4ife SV201 RTE Teletext Issue

lansing

Purchased a 4ife SV201 over the weekend. Box and 4ife website days it "supports teletext"

The Teletext does not work on RTE1 and RTE2

I know it's not a Saorview approved box so I'm guessing it doesn't have MHEG5.

Is this a known issue? Just seems like false advertising when it says supports teletext on the box.

Any feedback appreciated.....have left message with 4ife too but heard nothing back.

steveon

Had nothing but problems with these boxes, continously freezing, going blank, coming up with no channels. return it and get urself the Triax TR 212 dual tuner boxer, more expensive but well worth the extra few pound in my honest opinion.

watty

Triax TR112 (or one of better Vestal based Saorview Certified boxes) or a real PVR. The TR212 is a kludge.

Triax don't make these and have had the firmware "branded" for them.

MHEG5 (used by RTE1 and RTE2) isn't Teletext. There is a Text Application. Only TV3 & TG4 run Teletext. Only get a certified box (all have MHEG5). Other applications may be added and TG4 and/or may drop Teletext in the future. AFAIK no-one is obliged to provide Teletext or MHEG5 based Text.

lansing

Ok so when it says "supports teletext" it means the TV3 / TG4 text based Teletext. I can confirm these do in fact work.

Other than this I have to say the box works fine so far. No other issues besides this.

zg3409

If you can return it get a box that it Saorview approved. It won't cost much more but will give the new teletext on RTE1 & 2. Non approved boxes should only ever be used for 2nd or third TVs and even then they are not good value.

You should be able to return it saying you expected to get text on RTE1 & 2 but this box does not support it.

steveon

watty wrote: »

Triax TR112 (or one of better Vestal based Saorview Certified boxes) or a real PVR. The TR212 is a kludge.

Triax don't make these and have had the firmware "branded" for them.

MHEG5 (used by RTE1 and RTE2) isn't Teletext. There is a Text Application. Only TV3 & TG4 run Teletext. Only get a certified box (all have MHEG5). Other applications may be added and TG4 and/or may drop Teletext in the future. AFAIK no-one is obliged to provide Teletext or MHEG5 based Text.

Triax boxes are far superior than the Vestel boxes tried both and have had nothing but comebacks from the Vestel stuff so stopped selling them, absolutely no comebacks or complaints with the TR112 and the even betterr TR212, ...and even the new vestel combos are a nuisance having to press a button to switch between the terrestrial and sat channels most elderly people cannot take to this unnecessary task.

Extinction

I've had many problems with the tr112, 212 and tsc114, I stopped using them months ago and find walker a lot better. I understand what you mean about the opt button but most elderly people I have installed for found switching between terrestrial and satellite a lot easier than finding the correct av channel. How difficult is it to press the ok button and if you see uk channels press the opt button to switch the channel list to Irish?

winston_1

lansing wrote: »

Purchased a 4ife SV201 over the weekend. Box and 4ife website days it "supports teletext"

The Teletext does not work on RTE1 and RTE2

I know it's not a Saorview approved box so I'm guessing it doesn't have MHEG5.

Is this a known issue? Just seems like false advertising when it says supports teletext on the box.

Any feedback appreciated.....have left message with 4ife too but heard nothing back.

Why on earth did you buy an unapproved box? None of them support MHEG5. It does support teletext so it is not false advertising, teletext as in DVB text as used on TV3.

watty

Some unapproved boxes and TV do support MHEG5, but Irish Retail's generic boxes are particularly basic, usually don't have MHEG5 and who knows what else. Nor do they warn people. They are misleadingly sold.

Capt'n Midnight

winston_1 wrote: »

It does support teletext so it is not false advertising, teletext as in DVB text as used on TV3.

To a reasonable person teletext would refer to the ability to see text on screen with Flight Arrivals or Lotto results or weather or film reviews on Aertel page XYZ just like they used to do, rather than referring explicitly to the technical specs in http://www.itu.int/rec/R-REC-BT.653-3-199802-I/en

I'd argue that what the systems carry isn't even teletext since the lower layers are completely different. BBC Model B home computer uses a teletext character set - but it's not teletext.

