Cheap Saor view compatible box on ebay

firemansam4

Hi all,

Been having a look at getting a Saor view box and have seen some cheap boxes on ebay. There is one seller selling one for just under 40 euros including postage and it has recording capabilities.

The model is: Opticum HD T50 Irish DTT Digital Terrestrial Receiver - Saorview Compatible

problem is that the description said that it can pick up all the stations fine and has a hdmi socket but it is not saorview approved, it has 1 year warranty with it and the seller has 100 percent rating and comments about the box seem ok, but there is only a few.

So any suggestions as to weather it would be a good idea to go for it?

Avns1s

No mention of MHeg5 so not really Saorview compatible.

Might be worth your while reading through this thread. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056299754

firemansam4

Avns1s wrote: »

No mention of MHeg5 so not really Saorview compatible.

Might be worth your while reading through this thread. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056299754

Very interesting thread, thank you.

I could very well be completely wrong here but from what I can see the MHeg5 is more to do with receiving any interactive content but you can still view all the channels ok on them which is all i really want it for.

I guess the bigger issue is will the quality of watching the tv stations be really bad.

Might leave it for a while as the switch over isn't going to happen for a while yet, and will see do prices come down in the shops a bit more

watty

There are no cheap Saorview compatible boxes on eBay as the only way to be sure it's compatible is Certified.

There are cheap boxes on eBay that will receive the basic TV & Audio (but not Interactive) and we don't know what compatibility issues they will have in the future.

In the past people bought Cheap boxes that now don't work on RTE2.

watty

firemansam4 wrote: »

I could very well be completely wrong here but from what I can see the MHeg5 is more to do with receiving any interactive content but you can still view all the channels ok on them which is all i really want it for.

Interactive is one feature of MHEG5. Digital isn't the same as Analogue. Nasty surprises can occur in 6 months or a year if the box is not fully compatible.

MHEG5 is far more important than Teletext and only one aspect of compatibility.

3rd party site http://www.saortv.info/
RTE official site http://www.saorview.ie/

Most people unless they are total experts should play safe and only buy a certified product.

Note I don't install or sell anything related to TV or Satellite or Saorview, nor do I have any connection to RTE.

Macy0161

firemansam4 wrote: »

Been having a look at getting a Saor view box and have seen some cheap boxes on ebay. There is one seller selling one for just under 40 euros including postage and it has recording capabilities.

You can get a saorview certified receiver for €60 in powercity. Cheaper if you wait for some of the lidl and aldi specials. I know things are tight in the country, but I personally think for the sake of €20 it's a false economy.

firemansam4

watty wrote: »

Interactive is one feature of MHEG5. Digital isn't the same as Analogue. Nasty surprises can occur in 6 months or a year if the box is not fully compatible.

MHEG5 is far more important than Teletext and only one aspect of compatibility.

3rd party site http://www.saortv.info/
RTE official site http://www.saorview.ie/

Most people unless they are total experts should play safe and only buy a certified product.

Note I don't install or sell anything related to TV or Satellite or Saorview, nor do I have any connection to RTE.

As I don't really know too much about this stuff it was exactly the reason i thought i would ask this question on boards, I was a little worried by the fact these boxes are not saor view aproved, think i will play a bit safer and get one that is.
Many thanks for your advice.

Macy0161 wrote: »

You can get a saorview certified receiver for €60 in powercity. Cheaper if you wait for some of the lidl and aldi specials. I know things are tight in the country, but I personally think for the sake of €20 it's a false economy.

Don't think there are any Power citys any where near to where I live (Donegal) but I did see that Lidl had some at a great price but were snapped up real fast, might just keep an eye out and see if they get any back in again.

Finne1993

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SAGEMCOM-ITD81-PICNIC-FREEVIEW-SAORVIEW-MPEG2-4-BOX-/230684787464?pt=UK_ConEle_SatCableFreeview_RL&hash=item35b5e28308

Look at this scrap, ok fair enough, they say in the description its not HD and you cant get RTE2 but the title is very very misleading. No doubt a few people will unfortunately get duped into buying it.

Compton

it says it is not currently available? what does that mean? as in it will never be available on that box?

GreenWolfe

firemansam4 wrote: »

As I don't really know too much about this stuff it was exactly the reason i thought i would ask this question on boards, I was a little worried by the fact these boxes are not saor view aproved, think i will play a bit safer and get one that is.
Many thanks for your advice.



