which tv to buy... saorview or freeview

bluepencil

Hello

I'm looking at tv's online for my sons... i see a few in argos that have freeview or saorview.. now i don't have a saorview box so have these tv's got the soarview or freeview in them already and i won't need the box.. which one should i get

also i've noticed a few that have said saorview approved.. have these the saorview in them already or do i need the box for them do you think??

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5299160.htm this one is saorview

http://www.harveynorman.ie/finlux-23-full-hd-led-lcd-dvd-combi-tv.html

this one is saorview approved ^^^^^^^^^^

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5298752.htm and this one has freeview

my sons want to have it for xbox and to watch dvds and the odd tv programme football etc so would need rte etc on it.

thanks for your help

Richard

A Saorview approved TV will get Irish channels and, if you are close enough to Northern Ireland or Wales, UK Freeview channels also. It won't get UK Freeview HD channels, but will get RTE 2 HD.

A TV marked "Freeview HD" (but not an HD TV just marked with "Freeview" ) will get all of the above plus the 4 UK HD channels. It will (almost certainly) receive Saorview, but will put the Irish channels in the 800s.

A TV just marked "Freeview" which is not Saorview approved will not receive Saorview without an additional box and should be avoided.

watty

ONLY go for "Freeview HD" if you KNOW you are near enough NI or able to get Welsh TV due to being on South East coast.

For the majortity of people only sensible choice is Saorview as they can't get UK aerial signals and need a Freesat box for UK

See www.saortv.info

More on PVRs and UK TV soon.

oconnorw

Watty,
If I buy "Freeview HD" does Mheg5 come as standard.
Thanks

watty

Yes, but not all "Freeview HD" works properly on Saorview. It's only a good choice if you really can receive UK TV via an Aerial

See http://www.saortv.info/terrestrial-saorview/the-black-list/
Not comprehensive.

oconnorw

Thanks
A very interesting thread. Why we had to adopt a different system to the UK !

STB

oconnorw wrote: »

Thanks
A very interesting thread. Why we had to adopt a different system to the UK !

The UK have 2 different systems (infact 2 different platforms with different encoding)!

Which has nothing to do with UK based retailers dumping their old UK stock on the Irish market.

You cannot use the Saorview name if it is not approved simple as. A rollicking rocket needs to be sent to the folks over at Argos.