Potential Saorview PVR

Mr Keek

Hi Forum,

I though I would share my experiences with a purchase I made recently.

I bought the Samsung STB-E7500 recently, linked here

This is a "True PVR" in the sense that it has in built in Hard Drive 500GB & 1TB, dual Tuner.

It is a FreeView HD box, but I was delighted upon set up when it asked me if I was in Rep Of Ireland or UK.

Upon set up, all the the Saorview Channels were correctly numbered, from 1 to 8 for TV and from 200 to 209 for the Radio stations. No freeview problems like wrong time, and the Saorview logo is on the TV guide, pictured here (let me know if that link doesn't work, I'd mend it).

The box has all the Smart Hub features that comes with the Samsung TV....But I can't for the life of me find the RTE Player App. You can still use the players browser to access this and 4OD etc.

Internet browser on a TV is pure rubbish, but this is made very easy by downloading the Samsung remote app on android so you can use your Phone or Tablet as a keyboard. You can also pair to phone and tablet to the TV, and when on Youtube, you can navate youtube as normal on your portable device and the video will play on the TV, wirlessly. (This is via the Youtube mobile site and not the youtube app, Its a very good site for navagation though, just not as good as the app.)

The STB also has DNLA, so you can wirelessly stream file on your laptop/PC over your home network. This has yet to tested by myself.

The STB does have a USB port in front and behind, judging from the menus, it looks like you can also record TV directly to a Hard Drive. I have yet to test this also, but I'll report back. Should be handy, just leave a portable HDD plugged into the rear USB port, and forget about it, you can then easly double your recording space. I have yet to test this.

Unable to test Series Link until everyting broadcasts. You can in the meantime set recordings to repeat Daily, Weekly, Weekends only, or you can select what ever days you like.

Great box, wasn't too keen about the remote, but I have it programmed into my Harmony Remote and all's fine.

I can record 2 programs at once and watch a third!!

Another great feature is that it's very very easy to do partial Deletes. Great for cutting out Ad breaks etc.

Johnboy1951

Any programmes from terrestrial, cable and satellite broadcasts are recordable

How does it record Satellite channels?
From the description it has only DTT tuner/s.

Mr Keek

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

How does it record Satellite channels?
From the description it has only DTT tuner/s.

I'm not sure where you got that quote from, I didn't say that, but the product description is correct, this is DTT/Terrestrial only.

This will work for Saorview only and both Saorview/Freeview HD in overspill counties, there is no inputs for a satellite feeds.




***edit, I see the bit on the Amazon Features page where you are quoting from.....That paragraph is wrong.

Mr Keek

I forgot to mention things like Live Pause and rewind in my origonal post.

I also have a Humax Fox T2 HD in a bedroom and I have to admit that this box is better for the likes of Live Pause and rewind.

On the Samsung box, you can in pause a live Broadcast and continue watching after the tea is made, but you can't rewind past the point you Paused from. On the Humax, as you are watching it is recording the Broadcast in the Buffer automatically. Not possible with the Samsung.

On the Samsung, you need to activate the Timeshift function by pressing Play first. And then you can pause and rewind back. Unlike the Humax, you can change the channel and return to your timeshifted program without recording it. On the Humax, once you change the channel, you loose the timeshift.

I prefer Humax in that regard.

holidaysong

This box looks the business. Would be interested to see reports on how it functions in overspill areas if anyone has used it there.

zg3409

Hi Mr Keek,

Can you see if series link options appear when trying to record any programs on RTE1+1 and RTE jnr during the day? There have been reports some programs on these channels do send series link information as a test. They may not be on every program and they may be on no programs.

Mr Keek

zg3409 wrote: »

Hi Mr Keek,

Can you see if series link options appear when trying to record any programs on RTE1+1 and RTE jnr during the day? There have been reports some programs on these channels do send series link information as a test. They may not be on every program and they may be on no programs.

I tried every program for the next three days on both channels and not once was I asked about Series Link I'm afraid.

I'm in Galway and getting my signal from Maheragh, that particular transmitter may not be part of that test. The test could be over.

I'll keep on eye and will post back if anything changes

The Cush

Mr Keek wrote: »

I though I would share my experiences with a purchase I made recently.

