Non-MPEG4 TVs post ASO

Sam Russell

I wonder if there is any chance that TVs that cannot receive Saorview will get a firmware update to disable the analogue tuner and alter the function of the remote to facillitate the use of a STB?

I know, two chances.

watty

1) Disabling Analogue Tuner via Firmware update.

a) Impossible over the air for a non-Saorview TV
b) very unlikely via USB stick or SD card or Internet on those TVs that even have that feature
c) No manufacturer would ever force such a thing.
d) Why? There is no advantage. On our Digital TV we simply did no Analogue scan, so it's not obvious that it has an Analogue Tuner. You can delete empty Analogue channels.
e) Analogue may be needed for old security cameras, VHS, old games consoles or Sky RF out in a different room, there are no plans I've heard of even to make a Digital only TV. They likely will eventually

2) Changing Remote Control

a) Almost all Remotes use a small dedicated microcontroller with the codes permanently fixed in factory.
b) Even "universal" or even "learning remotes" rarely can get new codes other than by IR, or audio (some remotes can be updated by holding to telephone!). I know of none that can be reprogrammed by the TV set.
c) Some Setbox remotes and all universal remotes can control TV and set-box functions on same remote.

Basically neither of these things is ever going to happen, due to why should they and they can't!

Antenna

watty wrote: »

1) Disabling Analogue Tuner via Firmware update. d) Why? There is no advantage.

I don't see any sense in this suggestion either, even if it were technically possible.

Is MW (mediumwave) radio band disabled on any radios sold in the republic since it was discontinued here. ?

No one knows how long it would be before ALL cable TV operators are digital only. This is not directly related to ASO.

Its also the case that hospitals, nursing homes, hotels and other large institutions with a common aerial system would use modulators to feed the main channels to non-MPEG4 TVs (via analogue tuner of course, rather than very expensive, and not feasible, MPEG4-MPEG2 conversion and remodulation - if the TVs had MPEG2) post ASO.

Sam Russell

I am not suggesting that it should be for all TVs. I am thinking of the 'granny' factor where if a button can be pressed to stop a TV from working, they will find it.

I would like to be able to be able to control the new STB with the old TV controller. Clearly, the old remote would need reprogramming (or a new one). The TV would need to be programmed to not go to the analogue (or in my case, the digital tuner - ever).

I just hate the idea of having so many remote controls.

watty

1) It's not possible with old remote.

2) Even a Lidl €12 learning remote can be set to ONLY select AV on TV and volume/ text/bright/colour etc and channel change on the Setbox.

My Mum is nearly 80 and isn't too sure about light switches (my Dad who is over 80 OTH was using a Tape Recorder in 1950s and has a PC). In the kitchen and Living room she has two remotes.
Co. Antrim N.I.
Living Room: Sky + TV remotes. Never uses TV channels. Analogue has never had C5
Kitchen: New Digital TV, but that part of Co. Antrim has no DTT. Uses a Freesat box for all the TV channels.

The Granny factor can be overstated.

I have a nice Universal Learning remote here (Limerick). Also a custom one I built!
But we use separate Remotes for DVD, VHS, Sky, PC Media system, TV and home theatre amp
Watching DVD, one person might have AV Amp remote, another DVD and 3rd the TV set!

Sam Russell

Perhaps it's the new STB that needs the remote that can work the TV. That would mean that the remote would have a programmable/learning function that would allow it to turn on/off the TV, adjust volume, and change input device for a small range of TVs.

I do not suppose that will happen, except, perhaps, for a few well known makes like Philips, Sony, and a few others. It would be a good idea though.

winston_1

Some years ago I bought a DAB, FM, AM car radio. In the setup instructions there was the ability to disable the AM section and I thought why would anyone want to do this?

These same thoughts apply to your suggestion.

