Saorview and Freeview in one?

Bummer1234

Hey guys,

So as im reading through the threads and the big change is on,I am on the border and wondering is there is a box that recieves freeview from Northern Ireland and Saorview in the republic,I know the signals are different from both places but wondering is it possible so not need for two boxes when N.I turns off also at the same time.

Sagat06

This was recommended to me recently. I cannot vouch for it or the website but it'll do what you're asking apparently.

The Cush

Bummer1234 wrote: »

I am on the border and wondering is there is a box that recieves freeview from Northern Ireland and Saorview in the republic,I know the signals are different from both places but wondering is it possible so not need for two boxes when N.I turns off also at the same time.

A FreeviewHD spec receiver i.e. DVB-T2/MPEG-4, will do both including the UK terrestrial HD channels when they launch from the NI transmitters in Oct 2012.

A Saorview approved receiver will receive the current Freeview channels if you're within the coverage area now.

Some of the Saorview certified TVs also have DVB-T2 tuners.

http://www.saorview.ie/products-retailers/

STB

Bummer1234 wrote: »

Hey guys,

So as im reading through the threads and the big change is on,I am on the border and wondering is there is a box that recieves freeview from Northern Ireland and Saorview in the republic,I know the signals are different from both places but wondering is it possible so not need for two boxes when N.I turns off also at the same time.

One of these will be fine.

As already advised a "Freeview HD" box is what you are looking for.

The Xoro Box quoted to you above is not suitable for Northern Ireland as it is DVB-T only. Freeview HD uses DVB-t2.

Bummer1234

Cheers for that guys,Also more recommendations welcomes off course,Would I be asking for to much yet if I wanted a box with PVR?

Digital Satellite TV

The following page should give you a good idea of what's involved (diplexers, aerials, frequencies etc)

http://www.tvtrade.ie/how-to-combine-saorview-and-freeview-on-the-same-digital-receiver.html

STB

Digital Satellite TV wrote: »

The following page should give you a good idea of what's involved (diplexers, aerials, frequencies etc)

http://www.tvtrade.ie/how-to-combine-saorview-and-freeview-on-the-same-digital-receiver.html

Dave, from that link above, I notice that you are selling a French TNT HD Xoro box as a solution for combined UK Freeview and Irish Digital reception. Is this a mistake ?

You do realise that the Freeview HD will be on next year in Northern Ireland (Welsh reception is already available)and will require a DVB-T2 tuner which the Xoro box you are selling does not have. A DVB-T2 box with a Freeview HD Spec will of course cover nearly all basis and is a lot more compatible than French TNT HD boxes which even excusing the lack of a relevant tuner dont even contain the relevant middleware required for UK and Ireland in MHEG5.

Digital Satellite TV

STB wrote: »

Dave, from that link above, I notice that you are selling a French TNT HD Xoro box as a solution for combined UK Freeview and Irish Digital reception. Is this a mistake ?

You do realise that the Freeview HD will be on next year in Northern Ireland (Welsh reception is already available)and will require a DVB-T2 tuner which the Xoro box you are selling does not have. A DVB-T2 box with a Freeview HD Spec will of course cover nearly all basis and is a lot more compatible than French TNT HD boxes which even excusing the lack of a relevant tuner dont even contain the relevant middleware required for UK and Ireland in MHEG5.

Not a mistake per say, are in the process of sourcing t2 tuners and will be added to kit when available. It works for now, it's more to show folks how to do it and the individual parts of the kit are available seperately once they see what they need. Wouldn't sell many of them anyway, as I say it's there more to point people at when asked about it to show them what's involved.

STB

Digital Satellite TV wrote: »

Not a mistake per say, are in the process of sourcing t2 tuners and will be added to kit when available. It works for now, it's more to show folks how to do it and the individual parts of the kit are available seperately once they see what they need. Wouldn't sell many of them anyway, as I say it's there more to point people at when asked about it to show them what's involved.

Well it may "work" for now, but its functionality is severly limited via no firmware present and no reception of UK/NI HD stations.

Also given Freeview HD will be available in NI next year are you not at risk of having disgruntled customers next year ? I am not having a go but whatever about using French stuff for Irish reception, they should not be suggested as a solution for UK reception or a combination of both in 2011. Certainly it gives people the impression that French profile TNT HD box is adequate to cover both, which is not the case. That would be the case if there wasnt a seperate broadcasting platform for UK HD terrestrial broadcasts. You cannot conveniently forget same.

Given there are a large number of Freeview HD boxes on the market at affordable prices right now it shouldnt be a problem to source same. Also the Xoro boxes dont have modular tuners - so you cannot replace them.

The Sharp TUT2 are selling for €40 in UK at moment. Infact if you look to some of the Approved Irish boxes they may have T2 tuners in them.....despite the spec being DVB-T (backward compatibility). Siome of the repackaging or common market products are being loaded with higher spec tuners - I know for sure that the Triax combo 537 has a T2 tuner. I dont know about the 112 Terresrial approved box as Triax produced the Zapbox 115 for UK market.


