Question on DealExtreme MPEG4 DVB-T receivers

the_syco

Hello all,

Found two receivers that cost about €30 on DealExtreme, and would like to know your thoughts on them before I buy them;

MPEG4 DVB-T High Definition Digital Terrestrial Receiver w/ Remote controller
Mini DVB-T Digital Terrestrial Receiver + USB PVR with Remote Control

Both have HDMI1.3, a video decoder up to 1080p@30fps, use the "MSD7818" chip, have an auto/manual channel search function, and both have PVR via a USB2 port.

This is a "until the best box for FreeSat/Saorview/Saorsat with a good guide and recording has been decided" option, and thus why I'm only spending €30 on it.

Sam Russell

Similar boxes are available for a lot less. They are basically the same box with different packaging. I would look further for better value, as you rus the risk of VAT and duty plus handling fee on arrival. They do work, probably.

Also, you can't send them back.

Sam Russell

Try out Ebay item 200709241438

It has a 3 pin plug and should work for £25 inc postage if you are not in a hurry.:)

the_syco

Sam Russell wrote: »

It has a 3 pin plug and should work for £25 inc postage if you are not in a hurry.:)

Hrm, price is the same, but from China instead of Hong Kong. The 3-pin thing is nice, but is the MSTAR7828 chip that much better than the MSTAR7818 chip? I trust DX more than random ebay user.:/

winston_1

None of the above support MHEG 5 so are not Saorview compliant.

Sponge Bob

Nothing costing €20 to €30 will support MHEG5 and cannot be considered Saorview compliant. However they may well support Picture, HD Picture and Sound inc AAC sound.

A lot less risky than yet another Cowboy aerial installer on Donedeal so they are.

You will be mangled for tax and administration charges from An Post if it costs a penny more than €22 at current exchange rates....unless it is posted within the EU which DX ain't.

liamtech

If your really only interested in filling a gap until a decent Combi Box (certified) comes along then this seems to be the cheapest i have seen

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/IRISH-DIGITAL-TERRESTRIAL-RECEIVER-MPEG4-Saorview-Compatible-DTT-HDMI-RTE-/260919535753?pt=UK_ConEle_SatCableFreeview_RL&hash=item3cc0042889

It is

• NOT SAORVIEW CERTIFIED
• NOT MHEG5 COMPLIANT (AND NEVER WILL BE)
• I HAVE NOT USED IT SO I CANT GIVE YOU ANY IDEAS ON QUALITY

That being said Satsklep, a polish website were selling it a while back and it seems to tick the boxes as regards a simple cheap solution - BUT ONLY AS A STOP GAP - HONESTLY

I would advise you to consider a cheap saorview box though... if you buy it now you can always sell it down the road or keep it as a back up - in terms of re-sell value a certified box is worth a lot more (IMHO)

Aside from re-sell value a certified box will allow you to get use SAORVIEW as it is ment to be used with digital teletext - and if the new MHEG5 comes online you will be able to get used to it -

DO you have a satellite box? If you dont then the Ferguson Ariva 120 is hard to turn down.. again NEITHER FREESAT NOR SAORVIEW CERTIFIED - but i have used it and its DECENT!

the_syco

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Nothing costing €20 to €30 will support MHEG5 and cannot be considered Saorview compliant. However they may well support Picture, HD Picture and Sound inc AAC sound.

Great.

Sponge Bob wrote: »

You will be mangled for tax and administration charges from An Post if it costs a penny more than €22 at current exchange rates....unless it is posted within the EU which DX ain't.

Hrm. Don't want to get taxed, so I checked the DealExtreme UK warehouse but there was none there

liamtech wrote: »

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/IRISH-DIGITAL-TERRESTRIAL-RECEIVER-MPEG4-Saorview-Compatible-DTT-HDMI-RTE-/260919535753?pt=UK_ConEle_SatCableFreeview_RL&hash=item3cc0042889

Looks good. I'll look into it. Not liking the tenner postage, though, so I'll see if I can call into them, or something.

stanley1

lidl/aldi now and again have saorview certified receivers on offer usually around 50-60 euro.

Johnboy1951

the_syco wrote: »

Hello all,

Found two receivers that cost about €30 on DealExtreme, and would like to know your thoughts on them before I buy them;

MPEG4 DVB-T High Definition Digital Terrestrial Receiver w/ Remote controller
Mini DVB-T Digital Terrestrial Receiver + USB PVR with Remote Control

Both have HDMI1.3, a video decoder up to 1080p@30fps, use the "MSD7818" chip, have an auto/manual channel search function, and both have PVR via a USB2 port.

This is a "until the best box for FreeSat/Saorview/Saorsat with a good guide and recording has been decided" option, and thus why I'm only spending €30 on it.

I have a similar one to the first you linked to ..... it works very well, but I absolutely hate the physical construction.

I had problems with two TVs ..... both physically getting a good connection due to the TV cover at the rear, and also the tendency to partially disconnect if anything put a small strain on it.

Unless you need that swivel connector I would be inclined to get a box that connects with a cable.

Kristopherus

Here's an alternative: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Premier-TV-1158HD1080i-Freeview-Receiver-H-264HD/dp/tech-data/B006VAZ5TY/ref=de_a_smtd

Got an email about that unit this morning, so I presume it is a pretty new unit.

