TVStar in Dunnes, €50 and lots of logos

TheDriver

Saw the TVStar that place in Cork was selling few weeks back now in Dunnes Stores, its at €50 and it has lots of rte and tv3 logos on it, no saorview logo of course but you would want to know your stuff before you would think its not approved.

Must say I don't like this, fooling people into non saorview approved equipment.

coylemj

Spotted it in Cornellscourt during the week, lots of logos as you say. I flipped the box round and round and ne'er a Saorview logo in sight.

STB

I wonder if they have permission to use the TV stations' respective logo's.

Compton

saw this same box in supervalu and xtravision

watty

It's despicable. The French wouldn't allow it in France.

Our Government is on the side of Big Business, not the voter and consumer.

Boycott it. Complain to the shop manager.

Partly it's Corporate purchasing people that do little or no research about products.

john williams

ok not approved but does it work

TheDriver

for now but no guarantee it will. being approved means they have all the necessary settings whatever rte do. e.g. I am a panasonic z81 which works until rte changed some tiny setting and now it can't tune in new channels. Saorview boxes will always work, this tvstar may not

Gerry Wicklow

Considering that Argos and others are selling approved boxes for the same money, it would be a foolish gamble buying a non-approved one.

Tony

Is the RTE logo on the actual unit itself or surrounding advertising? I sell the Tv Star1010 and the stock I have here makes no mention of RTE

TheDriver

its on the surround advertising, tv3 etc all included. There are also hdmi cables on the stand

easkey

The High Definition DVB-T receiver TV STAR T1010 can receive both high definition and standard
definition digital terrestrial Free to air channels. The unit comes with HDMI, SPDIF and USB connector.
Terrestrial digital receiver TV STAR T1010 is also capable of recording the TV programs on external
hard disk

PROBLEM

Please be aware that the future digital Teletext service system used by RTE is not compatible with this box.


Not Saorview!!
:cool::cool:

MarkK

easkey wrote: »

The High Definition DVB-T receiver TV STAR T1010 can receive both high definition and standard
definition digital terrestrial Free to air channels. The unit comes with HDMI, SPDIF and USB connector.
Terrestrial digital receiver TV STAR T1010 is also capable of recording the TV programs on external
hard disk

PROBLEM

Please be aware that the future digital Teletext service system used by RTE is not compatible with this box.


Not Saorview!!

Is this meant to be a quote from somewhere?

easkey

MarkK wrote: »

Is this meant to be a quote from somewhere?

http://www.satellite.ie/acatalog/RTE-digital-set-top-box.html

:cool::cool:

Tony

I'm not really sure what your point is ?

easkey wrote: »

http://www.satellite.ie/acatalog/RTE-digital-set-top-box.html

:cool::cool:

watty

john williams wrote: »

ok not approved but does it work

PARTIALLY

noisenotmusic

Tony wrote: »

I'm not really sure what your point is ?

That it's not fully compatible with SaorView, anyone buying the box won't be able to get teletext and presumably anything else that relies on MHEG5.

Tony

noisenotmusic wrote: »

That it's not fully compatible with SaorView, anyone buying the box won't be able to get teletext and presumably anything else that relies on MHEG5.

Edit: Just realised that Easkey originally posted what I was replying to , why are you answering for him ? I've never claimed it to be fully saorview compatible

@ easkey . The thread is about Dunnes stores so I do not understand why you are quoting from and linking to my website ?

recyclebin

I think easkey is just pointing out what the box lacks. It's not just Dunnes stores selling this box so people should be told what limitations this box has and this thread will help highlight them.

Tony

recyclebin wrote: »

I think easkey is just pointing out what the box lacks. It's not just Dunnes stores selling this box so people should be told what limitations this box has and this thread will help highlight them.

No problem with that as the box does have limitations but quoting from and linking to my website without explaining the context is unhelpful especially on a thread where another retailer is being critcised.

