Labgear HD ComboSatellite and Freeview Receiver with USB PVR Function

darth_maul

Just wondering if the following is saorview compatible


Receiver Features :-
Labgear HD ComboSatellite and Freeview Receiver with USB PVR Function

* DVBT-T & DVB-S2 Combo Receiver
allowing access to DVB-T &DVB-S2/S
channels simultaneous
* USB2.0 socket for PVR, Timeshift,
software upgrade and media file playback
* Fully SD/HD DVB-T & DVB-S2/S compliant,
supporting full HD 1080p
* Supports SD/HD MPEG2, MPEG4 AVC H.264
* SCPC MCPC receivable from C/Ku band satellites
* DiSEqC 1.0 /1.1/1.2/1.3 {USALS} supported
* Supports Universal LNB, NIT search
* Auto / manual scans all available TV & Radio channels
* 7-Day EPG Functions for supporting Satellites
* Multi-language menu, subtitles and audio output supported
* Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 Pan & Scan and Letter box
* Teletext via OSD & VBI
* Parental lock function
* Easy to use and attractive menu
* Supports OTA software upgrade
* Supports various media files playback as below
Music:- MP3, WMA
Photo:- JPEG, BMP, PNG
Video:- MKV, AVI, DIVX, XVID, MOV, VOB, FLV, DAT,
MPEG, MPG,MP4 and TS
Input and Output
USB 2.0, HDMI, 3.5jack {L/R audio, Coaxial}, SCART, DVB-T RF IN, DVB-T RF OUT, DVB-S2 RF IN, DC IN
Specification
Dimensions:- W 220mm H 38mm D 160mm
Cable lenght:- 1 Metre
Mains Adaptor:- Max 8W, 100-240V 50-60Hz
DVB-T DVB-S2
Input Frequency:- dtt -177.5-226.5MHz{VHF},474-858MHz{UHF} sat- 950 to 2,150 MHz
Bandwidth:- dtt- 7/8MHz sat-

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Demodulation:- dtt- QPSK, 16QAM,64QAM sat- QPSK, 8PSK, 16APSK, 32APSK
Code Rate:- dtt- 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, automatic sat- 1/2, 2/3, 3/5, 3/4, 4/5, 5/6, 8/9, 9/10
Guard:- dtt- 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32 sat-

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TX Mode:- dtt- K, 8K sat-

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The Cush

darth_maul wrote: »

Just wondering if the following is saorview compatible

It appears to be

Receiver Features :-
Labgear HD ComboSatellite and Freeview Receiver with USB PVR Function

* Supports SD/HD MPEG2, MPEG4 AVC H.264

byte

It is aye, got a few in to try out. Honestly though, I prefer the Ariva 150 if it's an uncertified cheap box you want. Ariva has a much better designed remote control too.

t_man

Does this box have composite out? Looking for a combo box that will do either 2 SCARTs, or 1 SCART and 1 composite and audio out (yellow/red/white).

Pictures/manual/reviews of the box are hard to find. If it at least had the composite out, I might make a trip to a power city to see one in action.

watty

Either something is a PVR or not. Otherwise it's just a recording function.

Sellers are starting to use "PVR" like "HD Ready" and "Full HD", which quickly became a pair of terms with no real useful meaning.

"HD Ready" became "Somehow displays more than PAL resolution, does not have HD compatible tuner and might not have HDCP and maybe even VGA or DVI rather than HDMI"

"Full HD" became "has 1080p, might not do the almost universal 1080i of broadcast very well, might not have an HD capable digital tuner, might even only be for US 1080p60 from disc, console or PC, might have DVI only no HDMI"

So "HD" in the description of a TV doesn't tell you how well the HDMI works (or even if it has one), or if it has HDCP (needed) or if the Tuner is Saorview or "Freeview HD" compatible.

"PVR" is a type of appliance. NOT a feature. The "feature" is recording.
A PVR "appliance" has

• Twin tuners (for Satellite or Terrestrial)
• A large internal HDD chosen for continuous recording. Some HDD can't run like that, they stop and do thermal recalibration momentarily.
• Ability to Pause Live TV
• Ability to Record now
• Ability to Schedule from Program guide up to a week in advance (For UK Satellite, only Sky+ sub or a Freesat+ box does this reliably and in many cases at all).
• Ability to "series link" an Scheduled recording (For UK Satellite, only Sky+ sub or a Freesat+ box does this reliably and in many cases at all).

Additionally the PVR ought to be able to do subtiltles or other assistive features on playback. Archival other than on SCART to analogue recording is rare and usually only on high end PVRs with integrated DVD or BD recording. HD archival is inherently NOT sensibly supported on DVD as there is no standard way too manage HD on a DVD outside a PC (i.e. DVD players are generally only SD). Only integral BD writer inherently supports HD Archival, and there may be issues with that on Freesat & Freeview as they may use additional DRM on HD.

No combo properly supports Freesat even aside from ANY recording.
There are no true retail PVR combos off the shelf (it's possible to make your own Media system or add tuners to some more open Linux boxes).