Don't think there are any Power citys any where near to where I live (Donegal) but I did see that Lidl had some at a great price but were snapped up real fast, might just keep an eye out and see if they get any back in again.

Have you checked their website, they deliver. I checked and it's an extra fiver for delivery. It's dearer than Lidl and Aldi, but your chance of getting one goes up so much more.

I should mention that I have no association with PowerCity. I saw this on the front page and I remembered that I once ordered a TV from there and had it delivered to the house.

Finne1993

Yep, it will never be available on that box because the box is not HD capable, so it beats me why anyone would even dream of buying it but unfortunately some people wont even read that part and just buy it because it comes across as a cheap saorview box

Compton

love the way it says its not available yet!! so when Oct 12?

Macy0161

firemansam4 wrote: »

Don't think there are any Power citys any where near to where I live (Donegal) but I did see that Lidl had some at a great price but were snapped up real fast, might just keep an eye out and see if they get any back in again.

They do deliver, as mentioned above. But argos have a certified receiver too, at €70. Even at €30 difference, personally I'd still go certified.

Just to throw something else into the mix, another thing to consider is the size, and age, of TV you're going to use the receiver for. If it's an older, smaller tele (sub 19 inch) you may should weigh up whether it's worth getting a receiver. Again, and maybe not too much help, Powercity have 19 inch saorview certified tv's for 140, and Aldi have them for the same money this week.

GreenWolfe

Macy0161 wrote: »

They do deliver, as mentioned above. But argos have a certified receiver too, at €70. Even at €30 difference, personally I'd still go certified.

Just to throw something else into the mix, another thing to consider is the size, and age, of TV you're going to use the receiver for. If it's an older, smaller tele (sub 19 inch) you may should weigh up whether it's worth getting a receiver. Again, and maybe not too much help, Powercity have 19 inch saorview certified tv's for 140, and Aldi have them for the same money this week.

http://powercity.ie/?par=10-23-NM8010&pages=1&prod=NM8010&brands=NORDMENDE&image=

The Power City one is certified too, the option here is whether you want it now or a in a few days.

Second paragraph raises a good point. The parents had 2 21" CRTs. One was not working very well, so I picked a replacement 32" 720p saorview certified set. The other TV isn't used much, but a box will probably be got got for that closer to the switchover.

firemansam4

EarthlyPangaea wrote: »

Have you checked their website, they deliver. I checked and it's an extra fiver for delivery. It's dearer than Lidl and Aldi, but your chance of getting one goes up so much more.

I should mention that I have no association with PowerCity. I saw this on the front page and I remembered that I once ordered a TV from there and had it delivered to the house.

Would they really deliver all the way to Donegal? I might be down Kildare direction in the new year so might pop down to the power city near liffey valley then.
I guess I still have to October so will keep my eye out in the shops to see if any good deals come out.

Macy0161 wrote: »

They do deliver, as mentioned above. But argos have a certified receiver too, at €70. Even at €30 difference, personally I'd still go certified.

Just to throw something else into the mix, another thing to consider is the size, and age, of TV you're going to use the receiver for. If it's an older, smaller tele (sub 19 inch) you may should weigh up whether it's worth getting a receiver. Again, and maybe not too much help, Powercity have 19 inch saorview certified tv's for 140, and Aldi have them for the same money this week.

Yea I did think about this one, but we have a 32 inch phillips LCD flat screen which seems to be working ok at the moment so it wouldn't be worth replacing it, although it would be nice to get a new TV, money is just too tight at the moment to think about that.

thetwangman

firemansam4 wrote: »

So any suggestions as to weather it would be a good idea to go for it?

The Opticum HD T50 is a great little box for the price especially if you already have a saorview tv and all you're looking for is adding pvr capabilities.

It might not be such a good idea if it is to be your only means of receiving saorview.

watty

It's basically a bad idea.

Here is a list of bad ideas: http://www.saortv.info/terrestrial-saorview/the-black-list/

14ned

To answer the OP's original question ...

Just picked up an Opticum T50 for €40 incl delivery from a well known online Irish vendor. This is despite that on Thursday Aldi sell a certified Saorview box for €55, but well I never get there in time before they're all sold out.

