New TV Help and Advice..

Buchailldana

HI all,

I'm looking at buying a new TV for the parents for x-mas and have been looking at a few models. Can anyone give me advice as to whether they work ok in Ireland.

They dont have Sky or anything like that (well not at the moment anyway). All they have is the standard ariel (i.e RTE 1 Network 2 TV3 and TnaG).

The TV's Ive been looking at are:

Samsung UE40C5100: This one is 50Hz
http://www.dixons.co.uk/gbuk/samsung-ue40c5100-40-full-hd-led-tv-05029576-pdt.html

Samsung UE40C6100: This one is 100Hz
http://www.dixons.co.uk/gbuk/samsung-ue40c6000-40-full-hd-led-backlit-tv-04906521-pdt.html

Now I can get these a bit cheaper her in the UK but will they work ok at home (home is Thurles if that helps).

Also are these good models to be looking at and which one would ye go for or would ye avoid altogether??

Thanks a mill

Damien

fat-tony

The second one is probably ok (Freeview HD T 2 tuner), the first almost certainly not. I'm assuming you're intending this to be used with Saorview? The RTE 1 / RTE2 analogue services may not be receivable on either of these TVs if they are on VHF.

Buchailldana

fat-tony wrote: »

The second one is probably ok (Freeview HD T 2 tuner), the first almost certainly not. I'm assuming you're intending this to be used with Saorview? The RTE 1 / RTE2 analogue services may not be receivable on either of these TVs if they are on VHF.

Would they work ok if I bought them in Ireland instead of the UK?

Only reason I ask is I dont have aclue what all this different tuner and VHFs stuff is about and Mpeg4. Completely baffles me.

Samsung UE40C5100 - Irish Link
http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/5294209/art/samsung/ue40c5100-led-television.html

Samsung UE40C6100 - Irish link
http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/5294213/art/samsung/ue40c6000-led-television.html

r-i-tect

Buchailldana wrote: »

Would they work ok if I bought them in Ireland instead of the UK?

Only reason I ask is I dont have aclue what all this different tuner and VHFs stuff is about and Mpeg4. Completely baffles me.

Samsung UE40C5100 - Irish Link
http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/5294209/art/samsung/ue40c5100-led-television.html

Samsung UE40C6100 - Irish link
http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/5294213/art/samsung/ue40c6000-led-television.html

I'm assuming pixmania's goods come Europe, maybe even the UK?

fat-tony

If the model number is the same, then the likelihood is that it will not work whether you buy it from Pixmania either.
There is a list of models proven to be working with Saorview elsewhere on the forum. It would be a good place to start your search.

watty

AFAIK it's a French subsidiary of DRG (Dixons / Currys / PC World Group).

If you have the Digital Services on UHF, then RTE analogue on VHF is hardly important.

Buchailldana

fat-tony wrote: »

If the model number is the same, then the likelihood is that it will not work whether you buy it from Pixmania either.
There is a list of models proven to be working with Saorview elsewhere on the forum. It would be a good place to start your search.

Ive just used pixmania as an example.

I can still buy these models from a local elecrical shop anywhere in Ireland, so if they are not guaranteed to work in Irleand then why sell them??
Seems pretty pointless selling TV's that aren't even going to work??

fat-tony

I only mentioned VHF in case the current transmitter uses VHF for analogue. It's a useful backstop if RTENL decide for any reason to suspend DTT for a time (not suggesting they would). Not relevant at all if current transmitter uses UHF only. Wouldn't want the chap's parents falling out with him if the shiny new set stopped receiving the DTT trial/test between crimbo and the live date:D

fat-tony

Buchailldana wrote: »

Ive just used pixmania as an example.

I can still buy these models from a local elecrical shop anywhere in Ireland, so if they are not guaranteed to work in Irleand then why sell them??
Seems pretty pointless selling TV's that aren't even going to work??

Ah yes - that's the €64,000 question! There are lots of retailers (in Ireland) selling TVs which are not capable of receiving Saorview. Lots of postings about problem TVs. Have a read of the compatible TV thread. You will get pointers to retailers who do sell compatible stuff.

Buchailldana

fat-tony wrote: »

Ah yes - that's the €64,000 question! There are lots of retailers (in Ireland) selling TVs which are not capable of receiving Saorview. Lots of postings about problem TVs. Have a read of the compatible TV thread. You will get pointers to retailers who do sell compatible stuff.

Sound.. Can u post a link to that section..

fat-tony

Fourth sticky down http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056096032

Sponge Bob

Generally if folks have TV3 analogue today they are UHF aerial compliant with Irish DTT so the lack of a VHF analogue tuner ( UK models) is no problem. DTT will appear on UHF when they scan because they are on a main transmitter which is enabled.