Sam Russell

In two years time, analogue will not work. So why not disable it. At the present time, if I press '1' I get the analogue RTE 1. In two years time, I will get snow. What I would like is to get RTE 1 on the DTT stb. It is not too much to ask. I could end up with three or four remotes, just to watch TV.

watty

On virtually ALL digital Tvs of you do no Analogue scan you wouldn't know it's there. So a main setup and Digital only scan makes Analogue "vanish".

As said earlier loads of people will be using the RF in analogue for all kinds of stuff for years.

Get a €15 learning remote and put the Set-box and TV code functions you want in it.

If I press "1" I get "closest" match = 101 = RTE 1 Digital. Simply done by not scanning Analogue.

winston_1

Analogue has other uses apart from broadcasts soon to be closed down.
With most sets you select either analogue or digital on the remote. Select digital and pr 1 should then be RTE1. Philips sets put the analogue channels in the 400's so no problem there either.

Sam Russell

It is not just the analogue that I will have the problem with, the digital does not work either. It is an MPEG 2 set.

If the '1' button is pressed, the TV selects the tuner, (either digital or analogue - whichever was last used) and it takes it away from the external input that is really required. It would be nice to stop this from happening.

What would solve it would be a remote for the STB that would cover the TV remote needs.

Antenna

Sam Russell wrote: »

It is not just the analogue that I will have the problem with, the digital does not work either. It is an MPEG 2 set.

If the '1' button is pressed, the TV selects the tuner, (either digital or analogue - whichever was last used) and it takes it away from the external input that is really required. It would be nice to stop this from happening.

I'm not fully sure what you are on about?
If you have a STB connected on a SCART and is switched on, surely your TV gives that priority and switches to it and you have the STB when you switch on the TV?
If it doesn't, you might have a faulty SCART cable or else your SCART is connected to a secondary SCART outlet on the STB which is there for a VCR or DVD-recorder?

If its just when pressing the channel buttons - there is no-one forcing you to press them!.
If you feel that badly about it you could open up the remote control and stick something (insulating) on the PCB under the number buttons to stop them working (provided you don't have another use for them such as traditional teletext?)

I would say however it is daft that most TVs do not allow the TV's channels to be assigned to non-RF inputs (SCART,HDMI etc) where desired.
A lot of people I know (since closure of their local 'deflectors') now have a combination of FTA satellite for UK channels and existing analogue terrestrial for the Irish channels and would be very frequently switching to-and-fro between them.
On many TVs it is awkward to switch back and forth between SCART and terrestrial and it would be a lot easier on people (especially many elderly people) if the option of doing this was there, so that for example such viewers could have 1= RTE1, 2=RTE2, 3=TV3, 4=TG4. 5=SCART input from FTA satellite box.

In your case you could set every channel 1-9 on the TV to the STB if your TV allowed this, if pressing a channel button by mistake is a concern!!!

All this (badly designed TV functionality for real world use, the lack of interface between TVs and STBs, remote control issues), is really unrelated to the bizarre suggestion that analogue capability on TVs could or should be somehow killed by external forces!

Sam Russell

Sam Russell wrote: »

If the '1' button is pressed, the TV selects the tuner, (either digital or analogue - whichever was last used) and it takes it away from the external input that is really required. It would be nice to stop this from happening.

Could you just delete all channels from the list? That way, pressing 1 should do nothing and keep the TV on the external input.

Sam Russell

Karsini wrote: »

Could you just delete all channels from the list? That way, pressing 1 should do nothing and keep the TV on the external input.

It does not work that way. Pressing '1' causes the TV to switch input to the tuner, either analogue or digital, depending on which was last used. That is precisely what I would like to acheive. It would need to ignore the tuner, whatever happens.

The STB is on the HDMI input.

watty

Click apart remote and put piece of tape over number pads.

maxg

Sam Russell wrote: »

It does not work that way. Pressing '1' causes the TV to switch input to the tuner, either analogue or digital, depending on which was last used. That is precisely what I would like to acheive. It would need to ignore the tuner, whatever happens.

The STB is on the HDMI input.

Try a factory reset and skip the channel scan at the initial setup if possible.