This cheap picnic any good?

jaggiebunnet

basically a test box I am looking for for the playroom, this is very cheap and 3 pounds delivery to ireland!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sagem-Freeview-Set-Top-Box-MPEG-2-4-Picnic-/180621655014?pt=UK_ConEle_SatCableFreeview_RL&hash=item2a0de3bbe6

Will it do the job?

STB

No.

Akira - DHB-B36HR

€45 on Amazon France. Plays MKV/AVI etc via usb record to USB. No MHEG5

jaggiebunnet

thanks STB - been trawling amazon france to find something, wish i spoke French - think I did find that one but when I went to buy it thought I was selling - will try again as I might have hit the wrong button.

watty

The Picnic is cheap because it's dumped product for a service that was never approved.

It's no use.

See http://www.saortv.info/terrestrial-saorview/the-black-list/

Seemingly the PVR series link is to use Nordig spec for Series Link for PVRs. I Shall have to re-read, as I didn't notice such as spec.

jaggiebunnet

so that one is used, not sure what condition it is in, but 52 euro inc delivery is pretty good.

jaggiebunnet

watty wrote: »

The Picnic is cheap because it's dumped product for a service that was never approved.

It's no use.

See http://www.saortv.info/terrestrial-saorview/the-black-list/

Cheers Watty, I actually found a post on boards from last year where it was discussed after I posted so I guess when it looks too good it is usually too good to be true:)

jaggiebunnet

STB - do you know if that Akira box has scart connectors or is it all HDMI?

Also seen the Sigmatek DVBR-520 being touted around from pixmania not a bad price but..the review says it is not HD which might not necessarily be a problem in the kids play room - would it be a better buy - or, considering that the postage is 16 euro would the Ferguson T50 on satellite.ie be just as good or bad seeing as the delivery is less and I think there is a boardsies discount?

watty

non-HD doesn't work!

There will not be simulcast. RTE1 and RTE2 to be HD by end 2013!

An HD with HDMI and Downsample to SCART is minimum spec.

Sam Russell

Do not buy anything that is mot MPEG 4 HD. RTE 2 is already HD, and all main channels will be HD in a few years. I think HE-AAC might be essential as well.

Do not buy a Picnic box, unless you want to buy mine.:)

jaggiebunnet

So really wait till saorview certified stb's come out then to be sure of all features...saw the walker box in odwyers electrical last night, i mean it is 100 euro - quite the rip off, i guess we are in ireland, expect no less

Sam Russell wrote: »

Do not buy a Picnic box, unless you want to buy mine.:)

ok - 50c including delivery

STB

jaggiebunnet wrote: »

STB - do you know if that Akira box has scart connectors or is it all HDMI?

Also seen the Sigmatek DVBR-520 being touted around from pixmania not a bad price but..the review says it is not HD which might not necessarily be a problem in the kids play room - would it be a better buy - or, considering that the postage is 16 euro would the Ferguson T50 on satellite.ie be just as good or bad seeing as the delivery is less and I think there is a boardsies discount?

Yes the Akira has Scart and HDMI. The plus to this box is that it has PVR facilities and it can play MKV and AVI HD files straight from USB. This is very good given its price point. The negative is that it doesnt have MHEG5 which will be used for text and interactive services - this will not preclude you from watching the stations though.

The current "Walker" boxes on the market do not allow for PVR although they have a USB port. At least 2 more of these Vestel boxes (T8300) are due out in the coming weeks that may have PVR facilities. But the price point is likely to just out of touch with reality as the others have been so far. €99 is madness for non PVR.

The Sigmatek IS HD. Do not read reviews on UK sites. This will only cause confusion. They are talking in their own context. The UK use DVB-T2 for HD. We use DVB-T like the rest of Europe ( and France in Particular).

So whilst RTE obviously would prefer a non grey box market, its likely to continue until the right products with similar functionality to TNT HD boxes appear and at a reasonable price point.

jaggiebunnet

thanks STB - might go for that akira so - used or not 50 inc delivery is pretty good.

watty

RTE are concerned that people don't buy TVs or Boxes that turnout to only partially work.

