Moving to the "UK" & buying a telly etc

3DataModem

I'm moving to the Isle of Man shortly.

I'm thinking of buying a telly over there rather than moving my current one. I currently have a 27" standard-def LCD with a Freesat box and good quality analogue aerial.

The house I'm moving to has (what looks like) a high-gain antenna in place as well as a dish.

What should I do? If I buy a Freeview-ready HD telly over there will I be able to use it with the proposed Irish DTT if I return?

Digifriendly

3DataModem wrote: »

I'm moving to the Isle of Man shortly.

I'm thinking of buying a telly over there rather than moving my current one. I currently have a 27" standard-def LCD with a Freesat box and good quality analogue aerial.

The house I'm moving to has (what looks like) a high-gain antenna in place as well as a dish.

What should I do? If I buy a Freeview-ready HD telly over there will I be able to use it with the proposed Irish DTT if I return?

Where in IOM are you moving to? AFAIK on parts of the island ROI transmitters can be picked up so you may even get Irish DTT there.

Sam Russell

The Isle of Man is not in the UK!

scath

A very clever Sam...its a territory with autonomy. Yea digifriendly is correct. You should be able to receive Irish DTT I would suspect in the Isle of Man, though I'm not sure. Certainly when the power is increased after ASO here u should be able. The reasoning I have is Wales can pick it up.

As regards Freeview HD, yes I think Freeview HD is being implemented in Wales as much of Wales has switched over with other areas to follow in 2010.

So yes, a Freeview HD is the way to go. It'll do you for 10+ years for both UK TV broadcasts and Irish DTT. Isle of Man was originally to switch over in 2013 but was jumped forward to this year with parts of Wales. Freeview HD is compatible both with Irish DTT and will work here when you return and also work over there for Freeview Channels (compatible with MPEG2 also) and HD channels.

snaps

so does the Isle of man have their own TV channels as they are not part of the UK?

Bob_Harris

Digifriendly wrote: »

AFAIK on parts of the island ROI transmitters can be picked up so you may even get Irish DTT there.

scath wrote: »

You should be able to receive Irish DTT I would suspect in the Isle of Man, though I'm not sure.

http://www.mpeg4ireland.com/map.php?report=1023 :pac:

STB

3DataModem wrote: »

I'm moving to the Isle of Man shortly.

I'm thinking of buying a telly over there rather than moving my current one. I currently have a 27" stndard-def LCD with a Freesat box and good quality analogue aerial.

The house I'm moving to has (what looks like) a high-gain antenna in place as well as a dish.

What should I do? If I buy a Freeview-ready HD telly over there will I be able to use it with the proposed Irish DTT if I return?

Get one of the LF7700 series. Has an MPEG4 DVBT tuner and HD Freesat tuner built in. From 390 to 600 stg for a one depending on size. Works in Ireland and IOM. Hers the 32" http://32lf7700.org.uk/lg-32lf7700-cheapest-price/

lucernarian

Bob_Harris wrote: »

http://www.mpeg4ireland.com/map.php?report=1023 :pac:

That website doesn't show any of the locations of actual reception reports. I can see the transmitter icons, and when I select for example Kippure, I'm told there are 5 locations. When I click on Show Reports (5), nothing happens...

Works fine when I remove the "report=1023" bit

3DataModem

Digifriendly wrote: »

Where in IOM are you moving to?

Douglas, so not likely.

3DataModem

Sam Russell wrote: »

The Isle of Man is not in the UK!

I know - hence the "quotes".

For telly purposes it is the same as the UK (as they have generally the same signal standards, satellite packages, etc).

So the question is about moving to the UK... even though I'm actually moving to the Isle of Man.

3DataModem

snaps wrote: »

so does the Isle of man have their own TV channels as they are not part of the UK?

No.

jammygit

3DataModem wrote: »

I'm moving to the Isle of Man shortly.

I'm thinking of buying a telly over there rather than moving my current one. I currently have a 27" standard-def LCD with a Freesat box and good quality analogue aerial.

The house I'm moving to has (what looks like) a high-gain antenna in place as well as a dish.

What should I do? If I buy a Freeview-ready HD telly over there will I be able to use it with the proposed Irish DTT if I return?