Sam Russell

You need to check out what the chipset is. They are not all equal. PQ varies and I found the the PVR function can be iffy on some boxes.

the_syco

A quick update, will update more later this evening.

the_syco wrote: »

MPEG4 DVB-T High Definition Digital Terrestrial Receiver w/ Remote controller

After waiting two weeks for this to ship, I cancelled the order for this.

the_syco wrote: »

Mini DVB-T Digital Terrestrial Receiver + USB PVR with Remote Control

After a week of effing around, DX posted this, and three weeks later I got it today. Well, yesterday, but it was picked up from the sorting office today.

Plugged it in, "setup" window came up automatically and selected "Poland" as my country (no "Ireland" option), and started the scan. Got a text from someone at home saying that it has picked up seven TV stations, and ten radio starions.

Will post up later what these stations are, and if there is any EPG (I doubt it, but I'll check anyhoos).

FYI, this is plugged directly into the TV via the HDMI connection. Device itself is very light, so will hopefully not cause any problems. Connected to a "rabbits ears" aerial that is inside the house on a windowsill of a window that is looking east. Not bad for something that only cost €27 (including VAT, shipping, etc). Shall also do a test record to see how the PVR function does.

Peter Rhea

Some of those receivers cause interference on the VHF band III channels used for RTE analogue in a lot of the country.

Could cause interference within your own home as well as any neighbours in close proximity.

the_syco

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Some of those receivers cause interference on the VHF band III channels used for RTE analogue in a lot of the country.

Could cause interference within your own home as well as any neighbours in close proximity.

Hrm. Will keep that in mind. Will check other analogue TV's in the house later tonight to see if it effects them.

=-=

The channels it picked up automatically using the "Poland" settings: RTE1, RTE2, RTE+1, 3e, TV3, TG4, RTEjr, RTE News Now. It also allows me to manually enter channels, but I've yet to look/find any others to put in.

The EPG shows the programs and info of the programs that are on for the next while (I went to tomorrow before I got bored pressing the down button). There is a teletext function which works (separate from the EPG).

The default time is one hour ago, so it seems it doesn't have the "summer time" thing, so I just selected GMT+1, and the time showed up correctly.

Recording whilst watching makes the screen go very fuzzy; doesn't look lilke it can hendle watch+record.

From the EPG, I picked a program and selected the box to record it (has a record or view option). Will see what quality is later.

t c

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

From an Irish company. Any problems just send it back.

the_syco

Recording with rabbit ears = awful pixelated recording.
Watching TV with rabbit ears = good, but with some interference if you move too near the rabbit ears.

Recording with internal aerial (in the attic, that looks something like this) = great.
Watching TV with internal aerial = great.

It records at 544x576, and 10 minutes took up 194MB so a 4GB thumb drive should be grand to record the news, etc.

The one bad thing is that it seems it must outputs onto the TV whatever it's recording, so you can't watch something else at the same time.

Screenshot of the quality:

the_syco

t c wrote: »

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

From an Irish company. Any problems just send it back.

I think liamtech also linked to that above, but his link was cheaper (and also from a business in Ireland). The product you linked to costs €40 + €8.50 delivery versus the thing I got for €27 including delivery. No doubt the product you linked to would be a bit more well built, it it better when it costs €21.50 more to deliver to my house.

Peter Rhea

the_syco wrote: »

Recording with rabbit ears = awful pixelated recording.

Is this aerial amplified, with the receiver providing power?

John mac

It records at 544x576, and 10 minutes took up 194MB so a 4GB thumb drive should be grand to record the news, etc

What about rte2? should record at a higher rate as its hd.

the_syco

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Is this aerial amplified, with the receiver providing power?

I think so, aye. Think, as I'm unsure if it's getting power. Would said power cause this?

John mac wrote: »

What about rte2? should record at a higher rate as its hd.

Hrm. I have no idea.

I just tried to record there, and all channels are now pixelated. Perhaps something else is causing it pixelate? Not sure. Will troubleshoot it further tomorrow.

Peter Rhea

the_syco wrote: »

I think so, aye. Think, as I'm unsure if it's getting power. Would said power cause this?

If the aerial has an amplifier, it will need power from somewhere.

Check the receiver menus for an 'antenna power' option ('Channel Search' menu on the one I've seen).

I obviously don't know if your aerial is amplified or if the receiver is powering it or if it can handle all the demands placed on it, I just thought it might be worth checking out as a possible reason for the difference in performance using this aerial when recording rather than simply watching.

the_syco

Peter Rhea wrote: »

If the aerial has an amplifier, it will need power from somewhere.

Check the receiver menus for an 'antenna power' option ('Channel Search' menu on the one I've seen).

I obviously don't know if your aerial is amplified or if the receiver is powering it or if it can handle all the demands placed on it, I just thought it might be worth checking out as a possible reason for the difference in performance using this aerial when recording rather than simply watching.

Both aerials are of equal strength for watching, but as the rabbit ears is on the ground floor, people getting in the way can disrupt it.

I have tried turning the "antenna power" option on (the rabbit ears), but it didn't really make much of a difference. I have used an external "one for all" booster (SV-9532800/002) with the attic aerial (UHF Aerial?) which when used allowed me to record without a problem, so it seems the signal strength is the only thing that matters. Will try the booster with the rabbit ears and get back to ye.

Ronnie Raygun

This thread is going nowhere unless you can unearth some issues with the receiver when it is fed a signal of consistently good quality.

No point messing around with indoor aerials.