I bought the Samsung STB-E7500 recently, linked here

This is a "True PVR" in the sense that it has in built in Hard Drive 500GB & 1TB, dual Tuner.

Thanks for posting the review.

I came across the Samsung PVRs earlier this year and the spec looked vey good indeed - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=78202550

How much did it cost you in €?

The price from an online Irish store seems a little high - STB-E7500M €379, STB-E7900M €449

Mr Keek

The Cush wrote: »

Thanks for posting the review.

I came across the Samsung PVRs earlier this year and the spec looked vey good indeed - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=78202550

How much did it cost you in €?

The price from an online Irish store seems a little high - STB-E7500M €379, STB-E7900M €449

I got the 500GB from Amazon, with Free Delivery as my order was over £25 and my Visa statement shows a debit of €257

bridster007

The problem with terrestrial HD PVRs is the lack of ability to archive recordings. If the HDD on the machine goes ( as it will eventually ) the recordings are lost. Even though they allow copying to external HDD they are generally only playable on that machine. This seems to be a requirement of Freeview HD + certification, tied up with HDCP compliant machines.

Exception is the Humax HDR T2 with custom s/w but that won't suit people who are used to the simplicity of a VCR or DVDR.

What we really need is for Panasonic to sort out the Saorview sound issue mentioned in other threads on the DMR-BWT720.
This is the ultimate machine in my mind with the ability to make a DVD of the Eucharist Congress for the MIL ....

shovel

Mr Keek wrote: »

I tried every program for the next three days on both channels and not once was I asked about Series Link I'm afraid.

I'm in Galway and getting my signal from Maheragh, that particular transmitter may not be part of that test. The test could be over.

I'll keep on eye and will post back if anything changes

Over the last few months,i have recorded certain programmes on my panny bw780 on rte 1+ 1 and i have been asked did i want to record the series and it did so when i pressed ok

For the same programme on rte 1 that option was not available.

Have not done it for a while, but will check out the guide and if there is a programme with that option,i will come back to you so you can try it.

forgot to say that i get my signal from magheragh as well


On checking the guide,I am getting the series link option for the following programmes

At your service, rte 1 +1, sunday night 21.30

Eastenders rte1+1 monday night 21.00

Hope that helps

km_connolly

Hi Mr Keek,

Thanks for the useful info. I live in the Monaghan area and I am about to buy this Samsung STB-E7500 unit, as I'd like to receive freeview and saorview on the one unit.

Yesterday I bought a Sony SVR-HDT500 to do the same thing, but I left it straight back, because after tuning I got all the UK freeview channels and Saorview, but I found that you cannot arrange the programmes on the EPG to the way you would like them. Very disappointing, as I don't like having to look for channels scattered everywhere. You can set a favourites list of channel, but this is seperate from the EPG and only shows a list of favourite channel names, not an actual EPG showing what's on.

Anyhow, thats the Sony unit, but the Samsung looks to have all the same features and more for the same price. Like internet connectivity etc.

I have some questions for you on the Samsung:

1. Can you organise the programmes on the EPG to the order you want?

2. When you told the unit you were in the Rep of Ireland, did the UK freeview channels appear on the EPG after tuning, as well as the Saorview? Or Saorview only?

2. Do you see the Saorview and freeview channels on the same EPG?

Your help would be very much appreciated. Or anyone elses for that matter.

Thanks.

holidaysong

The OP has their location as Galway so it's unlikely that they are receiving Freeview.

km_connolly

:o Oh, apologies, when I seen Maghera as the transmitter location, I assumed the Maghera in Northern Ireland (probably not even a transmitter there!) but I now see there is a Maghera near Galway too.

Perhaps the OP or anyone else can still answer question number 1, which is the most important one?

Thanks again.

The Cush

Mr Keek wrote: »

It is a FreeView HD box, but I was delighted upon set up when it asked me if I was in Rep Of Ireland or UK.

Upon set up, all the the Saorview Channels were correctly numbered, from 1 to 8 for TV and from 200 to 209 for the Radio stations. No freeview problems like wrong time, and the Saorview logo is on the TV guide, pictured here.

