Cheapest Saorview box

moro_original

Hi,

Just wondering can anyone recommend the cheapest Saorview box available? I'm thinking of picking up a Tecknika Freeview HD box for £30.

Thanks

jgbyr

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056216337 Read #12 Works very nicely

reboot

moro_original wrote: »

Hi,

Just wondering can anyone recommend the cheapest Saorview box available? I'm thinking of picking up a Tecknika Freeview HD box for £30.

Thanks

I bought two Technika boxes,one is 12 Volt dc,via mains adaptor,the other box may receive Channel zero on UK Freeview.They both work well on Freeview HD,BBC etc,and RTE HD.
The 12 Volt version is being used from a battery,solar charged as a Dab type radio,RTE Gold and BBC Radio.Perhaps one day in the car as discussed elsewhere?

Souriau

reboot wrote: »

I bought two Technika boxes,one is 12 Volt dc,via mains adaptor,the other box may receive Channel zero on UK Freeview.They both work well on Freeview HD,BBC etc,and RTE HD.
The 12 Volt version is being used from a battery,solar charged as a Dab type radio,RTE Gold and BBC Radio.Perhaps one day in the car as discussed elsewhere?

OT, what is Channel Zero? I see it on 303 but nothing, audio, video or even data.

reboot

Souriau wrote: »

OT, what is Channel Zero? I see it on 303 but nothing, audio, video or even data.

Technika book says"Ch zero is an interactive service on Freeview.,you may not be able to receive it in your area,see www.ch.-zero.tv for more details""I only receive Freeview Light signal from IOM and no CH Zero.
Looks like it may be games, and a way to make money,through advertising.

Antenna

reboot wrote: »

The 12 Volt version is being used from a battery,solar charged as a Dab type radio

How much current is it using?

reboot

Antenna wrote: »

How much current is it using?

Spec says 11watts,ie at 12volts,less than an amp.

Souriau

reboot wrote: »

Technika book says"Ch zero is an interactive service on Freeview.,you may not be able to receive it in your area,see www.ch.-zero.tv for more details""I only receive Freeview Light signal from IOM and no CH Zero.
Looks like it may be games, and a way to make money,through advertising.

This seem to be a Tesco service as only Tesco sell these STB
306 is in NI and is on Mux D but does not work on LG TV or Humax.

Sorry about that, just 306 is blind from the TV and only access when press in directly but not shown on the listing

Pangea

What's the cheapest certified box?

winston_1

Why do you want the cheapest? Surely better to get the best even if it cost a few euros more.

Pangea

winston_1 wrote: »

Why do you want the cheapest? Surely better to get the best even if it cost a few euros more.

Dearest doesn't always mean the best
If all boxes do the same function then I'm sure many would like the cheapest, this is a recession after all and many people cant afford a box never mind the dearest one.

Sam Russell

Pangea wrote: »

Dearest doesn't always mean the best
If all boxes do the same function then I'm sure many would like the cheapest, this is a recession after all and many people cant afford a box never mind the dearest one.

Their could be significant differences between boxes, even if they are all certified. The speed of the processor affects the performance of the MHEG 5 display. Some posters are complaining of sluggish responses to MHEG 5, and aloso lack of response to the remote. The performance of the (non-certified) PVR function is important to many. The display of EPG varies between boxes, so that should be a consideration. In fact, the user interface is very important, and is not tested in certification.

Being certified is only one aspect that should be considered. Performance is just as important. Price is less so, as once it is paid for, cost is not important, performance is. Otherwise we would all be buying the cheapest of everything, and that does not happen.

biggles007

Sam Russell wrote: »

Their could be significant differences between boxes, even if they are all certified. The speed of the processor affects the performance of the MHEG 5 display. Some posters are complaining of sluggish responses to MHEG 5, and aloso lack of response to the remote. The performance of the (non-certified) PVR function is important to many. The display of EPG varies between boxes, so that should be a consideration. In fact, the user interface is very important, and is not tested in certification.

Being certified is only one aspect that should be considered. Performance is just as important. Price is less so, as once it is paid for, cost is not important, performance is. Otherwise we would all be buying the cheapest of everything, and that does not happen.