MHEG stuff - section 5 is text
http://www.mheg.org/users/mheg/archives/doc/MHEG-5_Profile_Issue_1.pdf

Antenna

steveon wrote: »

.and even the new vestel combos are a nuisance having to press a button to switch between the terrestrial and sat channels most elderly people cannot take to this unnecessary task.

On the Walker WP645TS-HD - its bizarre that they didn't use the bigger 'audio mute' button at the top right of the remote as the OPT button instead (swap mute and OPT positions around?). The OPT button has far greater importance that audio mute - it would be a lot easier to find if OPT was where the current mute button is, and there is room to put a little sticker beside it if needs be.

cashback

My mother bought one of these 4ife combi boxes a few weeks ago and I've noticed, like the user above, that aertel does not work.

However I'm a little confused, as the Saorview site seems to indicate this product is Saorview approved?

http://www.saorview.ie/product/4life/

zg3409

Model SV600 only is approved. 4life is just a generic brand name they put on loads of things.

Bring the item back if it does not do what you thought.
This is the approved item:
http://www.did.ie/4ife-saorview-approved-set-top-box-sv-600

cashback

Right. It's the sv400 she's bought.

Hard to believe they can sell these without basic functions.

St Senan

cashback wrote: »

Right.

Hard to believe they can sell these without basic functions.

The country is flooded with Basic unapproved Combi boxes.

micratoyota

cashback wrote: »

Right. It's the sv400 she's bought.

Hard to believe they can sell these without basic functions.

Hi just bought sv 400 for €70 in Soundstore mainly for recording fta channels via USB stick. How is it working for your mother Want to know if I should return it as they had the Walker for €80 ?????

micratoyota

But do some of them work OK Just bought SV 400 mainly for recording FTA . Fairly new TV can I just use the dish connection and not the aerial Dont often use teletext

winston_1

micratoyota wrote: »

Hi just bought sv 400 for €70 in Soundstore mainly for recording fta channels via USB stick. How is it working for your mother Want to know if I should return it as they had the Walker for €80 ?????

Of course you should return when an approved box with MHEG5 and future proofing is only €10 more!

red sean

Hello all, I got a 4ife SV400 in Curry's and have a problem with it. At least I think it's it is the problem!
When I change programmes from sat. to terrestrial it says 'no signal', but when I unplug the coax plug and
push it back the picture comes on perfect. Try to change from one terrestrial channel to another, same thing.
No problem with satellite channels.
Is it time to return it? Any advice?
Thanks.

The Cush

red sean wrote: »

Is it time to return it? Any advice?

Would it be possible to test the box elsewhere, neighbours house etc.?

What type of aerial are you using, indoor or outdoor? Is there many kind of masthead amplifier or distribution amplifier in the system?

micratoyota

Set up the SV400 and connected aerial anddish to box then scart(not HDMI didnt have one)to box and TV... Programmed all channels RTE's first and then sat BBC's etc so I now put on the TV with one remote and the 400 remote give me all the channels one after one No need to change anything. Only problem dont know how to record(put in 32GB USB) in the future like to day for a programme coming on Monday when I am out which is the main reason I bought it.

red sean

I'm using a UHF group B with 21 elements (I think).
Yes theres a masthead amp and a distribution amp. I have tried going direct out of the psu for the masthhead unit (taking the dist. amp out of the sequence altogether) and it makes no difference.
Thanks for your reply and if you can suggest anything else I'd appreciate.

The Cush

red sean wrote: »

Thanks for your reply and if you can suggest anything else I'd appreciate.

Can you test the box on a different aerial?
Can you bypass the PSU and distribution amp?

On another point it souldn't be necessary for both a masthead amp and distribution amp in a standard domestic setup, a passive splitter should suffice instead of the distribution amp if the masthead amp is operating correctly - http://www.megalithia.com/elect/boostercasc/index.html

Do you require the masthead amp, was it installed for difficult analogue reception?

red sean

Thanks again The Cush, I'll try all you recommended tomorrow, weather and work permitting.
The masthead amp was fitted because of weak analogue signal.
On another note, how would I go about getting the terrestrial channels on a sat. dish. My dish is a fta not sky.
Or is that possible?

