Saorview Set Top Box €49

danjo-xx

From Thursday 27th October next @ Lidl.

• Can decode standard definition and high definition MPEG 4 signals
• MHEG5 compatible
• With HD resolution (720p/1080i): change between the two resolutions at the flick of a switch
• HDMI output (includes HDMI cable) and scart socket
• Auto/manual channel search , 7 day EPG (Electronic Programme Guide), Reminder setting, 16 languages to choose from Child lock feature, Subtitles, 12/24 hour clock, Low standby energy consumption; <1W, Remote control included, Size: 30 x 5 x 18cm

http://www.lidl.ie/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_ri_ie/hs.xsl/index_14607.htm

Ghost Train

Argos have 50€ one, so not price not much better, info on the argos one in the terrestrial forum

http://www.argos.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10152&langId=111&q=BUSH&c_1=1|category_root|Home+entertainment+and+sat+nav|14419512&pp=20&c_2=2|cat_14419512|Digital+boxes+and+services|14419633

TheDriver

presume its all the same box underneath...... Does it have USB slot for pvr?

Dman001

No mention of the Argos one including a HDMI cable though. Nothing as sickening when buying a device like this and forgetting to get the necessary cables for it.

Hogzy

Do these need to be connected to an aerial or satellite?

Zimmerframe

Hogzy wrote: »

Do these need to be connected to an aerial or satellite?

Saorview = Aerial

bmaxi

Hogzy wrote: »

Do these need to be connected to an aerial or satellite?

Aerial. Saorview is terrestrial TV.

Hal Emmerich

Dman001 wrote: »

No mention of the Argos one including a HDMI cable though. Nothing as sickening when buying a device like this and forgetting to get the necessary cables for it.

Just tick the box and add the belkin one to your order!!

Did you not see it?:P

Hogzy

Zimmerframe wrote: »

Saorview = Aerial

bmaxi wrote: »

Aerial. Saorview is terrestrial TV.

Will one of those small indoor aerials (Bunny rabbit ears) do or does it have to be a large roof mounted one?

Zimmerframe

Hogzy wrote: »

Will one of those small indoor aerials (Bunny rabbit ears) do or does it have to be a large roof mounted one?

Depends on where you are located, i.e near transmitter.

Opinicus

Dman001 wrote: »

No mention of the Argos one including a HDMI cable though. Nothing as sickening when buying a device like this and forgetting to get the necessary cables for it.

The bush saorview box that i got in argos did have a HDMI cable included in the box.

Kristopherus

Hal Emmerich wrote: »

Just tick the box and add the belkin one to your order!!

Did you not see it?:P

€34.99 for a HDMI cable:eek::eek::eek:. The Argos box has been out of stock for the past couple of weeks:(

mp3ireland2

Hogzy wrote: »

Will one of those small indoor aerials (Bunny rabbit ears) do or does it have to be a large roof mounted one?

If you can currently get analogue signal via bunny ears you will get saorview with them.... Digital tv does not requires a weaker signal than analogue to get a perfect picture....

justsomebloke

Ghost Train wrote: »

Argos have 50€ one, so not price not much better, info on the argos one in the terrestrial forum

anyone have a link to this as the link posted doesn't seem to be working

Dazzy

I was having a problem getting the Soarview signal with the rabbits ears type aerial so I picked up one of these aerials in Power City for €16.95. I put it in the attic and it works perfectly. Link

AFAIK its to be used indoors only and you wouldn't want it in your sitting room as its big and ugly

eamonnq

Dazzy wrote: »

AFAIK its to be used indoors only and you wouldn't want it in your sitting room as its big and ugly

Wonder can I put the wife in the attic??

bmaxi

Anybody with questions on aerials, boxes, reception problems etc. should search the Terrestrial forum, loads of great advice and helpful posters on there.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=56

marcbrophy

Argos have taken down their 49.99 box and replaced it with a 69.99 box!
I'm not certain, but it looks like the same thing to me!

I've went with the one from argos, as knowing my luck, Lidl will have 5 boxes and i'll be the 6th customer!!

Do-more

Do your own research before purchasing but there is a cheap Sagem Picnic set top box available on eBay for about €27.50 delivered from a search on boards some people have had problems with it but it seems it is only a question of running a ground wire to the back of the case.

I don't have one myself and I think they are only SD and don't work with the teletext but for the price it might be worth doing some more research if you are looking for something cheap and cheerful.

Dazzy

eamonnq wrote: »

Wonder can I put the wife in the attic??

Have her hold the aerial!:D

bmaxi

Do-more wrote: »

Do your own research before purchasing but there is a cheap Sagem Picnic set top box available on eBay for about €27.50 delivered from a search on boards some people have had problems with it but it seems it is only a question of running a ground wire to the back of the case.