If the same people have TG4 and No TV3 they quite probably do not have DTT...yet BUT the good news is they have RTE1 and 2 UHF off a relay not VHF off a main transmitter so they need no new aerial either. DTT may eventually show up...or not

fat-tony

I'm sorry I flippin' mentioned VHF:D

Buchailldana

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Generally if folks have TV3 analogue today they are UHF aerial compliant with Irish DTT so the lack of a VHF analogue tuner ( UK models) is no problem. DTT will appear on UHF when they scan because they are on a main transmitter which is enabled.

If the same people have TG4 and No TV3 they quite probably do not have DTT...yet BUT the good news is they have RTE1 and 2 UHF off a relay not VHF off a main transmitter so they need no new aerial either. DTT may eventually show up...or not

Dat's just after confusing the crap out of me..

Ok Ive just read this:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=58664909&postcount=101

and basically my understanding from this is that if I get a TV that is/has MPEG4 installed or compatable it should work - is this correct? Or I am just hoping I have found a simple way of narowing down my search

Sponge Bob

All 'VHF' transmitters are ALSO Digital Transmitters , get an MPEG4 telly but NOT Panasonic

Very Few UHF transmitters ALSO transmit a digital picture.

Having TV3 means you get your picture from a VHF=Digital Transmitter as well.

Having TG4 and No TV3 means you are now statistically LIKELY to be on a Digital Transmitter but it can ALSO mean that your transmitter will NEVER go digital and will disappear altogether in 2012

fat-tony

Buchailldana wrote: »

Dat's just after confusing the crap out of me..

Ok Ive just read this:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=58664909&postcount=101

and basically my understanding from this is that if I get a TV that is/has MPEG4 installed or compatable it should work - is this correct? Or I am just hoping I have found a simple way of narowing down my search

Ignore the stuff about VHF for the moment. Stick with the thread link I posted earlier for current info on compatible sets. Must be Full HD and have MHEG-5 for proper reception of digital teletext and new EPG / red button type services when they come on stream.

watty

Truskmore, Maghera, Kippure, Mullaganish, Maghera, Kippure.
VHF RTE1 & RTE2, UHF TV3 TG4. All Digital

Is Monaghan only VHF relay? No DTT (digital) now, but digital Later.

You have confused me

Simple list
http://www.saortv.info/terrestrial-saorview/transmitters/

List with Channels and Frequencies
http://www.saortv.info/terrestrial-saorview/tuning-saorview/

Sponge Bob

I had explained it nicely here

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=69493231&postcount=12

The simple answer to 'can I get digital right now' is 'do you have tv3 off an aerial right now'.

After that it gets complicated and there are rules and exceptions to rules and exceptions to the exceptions to the rules such as Monaghan

sesswhat

Going back to the original question, the LE40C530 is good value.

Check the Audio Visual section of Hot UK Deals for current TV offers.

The Cush

Buchailldana wrote: »

Looking at buying a new TV for the parents for x-mas and have been looking at a few models. Can anyone give me advice as to whether they work ok in Ireland.

They dont have Sky or anything like that (well not at the moment anyway). All they have is the standard ariel (i.e RTE 1 Network 2 TV3 and TnaG).

As your parents have TV3 via aerial this indicates they are receiving from one of the main transmitters, not quite sure which one in Thurles - maybe Mt Leinster to the east/s east.

Receiving analogue TV3 now indicates they will also receive the Saorview DTT channels (RTÉ 1 & 2, TV3, TG4, 3e, RTÉ News Now) with the correct digital TV.

Both TVs in your first post have MPEG-4 decoders and should receive the Saorview DTT channels.

Another option for you to consider is the Sony 32V5810 from Power City which has a satellite receiver built in and can be used with a satellite dish to receive the UK freesat channels also - no subscription.

fat-tony

The Cush wrote: »

Both TVs in your first post have MPEG-4 decoders and should receive the Saorview DTT channels.

Another option for you to consider is the Sony 32V5810 from Power City which has a satellite receiver built in and can be used with a satellite dish to receive the UK freesat channels also - no subscription.

cush - I had a look at the first TV and the spec indicated that it was a standard DVB-T Freeview set (non-HD), whereas the second was a full HD set with a DVB-T2 Freeview HD tuner / decoder.
Also having the Sony set I was tending to direct the OP to an Irish retailer, but I thought that I was maybe pimping Power City too often:)

The Cush

fat-tony wrote: »

cush - I had a look at the first TV and the spec indicated that it was a standard DVB-T Freeview set (non-HD), whereas the second was a full HD set with a DVB-T2 Freeview HD tuner / decoder.
Also having the Sony set I was tending to direct the OP to an Irish retailer, but I thought that I was maybe pimping Power City too often:)

The first TV is TNT-HD certified therefore MPEG-4.