While it's a pain in the neck the only 100% sure solution is Certification. Other than that you are taking a risk. A "Freeview HD" box or TV has known slight shortcommings in compatibility.

We think some products are actually 100% compatible bar OTA upgrades. But it's a guess based on reading specs and less than scientific testing.

RTE NL and RTE themselves don't know what future serivces they, TV3, Oireachtas, Film Board or TG4 will offer. The point of the Nordig 2.2 standard and the UK profile MHEG5, is that what ever services there are, will be compatible with that.

My son bought a LG 42LD450 TV because I figured it's compatible but it wasn't easy and we nearly bought a LG 42LD490 at €20 more because it can do WiFi, but though it's "Freeview HD" (good for Spill over UK reception + Soarview), it's slightly less compatible as it's UK only.

Full launch isn't till May 2011
ASO is Q4 2012

My recommendation is think long and hard and don't rush.

jaggiebunnet

watty wrote: »

My son bought a LG 42LD450 TV because I figured it's compatible but it wasn't easy and we nearly bought a LG 42LD490 at €20 more because it can do WiFi, but though it's "Freeview HD" (good for Spill over UK reception + Soarview), it's slightly less compatible as it's UK only.

Appreciate the advice - wonder what you mean by "it's uk only" re the 490 ? also when i did a quick google this post at richersounds came up - any thoughts on the 50hz comment?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=70713428

watty

Most LG TVs that work with Irish Digital you can select Ireland as Country and all works.

The LG xxLD490 is a UK only DVB-T2 model for UK "Freeview HD". It won't show TV3 and TG4 teletext and there is no option to change country. Thus it's a UK only model. Everything else works. Typical issue with UK ONLY "Freeview HD" models.


100Hz isn't needed. Usually you get better quality on "100Hz" TVs by turning it off. Same applies to most other "special" settings. It's a myth that you need it from USA issues with 24fps to 30fps interlace or 60fps progressive, 120Hz helps that.


As long as TV does

• 25fps /50Hz interlaced (TV, DVD, BD, most setboxes),
• 50fps /50Hz progressive (PC based Tuners/Media Centres)
• Optionally 24fps progressive (some BD or DVDs, esp US region transfer from Film), Probably displays at 48Hz
• Optionally 30fps/60Hz interlaced for true US TV DVD/VHS/BDs (not Film origin)
• Optionally 60fps/60Hz progressive for true US TV DVD/BDs (not film Origin) and PCs.

Sam Russell

I have an LG42LD490 from Powercity. It is FreeviewHD, so DVB-T2. It has no country option, but it allows you to tick a choice to have the channels in 1, 2 , 3 etc. Otherwise they end up in the 800s.

Teletext does not work on TV3 and TG4, as they are not MHEG5, but it works on RTE1 and 2.

Picture quality is good. Everything works. It does not record to the USB, and I tried palying back a video stream I recorded on my STB, which it replayed, but only as a postage stamp size. Do not understand that, but I am not likely to bother.

Happy with it.

watty

Yes, good TV if you get UK overspill, otherwise the slightly higher compatible LG 42LD450 (xxLD45) is better for Ireland (no DVB-T2).

jaggiebunnet

Thanks guys, really appreciate the input and good to hear that LG is recommended as that is who I was hoping to go with!

Bit of a bummer with the standard tuner being so expensive, would like to get the playroom tv up and running but I guess it is better to wait a month or two and see what the story is with box availability. I mean ultimately like everyone else I would like a combined sat/dtt pvr but I know I am better off waiting on that long term and am happy enough to wait. will see what the next 4-6 weeks will bring in terms of Saorview availability!

in the meantime if anyone has a crap box that works currently and that they would like to donate to a good cause please let me know

watty

€460 to €550 expensive for Full HD Digital TV?