If you buy a Freeview-ready HD telly in the UK you are only guaranteed to receive the current UK MPEG-2 transmissions. Wait for the launch of 'Freeview HD' branded sets. These will receive the planned UK HD broadcasts which will be in MPEG-4 via DVB-T2, which is a new technology. These kinds of sets would have a good chance of receiving Irish DTT when it starts, but as the Irish situation is still in the test phase, there is no guarantee of this.

STB

Sorry thats just not correct. The Irish Spec was published over a year ago. The tests are "enginnering tests" ie not a full servive to the whole of the country - I would imagine that 75% is currently covered from the main TXs.

The model I linked to above conforms with Irish DTT spec, has a Freesat HD tuner so receives the HD services from the UK via sat now along with the MPEG2 sat AND terrestrial signals from the UK (unlike the Panasonic freesat TVs that dont even conform with DVB standards).

This will give you the same stations as will a combo TV that will not available until at least this time next year and will be double the price.

scath

I would wait if you could for the receivers that will have Freesat HD and Freeview HD. Granted they will be expensive, but will enable you to get both satellite and terrestrial HD, from Ireland and the UK (BBC HD) etc. Or you can just go for a Freeview HD.

Alternatively if you just want something now that's not so expensive go for what STB is saying, which'll also work with Irish DTT and UK aswell but not Freeview HD.

If it was me, I would wait, cos then you have it for 10 years. Yes the Irish specification is agree. Its been settled on for more than a year now and on the RTÉ NL website. However, given that DTT hasn't commercially launched yet and therefor isn't impacting on the masses, its within RTÉ etc's right to go for T2+MPEG4 and upgrade the specification. They are entitled to do so.

The chances of RTÉ upgrading their head-end at the transmission end granted are remote, because they've already mostly rolled out and have spent enough already. But that doesn't stop them from going with the T2 box specification. Because if the t2 box spec is chosen, even though t2 broadcasts not used here for a while it makes a later RTÉ update seamless for the viewer. And that will be appreciated by the viewer!! With the way the timeline is going at the moment they would be in a position to put in a bulk order for such set top boxes along with Freeview HD which would help drive down the economics. And I'm sure manufacturers would supply CI stb's for subscription platforms.

I'm sure Top-up TV will be eager for when the next UK multiplex switches to T2. Because that'll be their benefit to have enough spectrum for more.

Now there again, with that in mind, perhaps RTÉ/Onevision might actually go with the current spec boxes, and wait til a 2nd UK mux is transitioned to T2, and then put the order in with Top-Up TV and just provide a swap service to customers of one-for-one. At that stage boxes will be much cheaper. No retune required.

I'd prefer to see them go with T2 boxes but I guess that makes it more expensive for them and the customers. But how much would a swap service cost? I guess such boxes could be sold to other territories not using T2.

jammygit

STB wrote: »

Sorry thats just not correct. The Irish Spec was published over a year ago. The tests are "enginnering tests" ie not a full servive to the whole of the country - I would imagine that 75% is currently covered from the main TXs.

The model I linked to above conforms with Irish DTT spec, has a Freesat HD tuner so receives the HD services from the UK via sat now along with the MPEG2 sat AND terrestrial signals from the UK (unlike the Panasonic freesat TVs that dont even conform with DVB standards).

This will give you the same stations as will a combo TV that will not available until at least this time next year and will be double the price.

I don't wish to start an argument here but it's important to point out that the published Irish DTT spec covers FTA broadcasts only. In the absence of clarity from OneVision concerning their transmission plans it is not possible to say with absolute confidence that any MPEG-4 specified product will work at the launch of Irish DTT. You can only say at the moment that it works with the test transmissions. RTE are still working on a final test and certification system for the FTA spec; until sets are sold with this certification, it is not possible to fully guarantee their operation.

STB

jammygit wrote: »

I don't wish to start an argument here but it's important to point out that the published Irish DTT spec covers FTA broadcasts only. In the absence of clarity from OneVision concerning their transmission plans it is not possible to say with absolute confidence that any MPEG-4 specified product will work at the launch of Irish DTT. You can only say at the moment that it works with the test transmissions. RTE are still working on a final test and certification system for the FTA spec; until sets are sold with this certification, it is not possible to fully guarantee their operation.

