Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Freeview Box

  • 12-12-2010 11:13pm
    #1
    Happyman42
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,066 ✭✭✭✭


    Not sure if I am in the right place, please move if not mods.

    I am in a Freeview overspill area. My mum (50yards away) gets it perfectly.
    I bought a new telly that has Saorview on it. I get all the RTE stuff. I bought a Freeview box thinking that it would work...however when I tuned it in all I get is the SOarview radio channels...no TV and no Freeview. Anybody know why that is? Am I missing something?


Comments

  • #2
    Gerry Wicklow
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,568 ✭✭✭Gerry Wicklow


    FreeView (the UK system) uses MPEG2 encoding.
    SaorView (the Irish system) uses MPEG4 encoding. A FreeView box will not work.
    However a FreeView HD box will work for both systems


  • #3
    Tom Slick
    Closed Accounts Posts: 393 ✭✭Tom Slick


    What make of tv is it? Why did you assume you needed a seperate box for Freeview?

    Do you have an aerial for the UK transmissions?


  • #4
    Happyman42
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,066 ✭✭✭✭Happyman42


    The Walker one here
    http://www.powercity.ie/?action=&par=10-12&cat=TV%2C+DVD%2C+CAMERA%2C+COMPUTER+
    Won't pick up Freeview.

    I assume my aerial is ok as I brought my mums TV (built in Freeview) and connected it up and it worked.

    Cheers for the quick responses...wife is taking it back tomorrow...so is that definite a HD box should work?
    Why will it pick up the Saorview radio and nothing else?


  • #5
    Mr McBoatface
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,579 ✭✭✭Mr McBoatface


    If you want Saorview and Freeview on one box or TV you need to have:-

    (1) An Aerial setup that can pick up both Freeview and Saorview and the same time. The signals come from different sources and directions and may not be able to be picked up with just one Aerial.
    (2) A Mpeg4 compatible TV or set top box. A FreeviewHD box or TV is the safest option as it will work with Freeview, FreeviewHD and Saorview. Saorview equipment will work with Freeview but may not work with FreeviewHD.

    Your current TV would have picked up Freeview along with Saorview if your Aerial setup was correct, you may need two Aerial one for Freeview and a second for Saorview.

    Return the Freeview box and get your Aerials serviced or a 2nd one installed and use your current TV. If your TV has a DVB-T2 tuner it will also work with FreeviewHD what make is it ?


  • #6
    Mr McBoatface
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,579 ✭✭✭Mr McBoatface


    I see it's a Walker TV ... nice TV but I've no idea if It Mpeg4 DVB-T or Mpeg4 DVB-T2. If it's Mpeg4 DVB-T2 it will work with FreeviewHD also.

    The Freeview box is Mpeg2 video signal only, putting it simply it can't read the Saorview signal which has a Mpeg4 video signal.

    Freeview = Mpeg2 video on DVB-T signal.
    Saorview = Mpeg4 video on DVB-T signal. The equipment will also work with mpeg2 video on a DVB-T signal.
    FreeviewHD = Mpeg4 video on DVB-T2 signal. The equipment will also mpeg2 & mpeg4 video on a DVB-T signal.


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    Tom Slick
    Closed Accounts Posts: 393 ✭✭Tom Slick


    It's strange that your mum's tv picked up UK channels on your aerial but the Walker set & Freeview box won't.

    How well did you check the other tv, did it have good reception of all the channels? (presume they weren't analogue)


  • #8
    fat-tony
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,711 ✭✭✭fat-tony


    Happyman42 wrote: »
    Not sure if I am in the right place, please move if not mods.

    I am in a Freeview overspill area. My mum (50yards away) gets it perfectly.
    I bought a new telly that has Saorview on it. I get all the RTE stuff. I bought a Freeview box thinking that it would work...however when I tuned it in all I get is the SOarview radio channels...no TV and no Freeview. Anybody know why that is? Am I missing something?
    Back to basics - whereabouts are you? Your mum might get Freeview but her house might be higher than yours or reception in your house might be blocked. The Walker TV that you bought should be capable of receiving Freeview but your aerial system needs to be pointing at a Freeview transmitter. You may need to have two aerials depending on what Saorview transmitter and Freeview transmitter you need to receive.

    Why did you buy a separate Freeview box?

