Series link - any boxes support it yet?

bridster007

Walkers said last week that it would be close to Xmas before the PVR is available.

orlaithd12

I have an old BIG Back television, and have bought the Triax Tr 212 set top box. I currently have a free to air satellite system, and a DVD recorder with HDD, that I want to continue using with the Triax Set Top Box.
Saorview have assured me that I can continue to use the Free To Air and the DVD recorder with the STB, can anyone help me with getting them all connected? I have two scarts on my television, and Video/Audio Jacksockets on the side of the TV .
Thanks so much.
Orlaith

The Cush

orlaithd12 wrote: »

Saorview have assured me that I can continue to use the Free To Air and the DVD recorder with the STB, can anyone help me with getting them all connected? I have two scarts on my television, and Video/Audio Jacksockets on the side of the TV .

Saorview have a Connecting a Television Set to SAORVIEW guide, might be some help.

Kilree

Thanks for the replys. I have decided to stick with the 212 as the twin tuner is a real bonus at what I think is a low cost (compared to the predicted Walker Twin). The aspect ratio at 16: 9 and full is not that bad so I'll wait in hope that a software update may become available

shovel

Hi

Just to confirm that rte are definitely sending series link signals on rte 1+1, and have been for quite some time.

A few examples

eastenders.at your service,entrepreneur of the year,

doney84

The Cush wrote: »

According to a comment posted over on its Facebook page Saorview say that Walker have a PVR in for testing at the moment and should be available by early Oct.

Seven days to go ... any news on this walker pvr ???

The Cush

doney84 wrote: »

Seven days to go ... any news on this walker pvr ???

See post #62 above.

doney84

The Cush wrote: »

See post #62 above.

Thanks, missed that post while flicking through this thread.

Atlantic Dawn

Thanks for all the replies to my original post everyone, shocking it's 6 days before the switchover and there's no series link compatible box released, I can't understand whether it's a problem with RTÉ not giving out the correct specs to suppliers or if suppliers class the Irish market as too small to create a box for. I would assume that if Humax had some small bit of tinkering to their current Freeview HD box it would be fully compatible and a massive seller here, have looked at some clips of it in action on Youtube and it would be a great setup over here.

Sam Russell

Could it be that RTE could 'adjust' their spec to work with the Humax? Can't be much difference.

Cerco

Has anybody tested series link from RTE on the Humax?

watty

Sam Russell wrote: »

Could it be that RTE could 'adjust' their spec to work with the Humax? Can't be much difference.

No, that way lies madness. RTENL are using an openly published internationally agreed spec. It's up to the box makers.

The Cush

The non-Saorview approved Samsung PVR is looking better and better, just waiting for Saorview series link to test.

Sam Russell

watty wrote: »

No, that way lies madness. RTENL are using an openly published internationally agreed spec. It's up to the box makers.

There is a published spec. No box has been made that passes that spec. So what is so secret about the Nordig spec that they cannot get it to work, and that RTE NL dare not broadcast it?

It is almost unbeleivable that eighteen months since its launch of Saorview that RTENL has not broadcast even test signals (as far as we know) that would provide series link or any audio codecs. The ASO is irrelevant to this, as there was never series link with analogue. Also MHEG5 has been largely ignored, with little to nothing of interest being implemented. The short lived Mheg5 EPG has disappeared never to be seen again. Everything is secret. No plans are published, everything is just announced after the fact. Three Rock changed frequency with one weeks notice, and hardly announced at all, yet Mount Leinster was blasting out on four muxes for months on end causing all sorts of problems in Wales - no explanation was ever given as to why so much testing was needed for FOUR muxes to be on 24 hours a day. It will move from co-channel with Preselli (just as Preselli moves to another channel).


The whole Saorview project has been a long series of disappointments. (........ with many more to go!)

Rant over.

MBSnr

Kilree wrote: »

Just a point to watch out for on the new Triax TR 212 stb. The only aspect ratio options given are 16: 9 and Full despite the fact that the product handbook gives several different variations such as 4: 3 and 16:9 panscan and letterbox choices. .

Are you using the HDMI cable or SCART? My father in law has it on an old 4:3 CRT with SCART and you can change the aspect ratio at other video resolutions. Out of the box it's 726p, so in - Menu, AV, Video Resolution, change it from 726p to 576p. My understanding is that SCART is only 576 max anyhow.

