Tuning Saorview Channels on Panasonic Viera DVB

friendface

Hi all,

Recently my Mum cancelled Sky at home so I decided to try getting the Saorview channels working on our TV's built-in DVB receiver. I checked the saorview.ie website and according to that we should be able to receive freeview channels.

• The TV is a Panasonic Viera TH-42PX70B.
  
• We have a UHF Ariel in the attic.

Initially, I had no luck receiving any digital signal. Signal strength was very low (3/10) and quality was worse (1/10). After some adjustment in the attic I managed to boost this to (7/10) and (10/10) respectively. This allowed me to receive all the digital radio broadcasts. However, I am still not receiving any digital TV.

I am just wondering whether the TV may not be capable of receiving the Saorview signal due to an incompatible tuner? The TV was bought from the UK if that makes a difference. I realise saorview have a list of approved models on their website. When we bought the TV though, I had assumed that DVB tuners were pretty much universal.

Would really appreciate if anyone can shed some light on this. Looking for the cheapest possible option here as my mum really isn't interested in having any more than the basic terrestrial channels. Alternatively, Is there any way to receive free channels through the disconnected Sky Box (heard something about getting a freeview card off Sky?). Sorry, bit confused here with the different options.

Thanks

The Cush

Unfortunately the TV appear to be incompatible with the Irish Saorview-DTT standard, DVB-T/MPEG-4.

The older UK standard is DVB-T with MPEG-2 video decoder which is not compatible with the TV channels but will work with the radio channels OK.

A STB will be required to receive all the channels with that TV. The Walker and Triax STBs are the only certified units available at the moment costing €90 and €109 respectively.

Do you receive all 4 terretrial channels with that aerial? Sometime in Oct 2012 the 4 existing analogue terrestrial channels will be switched off.

The Sky box will give you some of the free UK channels without a card but not the Irish ones. Alternatively a freesat or free-to-air satellite receiver will also work with the Sky dish.

Have a listen to this radio discussion from the Pat Kenny radio show last week, it gives a good overview of the current situation. Also this from the RTÉ website - Free digital TV: all the options - dish and aerial.

friendface

Thanks a million for the response. Kinda what I had thought alright. We got the TV about 3 years ago so probably the MPEG-2 decoder like you say. Was just hoping there was some chance I'd left something out or needed to realign the Ariel or something stupid. Ah well..

Yeah, I was able to tune in the 4 analogue channels, will need to invest in one of those freeview boxes in the near future then, was hoping there was some way around it. I don't understand why it isn't possible to pick up the new digital RTE channels through the existing Sky dish if they are meant to be freeview though? Does that have something to do with decoding as well? I can pick up other freeview channels like BBC and Film4 no problem. Thought it might have been possible to retune the SkyBox or something. I guess not.

Thanks again for your help. Much appreciated!

friendface

Just had a look here and specs say the TV can handle DVB-T (MPEG-4)

http://alatest.co.uk/reviews/tv-reviews/panasonic-th-px70-series-plasma-tv-37-42-50/po3-39450777,33/#details

DVB-C - No
DVB-S -DVB-S2 (HD) / No
DVB-T - DVB-T (MPEG2) / DVB-T (MPEG4)

The Cush

friendface wrote: »

Just had a look here and specs say the TV can handle DVB-T (MPEG-4)

http://alatest.co.uk/reviews/tv-reviews/panasonic-th-px70-series-plasma-tv-37-42-50/po3-39450777,33/#details

The Panasonic 0x16 problem. You'll still require a Saorview STB.

See these threads and others - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055542668, http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056081158

The Cush

friendface wrote: »

Yeah, I was able to tune in the 4 analogue channels, will need to invest in one of those freeview boxes in the near future then, was hoping there was some way around it.

Saorview not freeview. Freeview is the UK terrestrial service and almost all freeview STBs are MPEG-2 only.

friendface wrote: »

I don't understand why it isn't possible to pick up the new digital RTE channels through the existing Sky dish if they are meant to be freeview though? Does that have something to do with decoding as well? I can pick up other freeview channels like BBC and Film4 no problem. Thought it might have been possible to retune the SkyBox or something. I guess not.

The Irish channels are encrypted on satellite and require a Sky subscription to view them and are only available to Irish viewers. The UK channels are not encrypted.