Can some one tell me (Joe Soap) what would I not see if there was no mheg5
on the box, or would I not know the difference. Thanks

The Cush

biggles007 wrote: »

Can some one tell me (Joe Soap) what would I not see if there was no mheg5
on the box, or would I not know the difference. Thanks

1. Digital Aertel (looks similar to this). RTÉ plans to end its traditional teletext service about the time ASO takes place.

2. On screen captions for RTÉjr and RTÉ1 +1 when the channels are off air.

3. Future MHEG-5 interactive and teletext services that may be launched by the broadcasters.

Dozen Wicked Words

The Cush wrote: »

1. Digital Aertel (looks similar to this). RTÉ plans to end its traditional teletext service about the time ASO takes place.

2. On screen captions for RTÉjr and RTÉ1 +1 when the channels are off air.

3. Future MHEG-5 interactive and teletext services that may be launched by the broadcasters.

Like the red button type thing on sky?

watty

jgbyr wrote: »

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=205621633* Read #12 Works very nicely

Didn't you read? Not cheapest MPEG4 box but cheapest Saorview box. That's not compatible and only partially works.

watty

dooferoaks wrote: »

Like the red button type thing on sky?

More like Red button on Freeview, except the default button is Green. But you have the idea.

Also PVR series link, Over the Air firmware upgrades and text with pictures. There may be other applications. MHEG5 is very flexible and better suited to Broadcast than MHP(which is basically Java).

Conventional Teletext is ending at end of 2012.

biggles007

The Cush wrote: »

1. Digital Aertel (looks similar to this). RTÉ plans to end its traditional teletext service about the time ASO takes place.

2. On screen captions for RTÉjr and RTÉ1 +1 when the channels are off air.

3. Future MHEG-5 interactive and teletext services that may be launched by the broadcasters.

Thanks CUSH

jgbyr

watty wrote: »

Didn't you read? Not cheapest MPEG4 box but cheapest Saorview box. That's not compatible and only partially works.

Yes I can read but I'm not pedantic.Did it take you 3 months to think of a comment. I was only trying to be helpful by saying what I had got. It's easy to be negative all the time. Not everyone is an expert (I certainly am not) hence the reason to post here. I & I'm sure others use these forums for information & advise, not to be berated over the correct use of terminology.

JRH

Do people really want /use teletext
I cant remember last time i used airtel ... didn't the internet replace that :rolleyes:

Dessiemc27

Hard to beat aertel for the local gaa results on a sunday when you are not near a computer / smartphone....

To be honest digital aertel on the new saorview boxes is very good. wont be long until rte has something similar to bbc's red button feature, with old ga and sports menus etc.

Bring it on....

yinzhong2010

This is one on ebay, Irish seller, 35Euro, cheaper if you buy more (perfect for multirooms)
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/270855505001?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_2771wt_1187

moro_original wrote: »

Hi,

Just wondering can anyone recommend the cheapest Saorview box available? I'm thinking of picking up a Tecknika Freeview HD box for £30.

Thanks

Antenna

watty wrote: »

Conventional Teletext is ending at end of 2012.

Did they definately announce that?

Conventional Teletext is the only RTE teletext that viewers with Sky, UPC (and other cable companies) have - they will have zero RTE teletext if that happens! (unless they also have Saorview receiver + aerial).
People in hotels, hospitals etc (were RF modulators would feed many non-Saorview TVs with the main channels) would totally loose teletext as well until TVs have to be replaced (which could be several years).

t c

http://satworld.ie/product-info.php?Opticum_HDT50_Irish_DTT_Terrestrial_Receiver-pid180.html

They were always very helpful and it is a walk in shop, not just internet.

JRH

yinzhong2010 wrote: »

This is one on ebay, Irish seller, 35Euro, cheaper if you buy more (perfect for multirooms)
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/270855505001?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_2771wt_1187[/QUOTE

+ post = 39
China = 26 :P

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Mini-DVB-T-True-HD-Digital-Terrestrial-TV-Receiver-H-264-MPEG4-Box-Turner-FTA-/250928371611?pt=UK_Computing_Computer_Components_Graphics_Video_TV_Cards_TW&hash=item3a6c7f179b

Sam Russell

JRH wrote: »

yinzhong2010 wrote: »

This is one on ebay, Irish seller, 35Euro, cheaper if you buy more (perfect for multirooms)
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/270855505001?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_2771wt_1187[/QUOTE

+ post = 39
China = 26 :P

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Mini-DVB-T-True-HD-Digital-Terrestrial-TV-Receiver-H-264-MPEG4-Box-Turner-FTA-/250928371611?pt=UK_Computing_Computer_Components_Graphics_Video_TV_Cards_TW&hash=item3a6c7f179b

They both look like my one, but the software does not appear to support Country=Ireland as the video shows channel numbers in the 800s. Neither unit has the same remote as mine. The risk of buying from China is that it takes a long time to arrive, and it may be subject to charges by customs.