I don't have one myself and I think they are only SD and don't work with the teletext but for the price it might be worth doing some more research if you are looking for something cheap and cheerful.

They are only SD and so won't receive RTE2. Analogue TV is not due to be switched off for another year, I'd say the price of set top boxes will have dropped by then.

Do-more

bmaxi wrote: »

They are only SD and so won't receive RTE2. Analogue TV is not due to be switched off for another year, I'd say the price of set top boxes will have dropped by then.

Or double in price to capitalise on the panic that sets in when peoples tellys don't work any more!

I read a bit more on that cheap Picnic box and I wouldn't go for it myself!

Merbhp

Argos link

Saorview approved to work with the Irish digital signal. €69.99
Digital set top box features:

• Digitally interactive.
• Digital text.
• Digital video broadcasting (DVB) subtitles available.
• Auto setup.
• Now and next programme guide.
• 7 day electronic programme guide (EPG).
• Audio description compatible.

Connectivity:

• HDMI output.
• 1 SCART socket.

Additional information:

• Remote control batteries required 2 x AAA (included).
• Size H4, W29.5, D17cm.
• Weight 0.92g.

indiewindy

mp3ireland2 wrote: »

If you can currently get analogue signal via bunny ears you will get saorview with them.... Digital tv does not requires a weaker signal than analogue to get a perfect picture....

Lovely, didnt know that, can pick up one of these now

imitation

mp3ireland2 wrote: »

If you can currently get analogue signal via bunny ears you will get saorview with them.... Digital tv does not requires a weaker signal than analogue to get a perfect picture....

You will find though if the signal is border line that Digital will drop out and you may get artifacts. The most annoying way this shows up is when somebody walks through the room, disturbs the reception and the TV drops out

Cantona's Collars

The rule of thumb is if you get good reception of TV3 via your aerial then you'll get good reception of Saorview.It's a simple way of explaining it as not everybody is technically minded when it comes to tv reception.Plus it may save people a few quid if they realise they don't need to buy new aerials.

The Fool

Tesco have a couple of Saorview boxs for around 80euro (from memory).
Both have USB ports for recording, imo make them worth the extra euro.

Great price, but if it has Usb even better

Cantona's Collars

The Fool wrote: »

Tesco have a couple of Saorview boxs for around 80euro (from memory).
Both have USB ports for recording, imo make them worth the extra euro.

Great price, but if it has Usb even better

It seems the ones on sale in Lidl have USB for recording also according to the thread in the terrestrial forum.

It says USB on the right hand side of the front of the box,hard to see in the pic but it's there.

Compton

regular DTT boxes work for saorview like this:

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

but will be missing MHEG 5, otherwise it's HD and will work fine..

number_1

zerks wrote: »

The rule of thumb is if you get good reception of TV3 via your aerial then you'll get good reception of Saorview.

Just add a bit more to this:

If you get good reception of TV3 at the moment you should get good Saorview reception.

If you don't get good reception of TV3 at the moment you may still get good Saorview reception.

We could never receive analogue TV3, however we can receive perfect Saorview reception now.

Minstrel27

number_1 wrote: »

Just add a bit more to this:

If you get good reception of TV3 at the moment you should get good Saorview reception.

If you don't get good reception of TV3 at the moment you may still get good Saorview reception.

I would use TG4 as many transmitters around the country do not broadcast TV3 on the analogue system. The digital signal should be stronger for most too.

dowtchaboy

number_1 wrote: »

Just add a bit more to this:

If you get good reception of TV3 at the moment you should get good Saorview reception.

If you don't get good reception of TV3 at the moment you may still get good Saorview reception.

We could never receive analogue TV3, however we can receive perfect Saorview reception now.

Probably a better rule of thumb would be "can you get TG4?" - TV3 never bothered paying RTENL for all the fill-in transmitters (like Crosshaven, for instance) so there are lots of places where you can't get TV3, yet there IS a UHF transmitter carrying TG4. In Crosshaven we had no TV3 since it started until a few months ago - when we got it on Saorview - same aerial as before, just added a box.

clairek6

Are these saorview boxes easy to install? would I be able to install myself, with abosolutely no experience?

glic83

the box is easy to install m8 but if you needed am external aerial then that would be a bit more difficult

clairek6

glic83 wrote: »

the box is easy to install m8 but if you needed am external aerial then that would be a bit more difficult

okay thanks we have a normal aerial that we receive the 4 irish channels with, so i think thats ok?

bmaxi

For those who live in Co Wexford, particularly along the coast, it may be necessary to replace your aerial to receive Saorview as signal strength is reduced here.

glic83

clairek6 wrote: »

okay thanks we have a normal aerial that we receive the 4 irish channels with, so i think thats ok?

if your getting the 4 channels already m8 then you should be grand

Mint Sauce

Anyone one know if it will pick up the UK freeview channels as well if close enough to the boarder?