The T50 is unusual for cheap media boxes in that it appears to be designed in Poland/Germany (by Globo) and is manufactured in China. As a result, its English translations are very good, and it complies with the latest EU energy saving directives (i.e. it switches itself off after three hours of non-use and uses no more than 1W on standby).

In short: this is a surprisingly good box for the money. The menus aren't ugly, the text is very clear to read, tuning was a cinch, it timeshifts, records and can play media from a USB source including h.264 movies. All the RTE channels come through beautifully in 720p via HDMI though admittedly only RTE2 transmits in something approaching 720p.

The bad: like with all cheap media boxes, the remote control is a bit spongey and prone to missing button presses (I have the outstanding Logitech Harmony programmable remote so no bother). Changing channel is quick enough, but tuning does take a second or two. There is no interactive MHEG anything, but to be honest I have never found it useful anyway because it's too slow and clunky compared to using a web browser to do the same thing. This box does support old fashioned teletext though, and renders DVB subtitles using same teletext writing. General UI speed isn't the smoothest, but it is considerably faster and prettier than a Dreambox 500S

The unknown: a full day's EPG only appears for RTE1 and RTE1+1, whereas the other channels only have now & next. The EPG also is only shown per channel, and not in a unified multi-channel display. This could be a firmware issue - mine has a 2011 firmware, and a quick search on the net shows there is a 2012 firmware available. I also know it caches its EPG to any USB storage and I haven't plugged any in yet. I might flash the new firmware, try adding storage and see what happens.

Niall

14ned

14ned wrote: »

The unknown: a full day's EPG only appears for RTE1 and RTE1+1, whereas the other channels only have now & next. The EPG also is only shown per channel, and not in a unified multi-channel display. This could be a firmware issue - mine has a 2011 firmware, and a quick search on the net shows there is a 2012 firmware available. I also know it caches its EPG to any USB storage and I haven't plugged any in yet. I might flash the new firmware, try adding storage and see what happens.

I installed the 2012 firmware and played some more with a 8Gb USB flash drive. The EPG is still per-channel only and requires you to move left and right with the remote to see each channel's EPG, but now all the RTE channels get a full EPG. TG4 and 3e gets now and next only, while Three gets now and next at the wrong time

Recordings/Timeshiftings are in MPEG TS format which is totally standard and VLC can easily play them. It stores metadata in a .inf file which is in fact a binary file.

Another negative occurred to me: I don't know if official Saorview boxes can series link recordings, but this box certainly can't. You can get it to record a channel at any time and date, and there is a repeat option (daily/weekly etc). But it's like a VCR, albeit much easier (choose the item from the EPG, tell it to record), but not like series link on Sky+ boxes or Windows Media Center which is much more intelligent.

I hope the above is useful to someone.

Niall

STB

The biggest negative Niall is that the firmware issues will never be fixed.

Support, the key to any set top box. Regardless of whether Globo Opticum (Mainly eastern europe market) make them or not, getting someone who. 1. Speaks English 2. Is interested enough to fix the issues. 3. Has someone who has access to the SDK/firmware who will do it, are the issues. Plenty have taken chances and have been left with glitchy boxes.

Now/Next epg data for Tv3 and Tg4 ! Sorry thats just not good enough. The damn DVB-EIT is standard. If the software in the box cant read the mux data straight off, it shouldn't have a bloody DVB logo. These are simple software fixes..... but who will do it ?

Gerry Wicklow

Why, why, why, oh why do people put themselves through so much hassle when they can get an approved box for €10 more. Is this some new form of masochism or are we so downtrodden that we think we MUST suffer in this life?

the_syco

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

Why, why, why, oh why do people put themselves through so much hassle when they can get an approved box for €10 more. Is this some new form of masochism or are we so downtrodden that we think we MUST suffer in this life?

In most cases it's when multiple boxes are being bought, the tenner could be fifty saved. I got one from dx.com that only cost €25, but at the time the cheapest official box was over €60, so I had a decent excuse, but don't know why someone would get a sh|te box over a decent box for the guts of a tenner, though...

Gerry Wicklow

It's a false economy to buy any box that half works now, may not work tomorrow and has little or no support. With an approved box you are guaranteed it will work properly today, tomorrow and will be supported. If it doesn't you can claim a repair or refund. With a non-approved box it's a case of "tough.." when it fails to perform.

14ned

STB wrote: »

The biggest negative Niall is that the firmware issues will never be fixed.

