TV with 2x DVB-S and 1x DVB-T

cdiv

I currently have an Amiko Alien 2 STB hooked up to an ancient CRT TV. It's long past due to be replaced with a decent TV. The Amiko is fine, if a bit slow overall (booting, switching DTT channels, picking up the EPG etc.).

I noticed while in Spain recently that Panasonic were selling a TV there with dual sat tuners and dual terrestrial tuner, so was wondering if anything similar has made it to the Irish market, last time I looked last year there didn't see to be any that offered those inputs along with the ability to show all sources in a single EPG (which is the main selling point of the Amiko for me).

Maybe I'm not googling very well, but all I can find is references to what I guess is the TV I saw in spain, e.g. like this article here:

http://www.flatpanelshd.com/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1360849811

A twin tuner means two tuners in Panasonic’s terminology. More precisely it actually means two of each tuner. Two DVB-C for cable, two DVB-T for antenna and two DVB-S2 for satellite. Which ones are integrated depends on where you live in Europe where Panasonic is rolling out the twin tuner functionality.

I've read threads on here with Panasonics not playing well with mixing UK and Irish channels in the past so am a bit wary of them.

Are there any alternatives that I should look at. In terms of other specs on the TV I'm not that fussy, full HD, 37'+ size, good sound, and not too much image processing causing it to be laggy for PS3 games.

The Amiko always confuses the hell out of any visitors, so when replacing the TV would like to eliminate it as well.

Any recommendations folks?

pizzahead77

Samsung do ones - http://www.samsung.com/ie/consumer/tv-audio-video/television/led-tv/UE55F8000STXXU

They also do other models too

cdiv

Thanks for the pointer, that model is a bit out of my price range, but the 40" series 8 or even series 7 might do the job.

basill

Suggest you post your question under the Richersounds sub forum under Biz. The guys are in Belfast but deliver to the ROI. They can get their hands on most gear that you would never see down in the Republic.

zg3409

Depending on your current combo box setup, a new combo TV may have problems. The satellite channels generally only have now and next, so recording may need to rely on timers. Some TV's feature Freesat, but possbily only when set to county=UK and then possibly Saorview may not work all that well.

Normally I would recommend TVs with inbuilt satellite and terrestrial (such as the cheap Walkers) to people who do not intend recording the UK channels, and so then go for a single satellite tuner and a single terrestrial.

I used one of the Walker combo TVs recently and it was a pain to switch from terrestrial to satellite, so can't really recommend any combo TVs.

cdiv

I've browsed the online manual for the Samsung mentioned above, and it seems to imply that you have to choose what digital tv source you want to use, aerial/cable OR satellite. Similar to what you describe for the Walker TVs.

As you say having a 'modal' setup like that is clunky, and not what I'm looking for at all. I want a single EPG with a single list of all channels across both terrestrial and satellite.

zg3409 can you explain a bit more about now and next. My current Amiko STB can read the entire EPG from the satellite ( and terrestrial ) signal directly, are you saying that most combo TVs lack this capability? Seems strange they can't read the information if it's there in the digital stream waiting to be read.

zg3409

cdiv wrote: »

I've browsed the online manual for the Samsung mentioned above, and it seems to imply that you have to choose what digital tv source you want to use, aerial/cable OR satellite. Similar to what you describe for the Walker TVs.

With the walker there is a kind of source button to switch from terrestrial to satellite, hoever on the TV I was using it took about 6 button presses, mode, up, up, up, up, OK. I think some newer ones have an "opt" or similar one button swap, but you cannot view the guide as one complete satellite and terrestrial.

As you say having a 'modal' setup like that is clunky, and not what I'm looking for at all. I want a single EPG with a single list of all channels across both terrestrial and satellite.

zg3409 can you explain a bit more about now and next. My current Amiko STB can read the entire EPG from the satellite ( and terrestrial ) signal directly, are you saying that most combo TVs lack this capability? Seems strange they can't read the information if it's there in the digital stream waiting to be read.

Yes, most combos only display now and next on satellite. There are a few sources for 7 day guide on satellite
1) Sky's guide (some receivers "borrow" skys information
2) Freesat guide (some receivers "borrow" freesats information)
3) Internet guide (some receivers download the guide over the internet connection)

Generally these are only possible on "open" "linux" based boxes. The probably only legal true option is via the internet, using a legal source.

