Question on Saorview enabled DVD recorders and VCR's

pjordan

I know I may be in the minority of people who still record stuff off analog TV using a DVD recorder, along with those who even predate me and use VCR's and tapes

My question is that this week I purchaced a new Saorview enabled TV and connected it up to my DVD recorder initially using the analogue arial ports (Since the analog stations were already tuned on my DVD recorder). I also connected the DVD player to my TV through my sound system (Denon) using HDMI cables

However when I went to play a DVD I noticed that the picture wasnt displaying full size on the new TV but I did have full surround sound.

It occurred to me that I probably needed to connect my DVD recorder through the digital ports instead. When I did this and went throught the tuning process it did not offer Ireland as an option (I bought the Sony DVD HD recorder on line from the UK two years ago) but I selected UK and when offered a signal, it found something like 28 channels including radio.

However whilst I have sound on all 28 channels I have no picture for the TV channels. I am assuming that this is because the DVD recorder is UK standard MPeg2 as opposed to Saoirview Mpeg4, Is this correct? I also don't know yet if connecting through the digital ports rectified my picture sizing issue?

Therefore I am wondering will my DVD recorder (and all VCR's) become obselete for terresterial TV recording purposes after the analog switch off next October or will placing a Saorview STB between my TV and arial cable rectify the problem and is there any issue with having a Saorview STB and Saorview enabled TV working together?

Also are there currently any Saorview enabled DVD recorders or VCR's available on the Irish market?

MarkK

I would expect that you would connect your DVD player to your new TV either by SCART of HDMI.

"... through the digital ports instead. When I did this and went throught the tuning process it ..."

If you use Scart or HDMI this you should not need to "tune in" your DVD player output on your TV it will be on one of the "input" channels on your TV called something like "AV1" or "HDMI1".

pjordan

MarkK wrote: »

I would expect that you would connect your DVD player to your new TV either by SCART of HDMI.

"... through the digital ports instead. When I did this and went throught the tuning process it ..."

If you use Scart or HDMI this you should not need to "tune in" your DVD player output on your TV it will be on one of the "input" channels on your TV called something like "AV1" or "HDMI1".

Yes Mark but surely that is merely for video playback? One still needs to connect an ariel to the TV and I was merely doing this the conventional way through the DVD recorder? I already have the DVD Recorder connected to my TV also through the HDMI1 port (via my sound system amp)

MarkK

Routing the aerial via the DVD player would have no bearing on MPEG2 vs MPEG4. You could always try connecting the aerial lead directly to the TV to check.

What are the "digital ports" for?

icdg

Moved to terrestrial.

Mike 1972

pjordan wrote: »

Also are there currently any Saorview enabled DVD recorders or VCR's available on the Irish market?

There are no Saorview APPROVED devices on the Irish market as of yet (some claim there never will be -although its a ridiculous statement as nobody can be sure at this point).

Nevertheless there are a couple of devices (mostly rather expensive Panasonics) that would appear to be compatable with most(/all ?) aspects of the Saorview service although recording from HD channels such as RTE2 may be fiddly in practice (havent really had a chance to try for myself)

Information on what devices will or wont work with Saorview (and to what extent) is hard to come by. Many DVD recorders are labelled as "MPEG4 compatable" but this generally only refers to playback of MPEG4 video files from USB sticks or burned onto DVD's from computers). Devices on sale in the shops/websites are generally very badly labelled particularly in certain UK chailnstores operating in Ireland (although some "indigenous" retailers are little better).

Some set top boxes have USB recording functionality and the files (Usually .TS format) can in theory be then transferred to a computer and using appropriate software converted into a format for burning onto DVD's however this is a fiddly process which requires a certain level of computer skills/resources.

Some people advocate buying a Saorview STB (or PVR) and connecting it to a DVD recorder with a scart lead however an integrated solution would be far neater for various reasons
1) Better EPG integration
2) Less fiddly operation
3) Less clutter and complication with extra boxes, remotes and cables

There is also the possibility of importing equipment from countries using similar transmission standards and hoping it will work here but this throws up all sorts of problems with language barriers/hasstle getting the thing to Ireland/finding out what will or wont work/The risk that it could all go pear shaped.

The situation at the moment is a real mess quite frankly

Peddyr

Mike 1972 wrote: »

There are no Saorview APPROVED devices on the Irish market as of yet (some claim there never will be -although its a ridiculous statement as nobody can be sure at this point).

Nevertheless there are a couple of devices (mostly rather expensive Panasonics) that would appear to be compatable with most(/all ?) aspects of the Saorview service although recording from HD channels such as RTE2 may be fiddly in practice (havent really had a chance to try for myself)

Information on what devices will or wont work with Saorview (and to what extent) is hard to come by. Many DVD recorders are labelled as "MPEG4 compatable" but this generally only refers to playback of MPEG4 video files from USB sticks or burned onto DVD's from computers). Devices on sale in the shops/websites are generally very badly labelled particularly in certain UK chailnstores operating in Ireland (although some "indigenous" retailers are little better).

Some set top boxes have USB recording functionality and the files (Usually .TS format) can in theory be then transferred to a computer and using appropriate software converted into a format for burning onto DVD's however this is a fiddly process which requires a certain level of computer skills/resources.

Some people advocate buying a Saorview STB (or PVR) and connecting it to a DVD recorder with a scart lead however an integrated solution would be far neater for various reasons
1) Better EPG integration
2) Less fiddly operation
3) Less clutter and complication with extra boxes, remotes and cables

There is also the possibility of importing equipment from countries using similar transmission standards and hoping it will work here but this throws up all sorts of problems with language barriers/hasstle getting the thing to Ireland/finding out what will or wont work/The risk that it could all go pear shaped.