Dymo

I have the box it works great, it has an USB port for an external hard drive and can record in 1080p HD.
Records everything perfect and teletext is on all the channels (not that I use it often). The EPG record function works fine and has a workaround for there being no series link. For €45 its well worth the money with the PVR

SalteeDog

Dymo wrote: »

Records everything perfect and teletext is on all the channels (not that I use it often).

That's the 'old' analogue teletext though - isn't it? The Saorview MHEG5 digital Aertel looks like this with the TV picture on the top right (where the advert is on the webpage).

watty

With an uncertified box you have NO IDEA and no comeback if something transmitted stops working.

It's actually a waste of money to buy one of these.

Dymo

SalteeDog wrote: »

That's the 'old' analogue teletext though - isn't it? The Saorview MHEG5 digital Aertel looks like this with the TV picture on the top right (where the advert is on the webpage).

I stopped worrying about Aertel about 8 years ago so it's not really a big deal. The media player alone is worth the money. I'm selling my WD media player because this works even better with a greater UI.

There's a lot of scaremongering going on about Saorview a bit like the "You have to buy a Saorview TV ". A friend of mine bought a TV from the UK and NOT Saorview approved but he's able to get all the UK Freesat Channels and all the Saorview channels. Where as he would of been totally discouraged if he had looked for information on some internet forums.

TheDriver

Dymo wrote: »

I stopped worrying about Aertel about 8 years ago so it's not really a big deal. The media player alone is worth the money. I'm selling my WD media player because this works even better with a greater UI.

There's a lot of scaremongering going on about Saorview a bit like the "You have to buy a Saorview TV ". A friend of mine bought a TV from the UK and NOT Saorview approved but he's able to get all the UK Freesat Channels and all the Saorview channels. Where as he would of been totally discouraged if he had looked for information on some internet forums.

tell that to panasonic z81 folks that had working saorview before there was a slight change that panasonic don't comply with but saorview boxes do. Considering saorview boxes are 49.99, why waste money on this.

Tony

Thats comparing apples with oranges, unless RTE change their transmission radicially so that even saorview boxes cannot receive their signal this box will continue to receive as it does now .

Having said that even on a value basis a saorview approved box at 49.99 is a better bet if you do not wish to have the multi media playback and recording that the non approved box allows with an external drive.

Its all about informed choice

TheDriver wrote: »

tell that to panasonic z81 folks that had working saorview before there was a slight change that panasonic don't comply with but saorview boxes do. Considering saorview boxes are 49.99, why waste money on this.

easkey

Tony wrote: »

No problem with that as the box does have limitations but quoting from and linking to my website without explaining the context is unhelpful especially on a thread where another retailer is being critcised.

I was trying to help by giving you information about the Box.
As i thought you wanted to know if it was Saorview ready.

The retailer was a side issue in my opinion.
I presumed the info was self explanatory as to the shortcomings
of this box and the link was to show everyone a place
where to read info on same.

I never thought my reply was in any way inconsiderate to anyone.
I was trying to help,
but I live and learn.

Tony

easkey wrote: »

I was trying to help by giving you information about the Box.
As i thought you wanted to know if it was Saorview ready.

Now i'm totally confused:) . You posted information about the box from my own website? I wrote the text you quoted so I'm well aware of what the box does and does not do?

I hear what you say that you were trying to be helpful but as you can see from the replies to your post it was not clear what is what you intended. A little explanation alongside the quote could have put it in context.

The retailer is most definitely not a side issue as its the subject of the thread.

TheDriver

Tony wrote: »

Thats comparing apples with oranges, unless RTE change their transmission radicially so that even saorview boxes cannot receive their signal this box will continue to receive as it does now .

Having said that even on a value basis a saorview approved box at 49.99 is a better bet if you do not wish to have the multi media playback and recording that the non approved box allows with an external drive.

Its all about informed choice

informed choice is right as the official box I got for 49 allows recording also. I don't think its apples with oranges, the z81 worked fine then it didn't over the crapiest thing.

Fazer6

Dymo wrote: »

I have the box it works great, it has an USB port for an external hard drive and can record in 1080p HD.
Records everything perfect and teletext is on all the channels (not that I use it often). The EPG record function works fine and has a workaround for there being no series link. For €45 its well worth the money with the PVR

Dymo, exactly which box do you have?

