Saorview = irish channels but what about english channels?

paultf

My Dad will have to do something about his TV when the analogue transmisson finishes next year. At the moment he is connected to an aerial and gets all the irish channnels (RTEs, TV3, TG4) and the english (BBCs, UTV, C4)

Saorview will give him all his irish channels next year but am I right in saying if he wants to get BBC1, BBC2, UTV, and C4 he'll have to get in a satellite dish? Is this the only solution? Or will there other options before the end of 2012?

Kristopherus

This box is the best value in set-top boxes to come around in years.Tunes in the Irish DTT and all FTA satellite stations. Your dad may have to get a satellite dish for them. From what you say, he must be getting his service from a Deflector Operator and would(should) have been paying for that.The new box is available from www.satellite.ie with a discount for boardies. Tony from there is a regular poster on this forum.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056284276

Vince Cable

paultf wrote: »

At the moment he is connected to an aerial and gets all the irish channnels (RTEs, TV3, TG4) and the english (BBCs, UTV, C4)

If he's receiving the UK channels from a UK transmitter, there's a good chance this situation will continue with the digital equivalents, no need for satellite.

For areas receiving both UK & Irish broadcasts, Freeview HD equipment is recommended to make the most of the available options, as it will also display the Saorview channels although there may be detail issues; search this forum for 'Freeview HD' for more info.

Saorview equipment will also receive the standard def. Freeview (UK) channels, old SD Freeview stuff is pointless now.

paultf

Just to clarify......

My dad doesn't want to put up a sateillte dish so he justs wants to stick with the exisitng aerial and the necessary equipment needed for Saorview.

According to the Saorview website he'll need:-

"SAORVIEW requires a set-top-box (or integrated digital television (iDTV) with a built in receiver) to decode the digital signal that comes through your aerial."

So if gets that specified Saorview equipment will he still receive the english channels - BBC1, BBC2, UTV, and C4?

Sam Russell

paultf wrote: »

Just to clarify......

My dad doesn't want to put up a sateillte dish so he justs wants to stick with the exisitng aerial and the necessary equipment needed for Saorview.

According to the Saorview website he'll need:-

"SAORVIEW requires a set-top-box (or integrated digital television (iDTV) with a built in receiver) to decode the digital signal that comes through your aerial."

So if gets that specified Saorview equipment will he still receive the english channels - BBC1, BBC2, UTV, and C4?

If he is getting BBC etc from the North, he will get the digital equivalent after analogue switch off. The Saorview equipment will get the Freeview signals. If he is getting them from Wales, then he is already getting Freeview signals. If he is getting the signals from a deflector, those signals will go with ASO and he will have to go Freesat or FTA satellite through a dish.

paultf

Sam Russell wrote: »

If he is getting BBC etc from the North, he will get the digital equivalent after analogue switch off. The Saorview equipment will get the Freeview signals. If he is getting them from Wales, then he is already getting Freeview signals. If he is getting the signals from a deflector, those signals will go with ASO and he will have to go Freesat or FTA satellite through a dish.

Thanks for clarifying that. He is getting BBC NI and UTV. So with a bit of luck he will still get those when he switches to Saorview. Likewise with C4.

Just one final question. The TVs in my parents house are old i.e. non-HD. Would it better (and cheaper) to get a Saorview set-top box for each TV or should they splash out on new HD Saorview ready TVs? I see from the Saorview channel line-up RTE2 is HD - will be there be in the future additional free HD channels available through Saorview?

Finne1993

paultf wrote: »

Thanks for clarifying that. He is getting BBC NI and UTV. So with a bit of luck he will still get those when he switches to Saorview. Likewise with C4.

Could you let us know exactly where the house is so we can tell you whether you are likely to receive the UK stations after ASO, are you in the border area?

paultf

Finne1993 wrote: »

Could you let us know exactly where the house is so we can tell you whether you are likely to receive the UK stations after ASO, are you in the border area?

He is based in Mullingar, Co.Westmeath.

Finne1993

paultf wrote: »

Thanks for clarifying that. He is getting BBC NI and UTV. So with a bit of luck he will still get those when he switches to Saorview. Likewise with C4.