Cantona's Collars

irish-stew wrote: »

Anyone one know if it will pick up the UK freeview channels as well if close enough to the boarder?

It will pick them up,boxes are able to decode the Mpeg2 signal that's currently being used for freeview and will be able to pick up freeview HD so you're future proof with the box.

Captain Havoc

I have the €50 Argos one, it has a HDMI cable, I'm also getting the lidl one for my folks (yet another remote control to confuse my father with).

muffler

zerks wrote: »

The rule of thumb is if you get good reception of TV3 via your aerial then you'll get good reception of Saorview.It's a simple way of explaining it as not everybody is technically minded when it comes to tv reception.Plus it may save people a few quid if they realise they don't need to buy new aerials.

Im sorry but that isnt the case with me. I could never get TV3 with an ordinary rooftop aerial (got it through Sat dish/Sky sub) but when the local mast started transmitting in digital a few months ago I got it on Saorview and didn't have to adjust or change the aerial.

So there will be lots of instances Im sure where people cant currently pick up TV3 on analogue but will definitely get it on digital.

Devi

what would happen if you hooked a sky sat to it? I know you wouldn’t get saorview but would you get freeview? I use an old sky box upstairs as a freeview box but find it annoying that I have to skip past the channels that I don’t have. Would this box solve that?

muffler

Devi wrote: »

what would happen if you hooked a sky sat to it? I know you wouldn’t get saorview but would you get freeview? I use an old sky box upstairs as a freeview box but find it annoying that I have to skip past the channels that I don’t have. Would this box solve that?

Im no expert but the answer would be "nothing". Its probably a different signal in any event but others can confirm this.

The sat dish will only get a signal from the satellite up in the sky and is pointed that way. The aerial that needs to be connected to the box will be pointed at a hill somewhere in the distance.

Try pointing the aerial towards the sky and see if you get a picture

glic83

the box would require a sat tunner to receive a signal from the dish and display it,the box being talked about in this thread is for saorview

dollyk

Is it only irish programmes you get with this box ? if so ,
does anyone know which one to get for english channels too.

number_1

Minstrel27 wrote: »

I would use TG4 as many transmitters around the country do not broadcast TV3 on the analogue system. The digital signal should be stronger for most too.

We couldn't receive TV3 or TG4 over the analogue system but can receive all the Saorview channels no problem!

In general the analogue TG4/TV3 reception is a good rule of thumb, however it doesn't mean you can't receive Saorview if you couldn't already receive TG4 or TV3. New transmitter sites have been brought online, so people shouldn't race out to buy new aerials without first trying a set top box with their existing aerial.

Minstrel27

number_1 wrote: »

We couldn't receive TV3 or TG4 over the analogue system but can receive all the Saorview channels no problem!

In general the analogue TG4/TV3 reception is a good rule of thumb, however it doesn't mean you can't receive Saorview if you couldn't already receive TG4 or TV3. New transmitter sites have been brought online, so people shouldn't race out to buy new aerials without first trying a set top box with their existing aerial.

I know. That's why I said the digital signal should be stronger for most.

Cantona's Collars

muffler wrote: »

Im sorry but that isnt the case with me. I could never get TV3 with an ordinary rooftop aerial (got it through Sat dish/Sky sub) but when the local mast started transmitting in digital a few months ago I got it on Saorview and didn't have to adjust or change the aerial.

So there will be lots of instances Im sure where people cant currently pick up TV3 on analogue but will definitely get it on digital.

As I said,it's just a rule of thumb-you can also use your reception quality of TG4 as a guide.
Generally if you already get decent reception of analogue tv through an aerial then all you need do is plug it into a Saorview box,scan for channels and away you go.
Hope this takes all the mystery out of it.

Do-more

dollyk wrote: »

Is it only irish programmes you get with this box ? if so ,
does anyone know which one to get for english channels too.

I'd suggest you probably want to look at a combo box like this one for around 100 euro you plug in your sat dish and antenna to it and get all the free channels in one line up.

Cantona's Collars

dollyk wrote: »

Is it only irish programmes you get with this box ? if so ,
does anyone know which one to get for english channels too.

http://www.saorview.ie/

If you live along the East Coast and could previously get UK tv via an aerial it will pick the Freeview digital signal up aswell if you hook the UK aerial up to it.

Otherwise you need satellite to get UK tv,as was stated previously try a combo box setup with a dish & aerial.

byte

zerks wrote: »

It will pick them up,boxes are able to decode the Mpeg2 signal that's currently being used for freeview and will be able to pick up freeview HD so you're future proof with the box.

Doubt if it'll pick up Freeview HD, as it uses DVB-T2, whereas Saorview (and Freeview SD) uses DVB-T1