Fazer6.

Crystalset

Tony wrote: »

.......unless RTE change their transmission radicially so that even saorview boxes cannot receive their signal this box will continue to receive as it does now .
Its all about informed choice

I had a Daewoo Setpal Freeview (£100) stb which became useless after about 4 years of use. It was one of the best of the early stbs, recomended for picking up weak signals; which it did until it received nothing.


http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/freeviewlandfill.html

Tony

TheDriver wrote: »

informed choice is right as the official box I got for 49 allows recording also. I don't think its apples with oranges, the z81 worked fine then it didn't over the crapiest thing.

An official box with recording is better again . I agree panaosnic could have fixed that issue quite easily from what I've heard, strictly speaking they were not obliged to but from a customer service perpective they handled it very badly in my personal view.

Tony

Was this an official freeview box that stopped picking up the Uk service ?

Crystalset wrote: »

I had a Daewoo Setpal Freeview (£100) stb which became useless after about 4 years of use. It was one of the best of the early stbs, recomended for picking up weak signals; which it did until it received nothing.


http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/freeviewlandfill.html

Crystalset

The early Freeview boxes were neither official nor unofficial, I bought it in Dixons as a result of an ad I saw in a Proms programme. I believe Setpal was an Irish company

Tony

Thanks. I thought it might be the fact that its mpeg 2 and not the RTE Mpeg 4 standard but from what I read on the link you provided it seems it had problems even with UK MPEG 2 as it did not have enough memory for the network information.

Crystalset wrote: »

The early Freeview boxes were neither official nor unofficial, I bought it in Dixons as a result of an ad I saw in a Proms programme. I believe Setpal was an Irish company

Dymo

Fazer6 wrote: »

Dymo, exactly which box do you have?

Fazer6.

This one

http://www.tvstar.eu/assets/Uploads/T1010date.pdf

lawhec

The Setpal STB's were for their time very decent receivers, but ultimately the company behind them going bust did not help in that OTA software upgrades were no longer being written, and the Split NIT issue rendered them unusable. There were many other receivers that also suffered similar problems, some received software upgrades, others ended up with channels being placed in the 800's instead of their designated LCN number. It had nothing to do with the codec used for the programmes being broadcast. It also affected a generic DVB-T (MPEG2) receiver I had as well. The 2009 retune event (which saw Channel 5 being moved to a PSB multiplex) also had some technical glitches.

Ganondorf

It is worth pointing out that Saorview is owned by the RTE and as such any box's which want to add the logo to their systems need to hand them over to RTE and pay for testing on the box's ability's to display the logo - basically RTE make money from any box you see with the logo on them and also have the ability to change the output signal as they see fit to the Box manufacturers who have shelled out to RTE and as such to change the signal to affect those who haven't bought those boxes.

As RTE are fairly notorious for bad use of their resources to do over the competition I would be wary if you are buying a STB to keep in mind that if it doesn't say Soarview on the box at least you aren't handing over money to RTE on account of being afraid not to pay them... saying that like I said there are also reasons to be worried about possibly changes to the system.

Peter Rhea

RTE don't test the receivers or receive anything for doing so. They're not trying to 'do over the competition' whoever that might be.

As such your entire post is nonsense & you should delete it.

evilivor

Ganondorf wrote: »

It is worth pointing out that Saorview is owned by the RTE and as such any box's which want to add the logo to their systems need to hand them over to RTE and pay for testing on the box's ability's to display the logo - basically RTE make money from any box you see with the logo on them and also have the ability to change the output signal as they see fit to the Box manufacturers who have shelled out to RTE and as such to change the signal to affect those who haven't bought those boxes.

As RTE are fairly notorious for bad use of their resources to do over the competition I would be wary if you are buying a STB to keep in mind that if it doesn't say Soarview on the box at least you aren't handing over money to RTE on account of being afraid not to pay them... saying that like I said there are also reasons to be worried about possibly changes to the system.

Twaddle.