Just one final question. The TVs in my parents house are old i.e. non-HD. Would it better (and cheaper) to get a Saorview set-top box for each TV or should they splash out on new HD Saorview ready TVs? I see from the Saorview channel line-up RTE2 is HD - will be there be in the future additional free HD channels available through Saorview?

Its very likely they are receiving the UK channels from a transmitter in the North, possibly Divis or more likely Brougher Mountain so come ASO they should be able to receive the UK freeview channels, in fact they may very well have the signal for them now.

Unless your folks currently have poor reception on their tv, my advice would be to hold off on buying any new STBs just yet as they will come down in price and by this time next year they could cost as little as €40.

All the channels on Saorview will eventually be broadcast in HD but you'll still be able to view them on CRT TVs through scart.

reslfj

paultf wrote: »

He is based in Mullingar, Co.Westmeath.

Check the UHF analogue channels numbers - and find the NI transmitter your dad is receiving.

He seems to be about 100 km from Brougher Mountain and maybe 150 km from Divis. If he has an OK signal now - he will most likely get an OK digital signal - late next year.

The UK HD signals uses a much better standard - DVB-T2 - than the DVB-T standard used by Saorview. DVB-T2 is marketed in the UK as FreeviewHD.

He should buy a FreeviewHD STB or IDTV, as they will receive all available signals - Saorview, FreeviewSD and FreeviewHD.

But wait - it can only get less expensive and better.

Lars

careca11

I have sky , but only in my living room

Tv in kitchen is just running off the ariel ......what will I have to do come 2012

reslfj

careca11 wrote: »

I have sky , but only in my living room

Tv in kitchen is just running off the ariel ......what will I have to do come 2012

Buy a new TV set or more likely just a STB between the aerial and the SCART or HDMI input on your kitchen TV.
You may be able to get the Saorview signals now, but the UK/NI digital signals are weak until DSO in NI.

Lars

Sam Russell

careca11 wrote: »

I have sky , but only in my living room

Tv in kitchen is just running off the ariel ......what will I have to do come 2012

How big is the TV in the kitchen? If it a CRT and small (less than 24 inch) you should wait until near ASO and replace it with a iDTV as it would be pointless in spending good money on a poor TV that is worth little.

Mr McBoatface

Sam Russell wrote: »

How big is the TV in the kitchen? If it a CRT and small (less than 24 inch) you should wait until near ASO and replace it with a iDTV as it would be pointless in spending good money on a poor TV that is worth little.

+1 on this and just to add to it a little. ASO is not until the end of 2012 and not the start on 2012 , you have loads of time.

ratser

Sorry about my ignorance. I have a Foxsat-HDR Humax satellite box which lets me view the UK Channels and record as well.

I want to get the RTE channels through the satellite box. As the Foxsat is meant to have MPEG4, is it as simple as conecting the digital UHF aerial i have into the Foxsat box? There seems to be 3 connections into the satellite box- 2 of which are already in use for the satellite dish ( LNB 1 IN and LNB 2 IN). The 3rd connection is a "LNB 1 OUT". Can i insert the UHF aerial in this slot ?

Thanks for any help.

Vince Cable

ratser wrote: »

The 3rd connection is a "LNB 1 OUT". Can i insert the UHF aerial in this slot ?

No (the 'LNB' & 'out' should be a clue).

yrrag1974

ratser wrote: »

Sorry about my ignorance. I have a Foxsat-HDR Humax satellite box which lets me view the UK Channels and record as well.

I want to get the RTE channels through the satellite box. As the Foxsat is meant to have MPEG4, is it as simple as conecting the digital UHF aerial i have into the Foxsat box? There seems to be 3 connections into the satellite box- 2 of which are already in use for the satellite dish ( LNB 1 IN and LNB 2 IN). The 3rd connection is a "LNB 1 OUT". Can i insert the UHF aerial in this slot ?

Thanks for any help.