The situation at the moment is a real mess quite frankly

Interesting find for the New Zealand market. it's what's needed in Ireland for Saorview but which manufacturer , if any, will provide Saorview approved equipment..?

http://www.zintech.com.tw/modules/product/page.php?tbdsn=86

Peddyr

Peddyr wrote: »

Interesting find for the New Zealand market. it's what's needed in Ireland for Saorview but which manufacturer , if any, will provide Saorview approved equipment..?

http://www.zintech.com.tw/modules/product/page.php?tbdsn=86

Not without its problems though...

http://www.nzdtv.com/forum/showthread.php?879-Zinwell-ZMT-640-PVR

Mike 1972

The New Zealand device seems to be a HDD only based PVR Not exactly what the OP was looking for (Plenty of them about anyway although IIRC none fully Approved yet)

Apart from the MPEG4/MHEG5 issue any device also has to be capable of downscaling HD transmissions (e.g. RTE2)

Another possible barrier to getting Saorview approval is the cost of obtaining certification (In the order of €20,000 I believe) a manufacturer would want to be anticipating big sales before being willing to put up that kind of money just for the sake of the Irish market.

watty

So more likely a new Model with BD (Blu Ray) and HDD, rather than old tech not designed for HD at all (DVD).

I'd bet you won't see a VHS.

There will definitely be HDD only PVRs. No need to import a New Zealand model. The UK "Freeview+ HD" pvrs from Sony and Humax do work as well as the New Zealand HDD PVR is likely to work. (Issues with summer time is biggest PVR showstopper)

If you have a laptop or PC able to work with a €20 or less USB DTT stick it's not hard to HDD record and write to BD or create a downscaled copy on DVD. DVBviewer +MHEG5 plugin + CoreVAC + Nero Express would be a simple to use combination for XP, Vista (not recommended) or Windows 7. W7 MC is very friendly with Saorview and a DTT stick (Interactive works), but it creates MS format recordings. I have no idea how easy these are to export & resample/resize for DVD video. In the Media Forum here they would know.

Gerry Wicklow

watty wrote: »

... W7 MC is very friendly with Saorview and a DTT stick (Interactive works), but it creates MS format recordings. I have no idea how easy these are to export & resample/resize for DVD video. In the Media Forum here they would know.

"Xmedia Recode" is the handiest I've found so far for .WTV > whatever format. It's very versatile, fairly fast and above all else FREE

Mike 1972

watty wrote: »

I'd bet you won't see a VHS.

VHS only Saorview approved recorders extremely unlikely

VHS/DVD(/HDD) Saorview approved "combi" recorders an outside possibility ?

watty

No harm in being optimistic. I'm a cynical pessimistic ***** myself. I guess been disappointed by reality vs hype too many times. If you hold your breath waiting for a Saorview approved DVD recorder you may go a funny colour. I'd be surprised if Panasonic are making any more. BD (Blu Ray) + HDD is a premium product. You might see one of those each from Panasonic (they do FreeviewHD and FreesatHD versions) and some one else.
But has Panasonic got anything working properly here/ certified yet?

Baralis1

Hi, I have a similar question. I'm afraid I'm not that well up on all the jargon. I have a video machine which I used to use for recording from tv. My house ariel cable is going into the video machine and then a separate aerial cable attaches the video machine to the saorview box. Is there any way that I can set up the video machine record off the saorview channels?

mike65

Nope, the VHS machine simply cannot recognise a DTT signal

Baralis1

mike65 wrote: »

Nope, the VHS machine simply cannot recognise a DTT signal

Thanks Mike. So is there any way at all currently of recording tv using the new saor view system?

The Cush

Baralis1 wrote: »

I have a video machine which I used to use for recording from tv. My house ariel cable is going into the video machine and then a separate aerial cable attaches the video machine to the saorview box. Is there any way that I can set up the video machine record off the saorview channels?

You can use the vcr to record the output of the Saorview box via scart to record the channel being viewed

See page 6 & 7 here - http://rtenl.ie/wp-content/downloads/connecting_a_television_set_to_saorview.pdf

The Cush

Baralis1 wrote: »

Thanks Mike. So is there any way at all currently of recording tv using the new saor view system?

Saorview approved dual-tuner Walker PVR expected sometime in Oct acccording to the Saorview people - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=80522570.

Peter Rhea

Baralis1 wrote: »

Is there any way that I can set up the video machine record off the saorview channels?

Yes, you can connect the Saorview box scart lead to one of the VCR's scart sockets (might be labeled as 'in') & then a 2nd scart from the other VCR scart socket ('in/out') to the tv. The Saorview box output will be available to record as an external input.

The Saorview box probably has a recording function via usb.

mike65

When my old VHS deck was still working I tried to record from my Samsung MPEG4 tv with a scart lead and could get nothing.

Peter Rhea

Worked for me before with a Sony V-series.

mike65

Ah well its all water under the bridge for me anyway (and never anything on RTE that' I'd want to record!)

The Cush

mike65 wrote: »

When my old VHS deck was still working I tried to record from my Samsung MPEG4 tv with a scart lead and could get nothing.

I occasionally use a DVD recorder to record a Saorview channel from a four and a half year old Sony TV via an in/out scart, the TV also has a timer function which leaves the TV in standby during recording (this feature isn't available in a 2009 model).

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Worked for me before with a Sony V-series.

My TV is a V-4500.