Support, the key to any set top box. Regardless of whether Globo Opticum (Mainly eastern europe market) make them or not, getting someone who. 1. Speaks English 2. Is interested enough to fix the issues. 3. Has someone who has access to the SDK/firmware who will do it, are the issues. Plenty have taken chances and have been left with glitchy boxes.

Now/Next epg data for Tv3 and Tg4 ! Sorry thats just not good enough. The damn DVB-EIT is standard. If the software in the box cant read the mux data straight off, it shouldn't have a bloody DVB logo. These are simple software fixes..... but who will do it ?

As much as people here seem to like to think they know what are the biggest negatives for consumers, firmware issues and lack of support are irrelevant for most buyers. 99% of consumers don't know what a firmware is. Moreover, I have very rarely seen a box without any firmware issues. People just learn to work around them. When the box ceases to function for any reason, people just go buy a new one.

Regarding this specific box, the biggest negative for consumers is in fact its poor remote control. Button presses often don't register without some force, and its range at about eight maybe nine feet is pathetic. The remote control itself is a well known "bottom barrel" make common in cheap chinese media boxes, so I know it well.

Past that, this particular box is very good for its price. The UI is foolproof and the text big and clear enough for poor eyesight. For an older person who literally only wants to flick channels and nothing else (what I bought it for) it is a serious contender.

Niall

BostonB

14ned wrote: »

...Past that, this particular box is very good for its price...

Personally the extra 10 in Argos gets you a warranty and HDMI cable and everything working as it should, EPG, remote etc. Cheaper isn't always better value.

14ned

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

Why, why, why, oh why do people put themselves through so much hassle when they can get an approved box for €10 more. Is this some new form of masochism or are we so downtrodden that we think we MUST suffer in this life?

What hassle? You unpack it. Plug it in. Turn it on. It offers to scan the channels for you to which you say yes. Five minutes later it's working flawlessly. Flawlessly = to most people the ability to watch the six RTE channels like they did on analogue. They don't care about much more.

I've only installed one approved Saorview box (from Maplin) before and the process was identical. The only difference is that the Saorview box maps channels to 1, 2, 3 ... whereas this one maps them to 800, 801, 802 ... as it thinks it's in the UK.

Besides, your "€10 more" isn't true. I haven't found a supply of certified boxes not on special offer (i.e. sold out) for less than €70 delivered. That makes certified boxes 75% more expensive than this one.

Niall

BostonB

Not having the channels on 1,2,3 and having a bad remote would a PITA for the very people who don't anything other than basics.

They are always on special.

Ronnie Raygun

14ned wrote: »

For an older person who literally only wants to flick channels and nothing else

They'll be a bit disappointed if their tv only has a scart connection.

14ned

BostonB wrote: »

Personally the extra 10 in Argos gets you a warranty and HDMI cable and everything working as it should, EPG, remote etc. Cheaper isn't always better value.

If you can find them in stock at that price (every time I went Argos wanted €70 despite it advertising at €50), then for a decent remote alone I agree.

Warranty isn't worth much if you have to post it to the UK - it's usually cheaper and easier to buy a new box. I agree if you can take it back to the point of purchase, but that usually only covers you for the first three months.

Niall

BostonB

Seriously do you need someone to do it for you...

http://www.checkargos.com/index.php?productId=+532%2F2745

http://www.aldi.ie/ie/html/offers/special_buys3_22584.htm

You've no argument, none.

14ned

Ronnie Raygun wrote: »

They'll be a bit disappointed if their tv only has a scart connection.

You're correct the T50 only has HDMI. In my older person's case, that wasn't a problem as he has a 720p TV. The T80 costs €2 more and has a SCART. The T80 appears to otherwise have identical internals.

Niall

14ned

BostonB wrote: »

Seriously do you need someone to do it for you...

http://www.checkargos.com/index.php?productId=+532%2F2745

http://www.aldi.ie/ie/html/offers/special_buys3_22584.htm

You've no argument, none.

Hey look, you're edging into the realm of attacking me personally now. I came here to write a mini-review of a product which many in Ireland will consider because of its low eBay price. I did that to be helpful. Up to the reader to decide if I'm telling lies or shilling or whatever.

