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Mpeg4 cam cards

  • 20-07-2010 12:46pm
    #1
    glineli
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,098 ✭✭✭


    Hi lads

    Does anyone know where i can get an mpeg4 cam card? Its for a samsung tv.

    thanks


Comments

  • #2
    STB
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,178 ✭✭✭STB


    They dont work in ALL Tv's - make sure your models is on the list below.

    http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055384875

    Watty, its your move.


  • #3
    slegs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,038 ✭✭✭slegs


    i have stopped supplying them as there seems to be too many TVs that they dont work with


  • #4
    glineli
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,098 ✭✭✭glineli


    slegs wrote: »
    i have stopped supplying them as there seems to be too many TVs that they dont work with

    Thanks Slegs. I checked your website and couldnt see them alright.
    And to be fair i checked Tonys but couldnt see them either


  • #5
    STB
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,178 ✭✭✭STB


    slegs wrote: »
    i have stopped supplying them as there seems to be too many TVs that they dont work with

    And the reason for that is that manufacturers chose to interpret the CI standard differently. Believe it or not there are a lot of DVB CI standard TVs out there that just are not open because of this.

    Its all sorted in DVB CI+ where there is less places to hide but of course anything that has that standard now will have MPEG4 on board anyhow!


  • #6
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    I tested these (which were an interim measure for TNT). They are poor anyway, even if they work.

    I don't recommend them.

    The other issue with them is that they are only "pretending" to be a cam. It's a MPEg4 decoder and real time MPEG2 encoder, so gets very hot as is running near power limits.

    It can never do HD, the MPEG2 bit rate is too high. RTE2 will be part time HD, likely without SD simulcast. Even if a TV is "HD" that may be only on HDMI. It may have no HD support on MPEG2 stream.

    In 2011 to 2012 when 2nd mux is Nationwide, it's likely RTE1 and RTE2 will be mostly HD, with no simulcast of SD.

    So these are a stunning waste of money. Even if it works.

    You are also paying for a CAM that will never be used on Irish DTT, as it does have a real CAM also.


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  • #7
    glineli
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,098 ✭✭✭glineli


    Thanks lads

    So a STB is a far batter option? i have a few of the sagem picnic, great value for money.

    thanks again


  • #8
    STB
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,178 ✭✭✭STB


    The cost factor for a STB vs a Cam is marginal.

    You would probably pay €60 for a CAM anyway.

    The cost of a Sigmatek DVBR 520 HD or its clone the Akira dhb-b36hr are less than €60 (they were €40 for a while) at the moment and play MKV HD files and AVIs.


  • #9
    glineli
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,098 ✭✭✭glineli


    STB wrote: »
    The cost factor for a STB vs a Cam is marginal.

    You would probably pay €60 for a CAM anyway.

    The cost of a Sigmatek DVBR 520 HD or its clone the Akira dhb-b36hr are less than €60 (they were €40 for a while) at the moment and play MKV HD files and AVIs.

    Cool, any idea where to get them?

    Forget that, i see them on pixmania.

    thanks again alds


  • #10
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    glineli wrote: »
    Thanks lads

    So a STB is a far batter option? i have a few of the sagem picnic, great value for money.

    thanks again

    The MPEG4 to MPEG2 converting CAM ceased being a valid option when RTENL published the Nordig based Saorview spec some while ago. It can't do HD, ever. So increasingly after Nov 2010 you get blank screen.

    Does Sagem Picnic do HD?

    If not, most RTE2 sport from Nov 2010 will have no picture (part time HD, no simulcast). Minimum Saorview spec is HD. Not just MPEG4.

    RTE will be gradually increasing HD esp. after 2nd Mux starts. Then SD only MPEG4 won't get a picture.

    You don't need an HDTV. All HD dtt reciever set-boxes with SCART will downconvert, which gives maybe 30% better picture quality on WS.


  • #11
    STB
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,178 ✭✭✭STB


    watty wrote: »
    Does Sagem Picnic do HD?

    Nope.

    The cheapest actual boxes are the french ones inluding those 2 above. No MHEG5 or Nordig specs but you get the VBI text anyhow. A bigger worry is that RTE dont start using HE - AAC in their audio!


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  • #12
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    Radio Bit rates

    They are mulling DAB+ I beleive.

    Bit rates are around the 128k, which is poor for MP2.
    Dab+ uses AAC. 128k on AAC is close to 192k to 256k MP3 depending on content. Far far better than MP2 128k and possibly better always than MP2 256k. MP2 is a really old Audio Codec. Starting Digital Radio now with original MP2 DAB would be like starting up Saorview TV with MPEG1 VCD content.

    It's simpler for backup etc and encoder costs if DAB+, DTT and Saorsat are all AAC for the Radio.

    Also they are very short of space on DAB and DTT, so really running 256K MP2 (minimum IMO) for the radio is tricky. A lot of the Audio on Sky is or was 256K when I last looked, but with now 80 radio have they dumbed down yet?


  • #13
    Kensington
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,683 ✭✭✭Kensington


    STB wrote: »
    Nope.

    The cheapest actual boxes are the french ones inluding those 2 above. No MHEG5 or Nordig specs but you get the VBI text anyhow. A bigger worry is that RTE dont start using HE - AAC in their audio!
    Analogue teletext won't be around forever, you do have to bear that in mind when juggling whether to buy something without MHEG capability. Once a digital version of Aertel launches, analogue teletext is effectively redundant. Also, the unit will not support the standardised EPG nor will it support any interactive services launched down the line, if it does not have MHEG support.


  • #14
    STB
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,178 ✭✭✭STB


    I hear you Kensington. I am sure that there will be a transitional period where a few services are left in parallel for a while.

    Text was never a biggie for me.

    Nothing that I cant get on the web.

    On the EPG, are you saying that the EIT will not be broadcast on in the DVB-SI in parallel to MHEG5 engine generated EPG ? I think even the kiwis persisted with both as a result of tech not being in place and a fair grace period for compatiable TVs with not fully compliant IDTVs. I am sure that would be a pressure put on in conjunction with helping DSO.


  • #15
    Kensington
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,683 ✭✭✭Kensington


    STB wrote: »
    I hear you Kensington. I am sure that there will be a transitional period where a few services are left in parallel for a while.

    Text was never a biggie for me.

    Nothing that I cant get on the web.

    On the EPG, are you saying that the EIT will not be broadcast on in the DVB-SI in parallel to MHEG5 engine generated EPG ? I think even the kiwis persisted with both as a result of tech not being in place and a fair grace period for compatiable TVs with not fully compliant IDTVs. I am sure that would be a pressure put on in conjunction with helping DSO.
    True! Still it's pretty handy to dip in and out of to quickly look something up.

    I can't see them dropping the SI stream for a long time yet. In saying that, I don't think there are any immediate plans to drop teletext Aertel either (the Beeb tried switching Ceefax off on just the satellite platform at first and the uproar it created left them with no option but to switch it back on, albeit with a slightly more limited offering). It's just something to be wary of when you're considering shelling out a lot of money for a TV you'll want to get a good few years of trouble free, compatible viewing out of! No point in potentially limiting yourself in the future for the sake of a few extra euro :)


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