    Ultimately you won't be able to receive the HD version of Freeview with the Walker set as it doesn't have a T2 tuner, but this may not be an issue for you at the moment if you receive from NI as there is no HD there at the moment.


  • #9
    Happyman42
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,066 ✭✭✭✭Happyman42


    Tom Slick wrote: »
    It's strange that your mum's tv picked up UK channels on your aerial but the Walker set & Freeview box won't.

    How well did you check the other tv, did it have good reception of all the channels?
    Apart from the Saorview channels having an annoying pause sometimes ..reception seems fine.
    Everything seemed fine as regards tuning.


  • #10
    Happyman42
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,066 ✭✭✭✭Happyman42


    fat-tony wrote: »
    Back to basics - whereabouts are you? Your mum might get Freeview but her house might be higher than yours or reception in your house might be blocked. The Walker TV that you bought should be capable of receiving Freeview but your aerial system needs to be pointing at a Freeview transmitter. You may need to have two aerials depending on what Saorview transmitter and Freeview transmitter you need to receive.

    Why did you buy a separate Freeview box?

    Ultimately you won't be able to receive the HD version of Freeview with the Walker set as it doesn't have a T2 tuner, but this may not be an issue for you at the moment if you receive from NI as there is no HD there at the moment.
    I'm on the Monaghan/Fermanagh border. I didn't think the TV could receive Freeview as it doesn't say it anywhere in the documentation (I'm a tech idiot btw) it didn't find Freeview on initial install so I bought the box.

    Maybe it is the aerial....I actually replaced it since I tested my mums telly.

    So, you guys reckon there should be no need for a box at all, if I have the right aerial?


  • #11
    Tom Slick
    Closed Accounts Posts: 393 ✭✭Tom Slick


    Happyman42 wrote: »
    Maybe it is the aerial....I actually replaced it since I tested my mums telly.

    So, you guys reckon there should be no need for a box at all, if I have the right aerial?

    Now (I think) we're getting to the problem.

    Do you receive the Saorview channels on UHF ch47, that would be Cairn Hill transmitter in Longford?
    You most likely need another aerial for the Freeview.


  • Advertisement
  • #12
    fat-tony
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,711 ✭✭✭fat-tony


    Happyman42 wrote: »
    I'm on the Monaghan/Fermanagh border. I didn't think the TV could receive Freeview as it doesn't say it anywhere in the documentation (I'm a tech idiot btw) it didn't find Freeview on initial install so I bought the box.

    Maybe it is the aerial....I actually replaced it since I tested my mums telly.

    So, you guys reckon there should be no need for a box at all, if I have the right aerial?
    You may need two aerials - one pointing at Freeview transmitter, one pointing at the RTE Saorview transmitter. The telly is technically capable of picking up the Freeview transmissions - you just need a strong enough signal from the aerial. Someone with more local knowledge will give you an idea of which is your local Freeview and Saorview transmitter.

    Thanks TS!


  • #13
    Happyman42
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,066 ✭✭✭✭Happyman42


    Ok, cheers folks.
    Will send box back.....concentrate on aerial!
    Will let you know how I get on.


  • #14
    Happyman42
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,066 ✭✭✭✭Happyman42


    Where would I get a decent aerial folks? Can they be bought online? What should I be asking for?
    Cheers for all your help so far.


  • #15
    Tom Slick
    Closed Accounts Posts: 393 ✭✭Tom Slick


    You mentioned replacing an aerial in an earlier post, did you buy it locally or just have it "lying around"?


  • #16
    Happyman42
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,066 ✭✭✭✭Happyman42


    It belonged to my sister. I didn't buy it.


  • #17
    Tom Slick
    Closed Accounts Posts: 393 ✭✭Tom Slick


    As for buying aerials online, I have no experience but have registered with this crowd: http://www.cpconline.ie (I'm not trade BTW)
    There's also http://www.tvtrade.ie but their range is limited. There are plenty of other options and whether you live in or can get delivery to NI would be a factor as regards cost from UK.

    The kind of aerial you require will depend on the strength of signal in your area. This will increase after analogue is switched off.
    Aerial "group" is another factor to take into account. A genuine wideband aerial like a log-periodic or grid type is probably the best bet for NI transmissions in case extra "out of group" are added in future. (These types require reasonable signal strength)

    Take a look at http://www.aerialsandtv.com (lots of useful info & online shop) & http://www.saortv.info


Advertisement