Hi. This is a Freesat box and will only be able to receive the UK FTA channels, you won't be able to receive Saorview using this. The LNB1 out slot is used when you have only one feed coming into the box, allowing you to record 1 channel and view another on the same transponder.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

ratser

Thanks for the replies

Sam Russell

ratser wrote: »

Sorry about my ignorance. I have a Foxsat-HDR Humax satellite box which lets me view the UK Channels and record as well.

I want to get the RTE channels through the satellite box. As the Foxsat is meant to have MPEG4, is it as simple as conecting the digital UHF aerial i have into the Foxsat box? There seems to be 3 connections into the satellite box- 2 of which are already in use for the satellite dish ( LNB 1 IN and LNB 2 IN). The 3rd connection is a "LNB 1 OUT". Can i insert the UHF aerial in this slot ?

Thanks for any help.

No, the Foxsat HDR will only provide Freesat programmes whatever you do. It will not work with DTT in anyway. You need a seperate STB to receive RTE NL. You cannot record onto the Foxsat from DTT either.

I know, I have one too.

Do not try connecting to the third connector, it is a pass through for LNB when you only have one down-lead.

Sam Russell

Oooops, beaten to it.

ratser

Thanks for that Sam.

Can i ask, did you get around the problem?

Sam Russell

ratser wrote: »

Thanks for that Sam.

Can i ask, did you get around the problem?

Well, I got onto Humax and got nowhere. [We have no plans .....]

I currently use a Philips DVD/HDD recorder, but it is not great. I also use one of my STBs with a 1TByte HDD, which works fine. But I do not record a whole lot on it. We tend to watch RTE live, and use the Humax to record series.

bsac

Hi

I have been looking at different posts on Boards.ie and haven't come across anyone saying they are receiving saorview and freeview from the border areas by Aerial. it seems to be possible on the East coast from the welsh transmitters because they have fully switched to digital.
I receive my 4 irish channels and 4 NI channels by 2 aerials. I decided to try the saorview approved Walker WP 12DTB-R to see what I can pick up from Saorview and Freeview.
I am receiving the Saorview channels no problems.
Sometimes mostly after 10/11pm I pick up the following NI channels. bbc1&2&3, BBC News, BBC Red Button, CBBC Channel, 303.
The full channel listing I have at the moment is BBC4, CBeebies, BBC Parliament, 303, sky sports 1, sky sports 2, bbc1&2&3, BBC News, BBC Red Button, CBBC Channel (plus a few radio stations)
A lot of the time these channels cannot be viewed because there's no signal. When channels do work its usually bbc1&2&3, BBC News, BBC Red Button, CBBC Channel, 303.
Most of the time when I switch on the STB I get a message listing the Freeview channels and saying they can't be viewed do you want to delete them. I don't delete them because as I said sometimes they can be viewed.

My question after all that is would a better aerial work? I live on the edge of Navan(racecourse road). My aerial points to Brougher Mt (I'm fairly certain of that judging by google maps). The aerial I have looks like the following one covering all UHF ranges.
http://www.atcsupplies.com/ProductDetails.aspx?Mode=ViewDetails&ProductCode=YHCWKE&pID=333

I have read a few posts that say after ASO in the North the signal should improve quite significantly so should I just wait until whenever that happens in 2012 before doing anything?

Anyone in this area currently receiving both saorview and freeview by aerial? Or anyone got any recommendations on improving signal if thats the issue?

emaherx

I live near Navan also.
I get the same sort of reception as yourself.
Saorview has perfect coverage, and freeview from the north comes and goes.
I would imagine that after ASO Freeview reception in this area will improve.

Wales has already gone to full power wich is why so many people on the East coast have reception.

reslfj

bsac wrote: »

I receive my 4 irish channels and 4 NI channels by 2 aerials. I decided to try the saorview approved Walker WP 12DTB-R to see what I can pick up from Saorview and Freeview.

First thing to do is to note the UHF channels of your analogue channels. From the channel numbers you can be sure from which TX site your are receiving (Brougher 96 km or Divis 113).
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/reception_advice/regions/view_transmitters.asp-itv_region_id=12.html

bsac wrote: »

Sometimes mostly after 10/11pm I pick up the following NI channels. bbc1&2&3, BBC News, BBC Red Button, CBBC Channel, 303.