Doodah7

Ganondorf wrote: »

It is worth pointing out that Saorview is owned by the RTE and as such any box's which want to add the logo to their systems need to hand them over to RTE and pay for testing on the box's ability's to display the logo - basically RTE make money from any box you see with the logo on them and also have the ability to change the output signal as they see fit to the Box manufacturers who have shelled out to RTE and as such to change the signal to affect those who haven't bought those boxes.

As RTE are fairly notorious for bad use of their resources to do over the competition I would be wary if you are buying a STB to keep in mind that if it doesn't say Soarview on the box at least you aren't handing over money to RTE on account of being afraid not to pay them... saying that like I said there are also reasons to be worried about possibly changes to the system.

I'm afraid but this entire post is a pig pile of merde and is paranoid and misleading.

watty

Anyone buying the Dunnes Stores' box is supporting misleading advertising and short changing themselves. It's absolutely unacceptable that major retailers can sell budget product with misleading packaging.

RTE makes no money out of Saorview Certification. It's so that people KNOW that they are getting product 100% compatible. Otherwise you need your own test lab. No Retailer tests products to a spec. Plugging it in and seeing a picture and hearing sound isn't a test.

Sam Russell

Not only does Soarview Approval give you certainty that the product will work with Saorview and all its unbroadcast (so far) features, it also will be eligible for over the air upgrades. I have seen this work very well with my Humax Foxsat HDR Freesat recorder which has been improved over the years by OTA upgrades.

It makes no sense at this stage to buy a STB or iDTV that is not approved when they are readily available at reasonable prices. As for adding a STB to an old CRT TV of small size (and 4:3 aspect ratio), it should be noted that small approved TV sets are not that much more expensive than a STB.

As far as I know, neither RTE nor RTE NL make any money from the approval service or the Logo.

Ganondorf

http://www.rtenl.ie/broadcast/saorview-digital-television.html
the actual saorview site as a part of rtenl you know owned by rte

"Commercial television companies have alleged that RTÉ unfairly uses licence fee to outbid them for broadcast rights to foreign films, TV series, and sports events."
from the criticism of use of funds from tv license on wiki, they use the 95% of that fee just to outbid competition such as tv3 who make their money from advertising.

"RTÉNL has set up a receiver approval process to reassure consumers that receivers are SAORVIEW compliant and will work correctly with the signals transmitted on the SAORVIEW digital platform. Receivers that have been approved will all carry the SAORVIEW logo.

At present there are a number of SAORVIEW approved receivers, the numbers available will continue to grow as manufacturers present more products for the testing process."

From the rtenl site about how a receiver needs to be submitted to them for testing before it can get the saorview logo on the product.

as much as you might want to think its untrue that rte owns saorview or they are not in control of marking the box's as certified or that they aren't well known for being generally dickish about their use of money against the competition. Although I guess it's easier to just type twaddle : ]

Peter Rhea

If you actually bother to read the page you linked to, you'll see that the receivers are tested by Teracom, a Swedish company, to ensure they meet RTENL's spec which is a variant of NorDig.

Introducing the licence fee versus ad. revenue argument to the certification of receivers makes no sense whatsoever. Don't forget TV3 are on Saorview.

watty

And 3e, which was not on Analogue.

In fact TV3 coverage has increased by over 20% on Saorview compared to Analogue.

"Commercial television companies have alleged that RTÉ unfairly uses licence fee to outbid them for broadcast rights to foreign films, TV series, and sports events."

You mean TV3 alleges it and it's never been proven. They are broke due to a leveraged buyout. Any complaint they make is suspect.

RTE has far too many managers, Presenters that do too little work and overpaid x5, pathetic at interviews, anti-religious, Dublin-centric, talk too much on the Radio, don't produce enough quality home produced Documentary, History, Politics, Nature (Imports are useless for those). Don't produce any quality Drama or Comedy.
Should have no adverts on RTE Radio (1, 2FM and lyric). Should have no music or phone-ins on RTE1 Radio but have them on 2FM, which shouldn't play current chart music at all given so many Commercial stations now. THEY ARE A PSB!