With the Rep of Ireland available in the setup and the Saorview logo in the epg I wonder if this has been/willl be submitted for Saorview approval or if it's been "self-certified" in-house at Samsung without the additional certification costs.

bridster007

km_connolly wrote: »

:o Oh, apologies, when I seen Maghera as the transmitter location, I assumed the Maghera in Northern Ireland (probably not even a transmitter there!) but I now see there is a Maghera near Galway too.

Perhaps the OP or anyone else can still answer question number 1, which is the most important one?

Thanks again.

Another important question, maybe even more important for you, is whether it has the same problem as the Sony machine you mentioned, whereby if there are 2 programs scheduled to record, one on Saorview and one on Freeview, the second one won't record and vice versa. Seemingly the Sony machine can't see the scheduled recordings for SV unless the machine is on a SV channel and the same for FV.

Mr Keek

shovel wrote: »

At your service, rte 1 +1, sunday night 21.30

Eastenders rte1+1 monday night 21.00

Hope that helps

I missed 'At your Service' but I tried 'Eastenders' and no joy, it just scheduled a Single Recording:(.

I'll try an put the STB into UK/Freeview Mode (as per your box) mode at set up and will see if that works. I'll more than likely miss Eastenders tomorrow to test this, so PM me another program that is on later in the week and I'll see what happens.

km_connolly wrote: »

Hi Mr Keek,


1. Can you organise the programmes on the EPG to the order you want?

2. When you told the unit you were in the Rep of Ireland, did the UK freeview channels appear on the EPG after tuning, as well as the Saorview? Or Saorview only?

2. Do you see the Saorview and freeview channels on the same EPG?

Your help would be very much appreciated. Or anyone elses for that matter.

Thanks.

I'm only home now and I am recording The Sunday Game, I thought I'd miss it! As the STB is currently recording, I have no access to the settings so I can't test out the ability to rearrange the channels. I'll check it out for you tomorrow and I'll post back!

With regards your question about Freevew and Saorview together on the one EPG, I'm afraid I can't help you. As already mentioned, I'm in Galway so I don't get the signal. I have a another PVR for Freesat. Thank god for Logitech's Harmomy remotes, I have the two PVR's connected to my home cinema and the actual TV itself. 4 remotes replaced with one, and Logitech's Activities makes switching from Saorview to Freesat a matter of a single button press!

km_connolly

Mr Keek wrote: »

I'm only home now and I am recording The Sunday Game, I thought I'd miss it! As the STB is currently recording, I have no access to the settings so I can't test out the ability to rearrange the channels. I'll check it out for you tomorrow and I'll post back!

Thanks, I await your answer......

briggy

Is there an RTÉ Player app on the Samsung Smart Hub?

Mr Keek

shovel wrote: »

On checking the guide,I am getting the series link option for the following programmes

Eastenders rte1+1 monday night 21.00

Hope that helps

I tried last night for a 'Series Link' in RoI/Saorview mode and no joy. Set up the box again in Uk/Freeview mode today. The EPG displayed a Freeview logo and all the channels were numbered from 800 up, I tried 'Eastenders' again and still no joy with series link.

km_connolly wrote: »

I have some questions for you on the Samsung:

1. Can you organise the programmes on the EPG to the order you want?

Yes you can you can reorder the channels in any way you like. I repaced TV3 with RTE 1 and it was grand. You simply change the channel number. EPG showed the new order just fine. I tested out a recording too, the correct channel recorded also.

briggy wrote: »

Is there an RTÉ Player app on the Samsung Smart Hub?

RTE player is on the the Samsung Smart Hub, I've seen it on a friends Samsung TV, BUT I cannot find it on this STB when I look for it. You can simply bookmark the RTE Player in the Web broswer. I must investigate this more as this was one reason why I choose this STB vs others available. If anything developes, I'll post back.

Smart Hub hasn't impressed me at all to be honest, I have little use for it. Tablet plugged into HDMI with a Bluetooth mouse and Keyboard is still my preferred method to be perfectly honest for steaming.

The ability to pair your phone and table to the Samsung and navigate youtube as normal and have the video appear on screen is really cool though!

briggy

Mr Keek wrote: »

RTE player is on the the Samsung Smart Hub, I've seen it on a friends Samsung TV, BUT I cannot find it on this STB when I look for it. You can simply bookmark the RTE Player in the Web broswer. I must investigate this more as this was one reason why I choose this STB vs others available. If anything developes, I'll post back.