The reason they're encrypted is programme rights. RTÉ pay programme makers/distributors based on the Irish 4.5 - 5 million population not the 100 million within the satellite footprint if they were free-to-air.

chuckrea

I too tried to tune in my HD Ready Freeview Ready TV but unfortunately it doesnt work either.. I can get up the channel list, it finds everything, even the audio is running in the background, but the Video is blank.. So I think I'm in same boat and have to buy a set top box as well.. I have set up a link on my own site now that will sell the approved set top boxes over the next few weeks and months, So will be learning loads in the mean time..

www.saorviewbox.com

Is there any cheaper set top boxes available at the moment that might not be approved but do work?? Anyone know??

John mac

chuckrea wrote: »

Is there any cheaper set top boxes available at the moment that might not be approved but do work?? Anyone know??

these

and loads more..

chuckrea

Great stuff, But are these guaranteed to work with saorview.. I know there is one way of finding out, but would cost me 50 yoyos!!!

John mac

chuckrea wrote: »

Is there any cheaper set top boxes available at the moment that might not be approved but do work?? Anyone know??

Freeview HD boxes will work..

Note the HD . a freeview box will NOT work..

chuckrea

I know there is different frequencies between freeview HD which is UK/N.I. and saorview.. so I was under the impression that some UK freeview HD boxes would not decode the Saorview HD Signal... But good news for everybody if they do becuase the two approved ones so far are twice the price of the Grundig one on amazon...

I have two TV's at home which were purchased from the UK which have Freeview on them, but does not connect to the saorview signal...

John mac

chuckrea wrote: »

I have two TV's at home which were purchased from the UK which have Freeview on them, but does not connect to the saorview signal...

you should get the radio stations on them. once connected to an aerial.
here

The Cush

chuckrea wrote: »

Great stuff, But are these guaranteed to work with saorview.. I know there is one way of finding out, but would cost me 50 yoyos!!!

There are some bugs, e.g traditional teletext, subtitles and the one quoted below. TV, radio and MHEG-5 digital text appear to work OK. Saorview certified receivers are always guaranteed to work.

Sam Russell wrote: »

Actually, I checked again and it is not fixed. The only fix is to manually set the time to GMT and the EPG works, but the time is GMT. If the time is set automatically, the clock is right but the EPG is advenced by one hour so it is useless. I will get back onto LG.

So much for FreeviewHD being Saorview compatible.:mad:

chuckrea wrote: »

I know there is different frequencies between freeview HD which is UK/N.I. and saorview.. so I was under the impression that some UK freeview HD boxes would not decode the Saorview HD Signal... But good news for everybody if they do becuase the two approved ones so far are twice the price of the Grundig one on amazon...

Freeview (SD) = DVB-T/MPEG-2
Freeview-HD = DVB-T2/MPEG-4
Saorview (SD & HD) = DVB-T/MPEG-4

DVB-T2 (freeview-HD) is backwards compatible with DVB-T and is MPEG-4 by default and so should have no problem with Saorview audio, video and digital text bar the bugs mentioned above.

chuckrea wrote: »

I have two TV's at home which were purchased from the UK which have Freeview on them, but does not connect to the saorview signal...

Some freeview certified TVs have an MPEG-4 video decoder (and will work with Saorview) others only have an MPEG-2 decoder. Very few if any freeview certified STBs have an MPEG-4 decoder. As we have advised here over the years if buying a freeview certified product always check the specs for MPEG-4 (L4.0) video decoder.

Sam Russell

Freeview HD have problems with summer time - the EPG does not work. They also have trouble with teletext, and with channel numbers. There may be other difficulties we do not know yet.

The Picnic box was agreat device, till RTE HD started. Be careful.

mickomack

Has anyone successfully got RTE1, RTE2, TV3 and TG4 working in London with a freeview HD box?

like this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/GRUNDIG-GUD300HD-Freeview-Digital-Box/dp/B003D7LXTO/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1301761420&sr=8-9

Is there much downtime during the summer due to EPG as mentioned previously?

also will an aerial/dish be required in addition to the freeview box?

Sorry for all the questions

Any help would be appreciated

Thanks

John mac

mickomack wrote: »

Has anyone successfully got RTE1, RTE2, TV3 and TG4 working in London with a freeview HD box?

like this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/GRUNDIG-GUD300HD-Freeview-Digital-Box/dp/B003D7LXTO/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1301761420&sr=8-9

Is there much downtime during the summer due to EPG as mentioned previously?

also will an aerial/dish be required in addition to the freeview box?

Sorry for all the questions

Any help would be appreciated

Thanks

only way to get rte in London would be via satellite using an Irish sky sub.

Sponge Bob

mickomack wrote: »

working in London with a freeview HD box?

Remind us of what is the nearest transmitter to you! :cool: