Saorview - Yes or No

livdmg

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270806542340&clk_rvr_id=261757899469

Anyone know if this Freeview set-top box would be capable of getting Irish Saorview.

tryfix

livdmg wrote: »

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270806542340&clk_rvr_id=261757899469

Anyone know if this Freeview set-top box would be capable of getting Irish Saorview.

It should, it's a freeview HD set top box. It's dirt cheap but don't they only deliver to a UK address. The box has been refurbished so who knows about the quality and it says nothing about having a PVR function. You can buy a nice bush set top box for €50 in Argos, or a mini DVB scart type from adverts.ie for around €50 with postage.

livdmg

I know someone in Derry soshould cover it

they only deliver to a UK address. [ says nothing about having a PVR function/QUOTE] As for the PVR i dont think it has that feature.

tryfix

Cheap and cheerful, why not give it a shot if you're not fussed about the PVR. I'd wait till one of the experts here gives you the definite go ahead that it will get Saorview, but they are always saying freeview HD set top boxes work for Saorview.

livdmg

Maybe you or any expert want to throw there hat into the ring for the best value for money freeview/saorview set top box ??

tryfix

From what i can see the best cheap box for receiving the Saorview channels is the one in Argos for €50, it seems to have good features and it would be easy bring it back if you don't like it.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056342890

This one is €45 and it fits behind the television very neatly with just a lead for the remote signal showing out front.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056324709

This one is the combo satellite/terrestrial receiver for about €100. It seems to be a great bargain if you want the english satellites channels and irish channels on one box.

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

Depending on your budget, any one of them would do fine. There would be nothing wrong with the tesco box except it doesn't seem to record. Nothing wrong with buying a cheapie to tide you over until something newer comes along.

jonnygee

That Tesco box will work with Saorview ok but the epg guide will be one hour out during summertime here due to it needing to recieve a Freeview signal to update the clock.
When Tesco first sold this box it had poor software installed which led to lots of them being returned to stores. Updated software is now available for download to a usb stick which when installed makes the box very stable and very good value for money.
The boxes are available new in Tesco in Quayside shopping centre in Derry at the minute for 30 pounds sterling. But you will still have to do the software update if you buy one. it is not difficult to do.
Unless cash is tight though I would buy the Argos box.
And yes this should be in Terrestrial forum.

BenEadir

tryfix wrote: »

This one is the combo satellite/terrestrial receiver for about €100. It seems to be a great bargain if you want the english satellites channels and irish channels on one box.

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

Tryfix,

I want to have a set up which allows me to connect (using HDMI) a combo FreeSat and Saorview box (like the one you refer to above) with a HTPC for playing stored and streamed internet content to my HD TV via my Onkyo TX-SR875 amp. I figure with that setup I can finally ditch the €80 a month or so I'm paying NTL.

You may not be able to answer these questions but here goes anyway:-

1. Does the combo box have full 7 day EPG for both FreeSat and Saorview?
2. Does the combo box allow you to sort channels into whatever order you wish e.g. channel one could be a Saorview channel and channel 2 a FewwSat channel?
3. Does the combo box have a series link type PVR function assuming I hook it up to a decent size HDD?
4. Could I hook the combo box HDD up to the HTPC so that movies recorded via the combo box are stored and available on the HTPC library?
5. Is there a combo FreeSat / SaorSat box or will there be when the SaorSat service is launched and if so would that not make a more natural fit on a single box than trying to blend a satellite and terrestrial service?

I have 3 TV's in the house and I'd like to roll out a single or common solution for them all so it's the same remote, same set up for each. Ideally I'd also like to be able to record a movie or program on on TV and watch it on another without having to download to a USB stick or anything like that but that could be a different size challenge all together and outside the scope of this thread.

Ben

tryfix

Ben I can't answer most of your questions, but I'll try to answer what I can . The combo box only has a 7 day epg on the saorview part and probably now and next on the satellite epg . As far as I know no freesat/freeview box has come on the market yet just FTA/saorview compatible ones. Series link is not available on the Saorview platform yet, somewhere in that thread you will find the future series link possibilities of the saorview receiver in the combo box.

I don't know if you can record to a HTPC and stream it to another TV, it sounds like an ideal solution instead of taking out external hard drives and plugging them in elsewhere to watch recorded programs in another part of the house.
Could you use a USB hub to access the external HDD from both the saorview box and the HTPC, I like the idea of being able to access the HDD from two devices is it possible?

tryfix

You were asking about a freesat/saorsat. Combo. I think most HD sat receivers would pick up both satellites from two different sources and combine them by allocating each it's own LNB number using a LNB switch to make the connection. Whether you would need two seperate dishes I'm not sure, maybe some way of getting the two signals on one dish will appear .You should start a thread on the HTPC questions you have.

BenEadir

Thanks Tryfix, appreciate the input.

Will wait a while to see what new kit/solutions come out. Might make a good Xmas project.

Ben