Thanks for the reply I was thinking of getting this STB for the whole Smart Hub because it sounds like the most advanced Saorview box at the moment. I would like if there was an RTÉ Player app that could be downloaded to watch catch up TV but not having it really isn't a deal breaker unless there is another Saorview box out there that has the player.

Mr Keek

briggy wrote: »

Thanks for the reply I was thinking of getting this STB for the whole Smart Hub because it sounds like the most advanced Saorview box at the moment. I would like if there was an RTÉ Player app that could be downloaded to watch catch up TV but not having it really isn't a deal breaker unless there is another Saorview box out there that has the player.

I'd have loved to have the RTE player too, I took a bit of a gamble buying this on Amazon, but it was seriously cheaper.

Smart hub has been a let down. Browser is just crap. The only way to use it, is to have all your sites bookmarked and it's not too bad then. Navagation on a remote is useless. You can use some USB Mice but I'm not gonna bother. Spent a bomb on a Bluetooth one for my Laptop & Tablet so not getting another.

Youtube, Netflix is all that I would use on SmartHub; I canx'd my Netflix so not a big feature for me. RTE Player is something I'm gonna try an figure out. Must check firmware versions, and perhaps contact Samsung and see what they say.

The youtube app as a standalone app is not great either, but it's great as I said earlier when you pair up your mobile devices to it instead.

DNLA is gonna be handy and sharing files from my laptop on the Set Top Box wirelessley should be good..., have yet to try it out though.

The rest is just rubbish, Facebook on a 47inch TV, Converted to 3D for the craic! I'll stick with Phone/tablet to be honest!

At least on the Samsung Smart TV's you'll have a webcam, so Skype etc would be usefull.

briggy

Mr Keek wrote: »

Facebook on a 47inch TV, Converted to 3D for the craic!

At least you got a couple of minutes of fun out of the Smart Hub

km_connolly

Mr Keek wrote: »

Yes you can you can reorder the channels in any way you like. I repaced TV3 with RTE 1 and it was grand. You simply change the channel number. EPG showed the new order just fine. I tested out a recording too, the correct channel recorded also.

Thank you for confirming this....Samsung it is.

Still amazed that SOny couldnt have this feature, especially when you can do it on the Sony TVs!

Rippy

The Cush wrote: »

With the Rep of Ireland available in the setup and the Saorview logo in the epg I wonder if this has been/willl be submitted for Saorview approval or if it's been "self-certified" in-house at Samsung without the additional certification costs.

I very much doubt Saorview would allow the use of the logo if 'self-certified'
They are very keen for manufacturers to pay there 20k to be approved.

The Cush

Rippy wrote: »

I very much doubt Saorview would allow the use of the logo if 'self-certified'
They are very keen for manufacturers to pay there 20k to be approved.

So we may see the Samsungs on the approved list in due course?

marathont

If series link and RTE player can be got working on this, I will definitely buy one.

bridster007

http://www.avforums.com/forums/pvrs-vcrs/1627172-samsung-stb-e7500-stb-e7900-master-thread.html

Pretty poor opinions of this machine from users at above link.
Recent updates may have solved some of the problems though.

Mr Keek

bridster007 wrote: »

http://www.avforums.com/forums/pvrs-vcrs/1627172-samsung-stb-e7500-stb-e7900-master-thread.html

Pretty poor opinions of this machine from users at above link.
Recent updates may have solved some of the problems though.

I was posting on that thread myself, before I purchased with some questions. Alot of the problems like those mentioned at the start of that thread I have yet to experience.

No Freeze ups, No missed recordings. Nothing. Wifi was a doddle to set up. Some mixed reviews on the amazon link in my OP. Been very reliable so far.

I will mention one con that i have noticed, when I first got this I set up I put in my bedroom for a day as it was fairly close to a router, the box itself does make a humming noise which you will notice at very low volumes....Since moving this PVR into the den with the big TV, this has dissappeared.

Perfect for a living room, useless for a bedroom for late night viewing at low volume.

Fingleberries

A quick question for anyone who has this box in a Freeview overspill area ... Can you get Freeview channels and Saorview channels on one EPG with this box (it's OK if some channels are in the 800's as you seem to be able to reorder them).

Thanks.

The Cush

How does the PVR handle the recording of subtitles?

