Saorview PVR

dellWlan

Haven't seen anything bar the walker being mentioned.

What about the samsung?

http://m.samsung.com/ie/consumer/tv-audio-video/blu-ray-players/blu-ray-players/BD-F8500M/XU

Not on the approved list but they describe it as a Saorview recorder.

Any thoughts?

watty

Who is "they".

It may be excellent and work well here, but without approval "they" can't call it a Saorview recorder, whoever "they" are.

The Cush

dellWlan wrote: »

Haven't seen anything bar the walker being mentioned.

What about the samsung?

http://m.samsung.com/ie/consumer/tv-audio-video/blu-ray-players/blu-ray-players/BD-F8500M/XU

Not on the approved list but they describe it as a Saorview recorder.

Any thoughts?

The F models are from the 2013 range. The E models were discussed here last year.

IIRC Samsung didn't refer to Saorview in relation to that model on their website last year. Don't know why it hasn't Saorview approval, either it didn't pass the testing phase for approval or they didn't bother submitting it for approval due to the testing cost/small market?

The spec looks very good including Teletext/Teletext subtiltles which are required for Saorview but not Freeview and which can be missing from Freeview spec PVRs.

Powercity stock it - http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-15-BDF8500&pages=&prod=BDF8500&brands=SAMSUNG&image= and they say on the webpage "500gb Hdd Recorder With Dual Irish Digital Ready Tuner". Also elara.ie - http://www.elara.ie/productdetail.aspx?manufacturer=SAMSUNG&mancode=BD-F8500&gclid=CL_9qdjt47oCFZMdtAodRx4A3A

The Irish Samsung lists it as BD-F8500M Smart 3D Blu-ray Player with 500Gb Saorview Recorder and the other model in the range as BD-F8900M Smart 3D Blu-ray Player with 1 Tb Freeview HD Recorder

Their UK site refer to it as BD-F8500M Smart 3D Blu-ray Player with 500Gb Freeview HD Recorder naturally.
The UK site also lists the standalone E-model PVRs, STB-E7500 Smart High Definition Freeview Recorder with 500Gb HDD & STB-E7900 Smart High Definition Freeview Recorder with 1Tb HDD which don't appear on the Irish site.

dellWlan

watty wrote: »

Who is "they".

It may be excellent and work well here, but without approval "they" can't call it a Saorview recorder, whoever "they" are.

"They" being samsung as per the link to their website.

Fingleberries

I am not sure about the new F-Series / 2013 model. But just wanted to provide a bit of history for the 2012 Model, E-Series (BD-E8900M), as that has a number of issues when being used for Saorview or for Saorview / Freeview HD recording.

If the country is set to Ireland:

1. The EPG is 'Saorview' branded, and shows Saorview and Freeview channels in on EPG.
2. It does not support Saorview Series Link, and does not do Series Link for Freeview Channels.
3. It disables the DVB-T2 receiver (No Freeview HD Channels)

If the country is set to UK

1. The EPG is Freeview Branded, and shows Freeview and Saorview Channels in the one EPG.
2. Freeview Channels can be Series Linked. But Saorview channels cannot.
3. Manual recording from Saorview channels breaks (it may or may not start recording at the right time, and may or may not end at the right time depending on it's mood).
4. DVB-T2 channels (Freeview HD) can be received and recorded successfully.

Samsung Support called these 'broadcast issues' for the 2012 / E-Series model. It would be really interesting if these broadcast issues are fixed in the 2013 models because if they are, it would make a very nice Recorder and would be well recommended (only if these issues were resolved).

A bit pricey for me to 'upgrade' from last years model on the off-chance, just to check that out


[EDIT]
Hmm. I've found a link for the 2013 model on the PC World website and it has a lot of "Irish Digital Ready" language, rather than Saorview and offering "hundreds of free digital channels". Sounds like it is just a Freeview HD box being thrown over the water - it may or may not work, but at €350, I'm not going to buy it to try it (again).

http://www.pcworld.ie/Product/SAMSUNG-BDF8900-Smart-3D-Bluray-Player-with-Irish-digital-ready-1-TB-HDD/314228/194.1

dellWlan

It was just samsungs use of the Saorview name that had me curious and although I haven't seen reviews of it blu ray capabilities assuming its a good one it looks good value compared to the walker. If it works. Could it be in the process of being approved without us knowing yet?

The Cush

dellWlan wrote: »

Could it be in the process of being approved without us knowing yet?

Yes but last years model carried the Saorview logo in the epg also and never appeared in the approved list of products.