The link in the first post is to a UK site so naturally they wouldn't mention MPEG-4 in relation to freeview (mpeg-2/dvb-t) to avoid confusion with freeview-HD (mpeg-4/dvb-t2).

Buchailldana

The Cush wrote: »

Both TVs in your first post have MPEG-4 decoders and should receive the Saorview DTT channels.QUOTE]

How do you know they have MPEG-4?? I cant find that anywhere on the spec list for them..

The Cush

Buchailldana wrote: »

How do you know they have MPEG-4?? I cant find that anywhere on the spec list for them..

The second TV is freeview-HD certified therefore MPEG-4 by default.

The first TV as I mentioned above with link to pixmania, beside the picture of the TV is the logo TNT-HD which is France's HD DTT service and uses MPEG-4 video encoding.

Consult the specification in the manual to confirm
Samsung UE40C5100 Manual
Samsung UE40C6000 Manual

fat-tony

Buchailldana wrote: »

The Cush wrote: »

Both TVs in your first post have MPEG-4 decoders and should receive the Saorview DTT channels.QUOTE]

How do you know they have MPEG-4?? I cant find that anywhere on the spec list for them..

Cush is absolutely right. The actual Samsung user manual indicates the MPEG-4 support of the TV. I went on the UK links you provided which didn't mention MPEG-4 support. The key data from the Samsung manual which indicates MPEG-4 support at the correct level:


Digital: MPEG-2 MP@ML, MPEG-4, H.264/AVC MP@L3, MP@L4.0, HP@L4.0

Buchailldana

Cool so this means that either one of these TV's should work ok at home in Ireland..

The Cush

Buchailldana wrote: »

Cool so this means that either one of these TV's should work ok at home in Ireland..

Yes.

fat-tony

I would advise that you check about MHEG compatibility (sorry about another acronym), but this is the technology that provides the digital teletext and potentially enhanced EPG and "red button" capability (as per SKY boxes and Freesat). I can see references in the C6000 manual but not in the C5100:(

luohaoran

I'm currently trying to ascertain if its ok to buy a Samsung LE40c750 in the UK for use here in Ireland.
And I'm beginning to think not, despite the previous posts here.
Perhaps someone here can set me straight.

The UK are moving to Freeview HD which is DVB-T2 (mpeg4).
They used to have Freeview (non-HD) which is DVB-T (mpeg2).
Neither of which are compliant with us here in Ireland, where we require DVB-T (mpeg4)

I've read that DVB-T2 is not backward compatible with DVB-T, so just having mpeg4 compliance alone does not mean it will work.

I have seen some sites in the UK supposedly selling this model
LE40C750R2KXXU
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/soundandvision/lcdtvs/40inch/LE40C750R2KXXU.html
Note they state, the TV is DVB-T (mpeg4), which from all I have read, should not be for sale in the UK since it ought not to work.
So either I've missed something, or the advertising here is "a bit" wrong.
Same problem here.
http://shopping.trustedreviews.com/UK/product/786300426/Samsung_LE40C750R2KXXU_40_3DReady_Full_HD_LCD_TV

Is the LE40C750R2KXXU really DVB-T (mpeg4)?
Well here is the same TV on elara.ie (and I believe if they sell you one on your own turf that does not work they have to take it back)
http://elara.ie/products/detailsfullat.asp?productcode=ECE1944211#spec

Looking in the manual...
http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/201005/20100511130012703/BN68-02808D-00Eng_0330.pdf

The manual for LE40C750 clearly states that mpeg4 and mpeg2 are both supported. via DVB-T and DVB-T2.
I ought to have known that mpeg4 automatically covers mpeg2.
(how else could they go from DVB-T to DVB-T2 without having to through out a lot of TV's.)

So all that remains is to verify that the local model R2KXXU is DVB-T and not DVB-T2 ?? Anyone??

The Cush

luohaoran wrote: »

The UK are moving to Freeview HD which is DVB-T2 (mpeg4).
They used to have Freeview (non-HD) which is DVB-T (mpeg2).
Neither of which are compliant with us here in Ireland, where we require DVB-T (mpeg4)

I've read that DVB-T2 is not backward compatible with DVB-T, so just having mpeg4 compliance alone does not mean it will work.

DVB-T2 is backwards compatible with DVB-T.

MPEG-4 is backwards compatible with MPEG-2.

Many DVB-T receivers also have MPEG-4 decoders but are not advertised as such in the UK for the reason I mentioned in a post above.

Always check the specs before you buy to ensure the receciver has an MPEG-4 drcoder as you have done.

luohaoran wrote: »

So all that remains is to verify that the local model R2KXXU is DVB-T and not DVB-T2 ?? Anyone??

The manual describes the set as DVB-T2/MPEG-4 and so should work here without problem.

luohaoran

Thanks for that clarification.
It makes a lot more sense than what I thought I was seeing.