Some of the Vestel T8300/DVB680 chassis released under different Saorview brandnames may have a T2 tuner that is not boasted about.

Peddyr

STB wrote: »

Some of the Vestel T8300/DVB680 chassis released under different Saorview brandnames may have a T2 tuner that is not boasted about.

Can anyone confirm here on Boards.ie which Saorview STBs actually have T2 tuners and that are working with UK HD channels?

STB

Peddyr wrote: »

Can anyone confirm here on Boards.ie which Saorview STBs actually have T2 tuners and that are working with UK HD channels?

A Mindfield! Retailers and Traders and semi technical punters could tell by checking through the menu's.

Software could limit the box despite the hardware. Its a suck it and see scenario.

Peddyr

STB wrote: »

A Mindfield! Retailers and Traders and semi technical punters could tell by checking through the menu's.

Software could limit the box despite the hardware. Its a suck it and see scenario.

Hopefully someone on East coast will post here to let us know which of the approved Saorview boxes can do UK HD also...

ardmacha

Also given Freeview HD will be available in NI next year are you not at risk of having disgruntled customers next year ?

Some customers getting boxes will be plugging them into televisions not capable of HD, so they may not be bothered. But they should be told that this is the case.

STB

ardmacha wrote: »

Some customers getting boxes will be plugging them into televisions not capable of HD, so they may not be bothered. But they should be told that this is the case.

The Box is HD for Saorview but not for Freeview HD. French TNT boxes should not be sold as an option for Freeview HD as they don't have the requisite tuner on board for Freeview HD stations that are on now from Wales and for NI from next year. Short shelf life box!

The lack of the requisite tuner means that the HD stations will not display at all regardless of how it is connected to the TV. Freeview HD boxes also have scart outputs for people who do not have HDMI on their TV and hence can display the HD stations even on an old non HDMI TV - e.g. BBC HD.

Do not confuse HD reception and HDMI inputs on a TV. Very different things.

ardmacha

Do not confuse HD reception and HDMI inputs on a TV. Very different things.

I don't. But I may be ignorant of additional stations etc on the HD service in the UK that is not available on the SD service which would lead to this being desireable.

Gerry Wicklow

ardmacha wrote: »

I don't. But I may be ignorant of additional stations etc on the HD service in the UK that is not available on the SD service which would lead to this being desireable.

BBC HD itself is a combination of BBC2, 3 or 4 programmes.

STB

ardmacha wrote: »

I don't. But I may be ignorant of additional stations etc on the HD service in the UK that is not available on the SD service which would lead to this being desireable.

Regardless of that - Would you be happy to buy the sugested box now and then discover in a few months time that there are a host of stations that this box doesn't receive (anything dvb-t2) ? Its not suitable for Wales overspill now, it wont be suitable for NI overspill in a few months time.

I wouldnt make an issue of this only there is no reason that Freeview HD boxes aren't sold for this particular scenario of cross border reception of ALL with the right text/MHEG5 middleware. They are readily available and equally affordable. French TNT HD boxes are not suitable for this purpose!

DVB-T2 MPEG4 H264 > DVB-T MPEG4 H264 > DVB-T MPEG2.

No other way.

ardmacha

Would you be happy to buy the suggested box now and then discover in a few months time that there are a host of stations that this box doesn't receive (anything dvb-t2)

You haven't answered my question. Will there in fact be a "host of stations" in this format in 2012 that are not also broadcast in regular Freeview?

reslfj

ardmacha wrote: »

You haven't answered my question. Will there in fact be a "host of stations" in this format in 2012 that are not also broadcast in regular Freeview?

Currently most on the HD mux is simulcast - likely this will continue in 2012, but who knows.

However, using MPEG-4 and a very much higher bit rate will provide a much higher picture quality - and in many cases better audio options too.

Even if this has not yet been officially communicated, the general idea is to migrate to DVB-T2 on all UK muxes. With the low prices already seen on DVB-T2 equipment, very few argument will exist for a rather fast transition after last DSO next October. Not on all muxes, but likley one after the other.

If the 600 MHz band will be used/sold for DTT - DVB-T2 will almost surely be used for the new muxes - this is maybe in 2013-2016.

The NI will operate the RTÉ/TG4 DVB-T2 mini mux. This will will not be needed in the border regions, but it will likely help make other parts of NI into 'DVB-T2 land' and this will - I think -remove most public resistance to a soon to come DVB-T to DVB-T2 transition in NI.

The UK will never allow DVB-T/MPEG-4 and DVB-T/MPEG-2 is very outdated - so if you want UK DTT and will buy something new - nothing but DVB-T2 makes any sense.

Lars

db299

Is anybody in Dublin picking up Freeview from Wales with a rooftop aerial as suggested on the tvtrade site? I have seen freeview reception in Gorey but with a very large aerial unix 100 aerial.