The Irish based one is using a Saorview logo while the box is not certified.

No mention of MHEG5.

Buyer beware. I did say the prices would fall to approx €30.

The Cush

Antenna wrote: »

Did they definately announce that?

Conventional Teletext is the only RTE teletext that viewers with Sky, UPC (and other cable companies) have - they will have zero RTE teletext if that happens! (unless they also have Saorview receiver + aerial).
People in hotels, hospitals etc (were RF modulators would feed many non-Saorview TVs with the main channels) would totally loose teletext as well until TVs have to be replaced (which could be several years).

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=70917292

From the RTÉNL Saorview FAQ last Feb

All services (RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TV3, TG4) are currently transmitting traditional analogue EBU teletext on SAORVIEW. RTÉ is also transmitting an enhanced version of its Aertel teletext service in digital.

No fixed date has been set by the broadcasters for switching off their traditional analogue EBU teletext services. It is likely that RTÉ and / or any other broadcaster that is transmitting a digital teletext service will discontinue transmitting their traditional analogue EBU teletext at Analogue Switch Off in October 2012 or soon afterwards.

watty

The EBU teletext will cease on Terrestrial. It can in theory continue on other platforms. Also some while ago RTE tendered for text services production stuff for Sky Platform.

Sometime maybe in 2013 EBU text on Saorview will end.

icdg

watty wrote: »

The EBU teletext will cease on Terrestrial. It can in theory continue on other platforms. Also some while ago RTE tendered for text services production stuff for Sky Platform.

Sometime maybe in 2013 EBU text on Saorview will end.

In the UK they never bothered with it on DTT at all - probably because if it had continued, people would have developed an expectation that it would have continued indefinitely. NTL digital did not originally carry analogue teletext either but at some point they added support for it on certain channels only (mainly the terrestrials) - I think this was because RTÉ didn't transmit digital subtitles at the time or something.

Souriau

icdg wrote: »

In the UK they never bothered with it on DTT at all - probably because if it had continued, people would have developed an expectation that it would have continued indefinitely. NTL digital did not originally carry analogue teletext either but at some point they added support for it on certain channels only (mainly the terrestrials) - I think this was because RTÉ didn't transmit digital subtitles at the time or something.

this is interesting, so will Saorview be using DVB subtitles after the analouge switch off?

yinzhong2010

You are right, Irish customs will charge 21% VAT + Duty if value > 22Euro,
and you are waiting at least 2 weeks before you got it, and imagine if there is anything wrong, shipping it back to China!?....

Sam Russell wrote: »

JRH wrote: »

They both look like my one, but the software does not appear to support Country=Ireland as the video shows channel numbers in the 800s. Neither unit has the same remote as mine. The risk of buying from China is that it takes a long time to arrive, and it may be subject to charges by customs.

The Irish based one is using a Saorview logo while the box is not certified.

No mention of MHEG5.

Buyer beware. I did say the prices would fall to approx €30.

Compton

you know whats wierd yin zhong? the guy selling those boxes is called yin zhong too.. what a coincidence? it would be wierd to buy 10 boxes off yourself wouldnt it?

watty

Souriau wrote: »

this is interesting, so will Saorview be using DVB subtitles after the analouge switch off?

They sort of do already, but use Teletext for rendering/display. The Transmission stream is not inside the EBU Teletext serial stream. I think they only need to change a flag for DVB rendering. This doesn't use MHEG5.

Also UPC will cease Analogue at some stage (as each channel is 5 HDTV or 20 regular channels in MHEG4, or several broadband users, 40 users possibly). The subtitles then will be generated by the UPC setbox.

St Senan

yinzhong2010 wrote: »

This is one on ebay, Irish seller, 35Euro, cheaper if you buy more (perfect for multirooms)
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/270855505001?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_2771wt_1187

Have you not read the Rules. You are Self pimping.

