What Combi Box to Buy to allow Recording of RTE1/RTE2 etc at the same time?

Thargor

Hi, are there any combi boxes that can overcome the current Mux issues that have left boxes like the Ferguson Ariva 250 unable to record one RTE channel while watching another? I dont need to be able to record multiple channels at the same time, I just need a box to be guaranteed able to record any one channel while watching any other, any help appreciated as this is kind of urgent, I need to buy it tomorrow basically.

Strawberry HillBilly

The Saorview approved Walker PVR can do this with 2 DTT tuners on board.

No idea what performance is like, but guaranteed to do what you requested.

http://www.tvtrade.ie/saorview-pvr.html

Ooopps just re-read this..... Don't know if there is a combo out there.

Peter Rhea

Thargor wrote: »

. . . I just need a box to be guaranteed able to record any one channel while watching any other

If you want a combi that can record any channel, satellite or terrestrial, while watching any other, it would need to have 4 tuners, 2 satellite & 2 terrestrial. You would also need 2 cables from the satellite dish.

You would need a customisable receiver, maybe something like a Vu+. You certainly won't get anything cheap 'n' cheerful like the Ariva.

Thargor

Any terrestrial channel then.

Peter Rhea

'Off the shelf' triple-tuner boxes would tend to be 2 x satellite & 1 x terrestrial tuner. For your satellite + 2 terrestrial, I would think you would be looking at plug & play modules in a Linux receiver: not the kind of thing you are going to set up by tomorrow.

Probably better off just pairing the Ariva with a suitable tv.

fryup

with most combi's its a case of record saorview and watch satellite at the same time and vice versa

now if you want to record one saorview channel whilst watching another saorview..what i do is...when recording on your combi use your TV remote and the input select button and choose TV mode and then select which saorview channel you want using the TV's tuner

gordongekko

fryup wrote: »

with most combi's its a case of record saorview and watch satellite at the same time and vice versa

now if you want to record one saorview channel whilst watching another saorview..what i do is...when recording on your combi use your TV remote and the input select button and choose TV mode and then select which saorview channel you want using the TV's tuner

what if your tv is not saorview compatible?

Thargor

That's no good for someone who bought the box to avoid getting rid of a large non saorview tv in the living room in the first place though, which I wouldn't have done had I known this was coming...

fryup

Thargor wrote: »

That's no good for someone who bought the box to avoid getting rid of a large non saorview tv in the living room in the first place though, which I wouldn't have done had I known this was coming...

well in fairness you didn't mention that in your original post

Peter Rhea

Another option to mention, while we're at it, would be to add Saorsat to the setup & get the RTE channels & TG4 that way (no TV3 & 3e) & watch terrestrial, record satellite or vice-versa.

Thargor

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Another option to mention, while we're at it, would be to add Saorsat to the setup & get the RTE channels & TG4 that way (no TV3 & 3e) & watch terrestrial, record satellite or vice-versa.

Can I tune in Saorsat on this box or has it even launched yet?

Peter Rhea

Saorsat is from a different satellite position than the UK channels so, you would need either a separate dish (minimum 80cm recommended for most of the country) or a single large dish fitted with 2 lnbs (I would think at least 90cm to be reliable). The lnb feeds are connected to a DiSEqC switch & a single cable runs from there to the receiver: the receiver will automatically switch feeds, depending on selected channel.

And of course you need someone to install all of this, if you can't do it yourself.

I wasn't seriously suggesting it as a means of getting around the shortcomings of a basic receiver like the Ariva: just thought the fact it can be done was worth a mention.

Thargor

Balls, thanks anyway.

watty

Thargor wrote: »

That's no good for someone who bought the box to avoid getting rid of a large non saorview tv in the living room in the first place though, which I wouldn't have done had I known this was coming...

I wasn't backward (nor some others) warning about what a true PVR is, since about 2008 or earlier maybe.

It has been regularly highlighted. The Combo boxes and boxes with a "Record" feature are entry level products for a particular market.

Unless you are assembling a Linux custom box or a Windows Media system with 2 x terrestrial tuners and 2 x Satellite tuners and internal HDD with MHEG5 support a Saorview PVR (only one so far, or possibly a "Freeview+ HDR") and a "Freesat + HDR" (two boxes) is the most capable solution. Yes it's one extra Remote or a programmable remote.

Jpmarn

There are so many different recorders available for the Freeview HD UK market. Potentially most of these recorders should be compatible with Saorview signals. Why are any of the popular models from the likes of Samsung or Sony getting Saorview approval?

watty

Ask Humax, Samsung, LG, Sony etc. It's purely up to the Makers to submit. Actually a lot of the cheaper ones are Vestel, almost the same chassis but different badge to Walker. Walker are only an importer/marketing company. Bush & Alba don't exist any more. Just Argos badges.

So there are less models than you might think. A Freeview + HD R is only "mostly" compatible, compatibility varies with model. Freeview and Freesat are licensed, closed, secret & proprietary systems. Saorview conforms to Nordig, which is open and free (though certification testing costs money), so any product for other Nordig markets will work here.

UK market is over 20 times bigger?