Of course if it's HDMI then you're right, for 726 and 1080 there is only 16:9 and Full Screen

Hotblack Desiato

That setting should have no effect on SCART output anyway as it can only handle standard resolution. It has no effect on my Foxsat-HDR or Triax TR112. (Still happily watching RGB SD pictures via SCART on a 30" widescreen Trinitron CRT and won't replace it 'til it dies!)

watty

RTE have said Series Link will be used as soon as a Saorview PVR is approved. Unlike UK "Freeview HD" there is actually nothing strange or tricky or secret about the spec and fortunately it's not an RTE spec, but simply one they endorse.

RTE though could give the Kremlin lessons. The secrecy of their own plans and lack of consultation about anything is appalling for a PSB.

Any Nordig certified box for a Scandinavian country that's PVR (dual tuner and internal disc) with a CI+ slot should work 100% apart from OTA upgrades (that's only for boxes Saorview Certified)

You have to have same MHEG5 as RTE and UK to get CI+ certification.

The Cush

bridster007 wrote: »

Walkers said last week that it would be close to Xmas before the PVR is available.

Update on this from a C103 local radio interview with Saorview Brian Geraghty

Saorview PVR should be available next week, he didn't say which manufacturer but safe to assume it's Walker.

http://soundcloud.com/tvlopt/saorviewc103-19oct2012 (8:40 mins. in)
"I'm delighted to say that PVR has just arrived now ... so you'll see those in the shops in the coming days ... retail closer to €250"

byte

It should've been available ages ago, not just days before ASO where people may have bought basic boxes even though they may have wanted a proper PVR. Still no series linking?

watty

Well, blame the retailers for not pushing the makers and the makers not doing anything.

Also BCI and Dept for constantly delaying stuff, so the makers inclined to do nothing till near ASO as otherwise "Digital" could be a false alarm.

byte

Blame the retailers? Hm, don't think so.

watty

Some of them not only have made no effort but deliberately dumped stock. Also good retailers should be telling suppliers what the market needs.

I know there are good Retailers and I'm sure the bosses of some are well advised!

It's only one smaller bit of the picture and the larger the retailer the worse they seem to be!

Sam Russell

Yes, but the spec has been written, so why no signals? Is it they cannot contemplate that no-one is watching? Why wait till a box is approved - that makes no sense to me. If it is all ready decided, why wait for a manufacturer to produce a box before you turn on the signal? Utter nonsense. BBC started DVD-T2 transmission s months before any boxes were announced.

Why this constant secrecy and delay.

byte

Sam Russell wrote: »

Why this constant secrecy and delay.

This is very annoying. It seems to be RTÉ through and through. Lucky we don't have to pay for such a company... oh wait!

SalteeDog

Sam Russell wrote: »

Yes, but the spec has been written, so why no signals? Is it they cannot contemplate that no-one is watching? Why wait till a box is approved - that makes no sense to me. If it is all ready decided, why wait for a manufacturer to produce a box before you turn on the signal? Utter nonsense. BBC started DVD-T2 transmission s months before any boxes were announced.

Why this constant secrecy and delay.

Probably because it will cost them money to manage the Series Link data (perhaps there's an extra administrative overhead somewhere). Given RTE are suffering cutbacks as much as anywhere else they may well wish to avoid incurring the additional expense until the last possible moment.

shovel

Lads

Just to say again that rte ARE sending out the series link signal but only on rte 1+1

I checked again tonight and am being offered the series link option all programmes until the channel closes down

Last night i was offered the option for any programme i checked

shamu2new

Has anyone found the illusive PVR in a shop yet? Im waiting to buy one and havent seen anything appear yet. Who is likely to have stocks first?

The Cush

The Cush wrote: »

Update on this from a C103 local radio interview with Saorview Brian Geraghty

Saorview PVR should be available next week, he didn't say which manufacturer but safe to assume it's Walker.

http://soundcloud.com/tvlopt/saorviewc103-19oct2012 (8:40 mins. in)
"I'm delighted to say that PVR has just arrived now ... so you'll see those in the shops in the coming days ... retail closer to €250"

WP6500TTR Walker SAORVIEW Approved set-top-box with built-in PVR (recorder) - http://www.saorview.ie/product/walker/

Thanks to Doney84

The Cush

shamu2new wrote: »

Who is likely to have stocks first?

Powercity?

byte

Walker really need to work on that website.