Are they recorded by default and can they be switched on/off during playback?

Mr Keek

The Cush wrote: »

How does the PVR handle the recording of subtitles?

Are they recorded by default and can they be switched on/off during playback?

Yes, subtitles record just fine.

They record automatically. I went into a recording last night, during playback I just pressed the Subtitle button and they popped up on screen.

See for yourself!!!, Screen Shot Linked

The Cush

Mr Keek wrote: »

Yes, subtitles record just fine.

They record automatically. I went into a recording last night, during playback I just pressed the Subtitle button and they popped up on screen.

See for yourself!!!, Screen Shot Linked

Thanks for the prompt reply, good info.

yellowwalls

Hi Forum,
Very interested in Mr Keek's comments re Samsung E-7500 PVR.Would love to hear from him whether the PVR functions perfectly for Saorview Aertel Digital Teletext on RTE1 and 2 and also very importantly displays digital subtitles.Had to return a Panasonic DMR 100 PVR which displayed neither!
Yellowwalls.

zg3409

Your subtitles questions has already been answered on previous pages of this very thread.

The Cush

yellowwalls wrote: »

Very interested in Mr Keek's comments re Samsung E-7500 PVR.Would love to hear from him whether the PVR functions perfectly for Saorview Aertel Digital Teletext on RTE1 and 2 and also very importantly displays digital subtitles.Had to return a Panasonic DMR 100 PVR which displayed neither!

Regarding subtitles see Mr Keek's reply to my query above, post#32.

Mr Keek

yellowwalls wrote: »

Hi Forum,
Would love to hear from him whether the PVR functions perfectly for Saorview Aertel Digital Teletext on RTE1 and 2 and also very importantly displays digital subtitles.

Subtitles are working fine, both on live broadcasts & recordings, and the record automatically, so no additional set up when setting up recordings. Just press the dedicated 'Subtitles' button on the remote.


Moving onto Aertel Digital Teletext. Good question, Teletext is not on my radar at all, never use the service. I appear to have identified a bug in the box.

I did 4 tests, results are as follows:

1) When on RTE 2, I pressed the Teletext button, and the new Digital Teletext showed up just fine.

I then flicked onto RTE 1 and pressed Teletext again and the 'Old School' Black paged Teletext showed.

I exit teletext and went back onto RTE 2 again, pressed teletext and it didn't work at all then, got the Old style Teletext page again, just a blank black page with no info on screen at all.


2) I switched the unit off & on again and went to RTE 1 first this time and the new Digi Teletext worked fine this time. Went to RTE 2 and the 'old school' teletext appeared then, blank page with no info!! (I assume the reason why RTE2 Teletext is blank when it fails is because it's RTE2 HD vs RTE2)


3) Turned the unit on and off again, started with RTE2 again, and the new Digi Teletext shows on screen again. Changed to RTE1 and teletext failed again. Old Style Aertel came up.


4)I did another quick test. Turn unit on & off again, pressed text on RTE 1, worked fine. Changed channels and DIDN'T press Teletext. When back to RTE 1 and the new Digi teletext worked fine.

So there is an issue with Teletext, it works fine once you use it on the same channel. If you press the teletext button on two different channels, you are going to have problems.

I hope that makes sense!!

The Cush

Mr Keek wrote: »

I did 4 tests, results are as follows:

1) When on RTE 2, I pressed the Teletext button, and the new Digital Teletext showed up just fine.

I then flicked onto RTE 1 and pressed Teletext again and the 'Old School' Black paged Teletext showed.

I exit teletext and went back onto RTE 2 again, pressed teletext and it didn't work at all then, got the Old style Teletext page again, just a blank black page with no info on screen at all.


2) I switched the unit off & on again and went to RTE 1 first this time and the new Digi Teletext worked fine this time. Went to RTE 2 and the 'old school' teletext appeared then, blank page with no info!! (I assume the reason why RTE2 Teletext is blank when it fails is because it's RTE2 HD vs RTE2)


3) Turned the unit on and off again, started with RTE2 again, and the new Digi Teletext shows on screen again. Changed to RTE1 and teletext failed again. Old Style Aertel came up.


4)I did another quick test. Turn unit on & off again, pressed text on RTE 1, worked fine. Changed channels and DIDN'T press Teletext. When back to RTE 1 and the new Digi teletext worked fine.

