCMNR ran a trial. RTENL have been rolling out the DTT since August 2008 when they moved wholetime to MPEG4. The main TX sites have been installed at this stage. The fill ins have not. That is due to the current economic situation I would imagine married to RTEs wish to get a commercial partner on board. They wont launch till the fill ins are up. Hence the term engineering tests..... forget the politics. The service in the main is available to good percentage of the country albeit subject to tweaking.

my suggestion by the way was to avoid buying something that has a short shelf life and is limited in what it can do. I suppose I just hate unnecessary box clutter and remotes - trust me I have many STBs that I've dumped!

marclt

Actually I think 30euro is enough to spend. If you only want to continue watching BBC then why not? And onevision may end up giving boxes away to entice people to sign up to an Irish pay DTT contract anyway to lure them from existing pay tv providers...

Just a thought... !!

For more choice check out this site: http://cpcireland.farnell.com/jsp/search/browse.jsp?N=411+1000361&No=25

CPCIreland do sell in euro and delivery is free when you spend a certain amount.

mrdtv

marclt wrote: »

Actually I think 30euro is enough to spend. If you only want to continue watching BBC then why not? And onevision may end up giving boxes away to entice people to sign up to an Irish pay DTT contract anyway to lure them from existing pay tv providers...

Just a thought... !!

For more choice check out this site: http://cpc.farnell.com/freeview+521?isRedirect=true

CPCIreland do sell in euro and delivery is free when you spend a certain amount.

Sound advice! Lets see if Irish DTT launches soon or waits for DVB-T2. STBs are a throwaway product. A cheapo UK box can be used if you want to test existing Welsh antenna systems: if it works keep it and if not sell it on ebay. If it doesn't get Freesat. As you say a pay provider will need to give away STBs to seed the service. The longer its delayed the more I'm convinced they'll have to go with DVB-T2.

Bob_Harris

mrdtv wrote: »

As you say a pay provider will need to give away STBs to seed the service. The longer its delayed the more I'm convinced they'll have to go with DVB-T2.

I think we'll be lucky if they sell us a subsidised box.

No reason at all to go with DVB-T2. They'd have to buy new equipment for the transmission sites, and there is a bit of a price jump between a a DVB-T box and DVB-T2 box.

mpeg4 / DVB-T allows more than enough space for the amount of channels which will appear on Irish DTT.