Saorview / Free to air advice

mtoutlemonde

Hi everyone just need a little bit of advice

I have a Saorview TV and I also have a Pioneer DVD player with a hard-drive which I use for recording TV. The problem I have is: Next wednesday with the changeover my DVD recorder will not record the Irish channels (as I receive a warning message and the 24 October logo on the bottom of the screen).

When I lost the English channels, I started using the Sky that was in the house although I don't have sky so I just have the free to air channels.

I enquired in a shop a few months ago about recording and I was told that I could get a Saorview box and there would be no problem. I went to the shop today to buy a Saorview box only to realise that the wires that go to my recorder are going into the Sky box so using a Saorview box would not be any good to me. So ... I bought a Telestar Free to air box and I was told that this will work fine. Does anyone know if this will? I havn't connected it yet just to be sure. Also will I be able to record as usual with my recorder i.e. will I be able to set a programme to record at 8.00 on say RTE1 and 10.00 on TV3 - will the recorder change as it does now?

Sorry for all the questions. Thanks in advance for any advice!

The Cush

mtoutlemonde wrote: »

Also will I be able to record as usual with my recorder i.e. will I be able to set a programme to record at 8.00 on say RTE1 and 10.00 on TV3 - will the recorder change as it does now?

You will no longer be able to select RTÉ1, TV3 etc. on the recorder as the internal tuner isn't digital.

Once the analogue channels get switched off next Wed the only way to record the Irish channels with that recorder will be to attach a Saorview receiver to the scart input and then only record the channel selected on the Saorview box via the scart input e.g. AV1, AV2, Line1 etc. You will also have to manually (or auto set the Saorview box timer if available) select the required channel on the Saorview receiver. You will only be able to record or watch 1 channel this way.

There is a Saorview approved PVR with built in hard drive due on the market before christmas which will allow you to record 1 channel watch 1 channel or record 2 channels to its internal dard drive.

if you can't wait for that there is an interim solution - a twin tuner Saorview receiver without hard drive built in but one can be connected for recording - Triax TR212.

mtoutlemonde

The Cush wrote: »

You will no longer be able to select RTÉ1, TV3 etc. on the recorder as the internal tuner isn't digital.

Once the analogue channels get switched off next Wed the only way to record the Irish channels with that recorder will be to attach a Saorview receiver to the scart input and then only record the channel selected on the Saorview box via the scart input e.g. AV1, AV2, Line1 etc. You will also have to manually (or auto set the Saorview box timer if available) select the required channel on the Saorview receiver. You will only be able to record or watch 1 channel this way.

There is a Saorview approved PVR with built in hard drive due on the market before christmas which will allow you to record 1 channel watch 1 channel or record 2 channels to its internal dard drive.

if you can't wait for that there is an interim solution - a twin tuner Saorview receiver without hard drive built in but one can be connected for recording - Triax TR212.

Was the free-to-air box a waste of money? Would the stations change automatically on that? I record quite a bit because I'm usually out and watch the programmes at night.

The Cush

mtoutlemonde wrote: »

Was the free-to-air box a waste of money? Would the stations change automatically on that? I record quite a bit because I'm usually out and watch the programmes at night.

I've never used one so I can't confirm. Check the receiver's manual regarding timers.

mtoutlemonde

The Cush wrote: »

I've never used one so I can't confirm. Check the receiver's manual regarding timers.

There's nothing about timers in the manual. Here's the link for the one I bought today:
http://www.tvtrade.ie/free-tv.html
It seems I won't be able to set a timer anymore and only watch my programmes when I'm at home. I thought we were on moving technologically but we seem to be going back. I can always remember setting programmes to record - even on the old VHS systems.

The Cush

mtoutlemonde wrote: »

There's nothing about timers in the manual. Here's the link for the one I bought today:
http://www.tvtrade.ie/free-tv.html

The picture of the remote control in the manual shows a timer menu button, have you tried that?

mtoutlemonde wrote: »

I can always remember setting programmes to record - even on the old VHS systems.

They all have built-in analogue tuners but they will still record from an external source such as a Saorview receiver via the scart connection.

In your first post you said "I went to the shop today to buy a Saorview box only to realise that the wires that go to my recorder are going into the Sky box so using a Saorview box would not be any good to me."

What do you mean by the wires from your recorder go to the Sky box?

mtoutlemonde

The Cush wrote: »

The picture of the remote control in the manual shows a timer menu button, have you tried that?



They all have built-in analogue tuners but they will still record from an external source such as a Saorview receiver via the scart connection.

In your first post you said "I went to the shop today to buy a Saorview box only to realise that the wires that go to my recorder are going into the Sky box so using a Saorview box would not be any good to me."

What do you mean by the wires from your recorder go to the Sky box?

No didn't try it yet. Havn't connected it to the tv or DVD recorder.

When the English stations were turned off during the summer someone connected a Sky box for me (using the sky in the house getting free to view channels). The aerial and a scart lead are going into the sky box and the other scart is going into the back of my DVD. There is another scart lead going into the tv and the three wires (red, white and yellow pins) are also going into my DVD. I'm able to record from the sky box onto the DVD via AV1.

mtoutlemonde

Right here's what happened today: I connected the Telestar machine and it worked - I got the Irish Saorview channels but it wouldn't let me record! (I put in a USB). It allowed me to set the timer record time but wouldn't let me set the end time or set the record to 'On'. So I went and I bought a Normende machine as I was told that would work fine as I could record the Saorview channels and my Pioneer would record my sky channels as normal. But when I connected it, it overwrote my DVD player and wouldn't record anything. So I'm no better off - anyone know what to do? I've seen the MPEG 4 players with hard drives and they're around €500.