It's not so long ago a Wide-screen 32" CRT with NO HD at all, was near €800.

You can easily pay waste €1,200 for a 42" TV.

Sky Subs are on average over €450 a year.

TV Licence over 3 years is €480

jaggiebunnet

watty wrote: »

€460 to €550 expensive for Full HD Digital TV?

no for stand alone saorview boxes

Jeez me sony 32 CRT rock cost me around 1200 i think when i got it about 8 years ago..

watty

About €70 for a "Freeview HD" box or €95 for a Walker "Saorview". There will be more "Saorview" boxes and prices will drop to €50 to €60 for basic box.

pigeon1916

jaggiebunnet wrote: »

basically a test box I am looking for for the playroom, this is very cheap and 3 pounds delivery to ireland!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sagem-Freeview-Set-Top-Box-MPEG-2-4-Picnic-/180621655014?pt=UK_ConEle_SatCableFreeview_RL&hash=item2a0de3bbe6

Will it do the job?

Yes it will work for the short term. Today the Picnic will get you RTE 1, RTE 2, TV3, 3E, RTE News Now and various Radio stations. It will not get you the RTE 2 HD test channel which stops broadcasting on the 18th of April or any future HD channels.

watty

Very very bad advice pigeon1916. You like people to waste money?

Absolutely do not support "dumped" product that is incompatible, Don't buy it. Those are cheap because they are dumped orphaned incompatible junk.

It won't be that long till all the main channels are HD only. Proper setbox will down-scale to SCART if your TV has no HDMI.

Tesco Direct/Outlet is selling restocked/refurbished "freesat HD" boxes for as low as £36

pigeon1916

watty wrote: »

Very very bad advice pigeon1916. You like people to waste money?

Absolutely do not support "dumped" product that is incompatible, Don't buy it. Those are cheap because they are dumped orphaned incompatible junk.

It won't be that long till all the main channels are HD only. Proper setbox will down-scale to SCART if your TV has no HDMI.

Tesco Direct/Outlet is selling restocked/refurbished "freesat HD" boxes for as low as £36

It was not advice to buy it. I was giving a truthful answer to the original question. I said what it would and would not do.

WATTY is the only person giving incorrect advice telling the op not to buy it as it will not work by saying it is incompatible (So opposed in character as to be incapable of existing together). This device works with Irish DTT TODAY FACT!. You are the person predicting the future time-line of Saorview and when SD will be switched off.

He is looking for a test box for a playroom.

Sam Russell

pigeon1916 wrote: »

This device works with Irish DTT TODAY FACT!. You are the person predicting the future time-line of Saorview and when SD will be switched off.

That Picnic box does not work. It will not receive RTE 2. It is a bad idea to buy it, and is a complete waste of money. If the OP is desperate to buy one, I will sell him mine at less cost, but even then he would be silly to buy one.

There will be better boxes soon at less money that the current ones. I know of one coming in at €50.

watty

pigeon1916 wrote: »

IThis device works with Irish DTT TODAY FACT!.

It doesn't work today. The SD RTE2 is special low quality and ends in about 7 or 8weeks .

It's an absolute waste of money to reward a Scammer.

pigeon1916

watty wrote: »

It doesn't work today. The SD RTE2 is special low quality and ends in about 7 or 8weeks .

It's an absolute waste of money to reward a Scammer.

You Say RTE 2 works today, So what does not work today beside the RTE 2 test channel.

Are you calling the ebay seller a scammer. If so, the seller should be reported to ebay.

As for a waste of money, You could be right. One could always pay for a better stb. There are plenty available. I am sure that they will get cheaper all the time as they all become obsolete along with the CRT TV in the coming years.

watty

The proper RTE2 channel is HD only. It doesn't work on a Picnic box. These are junk, produced down to a price for Sky who didn't bother to check first they would be allowed to use the service in UK. Ofcom didn't give permission and boxes dumped on market.

