Saoview to 3 TVs

DanWall

I presently have 3 analogue TVs working from the roof top aerial through a booster. Can I use the same system for Saoeview if I put set top box at each TV?

desaparecidos

Yes.

Maybe a bit of adjustment to the aerial (depending on weather it is currently UHF or VHF, grouping, direction it is pointing) but the same distribution system will work.

If you have any flat screen at the moment do a DTV scan to see if you are receiving the channels. (you'll probably have sound no video if you can pick them up)

lucernarian

DanWall wrote: »

I presently have 3 analogue TVs working from the roof top aerial through a booster. Can I use the same system for Saoeview if I put set top box at each TV?

Very likely. If you already get good analogue TV3 then it's almost guaranteed. Most times I've seen a perfectly reliable and stable Saorview picture with somewhat snowy TV3 reception in various locations.

Also, check http://coverage.rtenl.ie/index.php. It's quite accurate if your house is not surrounded by tall buildings or thickets of trees, and/or there's no nearby steel shed between house and transmitter. The RTENL coverage map errs on the side of caution if anything (based on 2 examples I know of).

Finally, desaparecidos' suggestion is very useful. Almost any flatscreen TV can test for availability even if it can't show Saorview video.

DanWall

Thanks.
I have just purchased a 19" TV for the bedroom from Lidl, it has mpeg4 capability, I cannot receive any DTV signal, possibly because they are not yet transmitting in the West Cork area.
The other 2 TVs are recent Samsungs, but only have functions for DTV for other Eurpean countries not Ireland. Samsung tell me they cannot be modified.
It beats me why they could not design a TV that could have the tuner changed, or better still have software that could be changed/flashed.

lucernarian

How sure are you that you cannot receive any DTV signal? Did the coverage map put you in a black spot? Is your TV failing to find any DTT channels?

How strong is your analogue TV3 reception on Ch.27? (520MHz)

watty

It's the most complex chip(s) of the main board that are wrong.

The other 2 TVs are recent Samsungs, but only have functions for DTV for other Eurpean countries not Ireland. Samsung tell me they cannot be modified.

Those TVs will not do HD in UK or France, and will now not work in about 20 countries. MPEG2 is obsolete.

MPEG4 HD needs over 10x the processing of MPEG2 SD to receive. No conceivable software change can add that.
Digital TV. They all use a similar Analogue Tuner for MPEG2 or MPEG4. Scroll ->>

Aerial 
+
\ _______[tuner]=========[ADC]--[CODFDM DSP DECODER]--[Viterbi/FEC]--[TS deMux]--[MPEG DSP Decoder]\
Analogue        I&Q            Digital signals inside chips                   \__[Audio Decoder]----[MUX HDCP and HDMI chip] == HDMI out 
              Analogue  <--TV DSP CHIP SET----------------------------------------------------->   \--[downsample]--[DAC]-SCART === Analogue Video/Audio
			  

An Analogue TV uses a different kind of Analogue Tuner to the Analogue Tuner in a Digital TV.

The bit that doesn't work is hardware in a specific chip that might have over 100 connections to PCB.

DanWall

Watty:
that is interesting, For analogue tv, do you mean the analogue signal is converted to digital?

To_be_confirmed:
I have a good RTE 1 & 2 & TNG signal but cannot receive TV3. (never have)
The local TV shop says that they are not transmitting yet Digital yet,

desaparecidos

Plenty of options in West Cork to pick up Saorview.

Mullaghanish being the main one.

You'll probably have to replace the roof top aerial in the with a UHF one if you've never received TV3 (UHF channel)

http://coverage.rtenl.ie/RTENLcoveragechecker.php
http://www.mpeg4ireland.com/aerial-setup

The second link will gave you the aerial grouping you'll need for Mullaghanish

watty

DanWall wrote: »

Watty:
that is interesting, For analogue tv, do you mean the analogue signal is converted to digital?

Digital TVs convert EVERYTHING to Digital. Analogue Reception on a Digital TV can use the same tuner or a separate Analogue receiver that's later digitised as the SCART in is. Some may use a basic tuner feeding DSP chip for demodulation, or use an Analogue IF amplifier(s) and demodulator.

Analogue TVs can use analogue or Digital receiver after the tuner head.
Models with Comb Filters Digitise the analogue signal. Some may use a basic tuner feeding DSP chip for demodulation, or use an Analogue IF amplifier(s) and demodulator.

All radio signals, for Analogue or Digital Television are actually Analogue and "tuned in" on a Analogue Tuner. The Digital reception uses "Zero IF" usually of I and Q (in phase and quadrature, a 90degrees shifted down conversion from RF) and then digitises them to decode the serial data (contains Transport Stream = MPEG2-TS,). Analogue TV signals can be converted from IF at tuner by conventional Analogue Receiver and then the video and audio digitised (needed for ANY flat screen TV even if no Digital modes), or a Zero IF I &Q can be digitised and digitally filtered and converted to Digital Video and Audio (DSP = Digital Signal Processing), even if there is no Digital mode on the Flat screen TV.

Some late model CRTS with "analogue only" used entirely digital processing after a basic tuner "head" like that in a Digital Flat screen.

DVB-T decoding and MPEG4 decoding needs much more chip circuitry and DSP power, than MPEG2, which is far more than Analogue Reception via DSP. So the latest Model "Freeview HD" DVB-T2 with HD and MPEG4 have enough DSP power to do MPEG2, DVB-T and Analogue "for free".

