Saorview & Freeview Advice Needed Please!!!!!

melon_collie

Can somebody please help me. My parents live in one of the border counties and could always receive UTV, BBC1, BBC2, Ch4 on the old analogue service through the use of an aerial. Last week they lost all their channels with the switchover. Anyway they were unable to get hold of a company that would install a new system for them so in haste my dad (who is not technically minded) bought an inexpensive saorview box from a local shop. It's a TV Star T1020 HD. Anyway he brought the box home, plugged it in and after much trial and error managed to get the irish channels on it as well as a lot of english ones (ITV, Ch4, BBC1, BBC2, E4, E4+1, to name but a few). Anyway he is not happy the current setup that he cannot get Aertel digital. He would also like to get BBC interactive as a lot of the snooker tournaments are broadcast on that.

My question is can anyone recommend a combo box that would best suit his requirements?

Also, because they can already receive many uk freeview stations with their existing aerial, will this aerial be sufficient with an interactive box.

Thanks in advance

Peter Rhea

He doesn't need a combo box. A Saorview approved receiver would have the interactive & text capability (MHEG5) needed. The TVStar receiver is not Saorview approved.

Another option, where Irish & UK terrestrial reception is possible, is a Freeview HD branded box, as most will also work with Saorview, while current Saorview boxes won't work with the UK HD channels. This will only really be a concern if you have a HD display to connect it to.

melon_collie

Hi Peter thanks for the reply. Could you recommend a particular box for him? Also do you think that his existing aerial is sufficient since he is currently picking up UK channels on it?

FREETV

melon_collie wrote: »

Hi Peter thanks for the reply. Could you recommend a particular box for him? Also do you think that his existing aerial is sufficient since he is currently picking up UK channels on it?

The Humax T2 Freeview HD box is the best box until the new Saorview approved T2 PVRS arrive early next year hopefully. They should do both Freeview HD channels and SD channels and the full Saorview service and have series link for recording.

melon_collie

But can you receive the Aertel digital service on this HUMAX box. I don't see mheg5 referred to anywhere in the product description.

JonathonS

The HD-Fox T2 has MHEG.
http://www.humaxdigital.com/uk/products/product_stb_terrestrial_hdfoxt2.aspx

melon_collie

Ok so just to confirm this HUMAX HD box will enable BBC interactive and Aertel digital? Do I need to connect it to an aerial and a dish or just an aerial? Has anyone any experience using the bbc interactive service on this box?

Peter Rhea

melon_collie wrote: »

Could you recommend a particular box for him? Also do you think that his existing aerial is sufficient since he is currently picking up UK channels on it?

Have a read of this thread about the i-can easy HD.

The currently available Saorview boxes are all pretty much the same thing, apart from the Triax brand. Triax have recently launched a twin-tuner model afaia.

The aerial should be fine, if it's giving reliable reception.

melon_collie

Thanks everyone for your help on this thread. Purchased a HUMAX HDR FOX T2 last week based on the advice I received here. Installed it at the weekend for my parents and they are delighted. Getting Aertel, BBCi, HD channels and can record programmes at the touch of a button. you would not believe how many tv shops I had sought advice from on this issue before posting here. I was told by ALL of them that I no such box was available and that 'it couldn't be done'. Just goes to show what the people working inthese places know. Thanks again to everyone for their help.