I met RTE last Monday and discussed various various incompatible Tvs and Boxes on the Market. I and RTE have had products removed from Irish Retail and from eBay.

http://www.techtir.ie/blog/watty/rte-presentation

These kind of products on the market are very damaging. Neotion CAM is another similar category of product.
http://www.saortv.info/terrestrial-saorview/the-black-list/
http://www.saorview.ie/receiving.html

I have regular CRT sets (SD) and they work fine on HD setbox via down sampled picture to SCART. A picnic only does L3 H.264, it has no L4 H.264 so can't do this that is needed on Irish DTT today.
CRTs are just bulky and expensive. Not in same category as a box that actually doesn't work properly. I have 19" 1920x1080p CRT and it's rather stunning, but very very bulky!

Sam Russell

pigeon1916 wrote: »

You Say RTE 2 works today, So what does not work today beside the RTE 2 test channel.

The RTE 2 HD channel does not work today. The LCN are all in the 800s, in reverse order. It is crap for Ireland, and would be useless for UK as the service it was designed for never happened. Do not waste your money.

lawhec

Quite simply, no one should buy any equipment for Saorview services unless (a) it has been certified as such, or (b) other equipment has been deemed to have not full but a high level of compatibility to at least meet the requirements of providing a HD output or down conversion to SD output with MP2 and AAC audio support, with 7 Day EPG, MHEG5, DVB-T Teletext also desirable. For example, some Freeview STB's (including mine) are currently having problems getting program info from most Saorview channels, MHEG5 text is a little slow, and DVB-T teletext doesn't work, but it can display all channels HD & SD, and can output all radio channels too along with a 7 day programme guide next too Freeview 7 day guide & info.

The Sagem Picnic, and I speak as the owner of one myself, has no hope of meeting criterion (a) or (b) as it cannot display or down convert HD material. It has functioned OK as a test receiver for Saorview test transmissions, but will eventually cease to be wholly useful even for SD viewing in less than two months. The same applies to Neotonin NP4 CAMS. These will definitely be obsolete before CRT TV's do which while rarer than hens teeth to find new, can still function for many years to come as a display monitor with a STB - my grandparents' 21" Toshiba, bought in 1994, only just gave up the ghost a couple of weeks ago, and it probably would have still kept going had it not been in a mobile home last December where every radiator burst in in -20c conditions lasting a week.

Do not waste your money getting a knocked-off Picnic box, put the money instead towards at worst a Freeview HD STB, which at least will display RTÉ2 when the temp channel goes. Either wait until you see a seller on eBay who offers a good rate to post to Ireland, or have a look around on your next trip up north or across the Irish Sea.

pigeon1916

Sam Russell wrote: »

The RTE 2 HD channel does not work today. The LCN are all in the 800s, in reverse order. It is crap for Ireland, and would be useless for UK as the service it was designed for never happened. Do not waste your money.

I stated in my original post that the HD channels would not work.
But the Current SD channels are working today on the picnic stb. which they are.

I did not know what Watty has stated. RTNL are going to switch off RTE 2 SD on April the 18th (Date taken from EPG) and leave on RTE 2 HD.

I assumed that they would switch off the RTE 2 HD and add it back later as an extra, similar to what they did in the UK with BBC/ITV. But as you may say assumptions are the mother of all fxxx ups.

jaggiebunnet

Guys thanks - yes a picnic box would have been an ideal test box if it would have got me at least 6 months but as I since found out that it wont with rte 2 then there is no point.

I will wait and see what comes available in april, hopefully that 50 euro box mentioned earlier, if nothing suits I will hopefully be in wales in april so might try and pick up a freeview hd box or at least order one that i can collect at an address over there.

7seth7

it does the job for the moment. the only thing is rte 2 wont work when they change it to high definition.

fat-tony

The temporary channel has been showing a test card for long periods during the day for a while now. It's showing the RTE Two picture at the moment, but the test card was there this morning and most of the afternoon.

watty

Before any current box will 1/2 wear out we will have 4 x HDTV channels.