Digifriendly

See my post (no.8) for PVR with Freeview and Saorview in one epg.
Link - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056437493

JRH

Think this is a T2 box ... from china
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/New-Mini-Fashion-Digital-DVB-T-HD-H-264-MPEG4-Receiver-HDMI-PVR-SCART-/270844618316?pt=UK_ConEle_SatCableFreeview_RL&hash=item3f0f98e64c

if its this one ... from the manufacturers site ..
http://dvbiptv.en.alibaba.com/product/501742067-212416275/MPEG4_DVB_T2_Terrestrial_Receiver_FTA_HD_Receiver.html

I dont see a similar looking non T2 box on the site ...

watty

JRH wrote: »

Think this is a T2 box ... from china
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/New-Mini-Fashion-Digital-DVB-T-HD-H-264-MPEG4-Receiver-HDMI-PVR-SCART-/270844618316?pt=UK_ConEle_SatCableFreeview_RL&hash=item3f0f98e6*c

I dont see a similar looking non T2 box on the site ...

No. it's not DVB-T2 nor is it Freeview HD or Saorview compatible. It's bottom end of market generic stuff suitable for a second or 3rd TV in Spain maybe. Not suitable for UK or Ireland.

Bummer1234

Hey Guys,

Sorry to bring this thread out of the darknesss and back into scope,Just wondering if there is any brand new devices on the market thats for soarview and freeview and fairly cheap , Looking into adding it too a 10 year old telly so one box would be handy for how long the telly may last.

watty

no.
Few people can receive UK Terrestrial TV. If they can then at this stage they would be best to get a "Freeview HD" box that's known to mostly work on Saorview (Humax, Sony).

If you meant "Freesat HD" + Saorview, something 100% certified for both is very unlikely. A true quad tuner PVR for both even more unlikely.
There are combo boxes. None are properly "Freesat HD" compatible, though all work on Satellite. Some are not 100% Saorview compatible either.

Read the other thread here and on the satellite Forum and be sure if UK TV (Terrestrial) for you is feasible via an aerial or if you need a Dish and Satellite Receiver.

At this stage a waste of money even for non-HD sets to not get "Freesat HD" or "Freeview HD" as you'd miss out on channels and quality even on CRT or SD LCD TV.

Bummer1234

watty wrote: »

no.
Few people can receive UK Terrestrial TV. If they can then at this stage they would be best to get a "Freeview HD" box that's known to mostly work on Saorview (Humax, Sony).

If you meant "Freesat HD" + Saorview, something 100% certified for both is very unlikely. A true quad tuner PVR for both even more unlikely.
There are combo boxes. None are properly "Freesat HD" compatible, though all work on Satellite. Some are not 100% Saorview compatible either.

Read the other thread here and on the satellite Forum and be sure if UK TV (Terrestrial) for you is feasible via an aerial or if you need a Dish and Satellite Receiver.

At this stage a waste of money even for non-HD sets to not get "Freesat HD" or "Freeview HD" as you'd miss out on channels and quality even on CRT or SD LCD TV.

Thanks for the reply Watty, I live on the very Border with NI in Cavan so signal with both is not a problem.

If i got a Freeview HD box in NI ,Am i able to receive the Soarview channels on it also?

Rick_

The best way to get Freeview and Saorview on the one device is simply the TV itself. Certain Freeview HD TV's will also receive Saorview and you can get full 7 day EPG's for both services and arrange the channels in whatever order you like. Samsung's are very good for this I have found.

My living room TV needs upgrading soon and am gonna hold off and get one fo the new range of Samsung TV's for it and have Freeview and Saorview in one. Only problem is there are no set top boxes that will receive both services with full EPG's and straightforward recording capabilities. There sadly may never be and separate boxes for each service may be the best option.

Delboy5

Does anyone know if the Alba Saorview box currently selling at €50 is Freeview HD compitable also ?
http://www.argos.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10152&catalogId=13352&langId=111&productId=242002

zg3409

Delboy5 wrote: »

Does anyone know if the Alba Saorview box currently selling at €50 is Freeview HD compitable also ?
http://www.argos.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10152&catalogId=13352&langId=111&productId=242002

Argos UK Is selling an Alba Freeview HD box:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5322185/Trail/searchtext%3EALBA+FREEVIEW.htm

but the front of it looks different and the part number is different, so I'd say no is the answer.

Booms

See the post here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=78002965&postcount=117 about the Alba STB300HD and the subsequent reply http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=78006353&postcount=118 from Lawhec. I haven't been able to try his suggestion yet as I only occasionally pick up UK DTT signals.

watty

Bummer1234 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply Watty, I live on the very Border with NI in Cavan so signal with both is not a problem.

If i got a Freeview HD box in NI ,Am i able to receive the Soarview channels on it also?

Some boxes mysteriously don't really work. They all should. Avoid Technika (as they may vary what is in the box), Technisat and Panasonic. Sony & Humax only have minor Saorview issues such as no old style teletext (TV3 & TG4 may move to new MHEG5 style after October) and perhaps Summer time issues.

Read threads here about Freeview HD boxes and Freeview HD Tvs (they vary a lot in compatibility)
http://www.saortv.info/about/n-i-digital/

All Saorview TVs and boxes should mostly work with Freeview, but not with "Freeview HD" (Starts after October 2012 in N.I.)