Souriau

I just wonder if Saorview PVR have same issue as Humax PVR regarding playback with no program info

e,g RTE2, I recorded a program and press the info button and I get the program description
Later I playback the same program and again press the info button, no info come up
Is this the same for Walker PVR?
Is this Saorview broadcast problems?

Is it because RTENL didn't filled in all details in the EIT?

---

Service Name: RTÉ Two
Provider Name: RTÉNL
Transport Stream ID: 1001 (0x03e9) 198.5 MHz

---

Starts: 14/11/2013 23:45:00
Length: 01:55:00
EIT Source: actual TS, present/following
Name: Like Minds
Description: When a forensic psychologist (Toni Collette) questions a 17-year-old school boy charged with murdering his roommate, she discovers a bizarre world of secrets and mind games. Director: Gregory J Read Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Tom Sturridge, Toni Collette, Richard Roxburgh, Patrick Malahide, Jon Overton

Description Source: DVB Short Event DVB Extended Event

Descriptor: Content Descriptor
Content: undefined content (user 0x0/0x0)

Descriptor: Content Identifier Descriptor
c4 08 2f 36 32 39 33 30 37 39 ../6293079

---

While on Freeview it get all info during playback...
Channel 53/28801
Service Name: RTÂE Two
Provider Name:
Transport Stream ID: 28673 (0x7001)

---

Starts: 14/11/2013 23:45:00
Length: 01:55:00
EIT Source: other TS, present/following
Name: Like Minds
Description: Psychological thriller starring Eddie Redmayne and Tom Sturridge, 2006. When school boy is charged with murdering his roommate, a forensic psychologist discovers a world of secrets

Description Source: DVB Short Event

Descriptor: Component Descriptor
Component: eng (video, 16:9 aspect ratio without pan vectors, 25 Hz)

Descriptor: Component Descriptor
Component: eng (audio, stereo (2 channel))

Descriptor: Content Descriptor
Content: movie/drama (general) (user 0x0/0x0)

---

Any idea?

din0saur

Was starting to get my hopes up that 1 year after analog switch off I might finally be able to buy a useable Saorview recorder but a few minutes reading the comments here http://www.trustedreviews.com/samsung-bd-f8500_TV-recorder---set-top-box_review_performance-and-verdict_Page-4 I'm starting to wonder if that will ever happen. Sounds like the user interface on the Samsung leaves a lot to be desired..

bridster007

din0saur wrote: »

Was starting to get my hopes up that 1 year after analog switch off I might finally be able to buy a useable Saorview recorder but a few minutes reading the comments here http://www.trustedreviews.com/samsung-bd-f8500_TV-recorder---set-top-box_review_performance-and-verdict_Page-4 I'm starting to wonder if that will ever happen. Sounds like the user interface on the Samsung leaves a lot to be desired..

All Samsung PVRs are to be avoided.
Read below for the on-going problems, and that's before considering if they will work with Saorview.

http://www.avforums.com/threads/samsung-stb-e7500-and-stb-e7900-master-thread.1627172/

http://www.avforums.com/threads/samsung-bd-e8300-bd-e8500-bd-e8900-master-thread.1600546/

My extensive research led me to the Panasonic range of PVRs.
Bought the DMR-HW220 a year ago and works perfectly for both FV HD and SV other than the issue with no detailed program description info for SV( similar to the Hunax), and no teletext for SV.

The main thing is that it doesn't suffer the dual EPG issue that the Humax and Sony machines suffer. EPG for FV and SV remains populated all the time so it is seemless. Series link works well on both systems. Also has more features than the Humax ( unless you want to install the custom software on the Humax). Big plus for the Panasonic is that it operates as DLNA client and server.

There is also a version of the Panasonic with a bluray/dvd recorder for permanent archiving, including archiving of HD material. About €500 but if you like archiving to a DVD, then there is no other option.

din0saur

bridster007 wrote: »

There is also a version of the Panasonic with a bluray/dvd recorder for permanent archiving, including archiving of HD material. About €500 but if you like archiving to a DVD, then there is no other option.

Thank you, it sounds like Panasonic will give me what I want. I very much wwould like the archiving feature but not sure if I can justify paying so much for it ;-)

I already have a SmartTV from Samsung which works well although the TV's built in PVR feature is broken - the disk requests a reformat every couple of weeks erasing all recorded content!

Johnboy1951

Reading the above descriptions and prices (in particular), I am very glad I took the trouble to build my own HTPC with tuner cards.
Yes I know it is not for everybody and more space is required, but the results seem to be far far better than anything available commercially.