Most cheap combos only can display now and next, and the same is true for Walker combo TVs. Some Walker boxes have Sat4Free which also "borrows" freesat guide, which they are probably not supposed to do.

cdiv

Ah, makes sense, I guess the full EPG content is protected by licensing/copyright restrictions, never thought of that. And even for TVs that do license the EPG content, there's probably licensing restrictions about showing 'extra' channels in the EPG that prevent them showing a 'unified' EPG.

What a mess!

Johnboy1951

cdiv wrote: »

Ah, makes sense, I guess the full EPG content is protected by licensing/copyright restrictions, never thought of that. And even for TVs that do license the EPG content, there's probably licensing restrictions about showing 'extra' channels in the EPG that prevent them showing a 'unified' EPG.

What a mess!

Yes it is a mess.
It was why I built my own HTPC ... my first build ..... and having used it for a year or so I wonder why there are no commercial equivalents at somewhat reasonable price.

I have been eyeing TVs with Sat & Saorview ...... but none I found have the desired functionality. I have decided against getting anything available presently.

I have decided to put the tuners into a backend server and use light, small 'boxes' at TV points ...... R-Pi or such. (will have to wait for the new year sometime).

All LiveTV and Recordings and stored video will then be available to all ........ over LAN.

zg3409

Such a setup available as a finished commercial operation, would sell well in Ireland, in my opinion. I often thought about a "boards.ie Paddy box" designed specifically for the Irish market, with recording etc.

The main problems/issues I would see would be
1) Legal/licencing issues with TV guide etc
2) Recording ,would series link be possible
3) Commercial viability and customer support afterwards
4) Specifications/politics/ownership/ real world issues

However if all these were surmounted it would not be unreasonable to create a box with a 7 days guide for Saorivew and Satellite, with recording, that is better than anything available off the shelf. It should be a box for those who want a replacement for a Sky+box.

cdiv

Yeah such a box would be perfect, but as you point out there's the commerical/legal issues of the TV guide to be overcome and given that the market would only be people in Ireland who don't want to pay a Sky/cable subscription the addressable market size is probably just too small for anyone to take a punt on it.

zg3409

That's partly why I was suggesting it should be a "boards.ie" unit, where the basic software and support would be supplied by volounteers here, with suppliers simply supplying the correct hardware with the s/w pre-installed.

One of the reasons I did not promote the idea a year or two ago was that their was no series link information being sent, which makes it more difficult to set up series link. Now that series link is now being sent, it's probably too late to capture the market, as everyone who want's it already has some sort of kludged together setup.

If someone who was experienced in setting up such a system wanted to demonstrate it's abilities and try selling a few, I would definitely be in the market for one myself. I am not sure if the non approved boxes can do series link, and if the TV guide can be legally downloaded over an internet connection. A nice feature would also be automated updating of the box if any changes/updates are needed.

Johnboy1951

I guess my needs are too simple as I see all sorts of stuff posted on boards and various plugins to do (to me) weird and maybe wonderful things.

All I want is to select a TV channel from a list ..... an integrated list of DTT and SAT channels that I can put in order myself.

Equally I want to select a video from a list of files stored in specific directories.

I do not need (or want) flashy graphics to get to my chosen content.
I don't want 'Art' or any such stuff that clutters up things and slows rendering.

So a simple Linux OS with TVheadend for Live TV, including recordings, with a very lightweight client device at the TV running XBMC linked back to TVHeadend.

From such a set up I have 7 day EPG for DTT and even longer for Sat.

I don't have use of Series Link ..... but read that TVHeadend is capable of handling it .... and never tried.

The software is all free of cost, and easy to drop in for the basics as above.

I reckon about 30 mins to take a recently bought server, add the cards and the software, and all is done (for basics).

R-Pi (or better) with Openelec and XBMC as a client device at the TV sets to complete the set up.

Until I tried it I did not know how easy it was to do.

I still have trouble with a new installation of TVHeadend ..... it requires knowledge to set it up properly, which I have not gained yet (and likely never will )

It might even be easier to use something like an Ouya with USB connected Tuners and USB HDD for the backend.

One rider:
Good tuner cards are costly and need to be chosen with care! particular care needs to be taken that the manufacturer provides drivers for the chosen operating system (some don't).



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