Three Saorview newbie questions

Charisteas

Hey guys, three Saorview newbie questions, apologies if posted before.

First - Been looking around for a new Saorview TV and seeing a lot which say 'Saorview Approved' or 'Saorview ready' - does that mean that they have Saorview pre-installed on them, or does it simply mean that they are merely compatible with Saorview and that I would still need to purchase a set-top box separately?

Secondly - the aeriel. I'm living in Dublin city centre but only have a UHF/VHF indoor antenna - would it still be sufficient enough?

Thirdly - I read about a new digital version of aertel but do Saorview still have the Aertel subtitle page (normally page 888) ?

Thanks in advance

Pangea

Not too sure about your 2nd question but heres my other answers

1: It means if you stick in the aerial feed to the back of the TV it will be able to receive Saorview, no need for a box.


3.The subtitles are turned on via your Saorview equipments remote (either tv remote or saorview box temote)

Peter Rhea

Take a look here http://www.saorview.ie

If you have a compatible tv, you don't need a box.

Kristopherus

Saorview Approved are the only boxes or tvs that comply with the standard set down by RTE/RTENLand are guaranteed to provide all the Saorview services. Saorview Ready is a misnomer and could fool a lot of people who only want the real thing. These Saorview Ready boxes will, for the most part, give you nearly all you will need to get full benefit from Saorview. They may not be mheg 5 compliant and therefore will not have the new text or interactive services, whenever they come on stream.

Peter Rhea

Charisteas wrote: »

I'm living in Dublin city centre but only have a UHF/VHF indoor antenna - would it still be sufficient?

Do you currently have analogue reception from this aerial & if so, how good is it?

Mr McBoatface

"Saorview Ready" is a new term I've not heard or seen before, I'd be wary of these they may not be 100% compatible.

Saorview isn't built in you can receive on the TV or not, the TV must have the correct equipment in it to decode the signal.

If you receive TG4 or TV3 analogue (even a snowy picture) using your current aerial then you should be fine for Saorview, that said an outdoor aerial is recommended.

Subtitles 888 are present as far as I know, I've not got a MHEG-5 (new digital text) receiver to see what the new text looks like.

Approved product list here - http://www.saorview.ie/products-retailers/saorview-approved-product-listings/

Souriau

If you received Aertel teletext on analouge TV. on TV3 or TG4 and the pages show no missing text on the first page you select and not the update page, that is usually a good test to know that you will received digital TV without upgrading your aerial. Providing you can get Saorview in your area

LFC5Times

Hope the OP doesn't mind me hijacking this thread but have a couple of questions.

1) If your TV doesn't have Saorview but you have Sky Digital - does that basically mean you are OK and don't need a TV with Saorview?

2) Can someone tell me if this TV below has Saorview? It says it is digital compatible in Ireland but not too sure what they mean.

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5296259/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CHome+entertainment+and+sat+nav%7C14419512/c_2/3%7C19780832%7CTelevisions%7C14419667/c_3/4%7Ccat_14419667%7CLCD+TVs%7C24282204.htm

Thanks in advance

The Cush

Charisteas wrote: »

Hey guys, three Saorview newbie questions, apologies if posted before.

First - Been looking around for a new Saorview TV and seeing a lot which say 'Saorview Approved' or 'Saorview ready' - does that mean that they have Saorview pre-installed on them, or does it simply mean that they are merely compatible with Saorview and that I would still need to purchase a set-top box separately?

Secondly - the aeriel. I'm living in Dublin city centre but only have a UHF/VHF indoor antenna - would it still be sufficient enough?

Thirdly - I read about a new digital version of aertel but do Saorview still have the Aertel subtitle page (normally page 888) ?

1. As the lads said in the previous posts Saorview approved means the products are 100% Saorview compatible/ready for audio/video/interactive etc. Non certified products capable of receiving DTT audio and video but may or may not receive interactive services like digital text have been described as Irish DTT/Digital ready or Irish MPEG-4 compatible.

2. The indoor aerial may work but may be subject to interference. You may have to move it around for optimum reception. Reception of the existing analogue channels is a good indicator for good DTT reception. Try it out before you invest in an attic or external aerial.

3. Digital Aertel doesn't have a page 888 like the analogue version. Subtitles are carried as a separate stream on DTT and are accessed by either the subtitle button on the remote for once off display of the subtitles on the current channel being viewed or if you want the subtitles to be permanently displayed on all channels at all times (if available) this is done by switching them on via the menu.