Learning to use two remotes or programming a universal remote gives more functionality and ease of use than any "combo" for recording as you can use a true "Freesat+ HD" PVR for the majority UK channels.

watty

In June 2004 Labgear became part of Philex Electronic Limited.

Long ago Labgear produced near professional stuff, but not setboxes ever. Current "Labgear" setbox are just cheap Philex.

I wouldn't recommend them unless really cheap and for a 3rd TV or something. If these are only "Freeview" (are they EVEN "Freeview" or just DVB-T) and not "Freeview HD" (needs DVB-T2 which seems to be missing) then these are obsolete for UK because if you have an HD TV (to make use of the HD Satellite part) in UK everyone now has DVB-T2 HD in UK.

So I suspect these are being "Dumped" on Irish market as they are likely UK obsolete stock.

Tony

With respect Watty that is pure speculation on your part. I see no evidence that that are either obsolete or dumping is taking place.

watty wrote: »

So I suspect these are being "Dumped" on Irish market as they are likely UK obsolete stock.

Tony

Agreed, got one to try out too as an alternative, its ok and does what is says but I prefer the ariva.

byte wrote: »

It is aye, got a few in to try out. Honestly though, I prefer the Ariva 150 if it's an uncertified cheap box you want. Ariva has a much better designed remote control too.

watty

Tony wrote: »

With respect Watty that is pure speculation on your part. I see no evidence that that are either obsolete or dumping is taking place.

How isn't it if it was for UK Freeview and doesn't do Freeview HD. It's very reasonable very likely to be correct speculation.

Why would anyone in UK want a Box that does HD on Satellite but no HD on DTT when ALL areas now have the DTT HD?

It's only pure speculation if there is a mistake in the spec and it really has DVB-T2.

Yet more half baked products getting foisted on unwitting Irish consumers. How many retailers (Yourself excluded) will sell this in a misleading way?

STB

watty wrote: »

Long ago Labgear produced near professional stuff, but not setboxes ever. Current "Labgear" setbox are just cheap Philex.

I wouldn't recommend them unless really cheap and for a 3rd TV or something. If these are only "Freeview" (are they EVEN "Freeview" or just DVB-T) and not "Freeview HD" (needs DVB-T2 which seems to be missing) then these are obsolete for UK because if you have an HD TV (to make use of the HD Satellite part) in UK everyone now has DVB-T2 HD in UK.

So I suspect these are being "Dumped" on Irish market as they are likely UK obsolete stock.

For basic Irish TV reception they are fine - DVB-T H264 AVC, just no MHEG5 for Text.

Philex, Labgear, Tristar are all made in china products by Ningbo.

Only problem with buying rebranded gear is getting support should have one have an issue with the particular boxes. Most of the stuff is generic and no support is available. Support is always key to any purchase.

By the way... a porky in the right hand corner (in terms of Ireland). See can you spot it.

Tony

watty wrote: »

How isn't it if it was for UK Freeview and doesn't do Freeview HD.

But its not purely for freeview and BBC HD is available on satellite so why go to the trouble and expense of putting T2 on a combo in the present market ?

Tony

I'd have a problem with two items, the telextext and the 7 day epg , could lead someone to believe that it supports both.

EDIT the OTA software upgrade could be misinterpreted too

STB wrote: »

By the way... a porky in the right hand corner (in terms of Ireland). See can you spot it.

t_man

t_man wrote: »

Does this box have composite out? Looking for a combo box that will do either 2 SCARTs, or 1 SCART and 1 composite and audio out (yellow/red/white).

Pictures/manual/reviews of the box are hard to find. If it at least had the composite out, I might make a trip to a power city to see one in action.

So, has anyone actually used this box, and able to tell me if it has composite out? Would appreciate it.

Tony

No only scart and HDMI

t_man wrote: »

So, has anyone actually used this box, and able to tell me if it has composite out? Would appreciate it.

watty

Tony wrote: »

But its not purely for freeview and BBC HD is available on satellite so why go to the trouble and expense of putting T2 on a combo in the present market ?

Which proves it's product dumping. A combo is nearly pointless in UK. This is a product for UK. T2 is now standard for UK Terrestrial HD. The only real UK combo market is now Freeview HD + Satellite OTHER than Freesat (i.e. Polish or something).

Tony

watty wrote: »

Which proves it's product dumping.

It proves nothing of the sort Watty

STB

watty wrote: »

Which proves it's product dumping. A combo is nearly pointless in UK. This is a product for UK. T2 is now standard for UK Terrestrial HD. The only real UK combo market is now Freeview HD + Satellite OTHER than Freesat (i.e. Polish or something).

Both Combos DVB-T and DVB-T2 combos have been available in the UK for some time. The UK has 2 seperate broadcasting platforms, Freeview (MPEG2 on DVB-T) and Freeview HD (DVB-T2 MPEG4).

The chips in these boxes are MPEG4 on DVB-T tuner modules. They only work for SD in the UK, but work fine for HD in Ireland as we do not use the DVB-T2 platform in Ireland, we use DVB-T and will for the forseeable future.