MUX1 the BBC mux - again check the UHF channel (select any BBC channel and get to the info page on your Walker).
This PDF file will indicate where your Freeview signal is coming from : http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/reception_advice/dtt_pocket_guide_4_2.pdf

bsac wrote: »

My question after all that is would a better aerial work?

I have read a few posts that say after ASO in the North the signal should improve quite significantly so should I just wait until whenever that happens in 2012 before doing anything?

The current - pre DSO - signal levels are very, very low power - Brougher Mt. just 500W, Divis 2300W (or less). But worse Brougher Mt. and Divis uses some of the same channels (23,26,29,33,34) The bearings from Navan to the two sites are only 60 deg apart and you will receive some signal from both - creating co-channel interference. To receive a UK digital signal, it must be 100 or more times stronger than the total noise - from the air, and the noise inside the receiver electronics.

It seems unlikely that you can receive anything but Brougher Mt. MUX1 on UHF channel 30, or maybe Divis MUX C on UHF channel 48.
But of course a mountain or some large hills can change everything.

DSO late 2012.
The (planned) channels and the power for the post DSO signals are listed here: http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/guidance/tech-guidance/UTV_DSO_v1.0.pdf

Now the three PSB muxes from Brougher Mt. will have their own UHF channels (28, 22, 25 at 20kW), but the three COM muxes will -at 2kW- share channels (21,24,27) with the PSB muxes -at 100 kW- from Divis.

If you get your current analogue from Brougher Mt. then you will almost surely be able to get the PSB muxes from there.
But the weak Brougher Mt. COM muxes will not work due to co-channel from Divis - I think.

If you can get a strong signal from Divis there may be a chance the Brougher Mt. COM muxes will not introduce to much noise - only a test can show . Pointing your aerial to Divis will likely give you the COM muxes too.

The best aerial for both sites is a large and very directional group A.
Your current NI aerial is fairly large and you should wait until after DSO before you do anything.

Note: A FreeviewHD receiver is needed for the (then) 5 UK HD channels (PSB3 = BBCB). A FreeviewHD receiver can receive the Saorview signal. More posts on this in other treads.

Lars

johnmcdnl

hey.. i don't want to have to start a new thread but I'm in the same sort of situation...

Living in cavan and my parents are getting a new tv in the next few weeks.. bsaically - if i get a tv with DVB-T2 built in I should be able to get all the Saorview and Freeview stations... but DVB-T will only get the saorview, saorviewHD and FreeviewSD stations...

as it is we get the 4 irish, BBC1,2 UTV and C4.. on analogue...

I know I'll have to wait til ASO in 2012 to get the best signal from the Freeview stations but as it is I think we can get several stations... (hooked a digital tv up to their aerial a few weeks ago but didn't pick up BBC digital station which worried me but did pick up a heap of other stations like itv3, five and a good few others... )

basically am I safe in just getting a tv with DVB-T2 and that should get me all the stations that we can get

The Cush

johnmcdnl wrote: »

basically am I safe in just getting a tv with DVB-T2 and that should get me all the stations that we can get

Yes, similar posted here yesterday - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056295983

bsac

Cheers Emaherx and Lars.

Lars your info was very good in helping understand my situation.
I checked my Analogue channels and my transmitter is definitely Brougher Mt.(Channels BBC1-22,BBC2-28,ITV-25,Ch4-32)

Also I checked a BBC channel on the Walker and its channel 30 so receiving the MUX1 channels from Brougher(intermittantly)

Must have briefly had a signal for MuxB channel26 (bbc4 etc) but haven't got any signal on them at the moment. You pointed out that this Mux is using the same channel 26 as Divis so there's probably interference.

I'll wait for the DSO in 2012 and see how things work out then.

Thanks for your help

reslfj

bsac wrote: »

I'll wait for the DSO in 2012 and see how things work out then.

Thanks for your help

We will wait and hope you will report back post DSO in late 2012.

Lars

bsac

Thankfully it works. Picking up freeview and soarview using the walker saorview stb in Navan and the aerial I've had the past 10 years for picking up bbc1&2,itv,ch4