RTE are actually conforming to the spec for FTA DTT and engineering tests and are not confined to just that (flags etc). Engineering tests as part of the national rollout. DSO. This is it.

http://www.rtenl.ie/downloads/RTE-FTA-DTT-Receiver-Spec.pdf

You may be confusing the published spec of the public mux and the use of encyrption systems as an add on should a commercial partner emerge. You assume people will want more than FTA. By the way the context of my post above is in relation to the Combo FTA Sat & DTT LCD !

Even if that was the case all TVs have CI Slots! Especially those TVs/STBs that conform to the above basic FTA standards (and have DVB-CI or+ as standard). And should a commercial partner get on board it will be in their interest to provide a free solution (such as a cam or a box for IDTVs) as an add on! There are only a certain no of encryption systems...... What makes you think that Onevision's encryption has anything to do with the basic parameters of an MPEG4 DVB-T receiver or indeed RTEs direction for running the PSB mux! I know ehat you are saying is the probably a safety announcement, but RTE will also be responsible for providing those with IDTVs with an affordable switch over solution ?

from RTE FTA Spec

Note IRDs intended to handle CA (encrypted/scrambled) services (using embedded CAS or via Common Interface) that meet the above standards shall be deemed to conform to the minimum receiver standard and shall be able to handle both FTA services as well as CA services.

jammygit

STB wrote: »

What makes you think that Onevision's encryption has anything to do with the basic parameters of an MPEG4 DVB-T receiver or indeed RTEs direction for running the PSB mux! I know ehat you are saying is the probably a safety announcement, but RTE will also be responsible for providing those with IDTVs with an affordable switch over solution ?


from RTE FTA Spec

Note IRDs intended to handle CA (encrypted/scrambled) services (using embedded CAS or via Common Interface) that meet the above standards shall be deemed to conform to the minimum receiver standard and shall be able to handle both FTA services as well as CA services.

One word - coexistence. If OneVision and RTE are to co-ordinate logical channel numbers, EPG etc. at launch it will be necessary to prove the operation of receivers under those conditions, i.e. four muxes in operation, and especially in areas which receive transmissions from the UK and Ireland. The current test transmissions do not facilitate this. The point that I am making is that it is not possible to be 100% certain of the operation of any receiver that is not fully certified. My advice is either to wait, or to buy a low-cost STB for now.

STB

jammygit wrote: »

One word - coexistence. If OneVision and RTE are to co-ordinate logical channel numbers, EPG etc. at launch it will be necessary to prove the operation of receivers under those conditions, i.e. four muxes in operation, and especially in areas which receive transmissions from the UK and Ireland. The current test transmissions do not facilitate this. The point that I am making is that it is not possible to be 100% certain of the operation of any receiver that is not fully certified. My advice is either to wait, or to buy a low-cost STB for now.

This is all handled in the NIT. All gear these days (including MPEG2 IDTVs) will comply with EN 300 468 already and will behave accordingly. Its a DVB Standard. You reckon RTE have not tested multi part ?

Well they have certainly being using specific descriptors/service types in the output for whatever reason ? And we all know what they do.

scath

I think the best thing to do would be to wait. There's no point on getting hung up on the spec, because it is subject to change. The fact its a year doesn't tell us more than it is likely. Until One Vision sign off and indicate their plans its not clear. The model that's going to be gone with is a pay DTT compliant boxes and not RTÉ FTA boxes. If it was otherwise, RTÉ would have launched already and clearly they did not. It my own dissertation I argued against FTA boxes going out and from the economics viablity point of view, pay DTT boxes, needs to be the standard to make it easy to sign up subscribers. Whether people wish to 'make that call' and subscribe afterwards is up to them. I would suggest also that One Vision or whoever if not them, supplies the card with each TV sold close to launch in order to make it easy to subscribe people rather than people have to call them. Convenience is a driver of sales!

I would say, wait for Freeview HD/Freesat combos, then you'll have both Irish DTT and UK DTT and satellite, guaranteed. If One Vision go with T2 TVs and boxes, alot of people will be pissed off here, pointing to the spec!!!! But RTÉ NL will be within their rights..read the website! Arquiva are involved in T2 in the UK, so they're well aware of its benefits! They may well pay RTÉ to upgrade transmitters to T2. We don't know, they may not or they may, and charge for BBC HD & ITV HD channels! What about Sky HD channels on One Vision. Its a possibilty!