The Cush

The Walker WP645TS-HD Saorview Combo and Triax TSC114 Saorview Combo both record to a Hard Drive attached to the USB port - http://www.tvtrade.ie/saorview-digital-television/saorview-digital-tv-kits.html

mtoutlemonde

The Cush wrote: »

The Walker WP645TS-HD Saorview Combo and Triax TSC114 Saorview Combo both record to a Hard Drive attached to the USB port - http://www.tvtrade.ie/saorview-digital-television/saorview-digital-tv-kits.html

I was looking at this one: http://www.tvtrade.ie/combi-receiver.html Its a Xoro HRC 9000+ Combi Receiver. It looks good and the feedback given about it seems to be positive aswell. I'll bring back the two I bought and order that one. Thanks for your help.

mtoutlemonde

Hi everyone!

Just one more query! I bought the Xoro machine and installed it no problem. I can record on my hard drive and I also connected my DVD and I can record whats on the screen with that aswell. Just wondering should I be able to watch the saorview channels on my saorview tv? When I turn on my tv I get a blank screen. I did a retune of the tv and I got a message that there were no channels found? Is this normal or is it that the aerial wire from the antenna is now going into my Xoro? This might be a stupid question.

Another one! If I put the aerial into my DVD player could I record the saorview channels on my DVD?

The Cush

mtoutlemonde wrote: »

Just wondering should I be able to watch the saorview channels on my saorview tv? When I turn on my tv I get a blank screen. I did a retune of the tv and I got a message that there were no channels found? Is this normal or is it that the aerial wire from the antenna is now going into my Xoro?

You'll have to connect the aerial to the TV also.

There may be a aerial out socket on the rear of the receiver which allows the aerial feed to loopthrough (loop out) the receiver to the TV. If so, the receiver may have come with a short length of co-ax cable for his purpose, if not, one can be purchased. have a look at the receivers manual.

See page 11 of this RTÉNL document - http://rtenl.ie/wp-content/downloads/connecting_a_television_set_to_saorview.pdf

mtoutlemonde wrote: »

Another one! If I put the aerial into my DVD player could I record the saorview channels on my DVD?

No, the DVD recorder doesn't have a digital tuner to tune into the digital signal.

peneau

mtoutlemonde wrote: »

Hi everyone!

Just one more query! I bought the Xoro machine and installed it no problem. I can record on my hard drive and I also connected my DVD and I can record whats on the screen with that aswell. Just wondering should I be able to watch the saorview channels on my saorview tv? When I turn on my tv I get a blank screen. I did a retune of the tv and I got a message that there were no channels found? Is this normal or is it that the aerial wire from the antenna is now going into my Xoro? This might be a stupid question.

Another one! If I put the aerial into my DVD player could I record the saorview channels on my DVD?

Hi, this is my setup, it may help you.

I’ve an FTA system using a non subbed old Skybox, Laurus Saorview
box and a Toshiba RDXV47 three in one for recording (Hard Drive, DVD, VHS), all connected to my trusty old Toshiba CRT TV.

I can record from both the Skybox and the Saorview box to the Tosh RDXV47, albeit I have to watch whatever is being recorded but I can live with that so no problem for me on that front.

Here’s how they are connected.

There are two scart outputs on the Skybox, one on the Saorview box, two on the Tosh RDX, three scart inputs on the TV.

Satellite coax feed to Skybox, Digital Terrestrial coax feed to Saorview box, Saorview box also has a coax out, you need to connect a second coax cable from that output directly to the tv (that’s two coax cables in total connected to the Saorview box one in and one out).

Skybox connected from scart output marked TV on the Skybox (I think it is) directly to TV scart input, Skybox then connected from its second scart output (I think it’s marked video) to one of the scarts on the Toshiba RDXV47.

Saorview box is then connected by its scart output to the second scart output on the Toshiba RDXV47. The Toshiba RDXV47 is then connected to the TV via component input/outputs, I think it is (always mix up component with composite) anyway it’s the RGB connections, audio connection source is via the digital coax audio out on/from the RDXV47 to the TV's digital audio coax input.


Phew however did I work that out. I know it’s not a perfect solution as it involves having to use three remotes, because in order to view the Skybox or Saorivew box I need to use the Toshiba RDXV47 remote to select the
appropriate AV input to view/record from either source in my case AV1 input for Saorview and AV2 for Satellite TV, however I’m prepared to live with this to avoid paying for subscription TV.

This setup probably doesn’t mirror yours exactly but it may help give you a better understanding of how the various connection options or at least this one can be achieved.

Hope it helps.

mtoutlemonde

Thanks for the advice everyone! I got it connected so I'm the same as you paneau! I also tuned the stations on my tv! It's a pity I couldn't use the pioneer for my recording because the only problem I have with the Xoro is there is no series link (like all other combo boxes) and I can only set eight programmes to record per day which also means that I have to set my programmes to record daily This will keep me going for a while until the series link pvr comes along! Thanks again!

swoofer

the xoro box should have an antennae loopthrough, so aerial to xoro, then another lead from xoro out to tv, you now have an aerial going to both. on tv scan again and bingo BUT you may have to have the xoro box turned on as well to allow the loopthrough.

more anon
gbc

mtoutlemonde

Hi, I'm experiencing a problem this evening. As I said previously, I got my DVD recorder and Xoro box connected and it all worked until this evening. I'm just after getting a message on screen that says 'this signals tv system is different from the recorders setting'. I was watching the tv this evening with no problems until I got this message. I can hear the channel but only have a blank screen. Any advice?