LFC5Times wrote: »

1) If your TV doesn't have Saorview but you have Sky Digital - does that basically mean you are OK and don't need a TV with Saorview?

2) Can someone tell me if this TV below has Saorview? It says it is digital compatible in Ireland but not too sure what they mean.

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5296259/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CHome+entertainment+and+sat+nav%7C14419512/c_2/3%7C19780832%7CTelevisions%7C14419667/c_3/4%7Ccat_14419667%7CLCD+TVs%7C24282204.htm

1. If you are happy to pay Sky to receive the Irish channels then you won't require a Saorview TV. If at any time in the future you cancel Sky or use the TV as a second or third set not connected to a subscription service then you will require a Saorview STB to receive the Irish channels if the TV doesn't have a digital tuner.

2. It is MPEG-4 compatible, which means it will receive the Irish DTT channels. As its not Saorview certified/approved I'm not sure if it'll work with the new Digital Aertel but the old analogue teletext is still available in any case.
http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/201004/20100408132750703/BN68-02542D-00Eng-0304.pdf

The RTÉNL Saorview FAQ may answer any further questions for you both - http://www.rtenl.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/RTÉNL-SAORVIEW-FAQs-May-2011-Rev-3-0.pdf

Kristopherus

LFC5Times wrote: »

Hope the OP doesn't mind me hijacking this thread but have a couple of questions.

1) If your TV doesn't have Saorview but you have Sky Digital - does that basically mean you are OK and don't need a TV with Saorview?

2) Can someone tell me if this TV below has Saorview? It says it is digital compatible in Ireland but not too sure what they mean.

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5296259/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CHome+entertainment+and+sat+nav%7C14419512/c_2/3%7C19780832%7CTelevisions%7C14419667/c_3/4%7Ccat_14419667%7CLCD+TVs%7C24282204.htm

Thanks in advance

Have a look at my post in the Bargain alerts thread about that tv.

Charisteas

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Do you currently have analogue reception from this aerial & if so, how good is it?

Yeah i'm currently getting RTE 1, RTE 2, TV3 and TG4 through analogue, all decent quality.

This is the antenna im using http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5347225/Trail/searchtext%3EAERIEL.htm

---

Thanks for all your help guys, feel more at ease about splashing the cash for a new Saorview TV now.

tarahill

HELP NEEDED
I have bought a walker set top box and set it up on my tv, it works very well BUT my aerial is an outdoor one and without the box I received 8 channells rte1 rte2 tg4 tv3 bbc1 bbc2 ch4 and utv. now that the box is on I no longer have ch4 or utv can anyone explain why this maybe happening its a pain having to keep pullin the whole thing apart every time i want to watch either of these channells. i gained a few different ones as well but I do like the utv channell which is basically itv1 really ish
any help will be great.

meercat

tarahill wrote: »

HELP NEEDED
I have bought a walker set top box and set it up on my tv, it works very well BUT my aerial is an outdoor one and without the box I received 8 channells rte1 rte2 tg4 tv3 bbc1 bbc2 ch4 and utv. now that the box is on I no longer have ch4 or utv can anyone explain why this maybe happening its a pain having to keep pullin the whole thing apart every time i want to watch either of these channells. i gained a few different ones as well but I do like the utv channell which is basically itv1 really ish
any help will be great.

check that your tv input cable and output cable are in the correct connections
use a scart lead or hdmi to view saorview
you should be able to still get the same tv channels plus saorview
post a pic of back of saorview box if possible

winston_1

The Cush wrote: »

1 if it'll work with the new Digital Aertel but the old analogue teletext is still available in any case.

It's NOT analogue text. ALL teletext is digital. You mean traditional teletext.

The Cush

winston_1 wrote: »

It's NOT analogue text. ALL teletext is digital. You mean traditional teletext.

Thank you and yes I know

We discussed it previously and I'll continue to call it analogue text to differentiate it from MHEG-5 digital text.

tarahill

meercat wrote: »

check that your tv input cable and output cable are in the correct connections
use a scart lead or hdmi to view saorview
you should be able to still get the same tv channels plus saorview
post a pic of back of saorview box if possible

thanks meercat will try the cable input out put tomorrow at the moment there is only a cable in the input i didnt have a cable in the other will buy one tomorrow kinda thought that might be the prob saorview seemd to think its a prob with the signal in northern ireland? anyway I do have a few new channells which came in BUT now all my bbc channells etc have excellent audio but the picture keeps freezing every few seconds which is annoying this is not happening to the irish channells do so maybe the vcable in the output which I guess feeds back in to the telly? will help this problem im not very well up on this technology thing at all so all help will be much appreciated thanks.:o

Joe7

tarahill wrote: »

so maybe the cable in the output which I guess feeds back in to the telly?