I will state once again: I have never yet made it to Aldi, Argos or Maplin in time to obtain their special offers on Saorview boxes. They were always sold out by the time I got there. I got annoyed in particular with Argos Cork for advertising €50 and trying to charge me €70 in the shop on the basis "they were out of stock", so I went across the road to Maplin and gave them my €70 instead. Most recently I was in Maplin they've raised their price to €85.

I would recommend to those interested in Saorview certified at a non-ripoff price to try Powercity who do deliver and when they have special offers they use a good stock level.

Now I'm signing off this thread and removing email notifications. I didn't come here to get attacked personally, and I have no interest in wasting my time defending myself over accusations that I said or did anything I did not say or do. People can decide from the thread if they want to take a chance on the T50 or not. Personally speaking, at the present price and stock situation in Ireland, it's not a half bad choice.

Goodbye boards.ie.

Niall

BostonB

I simply corrected your inference that you can't get a useful warranty or availability.

Sponge Bob

14ned wrote: »

I would recommend to those interested in Saorview certified at a non-ripoff price to try Powercity who do deliver and when they have special offers they use a good stock level.

Good advice. Powercity do have transparent stock levels. Most of the other shops are well stocked with Saorview units only at around the €70 level and certified boxes for €50 are a lottery.

Non certifed units like the Supervalu/Dunnes one are worth perhaps €20 or €30 for a second telly in a caravan or something like that.

Opticom is a Lithuanian DTT brand in the main.

BostonB

Dunno how Argos is a lottery considering you can see if its in stock online and reserve it, then collect it at your leisure.

Peter Rhea

14ned wrote: »

I didn't come here to get attacked personally, and I have no interest in wasting my time defending myself over accusations that I said or did anything I did not say or do. People can decide from the thread if they want to take a chance on the T50 or not. Personally speaking, at the present price and stock situation in Ireland, it's not a half bad choice.

Goodbye boards.ie.

No need for the melodrama . . .

You dug up an old thread to comment on a receiver that's been mentioned here before, along with plenty of other non-approved items.

You didn't bring anything new to the argument & anyone who has been around this particular forum for more than a few weeks will know this is a tired old topic & would know what kind of responses to expect if they raised it.

BostonB

Another thing to consider is if its worth spending even 50 on saorview box on an old TV unless its a really good one. Because budget TV often include a saorview tuner and you reduce clutter without the extra box. That said I got a saorview box to play with and its surprising how much better the saorview signal is than the Analogue even on an old CRT vs Analogue. Handy for sticking a TV in a remote room that has no cabling.

winston_1

14ned wrote: »

Warranty isn't worth much if you have to post it to the UK - it's usually cheaper and easier to buy a new box. I agree if you can take it back to the point of purchase, but that usually only covers you for the first three months.

Niall

What. Under EU legislation goods are guaranteed for 2 years not 3 months. The guarantee is the responsibility of the dealer (point of purchase).

No need to post it to the UK.

watty

In some cases 6 years for consequential damage.

Ignore store policies and manufacturers warranty. Keep receipt and know your rights. Only proof of purchase required, not packaging.


Die, Die, Die old stupid thread

Zardoz

STB wrote: »

The biggest negative Niall is that the firmware issues will never be fixed.

Now/Next epg data for Tv3 and Tg4 ! Sorry thats just not good enough. The damn DVB-EIT is standard. If the software in the box cant read the mux data straight off, it shouldn't have a bloody DVB logo. These are simple software fixes..... but who will do it ?

The 2012 firmware ,February 2012 to be precise has a full correct epg on all Saorview channels .
It also allows the channels to be numbered from 1 to 7 instead of 801,802 etc.
Nice little box to be fair, I picked it up for under 20 euro off a German site,I cant fault it for that price .

ralphie

Zardoz wrote: »

The 2012 firmware ,February 2012 to be precise has a full correct epg on all Saorview channels .
It also allows the channels to be numbered from 1 to 7 instead of 801,802 etc.
Nice little box to be fair, I picked it up for under 20 euro off a German site,I cant fault it for that price .

Have you a link to that site where you can get it for €20.It would be a cheap solution for recording to usb in congunction with my saorview TV.

Zardoz

ralphie wrote: »

Have you a link to that site where you can get it for €20.It would be a cheap solution for recording to usb in congunction with my saorview TV.

Here you go
http://www.smartcard24.com/opticum-t50-dvb-t-hdtv-receiver-mit-usb-pvr-a11545.html