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daragh8008 · 20-11-2009 3:52pm #1

Hi FOlks,

hoping someone can help with this. I'm looking for a new telly, HD etc... but was wondering if there is any thaqt has the free to air decoder built in. Want to be able to watch free to air and the irish channels from aerial with the one remote. Its for an elderly lady that doesn't like all the fiddling with different remotes to see the channel she wants. Has anyone any suggestions on a telly thats easy to use when you have different inputs??
Thanks

PyeContinental · 20-11-2009 4:30pm

The LG LF7700 series has an integrated Freesat tuner and a DTT tuner and analogue tuner. (The satellite tuner also has a non-freesat mode for any other non-encrypted satellite channels).

There would still be a bit of a learning curve to understand switching between each tuner though, as it doesn't put everything in the one EPG. There are clear satelite and aerial symbols on screen however when choosing an input though, which helps, but it's not as granny-friendly as Pr+/- and vol+/- alone.

The only other brand doing built in Freesat as well as DTT tuners (which work with Irish mpeg4 DTT) is Panasonic. However, to cut a long story short, the Panasonic models basically no longer work with Irish DTT. Have a look in the Terrestrial forum for the thread about that.

Richer Sounds sell these models and they have a forum on this site.

daragh8008 · 20-11-2009 4:33pm

thanks,

i'll check them out. ITs a good starting point

Codpeas · 20-11-2009 4:42pm

PyeContinental wrote: »

The only other brand doing built in Freesat as well as DTT tuners (which work with Irish mpeg4 DTT) is Panasonic. However, to cut a long story short, the Panasonic models basically no longer work with Irish DTT. Have a look in the Terrestrial forum for the thread about that.

Eh, not true. Sony are also in that game - check out the KDLxxW5810 TVs which have MPEG2/MPEG4/FreeSatHD built in.

PyeContinental · 20-11-2009 4:44pm

Thanks for the correction.

PyeContinental · 20-11-2009 4:52pm

I just checked the specs of the 32" Sony of that model. It does indeed have built in Freesat, but it says the DTT tuner is mpeg2 only so if that's correct, it wouldn't work with Irish DTT.

http://www.sony.co.uk/product/t32-w-series/kdl-32w5810#pageType=TechnicalSpecs

Does anyone have this TV and can confirm either way?

Codpeas · 20-11-2009 4:58pm

Sony dont tend to mention the MPEG4 bit for whatever reason.

Even the specs for my own TV dont mention it but I can confirm that it has it...

http://www.sony.ie/product/t32-w-series/kdl-40w5500#pageType=TechnicalSpecs

But it would be wiser to get a direct confirmation - the lads in RicherSounds should be able to confirm that quickly enough.

daragh8008 · 20-11-2009 5:01pm

Sorry showing my ignorance here but DTT hasn't started yet has it? Does this mean that they will be turning of the analogue signal and that I'd be back in the same situation with another box + remote down the line if I don't get the MPEG 4 decoder built in now.

PyeContinental · 20-11-2009 5:03pm

Ah good to have it confirmed that it works. Did you compare to the LG before buying? How do you find the Sony as far as how intuitive it is to switch between tuners? Would it pass the old-dear test?

I have an LG but my brother has been waiting to buy a new TV until the Irish DTT situation is finalised.

PyeContinental · 20-11-2009 5:06pm

daragh8008 wrote: »

Sorry showing my ignorance here but DTT hasn't started yet has it? Does this mean that they will be turning of the analogue signal and that I'd be back in the same situation with another box + remote down the line if I don't get the MPEG 4 decoder built in now.

There's a lot of reading you can catch up on in the Terrestrial forum, but again, to cut a long story short, yes there is Irish DTT and has been for over a year, but they didn't announce the service so that they can pull channels off air anytime they like or re-jig things about in the name of "engineering tests".

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