20" LED LG M2080D-PZ - saorview not working?

paultf

I can't access the approved TV list on the saorview website. Seems to be busy. So I was hoping someone would help me here.

Sister got a small LG TV for my Dad's birthday a few months ago at a local TV store. Only set it up tonight - she was told TV was saorview compatible.

Analogue reception has been fine in parents house all along - all the channels: Irish and UK.

Set up a Walker Saorview box on an older TV tonight. Works fine - all the Saorview channels + BBC1, BBC2 NI, BBC3, BBC4, CBBCs - no UTV/C4.

Set up LG TV. No saorview approved label on box. MHEG 4 label only on TV.

Scanned channels in. Picked up all the channels that I got on the Walker box. They all appeared on the EPG.

Picked a saorview channel. Picture perfect for a split second and then the picture became distorted. No sound (I think).

The UK channels work fine.

The instruction booklet was on a DVD so checked later when I got home. At the back it mentions the TV is Freeview and is suitable for the digital switchover in the UK between 2007 and 2012.

Stupid question: this TV isn't saorview compatible and I'll have to return, right? Or is there something I should be doing to make this work - I checked options/settings and couldn't find anything.

EDIT: got into the saorview website - surprise, surprise, it is not approved. You see some posts where someone buys a TV on Amazon and it handles saorview even though it is not on the list. This is a freeview TV so it is not going to work?

Not good service by the local TV shop - suppose sister/brother-in-law should have checked.

STB

It is not a Freeview profile TV. Even some Freeview branded Tv's have the DVB-T MPEG4 AVC capabilities. That model is also TNT HD certified meaning it should at least clear the picture and sound.

That TV may not be Saorview approved, but it will work as it has the MPEG4 chip on board. The TV's are pan european, meaning when you pick country in setup, it enable and disables certain functions. Try setting up as France or Ireland and rescan.

It may be a glitch in the software of the TV which would not be uncommon.

paultf

STB,

Thanks for that info. Much appreciated.

At startup I selected Ireland and it did scan all the channels in. The saorview channels are viewable via the EPG. When I select one, the picture is perfect for a split second. Then the picture goes hazy - colour is still there. I can't remember if there was sound.

Tomorrow I'll rescan and select France as you suggested.

Is there anything else I can try? If there is a glitch in the software does that mean I return the TV?

Thanks.

ardmacha

You could try going to the LG site and download the latest software for this set, put in on a USB key and upgrade the set.

paultf

ardmacha wrote: »

You could try going to the LG site and download the latest software for this set, put in on a USB key and upgrade the set.

Cheers. Never even thought of it - thanks.

STB

paultf wrote: »

STB,

Thanks for that info. Much appreciated.

At startup I selected Ireland and it did scan all the channels in. The saorview channels are viewable via the EPG. When I select one, the picture is perfect for a split second. Then the picture goes hazy - colour is still there. I can't remember if there was sound.

Tomorrow I'll rescan and select France as you suggested.

Is there anything else I can try? If there is a glitch in the software does that mean I return the TV?

Thanks.

Now your issues sound like a software glitch in that it is showing the channel for a nano second and then doing nothing. But it could also be the signal strength is borderline for Saorview channels.

If you have chosen Ireland and you are getting those results then I would return the Tv to factory mode (default mode) and then choose UK and do a fresh scan and see if the situation improves. Choosing France may also resolve the issue (but may turn off the MHEG5 text as France dont use it).

Also you say that you are receiving both UK and Irish services. What is the signal like in the area for Saorview? Is there a signal readout on the TV which shows the quality and strength on the Saorview channels ? If that is low, it could be possible that the aerial is the issue (even if okay for UK channels). You would know the answer if you had another Saorview/STB device to check it with.

Failing all that it could be a software glitch given the TV is receiving 2 sets of different country broadcasts, one of which is knocking the other out. That's the software glitch I was talking about. In which case it is likely that it will never be resolved by the manufacturer, in which case you should return it.

Sponge Bob

See if the Walker works in the position where you are using the LG, if not it could be signal strength too low as others have said. Check connections/dirt on aerial leads.

paultf

Thanks for all the info. I went to the parents house today and suddenly all the saorview channels are now working fine (and the UK channels). Mother was delighted!

I am not sure why saorview wasn't working yesterday?

The TV is freeview with MPEG4. Since it is not saorview approved, what does that mean in the long run?

Some posts in the past have said if the device is not saorview approved the device may not handle future changes. I wonder will that happen to this TV? Should I keep it or return it?

winston_1

It was mis sold, so it should go back without a doubt.

EoghanConway

paultf wrote: »

I am not sure why saorview wasn't working yesterday?

Power increase after ASO perhaps?

paultf

winston_1 wrote: »

It was mis sold, so it should go back without a doubt.

I'll have to talk to the brother-in-law as I suspect he got some sort of deal on it from the TV shop. Also I'll have to clarify with him that the shop definitely said it was "saorview approved".

I am just wondering though, if they decide to keep it and they are changes to saorview in the future, will the TV be able to handle these changes and still get all the saorview channels?

EoghanConway wrote: »

Power increase after ASO perhaps?

Maybe. This TV was setup in the bedroom upstairs. But downstairs I setup a walker box on a different TV and the saorview reception was perfect.

The Cush

paultf wrote: »

I am just wondering though, if they decide to keep it and they are changes to saorview in the future, will the TV be able to handle these changes and still get all the saorview channels?

All the TVs in my house are non-Saorview approved, the oldest going on 5 years, all working happily with Saorview.

It your parent's TV is working with the Saorview channels now it will continue to receive and display the channels in future otherwise a lot of other non approved receivers both TVs and STB out there would fail also. The standard isn't going to change that much that would completely disable all those receivers.

Does the TV display the new digital Aertel on the RTÉ channels, if so, good. If not all they're missing is digital text and any future interactive services that may be launched but that won't affect the viewing of the TV channels.

paultf

The Cush wrote: »

All the TVs in my house are non-Saorview approved, the oldest going on 5 years, all working happily with Saorview.

It your parent's TV is working with the Saorview channels now it will continue to receive and display the channels in future otherwise a lot of other non approved receivers both TVs and STB out there would fail also. The standard isn't going to change that much that would completely disable all those receivers.

Does the TV display the new digital Aertel on the RTÉ channels, if so, good. If not all they're missing is digital text and any future interactive services that may be launched but that won't affect the viewing of the TV channels.

The Cush - thanks for that info. Much appreciated. I'll pass it on. So at least they have the option to keep it if they want. That is good news in a way.

I forgot to try the digital teletext today. There was a sticker on the TV saying "MPEG4" only. Am I right in saying you need MPEG5 to get saorview/digital text?

The Cush

paultf wrote: »

I forgot to try the digital teletext today. There was a sticker on the TV saying "MPEG4" only. Am I right in saying you need MPEG5 to get saorview/digital text?

MHEG-5 for digital text, future interactive services.