STB

yinzhong2010 wrote: »

You are right, Irish customs will charge 21% VAT + Duty if value > 22Euro,
and you are waiting at least 2 weeks before you got it, and imagine if there is anything wrong, shipping it back to China!?....

If you are the chap selling these can you stop describing them as Saorview boxes on EBAY because they aren't Saorview boxes. Saorview boxes are those that pass certification. Not cheap ass non certified scart devices that dont even uphold the basic requirements of Saorview.

"Best Selling Saorview Box in Ireland" - IS FALSE ADVERTISING.

Another Johnnycomelately attempting to make a few bucks by lying to the uneducated. You will get no love here.

St Senan

Check the contact details in the Business seller information http://www.ebay.ie/itm/270855505001?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_2771wt_1187

He is Advertising them over in the Bargains Alerts. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056456309

Sam Russell

STB wrote: »

If you are the chap selling these can you stop describing them as Saorview boxes on EBAY because they aren't Saorview boxes. Saorview boxes are those that pass certification. Not cheap ass non certified scart devices that dont even uphold the basic requirements of Saorview.

"Best Selling Saorview Box in Ireland" - IS FALSE ADVERTISING.

Another Johnnycomelately attempting to make a few bucks by lying to the uneducated. You will get no love here.

Also, they cannot be the best selling box in Ireland because Lidl got rid of their entire stock in a morning. These boxes are not Saorview approved, nor do they have MHEG5, and may not even have Country=Ireland in the firmware.

The ones I sold had plug and play software, and came with all cables and batteries.

JRH

yinzhong2010 wrote: »

You are right, Irish customs will charge 21% VAT + Duty if value > 22Euro,
and you are waiting at least 2 weeks before you got it, and imagine if there is anything wrong, shipping it back to China!?....

No one including myself has reported having to pay customs on they're Chinese order yet , or had faults /returns .... i think its worth a punt for 26 euro :P

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Mini-DVB-T-True-HD-Digital-Terrestrial-TV-Receiver-H-264-MPEG4-Box-Turner-FTA-/250928371611?pt=UK_Computing_Computer_Components_Graphics_Video_TV_Cards_TW&hash=item3a6c7f179b

watty

Would you ever stop pimping this cheap tat? Are you on Commission?

It's not a Saorview box. It's a generic & cheap DVB-T adaptor.

JRH

watty wrote: »

Would you ever stop pimping this cheap tat? Are you on Commission?

It's not a Saorview box. It's a generic & cheap DVB-T adaptor.

Me ?
Don't think i ever referred to it as a 'saorview ' box

Why is it cheap tat ... care to critique the pcb topology and components for us and tell us why its inferior to other receivers :rolleyes:

Gave mine to a friend today .. she was stuck in analog two channel land on crt but plans to get IDT ... worked so well ...

watty

Look at title of Thread!

You do not have a lab. You have no idea how compliant it is or the quality. Yet you promote these regularly.

JRH

just sharing my user experience that it may benefit others

just said these work well from china and cost 26 euro

winston_1

icdg wrote: »

In the UK they never bothered with it on DTT at all - probably because if it had continued, people would have developed an expectation that it would have continued indefinitely.

And what a pain that is too. So many hotels that used Freeview boxes at the headend to distribute to existing analogue sets in the rooms that suddenly could not get text.
And loads (most) of Freeview boxes that cannot decode text if you take them to a country that uses it. This includes the Technika HD boxes taken to Ireland.
Sadly UK Freeview boxes are uniquely crippled, no EBU teletext, no VHF tuning, PAL/NTSC output switching disabled, and no way of selecting the radio channels apart from sticking them on their own LCN's way up in the 700s.

watty

It would have been smarter to put the freeview box in each room. The quality of those kind of systems is horrible.

Why do you need NTSC on a DVB-T box ever? DVB-T isn't used in any country with NTSC TVs. There are FIVE families of Digital Terrestrial that are totally incompatible. Japan and North America arn't even compatible with each other.

DSO in Ireland is a less than 2 year process. So the lack of Teletext support on UK stuff here is a very short term issue. By 2013 there will be no EBU teletext here either.

"Radio" on virtually all set boxes and modern Home theatre with built in FM tuner is a pain. I have a solution if someone will invest about 400,000 € initially.

Even most modern real Radio sets are obviously designed by people that don't care how awkward it is to configure and only listen to the same 6 channels (or maybe 10) in one place. There are car Radios now where you have to pull in to retune.