So loads wrong about RTE. But your "Saorview rant" is complete nonsense. Only the BAI and TV3 are close to the same level of Fantasy.

BAI concentrates on all the wrong stuff and gives part of the LICENCE FEE TAX to Setanta, which is in reality a Pay TV channel only on Foreign owned PayTV platforms. Setanta should never ever get a cent of Sound & Vision fund unless Free To Air on Saorview.

RTE had to borrow €70M to roll out Saorview network. Not a cent from Government, even though they hope to raise €100M to €350M selling of part of the old Analogue TV Spectrum.

Saorview costs RTE money. They don't get a cent from the boxes or TVs sold.

noisenotmusic

watty wrote: »

Should have no music or phone-ins on RTE1 Radio but have them on 2FM, which shouldn't play current chart music at all given so many Commercial stations now. THEY ARE A PSB!

You have some good points about the RTE service but I'm not sure where being a public service broadcaster disallows a station to play current chart music or have any music/phone ins at all. What are they supposed to do? Radio 1 plays very little music and when it does it's usually only a few hours per day at night with John Creedon. No phone ins just sound like you don't like Joe Duffy. Not many others either but that doesn't mean there should be a phone in style show.

This is all way off topic though.

Ganondorf

Saorview costs RTE money. They don't get a cent from the boxes or TVs sold.

If there was no money to be paid for the Saorview logo to be put on these box's then companys like the TVstar etc wouldn't be avoiding putting the logo on their unit but surrounding the shelf space with logos of rte and tv3 etc. It is a brand name like any other and if you want to put someones brand name on your product you have to pay to use their logo.

noisenotmusic

They're avoiding putting the Saorview logo on it because the box is a technically deficent knock-off that does not meet the right standards, not that they don't want to "pay to use it". Are they paying to use the logos of RTE/TV3? I would very much doubt it.

The Cush

Ganondorf wrote: »

If there was no money to be paid for the Saorview logo to be put on these box's then companys like the TVstar etc wouldn't be avoiding putting the logo on their unit but surrounding the shelf space with logos of rte and tv3 etc. It is a brand name like any other and if you want to put someones brand name on your product you have to pay to use their logo.

In this case to carry the logo it has to go through a compliance testing process. The testing fee goes to Teracom, a figure of €20,000 has been mentioned here in the forum to lab test a model/type/chassis. The fee might be too high for some manufacturers to put through the testing process especially if it fails the first time around.

This document describes the Saorview approval process - http://www.rtenl.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Saorview-approvals-process.pdf
Teracom IRD Testing terms & conditions - http://www.teracom.se/Documents/Produkter/Irdtesting/Terms%20and%20Conditions.pdf

Ganondorf

noisenotmusic wrote: »

They're avoiding putting the Saorview logo on it because the box is a technically deficent knock-off that does not meet the right standards, not that they don't want to "pay to use it". Are they paying to use the logos of RTE/TV3? I would very much doubt it.

the rte and tv3 logos are not featured on the box as has been said earlier in this thread they are on the shelves and boxes which contain these tvstar things in the stores. they are being well careful to avoid any logos on the box's themselves.

Edit: that is horrible to read, I mean there are box's which contain box's of this product in dunnes and xtra vision, the box's and area where the products are are coated in tv channel logos, the actual box with the hardware in it has no logos at all on it, they are only around them on the shelf's where they are selling these box's

noisenotmusic

Ganondorf wrote: »

the rte and tv3 logos are not featured on the box as has been said earlier in this thread they are on the shelves and boxes which contain these tvstar things in the stores. they are being well careful to avoid any logos on the box's themselves.

Edit: that is horrible to read, I mean there are box's which contain box's of this product in dunnes and xtra vision, the box's and area where the products are are coated in tv channel logos, the actual box with the hardware in it has no logos at all on it, they are only around them on the shelf's where they are selling these box's

I know its not on the actual unit itself, I meant are the paying for the use of the RTE & TV3 logos on the promotional material surrounding the box? You said yourself to use those brand logos they need to pay for it.