So there is an issue with Teletext, it works fine once you use it on the same channel. If you press the teletext button on two different channels, you are going to have problems.

I hope that makes sense!!

Something I notice with my non-approved Sony TV, digital Aertel normally works OK but if I change channel and quickly select text the TV will display the traditional text instead of digital text, if I change channel and wait maybe 30sec-1 min and then select text it loads normally - it take a bit of time for MHEG-5 to load in the backround after changing channel, could that be the problem with the PVR's text?

Gerry Wicklow

I've seen similar things on generic and FreeView boxes. As The Cush says it seems to take a few seconds for the box to load the MHEG-5 data before the "red button" or "modern" text are available

In the old days

Mr Keek wrote: »

So there is an issue with Teletext, it works fine once you use it on the same channel. If you press the teletext button on two different channels, you are going to have problems.

I hope that makes sense!!

The situation is similar to an old Samsung non saorview approved tv I have. Traditional teletext on RTE1 and new style on RTE2 HD. If you switch from RTE1 to RTE2 HD a caption shows 'not present' unless rebooted. Could be an annoyance if this facility is required.

briggy

Does anybody know if there is a box just like the one the OP was talking about with a hard drive PVR function for a Saorview/Freesat so you can pick up both services and record them just as you would with the Samsung box?

200motels

I think they'll be out soon but I'm not sure exactly when.

Mr Keek

The Cush wrote: »

Something I notice with my non-approved Sony TV, digital Aertel normally works OK but if I change channel and quickly select text the TV will display the traditional text instead of digital text, if I change channel and wait maybe 30sec-1 min and then select text it loads normally - it take a bit of time for MHEG-5 to load in the backround after changing channel, could that be the problem with the PVR's text?

Thanks for the heads up, good theory, I tried leaving a bit of a break in between Channel Changes before pressing Text, and the Digital Teletext is now working perfectly on all channels!

yellowwalls

Thanks to MrKeek and all the others for their comments and updates.Looks like The Samsung is quite a good bet as a Saorview PVR

The Cush

As well as the 500Gb STB-E7500 and the 1Tb STB-E7900, Samsung also has 3 HDD recorder/Bly-ray player combis in the range
320Gb BD-E8300
500Gb BD-E8500
1Tb BD-E8900

Fingleberries

Thanks Cush. If it is able to get EPG data for Saorview and Freeview at the same time (and set up recordings on both) those would look like just the ticket
It'll hopefully be a chance for me to clear out some remote controls and boxes under the telly

briggy

The Cush wrote: »

320Gb BD-E8300

Will this definitely work with Saorview because on the pictures on the site it seems to be a connector for a satellite not the UHF Ariel?

Sam Russell

briggy wrote: »

Will this definitely work with Saorview because on the pictures on the site it seems to be a connector for a satellite not the UHF Ariel?

Strange that. It definitely has two satellite connectors on the back in the photos (they are even labelled Satellite) and no sign of a terrestrial connector but the blurb definitely states 'Freeview'. Some-one somewhere has made a mistake.

briggy

Sam Russell wrote: »

briggy wrote: »

Will this definitely work with Saorview because on the pictures on the site it seems to be a connector for a satellite not the UHF Ariel?

Strange that. It definitely has two satellite connectors on the back in the photos (they are even labelled Satellite) and no sign of a terrestrial connector but the blurb definitely states 'Freeview'. Some-one somewhere has made a mistake.

On Amazon for the exact same model it shows a picture of the back of it and it has VHF/UHF connections has not satellite.

Sam Russell

briggy wrote: »

On Amazon for the exact same model it shows a picture of the back of it and it has VHF/UHF connections has not satellite.

Stanger and stranger.

Perhaps there is a version with satellite and UHF! Now that would be interesting - particularly if the satellite could be Freesat.

The Cush

briggy wrote: »

Will this definitely work with Saorview because on the pictures on the site it seems to be a connector for a satellite not the UHF Ariel?

The specs make no mention of a DVB-S(2) tuner, DVB-T2/C tuners only.

Manual here - http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/tv-audio-video/blu-ray-players/blu-ray-players/BD-E8300M/XU-support

Wrong picture I guess.