Slingbox Pro & DTT

munchkin_utd

has anyone else tried to use the internal tuner in a slingbox pro to receive Irish DTT transmissions?

I am at a loss to figure out if it can even cope with Mpeg4 as the technical specifications are vague to say the least.
I've tried tuning with the set country as IRL and also UK but neither config seems to work in any shape or form, when set as UK all signal is too weak, when set as IRL nothing is found at all.

Maybe another question....
Is there any other country using DVB-T that would have both Mpeg2 and Mpeg 4 signals being received similar to what you would have in Ireland along the border?
(or is UK HD freeview Mpeg 4?? )
If I could try a different country then maybe the configuration there would work.

("red button" features arent supported anyhow even with Uk settings so that isnt an issue)

watty

France and many other Countries

Does it even do Digital?

munchkin_utd

It does do digital, is even advertised as freeview compatible, but I havent got it to actually work at all yet!!
Signal too weak aparantly.

To compensate for this I'm using a regular UK freeview box as an external input and the internal tuner then to pick up terestrial channels.

The Phillips freeview box has no problems with signal strength though.
Well, it doesnt even detect the presence of the MUXs containing UTV/ Channel 4 etc. on DTT though but I think thats a problem caused by a filter in the attic rather than the receiver as I understand that these should be ok.

The BBCs, Dave and other channels are coming in loud and clear so until digital switchoff im not in too bad a position.

Jpmarn

I have a slingbox pro and attempted to tune into Saorview. Result; Fail, audio only. Maybe future updates to firmware might solve the compatabilty issues.

munchkin_utd

ok

from trawling through fourms Mpeg 4 doesnt seem to be supported on the slingbox -pro

the slingbox-pro-HD though got a firmware update yesterday that introduced mpeg-4 support
Hopefully it will also make its way to the slingbox-pro too soon (along with maybe some changes to the sensitvity when tuning in digital channels!!)

http://placeshiftingenthusiasts.com/forum/general-sling-box-discussions/new-firmware-slingbox-pro-hd-2-01-060/

watty

Unlikely. It probably doesn't have the HW support. Just like you can't update non-HD set-box.

acme4242

I'm still on Slingbox classic, receiving RTE and NI on analogue.
The slingbox internal DTT turner is very poor, external UK freeview
set-top box tunes fine and I can control the set-top box from the slingbox.

From what I read here
http://www.saortv.info/free-uk-tv/

http://www.saortv.info/free-uk-tv/ wrote:

A Saorview receiver can receive “Freeview” in suitable areas, but not “Freeview HD”.

I'm hoping all I have to do after analogue is turned off is change my
freeview box to a saorview box and get UK in SD and Irish channels.

The slingbox forum does not give hope.
http://answers.slingbox.com/message/40276

What the hell are the Irish Dept upto, you know they initially decided to
use same standard as UK, for economy of scale, we would have common
TV's etc, then decided to be unique and rip-off Irish consumers.
Even during the RTE trials we could use UK freeview box to get RTE in digital.

Digifriendly

acme4242 wrote: »

I'm still on Slingbox classic, receiving RTE and NI on analogue.
The slingbox internal DTT turner is very poor, external UK freeview
set-top box tunes fine and I can control the set-top box from the slingbox.

From what I read here
http://www.saortv.info/free-uk-tv/


I'm hoping all I have to do after analogue is turned off is change my
freeview box to a saorview box and get UK in SD and Irish channels.

The slingbox forum does not give hope.
http://answers.slingbox.com/message/40276

What the hell are the Irish Dept upto, you know they initially decided to
use same standard as UK, for economy of scale, we would have common
TV's etc, then decided to be unique and rip-off Irish consumers.
Even during the RTE trials we could use UK freeview box to get RTE in digital.

That's interesting as during the trials I could only pick up audio and not picture from Clermont Carn on Freeview TV and Freeview recorder. I do agree that same standard would have been better but remember also that to pick up HD on Freeview in UK you need a different box so UK customers are being ripped off as well.

acme4242

Digifriendly wrote: »

That's interesting as during the trials I could only pick up audio and not picture from Clermont Carn on Freeview TV and Freeview recorder. I do agree that same standard would have been better but remember also that to pick up HD on Freeview in UK you need a different box so UK customers are being ripped off as well.

It was the RTE trials in 2007/2008, using a 20 odd quid Bush freeview
box from Argos Newry. RTE as clear as a bell. Picture and sound.
But no longer working.

http://www.briangreene.com/bhg/2008/irish-dtt-trial-ends-today/
Posted on July 31, 2008
What was the trial? it tested MPEG2 DTT in Ireland to a closed audience on about 1000 homes,

But now this whole thing of having a different unique TV system and being a
small market will screw Irish consumers forever. Thanks Minister
another fine job by FF.
Every single piece of equipment must be adapted for Ireland.
meaning either you won't get it, or its much more expensive than similar
equipment in the UK.

The slingbox is a case in point.

Can someone confirm if the saorview box can pick up UK channels from
Belfast or Camlough transmitters ?

FREETV

acme4242 wrote: »

It was the RTE trials in 2007/2008, using a 20 odd quid Bush freeview
box from Argos Newry. RTE as clear as a bell. Picture and sound.
But no longer working.


But now this whole thing of having a different unique TV system and being a
small market will screw Irish consumers forever. Thanks Minister
another fine job by FF.
Every single piece of equipment must be adapted for Ireland.
meaning either you won't get it, or its much more expensive than similar
equipment in the UK.

The slingbox is a case in point.

Can someone confirm if the saorview box can pick up UK channels from
Belfast or Camlough transmitters ?

Yes the Bush Saorview box which I use in the bedroom picks up all the sd channels from Divis near Belfast here at my new location near Balbriggan. I had to install a wideband and a group A aerial both with masthead amps in order to receive them. You should be able to receive Freeview in your location if your aerial equipment is fairly high up. Metronic Freeview HD box also works well here.

watty

acme4242 wrote: »

What the hell are the Irish Dept upto, you know they initially decided to
use same standard as UK, for economy of scale, we would have common
TV's etc, then decided to be unique and rip-off Irish consumers.
Even during the RTE trials we could use UK freeview box to get RTE in digital.

The UK Freeview is obsolete. They have moved to Freeview HD. Any new box for UK reception should be "freeview HD". Most of the so called trials where BT & Dept of Comms. Not RTE. Since 2007 it was clear the system would be MPEG4 and the spec was published in March 2008.

Freeview HD boxes do receive Saorview (though not 100% compatible). Existing slingbox will never work for "Freeview HD" or Saorview. You need a newer model with DVB-T2 (Freeview HD) and MPEG4 (Freeview HD, Saorview). Such a tuner will work with older DVB-T and MPEG2 also.

Regular Saorview boxes will not work on "Freeview HD" or the NI DVB-T2 "lite" mux proposed for Irish TV (both after October 2012 in N.I.).

Sam Russell

There are iDTVs already with both FreeviewHD certification and Saorview certification. In a few years time, all iDTVs will be compatible across Europe as it is cheaper to address the whole market as one. Sony TVs have been MPEG4 for a few years now, and more TVs will come on stream addressing both UK HD and Irish standards.

In the end, it will only be Panasonic TVs that will not work.:)