It's all dedicated Hardware. The CPU in a TV can be 1/4 of power of a smart phone and much less than a PC that can't do MPEG4 and HD well. The CPU is only used to command devices and run the User Interface, but on PC, it can be doing all the DSP.

watty

DanWall wrote: »

I have a good RTE 1 & 2 & TNG signal but cannot receive TV3. (never have)
The local TV shop says that they are not transmitting yet Digital yet,

If you have Tg4, you likely have Digital.
http://coverage.rtenl.ie/
http://maps.techtir.com/ireland-dtt.htm

The Cush

DanWall wrote: »

To_be_confirmed:
I have a good RTE 1 & 2 & TNG signal but cannot receive TV3. (never have)
The local TV shop says that they are not transmitting yet Digital yet,

Can you post the UHF Ch no./frequency of the 3 channels you are receiving which will help identify your local transmitter?

Not all analogue transmitters will provide DTT. All west Cork sites are online bar Kinsale.

DanWall

Thanks for you help all. I have
CH 41 631.30MHz RTE 1
CH 44 655.20 RTE 2
CH 51 711.20 TG4

I have a hill behind me, and my aerial seems to be pointing Clonakilty direction

watty

DTT Clonakilty

Channel: 48
Polarization: H

Active.

The Cush

DanWall wrote: »

Thanks for you help all. I have
CH 41 631.30MHz RTE 1
CH 44 655.20 RTE 2
CH 51 711.20 TG4

I have a hill behind me, and my aerial seems to be pointing Clonakilty direction

You are receiving from one of these sites Bandon (H), Dunmanway (V) or Leap (H), none of which will be upgraded for DTT. Clonakilty analogue 39, 42,49 (H).

DTT options Mullaghanish, Clonakilty or Kinsale?

Bluedub38

I am very technologically stupid all this talk of digital has me spooked. All I need to know is this - I have no aerial on my roof I have a UPC cable that comes through a little box on the wall into two rooms with the third telly split of one. I don't need to record or pause live tv. I just like to stick it on and get a picture. With digital comming in what do I have to do? Please please help as I am reading all this stuff and it's just not making sense to me. I live with my parents who cannot work a dvd and are expecting me to have all the answers. Thanks in anticipation of the simple english worded replies I'm sure I will get.

watty

You need a TV aerial.
You need either a compatible TV, or a set-box to adapt an incompatible TV.

All explained here www.saorview.ie (official) and www.saortv.info (unofficial but includes information about Free UK TV).

Once off purchases and no subscriptions.

"Working it" is same as any TV.

Bluedub38

Is the cable going into the telly at the moment not an aerial?

The Cush

Bluedub38 wrote: »

I am very technologically stupid all this talk of digital has me spooked. All I need to know is this - I have no aerial on my roof I have a UPC cable that comes through a little box on the wall into two rooms with the third telly split of one. I don't need to record or pause live tv. I just like to stick it on and get a picture. With digital comming in what do I have to do? Please please help as I am reading all this stuff and it's just not making sense to me. I live with my parents who cannot work a dvd and are expecting me to have all the answers. Thanks in anticipation of the simple english worded replies I'm sure I will get.

If you have UPC cable for all the TVs in the house Saorview-DTT will not affect you unless you plan to cancel your subscription and install an aerial.

See this site for further information - http://www.saorview.ie/help/

Bluedub38

Thanks for the replies parents very happy now we are all breathing steadily again;)

lucernarian

watty wrote: »

You need a TV aerial.
You need either a compatible TV, or a set-box to adapt an incompatible TV.

All explained here www.saorview.ie (official) and www.saortv.info (unofficial but includes information about Free UK TV).

Once off purchases and no subscriptions.

"Working it" is same as any TV.

Only if you use a TV aerial for reception on any telly. Those using UPC in every room won't have to do anything for Analogue Switchover and the worst that could happen is that UPC decide everyone should use digital UPC TV. That would mean UPC supplying customers with a box for every TV. That's not even been hinted by UPC yet.

watty

It's definately going to happen. That's sure.

wil

watty wrote: »

It's definately going to happen. That's sure.

definitely, maybe?

lucernarian

watty wrote: »

It's definately going to happen. That's sure.

Where's the evidence for it? As much as it makes sense, where have they positively even hinted at this apart from in Cork in recent years?

watty

Not all Information sources are Internet links.

lucernarian

watty wrote: »

Not all Information sources are Internet links.

That's well and good but that wasn't my point as you should know. I had a good idea it wouldn't be on the WWW otherwise it would have been discussed here by now. Are you really just saying that your sources are confidential? That's perfectly reasonable if so.

watty

I can't possibly comment more than I have. Your inference may be reasonable. I have pointed out before that the Analogue on cable will end. But I don't have an actual date.

wil

watty wrote: »

I can't possibly comment more than I have. Your inference may be reasonable. I have pointed out before that the Analogue on cable will end. But I don't have an actual date.

I'd say that has been on the cards for quite a while now so no surprise there. More control and revenue potential from digital boxes.
Probably down to logistics why it hasnt happened yet, something I get the impression ntl/chorus/aka were never the best at.
They are ripping out analogue lines as they go. Wish they stop sending crap in the mail and I read they were fined for making some ridiculous number of marketing calls, one person 225 times in 3 weeks:eek: