Question about Tuners

glaston

I'm looking to buy a Samsung TV, 46 inch 6 series F6500.
The Samsung website has two almost identical models; F6500 and F6510. The only difference I can see is the front colour and the tuners. The former has "Freeview HD / Freesat HD" and the latter has "DVB-T/C/S2".


Are these tuners the same?

watty

No not at all. One is a UK only model and the other sounds like a Generic MAINLAND Europe (not Ireland) model.

Freeview HD is DVB-T2, not DVB-T
Also DVB-C (cable DIGITAL) is pointless here as UPC will not sell you a CAM/Card for the TV.

If it's for Ireland then Saorview is more important.

Freesat HD approximately DVB-S2 (but there are other issues with Freesat vs non Freesat).
for UK Satellite you need a dish and far better with "Freesat HD" than not, but personally I would go for a separate Freesat + HD PVR and Saorview only (no satellite) TV.

Freeview HD set may be OK for Saorview. But you can't tell in advance. The "DVB-T/C/S2" model sounds like generic Mainland Europe (Netherlands, Germany) rather than for Ireland.

Better to buy a 42" set locally rather than mailorder/online as availing of 2 year SOGA refund/repair/replace is easier.

glaston

Thanks for the info.

I'm looking at buying the TV from a local dealer or Powercity.

The local dealer has the F6510 (DVB-T/C/S2) and I'd prefer to buy from him. If there is anything wrong I know I can go back to him.

Powercity have the F6500 and they are €150 cheaper! I'm concerned that I cant return the TV to powercity if it doesn't meet my requirements!

I have 2 aerials, one getting Irish and the other getting a signal from Wales. I've a smaller Panasonic Smart TV and I can get Irish and UK stations by just plugging into the TV point on the wall, no messing around with boxes. I just want to be sure that I can do this with the Samsung.

byte

From my bit of nosying about, the only real difference seems to be aesthetics - one is silver, one is white.

Both seem to have FreeviewHD and Freesat HD tuners, as well as work with Saorview, which is mentioned through the IE version of Samsung website.

I had initially thought that only the xx10 model had a dualcore processor, but it seems both have it.

watty

Bizarre descriptions/marketing then if both have FreeviewHD and Freesat HD certification!

If you can get UK TV via aerial why have extra expense of Freesat HD tuner? Surely Byte there is an even cheaper identical one with only Terrestrial tuner.

Freesat HD is for those of us too far from Wales or N.I. that need a Dish.

Kristopherus

Those tvs have Saorview and FTA Satellite tuners only for the Irish market. The UK variants have Freeview HD and FTA satellite tuning facilities. No Freeview HD and Freesat.

byte

Specs seem to vary depending on site I look at. One site did seem to indicate that the F6500 doesn't have DVB-T2 for Freeview HD. As OP is gettign Freeview from Wales, I think a Freeview HD tuner would be good. Just make sure that it does.

Samsung UK says the 6500 is both Freeview HD and Freesat HD: http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/tv-audio-video/television/led-tv/UE46F6500SBXXU

Samsung IE says the 6500 is Saorview and FTA tuner: http://www.samsung.com/ie/consumer/tv-audio-video/television/led-tv/UE46F6500SBXXU

Both models are exact same, down to the last letter. Naturally, they wouldn't be mentioning Freeview or Freesat on Irish page.