The Cush

red sean wrote: »

The masthead amp was fitted because of weak analogue signal.
On another note, how would I go about getting the terrestrial channels on a sat. dish. My dish is a fta not sky.
Or is that possible?

If you got the analogue channels previously with that setup you shouldn't have a problem with the Saorview channels unless there is a problem with the receiver (hence the reason I suggested testing it elsewhere) or too much signal with all those amps. Did you receive analogue TV3 with that aerial before the analogue signal was switched off last Oct? Did you purchase that receiver recently and if so what did you use to view the Irish channels/Saorview since last Oct?

Do you know which transmitter you receive the Saorview signal from, check for Saorview coverage in your area here - http://www.saorview.ie/what-is-saorview/make-the-switch/coverage-map/

The Irish terrestrial channels aren't available free from the same satellite as the UK channels, Sky sub and receiver required. They are available via Saorsat which is transmitted from a different satellite and requires a different type of LNB, but no TV3 or 3e. RTÉNL only recommend Saorsat if Saorview isn't available in your area but as you say the channels do appear when you power off/on the receiver. Saorsat info here - http://www.saorview.ie/about-saorview/saorsat/

red sean

Tried the unit at another tv and the same thing. No signal, unplug coax, plug back in straightaway and perfect picture.
So I presume the unit is gone!

Peter Rhea

Was it another one of your own tvs you tried it at? Any signal problems will more than likely be present there too.

Did you look at the coverage checker?

red sean

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Was it another one of your own tvs you tried it at? Any signal problems will more than likely be present there too.

Did you look at the coverage checker?

Swapped the unit for another one to check also.
(In bold) Coverage checker is'nt going to do anything for me is it?
Like I said earlier, once you unplug the coax and plug it back the picture is perfect.
This was working perfect until a couple of weeks ago, I just wanted to see if this is a common problem or if there was anything I could do to avoid taking the unit back.

Peter Rhea

The coverage checker was only brought up as a means of getting some idea if you are in a strong or weak signal area & if you need so much amplification.

Whether that has anything to do with the problem is another matter, though.

STB

red sean wrote: »

Swapped the unit for another one to check also.
(In bold) Coverage checker is'nt going to do anything for me is it?
Like I said earlier, once you unplug the coax and plug it back the picture is perfect.
This was working perfect until a couple of weeks ago, I just wanted to see if this is a common problem or if there was anything I could do to avoid taking the unit back.

There have been previous threads about this box and some not so helpful posts by the guys behind them.

But, before you bring it back.

The symptoms you describe point to two things.

Is there a 5v phantom power on the terrestrial menu ? Is there is and it is turned on, turn it off. If its not that, check that the coaxial plug going into the box is okay or indeed that the coaxial socket is not loose.

By the way, there are masthead amps around the country that where whacked up and configured for analogue that need to be turned down as you can get RF overload as DVB-T signal in many areas is a lot stronger than analogue was (as Peter Rhea said).

red sean

Well lads, just to update ye on what happened.

Checked the 5v antenna power and it was switched off. Coax plug was fine. Brought back the unit and got it swapped without a problem.
Girl at the service desk admitted they have replaced a few of these units with various faults. New one worked perfectly when connected.
Contacted the guy who did my dish beforehand and he said more or less the same as you guys did and that he would give me a call.

He arrived this morning and took down the aerial altogether. It was on 15ft pole above a 2 storey chimney in the centre of the house with guywires going to each corner. Removed the amp. and fitted the aerial to a 6ft pole and faced it to a different transmitter, which was'nt available when it was done initially.

I live in a mountainous spot in North Sligo and was getting the signal from Longford for years but now it's coming from Castlebar which is much nearer. I'm too close to Ben Bulben to get a signal from Truskmore which would be the obvious one.
The price for living in a nice place I suppose!

Anyway, thanks to The Cush, Peter Rhea and STB for your help.

Peter Rhea

red sean wrote: »

I live in a mountainous spot in North Sligo and was getting the signal from Longford for years but now it's coming from Castlebar which is much nearer. I'm too close to Ben Bulben to get a signal from Truskmore which would be the obvious one.

Would be pretty similar distance from your area to Castlebar or Cairn Hill (Longford) sites & Cairn Hill is by far the more powerful.

Must be a better view towards C'bar.