Is my TV DTT compatible for Ireland

Renotec

Hi All,
Not my usual boards section to be posting into but i have a question on whether or not my TV is compatible with the Irish DTT service recently launched. I would appreciate any information. Here are the details:
Make: JVC
Model: 32DA9BJ
TV is registered and still under warranty.
It has a digital built in tuner. TV was purchased new in Ireland late 2008
I have a wideband UHF aerial via the analogue signal in, on the tv.
I am pointed to Mulaganish Signal strength 75%, Quality 100%
I have sound, EPG, no picture.

I have read a lot of posts here from other folks but I'm not clear on the compatibility issue with this particular TV.Any help / direction would be great

If I am not compatible what can I do?

John mac

if you are getting sound and no picture then NO its not..

all you can do is get a STB (set top box) to decode the signal beore you send it to the tv.

The Cush

Audio and epg with no video indicates it's not compatible.

The TV has an MPEG-2 decoder (i.e. UK DTT/freeview compatible), Irish DTT/Saorview has chosen the newer MPEG-4 standard for video compression.

As John mac says a STB is your only option with that TV otherwise an Irish Saorview-certified TV (or a compatible MPEG-4 tv). The new range of Freeview-HD TVs will also work (remember it must be freeview-HD not freeview).

Renotec

The Cush wrote: »

The TV has an MPEG-2 decoder (i.e. UK DTT/freeview compatible), Irish DTT/Saorview has chosen the newer MPEG-4 standard for video compression.

Thanks guys for all the information. I'm scratching my head now and thinking that if the TV's sold in Ireland like the one that i have is only suitable for the UK system/market, how come that they are sold here? Looking at old technology you did not get UHF only TV's sold in Ireland you got dual UHF & VHF as standard because VHF was the standard here.

I think I'm going to have a word with JVC ;-)

Thanks again

watty

If the TV is less than two years old the shop may be obliged to replace or refund (choice their discretion) with a compatible model.
Aldi has refunded on a set over a year old

The Cush

Renotec wrote: »

Thanks guys for all the information. I'm scratching my head now and thinking that if the TV's sold in Ireland like the one that i have is only suitable for the UK system/market, how come that they are sold here? Looking at old technology you did not get UHF only TV's sold in Ireland you got dual UHF & VHF as standard because VHF was the standard here.

I think I'm going to have a word with JVC ;-)

Thanks again

When you purchased the TV in late 2008 there was no fixed receiver standard for Irish DTT (standard published mid Dec 2008).

Even today there is no legislation mandating the correct DTT tuner in products sold here, but then again there hasn't been a DTT service until last Friday albeit a trial one.

When the final standard was announced in late 2008 the Dept/retailers should have provided basic information for consumers buying products but I guess there was too much non compatible stock on the shelves and in the warehouses.

watty

Dumping...
Dunnes was importing at least one German Analogue only product with cheap badges stuck over the original.

I note the absolute absence of TVs and other products with tuners this last month or so in Dunnes.

Lidl amazingly was advertising and selling a Monitor (no Tuners at ALL in it) as an HDTV simply because as well as DVI it had HDMI.

It's only a TV if it has usable tuners. Hence loads or UK retailers are in trouble if anyone bothered in UK over alleged Full HD & HD Ready TVs with only Freeview, not Freeview HD tuners. Still on sale today.

When you purchased the TV in late 2008 there was no fixed receiver standard for Irish DTT (standard published mid Dec 2008).

I think with decent lawyer and class Action you can argue that it was clear in Spring 2008 that they needed to sell sets with MPEG 4 HD codecs & DVB-T built in.

It will soon be December...

Basically even in last year Aldi, Lidl, M&S and others have already been refunding (and M&S even replacing sets with MPEG4), but only if someone actually complained and brought it back.

The retailers are banking on Consumer ignorance and apathy. Also Tesco no doubt thinks that sticking up notices belatedly a few months ago warning "Freeview not available here" protects them. I don't believe it does. In fact that proves they know the TVs are unsuitable and they sell them anyway...

The Cush

watty wrote: »

I think with decent lawyer and class Action you can argue that it was clear in Spring 2008 that they needed to sell sets with MPEG 4 HD codecs & DVB-T built in.

MPEG-4 wasn't officially announced as the video standard until the end of July 2008 with the full spec not published until mid Dec that year. It would probably be cheaper to buy a cheap STB these days than hire a lawyer, who would pay? I wouldn't.

watty

The Cush wrote: »

It would probably be cheaper to buy a cheap STB these days than hire a lawyer, who would pay? I woudn't.

I agree.

But it's certainly worth making a polite fuss if you bought an HD or HD Ready screen inside last 2 years, any kind of TV in last year and any TV lacking MHEG5 since August 2010.

The Government in one sense doesn't need to enact legislation as the Small Claims courts usually find in purchaser's favour on reasonable claims and all decent retailers usually replace or refund customers where it looks like a reasonable claim under Sale of goods act.