Idiots.

I got my wife a 1959 German LW/MW/VHF-FM radio as modern ones either are acoustics of a baked bean can (4" speaker on Roberts Revival? Are they kidding us) or too awkward. Now she is rediscovering Radio. I added two extra channels, one from PC and one from satellite box via €6 CE approved FM transmitters powered on 5V jack socket from USB instead of battery (The chip needs minimum 2.75V and the battery holder only takes one cell (nominal 1.5V) not two (AAA or AA I forget).

winston_1

watty wrote: »

Why do you need NTSC on a DVB-T box ever? DVB-T isn't used in any country with NTSC TVs. There are FIVE families of Digital Terrestrial that are totally incompatible. Japan and North America arn't even compatible with each other.

Taiwan is an NTSC country that uses DVB-T on a 6MHz channel raster, the only one as far as I am aware.

I've come across 2 instances of people who have been working in the US brought their TV home with them (because it was such a good TV) only to find it won't work here as US TVs won't do 50Hz field rate. They got offered all kinds of expensive standard converter systems then asked my advice. You want one of these I said holding out a Fortec Star FS-2100 DVB-T box. These are European standard boxes that were sold off by B & Q for £10 a while back. PAL/NTSC switching is a single button on the remote. These people were very pleased, they didn't have MHEG of course but they didn't have that in the US either so didn't miss it. I've still got a couple of these boxes for future instances.

watty

It's stupid to bring a USA TV to Europe Period.

Hardly a major market. They are better to buy a proper European TV. Frame rate conversion blurs movement badly. A box that's converting to 60Hz is doing them no favour.


ANYONE moving country should research properly. The Advice since TV began over 60 years ago is NOT to take video related gear across the Atlantic and avoid any gear. This still applies.

There are also safety issues with US gear in Europe.

winston_1

watty wrote: »

It's stupid to bring a USA TV to Europe Period.

Hardly a major market. They are better to buy a proper European TV. Frame rate conversion blurs movement badly. A box that's converting to 60Hz is doing them no favour.


ANYONE moving country should research properly. The Advice since TV began over 60 years ago is NOT to take video related gear across the Atlantic and avoid any gear. This still applies.

There are also safety issues with US gear in Europe.

Couldn't agree more, but people do it and I imagine will continue to do so.

Sam Russell

I remember a guy came to me with a HP scanner that he brought over from the US, and carried it around with a huge autotransformer so he could run it on 230V 50 Hz. I thought he should not need the transformer because there would probably be a switch to go from 110v to 230v. Actually, it turned out the unit was a 100v to 240 v supply, so he did not need the autotransformer atall. He just needed a simple change of plug. He had been hauling this giant lump of iron around for no purpose.

As you say, research.

St Senan

STB wrote: »

If you are the chap selling these can you stop describing them as Saorview boxes on EBAY because they aren't Saorview boxes. Saorview boxes are those that pass certification. Not cheap ass non certified scart devices that dont even uphold the basic requirements of Saorview.

"Best Selling Saorview Box in Ireland" - IS FALSE ADVERTISING.

Another Johnnycomelately attempting to make a few bucks by lying to the uneducated. You will get no love here.

He has removed the Saorview logo from his Ebay add http://www.ebay.ie/itm/270855505001?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_2771wt_1187.

STB

scaller wrote: »

He has removed the Saorview logo from his Ebay add http://www.ebay.ie/itm/270855505001?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_2771wt_1187.

But he still has it described as a Saorview Box which it is not. Also he describes it as "Best Selling Saorview Box in Ireland".

Neither are true. "Saorview Boxes" are the approved and certified ones.

If he had described it as a box that receives Saorview it wouldn't be an issue.

Antenna

watty wrote: »

So the lack of Teletext support on UK stuff here is a very short term issue. By 2013 there will be no EBU teletext here either.

as quoted by the Cush:

" It is likely that RTÉ and / or any other broadcaster that is transmitting a digital teletext service will discontinue transmitting their traditional analogue EBU teletext at Analogue Switch Off in October 2012 or soon afterwards"

'likely' does not mean definately + this only (so far) relates to RTE who actually have a MHEG5/"digital" text service

What about Tv3 and TG4? are they going to introduce MHEG5 teletext?

(TV3's text service is of little/no value nowadays - but that is another non-technical debate)