Yes, to feed the tv's analogue tuner.

LFC5Times

Hi folks,

As far as I can see we don't have an aerial on our roof, also I took the analogue cable(gives me the basic channels) out of the TV in the breakfast room and did an automatic scan but no channels appeared. Now I think the TV is Saorview Compatible but I could be wrong http://www.amazon.co.uk/LG-22LH2000-22-inch-Widescreen-Freeview/dp/tech-data/B001UHMT2Y/ref=de_a_smtd/278-8267575-5577748

If I do get an aerial and set it up do I only get the Irish channels? What are people going to do for the likes of BBC,UTV,C4 etc?

Cheers

Gerry Wicklow

You would still need some sort of aerial in the TV for SaorView. In some parts of Dublin the signal is strong enough to only need an aerial on top of the TV. Some people refer to these as "rabbits ears" and can be bought for a few €
For BBC etc free and in HD people use an old $ky satellite dish and a free-to-air (FTA) satellite box. An old $ky box where the subscription has lapsed might suffice.
It is also possible to get combo boxes for TVs that are not SaorView compatible. Combo boxes do both SaorView and FTA satellite in the one unit.

tarahill

well folks have put the input in and input out cables in place stil have the freezing problems on the channells that are not irish. so I have to use the television without the saorview box to watch the english channells and the box for the irish channells.

the english channells are very clear with great sound only would drive you
mad to watch them freezing every few seconds, and the sound is way ahead of the picture. its funny because when I set it up first this didnt happen, for a few hours all was working well ???? oh isnt technology just wonderful hmmm ?????

Peter Rhea

Do you live near the border & do you know which transmitter your UK channels are being received from?

tarahill

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Do you live near the border & do you know which transmitter your UK channels are being received from?

we do live near the border all right think it might be the transmitter near enniskillen we receive from, its mad last night all channells were working perfect english irish no freezing on the english ones at all, today its same old same old freezing away.the irish ones are very good through the saor view box 100 percent improvement in them.

sesswhat

tarahill wrote: »

we do live near the border all right think it might be the transmitter near enniskillen we receive from, its mad last night all channells were working perfect english irish no freezing on the english ones at all, today its same old same old freezing away.the irish ones are very good through the saor view box 100 percent improvement in them.

It sounds like you may not have a strong enough signal from the UK transmitter. Even though you can get the four UK analogue channels, the Saorview box is struggling to give you reliable digital Freeview channels. The freeview channels are on different frequencies so they could also be suffering from interference not affecting the analogue channels.

You are almost there though, so you should check the condition of your aerial, cable and connections.

tarahill

well everyone I havent a clue what to do anymore every night from around 9 or 10pm all channells on the saorview work perfectly no interfereance on the picture so havent a clue what the hell is the problem now. someone did tell me that the saorview boxes update power or something every night unless this has something to do with it but anyway most nights i dont have to go back to the aerial for my english channells they work perfectly through the saorview box

Peter Rhea

You just have borderline reception of the UK Freeview channels due either to local conditions, distance from transmitter etc. or an underperforming aerial system.

When conditions are ideal you get perfect reception but there's no extra signal margin to cope with less than perfect atmospheric conditions or interference levels.

michaelormonde

Hi, I was just wondering has anybody had the same problem. I recently installed a Saorview box and it is working perfectly except when I connect my hard drive to record. The Saorview box freezes up and I have to power off for 5 mins. If any one has had this problem and can suggest any way t resolve the problem. I would appreciate any help thanks.

Sam Russell

Is the HDD powered from the STB? Not a good idea if it is.

michaelormonde

No it has its own power supply. But I did an upgrade on the saorview box and I will have to wait to see if that has solved the problem. Thanks for the reply and I will keep you posted.

zg3409

You should only connect the drive when the box is plugged out. Ideally format the box using the menu option in the box. In this way the box will more likely work better.

For best results you need an expensive hard drive with fast read and write speeds. Cheaper hard drives cannot record and playback fast enough. Some boxes will detect this and give errors. Others may just act strangely.

michaelormonde

Thanks for the pointers. I have upgraded the STB and it seems to be working better. Kind Regards.:)

michaelormonde

Hi, with regard to the out of sync sound my saorview box has a SPDIF delay adjustment which deals with lip sync issues. I havent tried it yet but there was some channels that had the sync problem.