It can't hurt to politely approach the Retailer.

Renotec

watty wrote: »

It can't hurt to politely approach the Retailer.

Folks,
Great feedback on my post - thanks!

I have to agree with the statement above. The inevitable may be that an STB is the only option (or another tv) but if joe public does not provide decent feedback to any retailer / distributor in Ireland for any product then we fall into the same old "I'll put up with it!" scenario. I'm going to speak to the retailer, and JVC support anyway and voice my opinion - just for the record. Who knows what might happen after that ;-)

davidhick77

i have an old pace set top box from when we changed over to sky package originally, is there a chance that this might pick up the new dtt channels?

watty

no

gtg60

watty wrote: »

no

Ha ha! Finally watty's patience has been tested to the limit! I honestly don't know how you lasted this long!

HappyHarry

watty wrote: »

I agree.

But it's certainly worth making a polite fuss if you bought an HD or HD Ready screen inside last 2 years, any kind of TV in last year and any TV lacking MHEG5 since August 2010.

Why is the cut off for MHEG5 August 2010?

I bought two fairly expensive Irish model Panasonic TVs on 30th June 2009. They don't do MHEG5, and I can only get the 7 day guide to work by setting the country to France (otherwise it's just now and next). Setting the country to France causes a problem with the sound when tuning in Analogue stations (auto-tune doesn't work you need to change some audio settings and tune manually), also the channel numbers are in the 800s.

I was told in the shop that "the TV has MPEG4 so would work with Irish Digital TV".

If I don't have ground for a replacement on the MHEG5 issue, surely I do on the basis that this is an Irish Model TV but when the country is set to Ireland, doesn't even give the 7 day guide?

watty

RTE NL only 100% confirmed MHEG5 as mandatory at end of July 2010. Though of course clear by 2006 it was likely.


Yes. Your TV is not fit for use in Ireland and is less than 2 years old.

fat-tony

gtg60 wrote: »

Ha ha! Finally watty's patience has been tested to the limit! I honestly don't know how you lasted this long!

Everyone has a breaking point - even watty

watty

gtg60 wrote: »

Ha ha! Finally watty's patience has been tested to the limit! I honestly don't know how you lasted this long!

It's likely a Cable TV box. People don't really need gory technical details. Sometimes I give them anyway...

HappyHarry

watty wrote: »

Yes. Your TV is not fit for use in Ireland and is less than 2 years old.

That's how I feel too, pretty pissed at Panasonic and the Store. I'll go back to the store and see what they say. Although common sense says that shops can't afford to replace all of the affected TVs that were sold over the past two years. They may replace the first few that people go back about... but surely they'll have to find some way to get out of it?

In cases like mine perhaps a firmware update can resolve some of the issues, or could they just offer a free \ low cost STB?

I guess Panasonic will say that it take a number of months once a spec is published to deign and get new models into production and to the shelves. And that the spec wasn't finally nailed down until July 2010 (Regardless of what may have been quite obvious but un-official before.). Is that reasonable?

surf board

You're a fountain of knowledge Watty!

Does this mean that some "TNT HD" sets could be classified as unsuitable, seeing as the MHEG-5 feature is only available when setting the tv to another country? Is there any ruling with sets bought online?

HappyHarry

surf board wrote: »

You're a fountain of knowledge Watty!

Does this mean that some "TNT HD" sets could be classified as unsuitable, seeing as the MHEG-5 feature is only available when setting the tv to another country? Is there any ruling with sets bought online?

I think there are some differences..

1) The Panasonic was a new(2009) Model made and sold specifically for the Irish Market, and the spec was out before 2009.

2) Setting the country to France while getting the 7day guide to work causes other problems. Does changing the country in your TNT box cause other problems?

3) I was told in the store before purchase that it would work with Irish DTT.

Buying online shouldn't matter as long as you ask or specify that you want a set that works in ROI. If you go into a store in ROI you shouldn't need to specify that. But I'm not sure if or how the sale of good act applies to online stores that are based outside ROI.

watty

Online you need to know what you are looking for.
Any claims on the Website or made in email have legal standing.
But if you buy something unsuitable and it was not claimed to be suitable you are NEARLY out of luck.
Distance selling regulations apply. I think if you return (you must contact seller, and return shipping is at your expense) within 7 days you can have refund no matter what... a "cooling off period".

"Do not rely on legal advice from Random Strangers on the Internet. Seek an suitably qualified practitioner or consumer agency!"

Apogee

HappyHarry wrote: »

That's how I feel too, pretty pissed at Panasonic and the Store.

This seems to be a particular problem with Panasonic. You, and anyone else on this forum, who has had problems with Panasonic should make a bit of noise about it and think about contacting Conor Pope at TodayFM/Irish Times. See if they can be shamed into fixing their shi**y TVs.

pricewatch@todayfm.com

http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/pricewatch/