Freeview HD TVs'

tvman2

Now that HD is available to everyone in UK) after ASO why are there so relatively few (esp small screen) Freeview HD TVs' available on UK market. I am looking for a 22" for use in the kitchen and can only find two and at quite high prices. The choice and prices are better in ROI - just wanted one that would give me HD on Freeview. One would think that Freeview only TVs' would be nearly phased out at this time

Darkness

I am in the same boat. Nothing really on offer apart from the Panasonics but reviews haven't got a good thing to say about their sound which puts me off them. There is a nice expensive Sony Bravia but its only 720p which again has put me off it which is a shame.

tvman2

Darkness wrote: »

I am in the same boat. Nothing really on offer apart from the Panasonics but reviews haven't got a good thing to say about their sound which puts me off them. There is a nice expensive Sony Bravia but its only 720p which again has put me off it which is a shame.

Curry's had a 22" Samsung, it's still on their website but not available. Maybe it will return but the sound was the worst I ever heard! Might just have to get one this side of the border and do without the Freeview HD channels. I know DID electrical have a 'Blue Diamond' model with DVD player and PVR function for €249. What a Blue Diamond make is though ??

deaglan169

i got an LG 22inch from tesco some time ago for €199, strange things is i get saorview and freeview, but i dont get any freeview HD channels even though it receives rte2hd in 1080i, i would have thought this tv would have got the UK HD channels

Technique

looking for a 26" freeview hd for the kitchen and i see that amazon have both a sony and a samsung. on my phone so no links.

CRM Ireland

deaglan169 wrote: »

i got an LG 22inch from tesco some time ago for €199, strange things is i get saorview and freeview, but i dont get any freeview HD channels even though it receives rte2hd in 1080i, i would have thought this tv would have got the UK HD channels

Ive the same problem with my TV. It was explained to me by someone in the digital switch over thread. I cant remember the exact technical terms, but it goes a bit like this I think.

Saorview uses MPEG4 which your TV has, hence why you pick up RTE2 HD. However to receive HD on Freeview, your tv tuner requires to be DVB-T2 compliant which yours probably isnt, hence why it doesnt tune into the Freeview HD channels. I might have some of that terminology wrong, but thats the essence of it.

The Cush

deaglan169 wrote: »

i got an LG 22inch from tesco some time ago for €199, strange things is i get saorview and freeview, but i dont get any freeview HD channels even though it receives rte2hd in 1080i, i would have thought this tv would have got the UK HD channels

Just to add to CRM Ireland's post above, the particular channels you mention use differnet standards. The FreeviewHD use the newest standard, so a FreeviewHD (DVB-T2 tuner) spec receiver will be required (backwards compatible with the other standards).

RTÉ2 HD - DVB-T/MPEG-4
FreeviewHD channels - DVB-T2/MPEG-4

Saorview SD channels - DVB-T/MPEG-4
Freeview SD channels - DVB-T/MPEG-2

Richard

tvman2 wrote: »

Now that HD is available to everyone in UK) after ASO why are there so relatively few (esp small screen) Freeview HD TVs' available on UK market. I am looking for a 22" for use in the kitchen and can only find two and at quite high prices. The choice and prices are better in ROI - just wanted one that would give me HD on Freeview. One would think that Freeview only TVs' would be nearly phased out at this time

This is very true. I was having a quick browse in Tescos here in Liverpool, and they had several large TVs, all of which had "HD" in big letters, but none of which supported Freeview HD. There were also several PVRs, none of which were HD. I know that Tesco isn't necessarily the place you'd go to to buy a TV, but many people do, and it is very short-sighted to be flooding the market with equipment which can receive all the channels.

Saorview's apparent decision to only certify DVB-T2 equipment from next year is a sensible one, and although it probably isn't feasible for Freeview to do the same just yet, it would make sense to do that in the next year or two.

The situation in Northern Ireland where Freeview HD will allow extra services (not just HD versions of existing services) may mean that HD takeup is higher than the UK average.

Digifriendly

Richard wrote: »

The situation in Northern Ireland where Freeview HD will allow extra services (not just HD versions of existing services) may mean that HD takeup is higher than the UK average.

Plus availablity of receiving RTE via Freeview HD equipment. Help scheme has run out of HD boxes here in NI and has had to order more in. This is no doubt due to RTE factor both for NIMM and Saorview.

NIMAN

Darkness wrote: »

I am in the same boat. Nothing really on offer apart from the Panasonics but reviews haven't got a good thing to say about their sound which puts me off them. There is a nice expensive Sony Bravia but its only 720p which again has put me off it which is a shame.

Don't get too caught up in the whole 720 v 1080 thing unless you are going for a sceen over 37". At sizes less than this, especially down to the 26" or 22" you won't notice any difference.

winston_1

tvman2 wrote: »

The choice and prices are better in ROI - just wanted one that would give me HD on Freeview.

Freeview HD TV's are unlikely to be available in ROI. You are mistaken.

lawhec

I'd say the big reason is that the extra definition provided by HD broadcasts on Freeview would be lost on most viewers who have sets that are less than 28 inches. Northern Ireland is an exception to the rule in having SD programming requiring Freeview HD equipment. For most over in Britain, Freeview HD only becomes an effective valid choice if you are looking for a TV display that is large enough to do it justice not to mention that some TV's with 40 inch plus screens still don't have a DVB-T2 tuner for various reasons e.g. aimed at the budget end, second TVs etc.

The potential planned increase of DVB-T2 delivered services across Europe and further afield will likely see DVB-T2 tuners installed into TV's by near default in about five years or so.

Condatis

I don't understand why people would want to put a television in their kitchen.

areyawell

Condatis wrote: »

I don't understand why people would want to put a television in their kitchen.

Because they want to watch television in the kitchen.

24 inch Bush full HD available in Argos for 200 euro. Will work on UK digital signal.

Condatis

areyawell wrote: »

Because they want to watch television in the kitchen.

Some people really need to get a life!

watty

Many houses have only two downstairs rooms.
Flats may have only one combo room.

adox

winston_1 wrote: »

Freeview HD TV's are unlikely to be available in ROI. You are mistaken.

You are mistaken. They are available here.

tvman2

adox wrote: »

You are mistaken. They are available here.

And Tesco still selling Freeview only TVs' (in ROI)

Darkness

My wife loves to cook so she can cook and watch tv at the same time. Also, it's nice to watch tv when eating breakfast or dinner at the table.

I could buy an HD box and buy the tv separate but I don't have anywhere to put since the tv will be on a corner wall bracket.

watty

tvman2 wrote: »

And Tesco still selling Freeview only TVs' (in ROI)

And have STARTED selling Freeview (not Freeview HD) boxes.

They have been selling Freeview TVS for years here.

Freeview TV mostly don't work here. No Freeview box works.