DVB-T tuner

debabyjesus

Hi all, bit of an odd question for ye. My Audi A8 had a tv function installed as standard in the factory, however its an analogue tuner and is obviously no use anymore, all i get is static. I can remove the analogue tuner box and install a digital version that is a straight swap and uses all the existing aerials and equipment to work. The digital box is fairly pricey so I need to be sure before I buy it, so that brings me to the question.

The digital upgrade box for the car is a DVB-T tuner. A few people have done this in the UK and it works fine over there. They can pick up all the free to air channels. I seem to remember when saorview was launched that it was a different format to the UK version, mpeg2 vs mpeg4 over here?

So is a DVB-T tuner able to pick up all mpeg formats or is saorview an oddball format?

This is the tuner I need to buy. Audi just call it a DVB-T tuner. P/N 4E0910148
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A6-C6-A8-D3-Q7-Digital-Hybrid-TV-tuner-Receiver-DVB-2G-4E0910148-/191477013240

So i guess my question is that if it works in the UK, will it work here?

doney84

Saorview uses DVB T, MPEG 4 for standard definition & HD channels.

In the UK they use DVB T, MPEG 2 for standard definition channels & DVB T2, MPEG 4 for HD channels.

Hope this helps

debabyjesus

Thanks for that. So the Audi DVB-T tuner should be able to pick up both mpeg2 and mpeg4?

It should receive saorview and standard definition free to air channels from UK?

Gerry Wicklow

I'm no expert on this but AFAIK
DVB-T refers to the tuner hardware. MPEG2 or MPEG4 refers to software. In other words the DVB-T tuner may pick up the Saorview signals but not be able to decode them if not MPEG4 compatible. You'd be better off checking directly with Audi or the systems maker to ensure it can handle MPEG4

doney84

To be honest I can't see anything on the add you linked which says anything about MPEG 2 or MPEG 4. I'd be careful as it may be possible that it is only MPEG 2 and therefore useless with Saorview & only able to pick up UK freeview when in range of Freeview transmitters

debabyjesus

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

I'm no expert on this but AFAIK
DVB-T refers to the tuner hardware. MPEG2 or MPEG4 refers to software. In other words the DVB-T tuner may pick up the Saorview signals but not be able to decode them if not MPEG4 compatible. You'd be better off checking directly with Audi or the systems maker to ensure it can handle MPEG4

Thanks for reply, Audi have been worse than useless tbh, the only thing they are good at is gouging large wads of money for doing very little 'work'. You need to have a bottomless wallet or do all maintenance yourself on an A8.

So ye reckon I will need to ascertain if the audi tuner can handle different mpeg standards... I'll try dig up more info on the box itself and see if I can find specs on it.

debabyjesus

doney84 wrote: »

To be honest I can't see anything on the add you linked which says anything about MPEG 2 or MPEG 4. I'd be careful as it may be possible that it is only MPEG 2 and therefore useless with Saorview & only able to pick up UK freeview when in range of Freeview transmitters

Ok so if it only supports mpeg2 then its pretty much useless except for border areas and possibly east coast?

doney84

debabyjesus wrote: »

Ok so if it only supports mpeg2 then its pretty much useless except for border areas and possibly east coast?

Yeah, tuner will need MPEG 4 for Saorview

The Cush

debabyjesus wrote: »

Ok so if it only supports mpeg2 then its pretty much useless except for border areas and possibly east coast?

Yes.

Also in Audi's home country the digital television network uses DVB-T/MPEG-2 only. Can you find any specs for the unit as regards video compression?

The Cush

According to other ebay links the unit is MPEG-2 only e.g. http://www.ebay.pl/itm/Tuner-TV-digital-DVB-T-AUDI-MMI-2G-most-4E0910148-D-E-A4-A5-A6-Q7-A8-/161596072992 (ebay Poland, they use MPEG-4 compression on their DTT network)

debabyjesus

The Cush wrote: »

According to other ebay links the unit is MPEG-2 only e.g. http://www.ebay.pl/itm/Tuner-TV-digital-DVB-T-AUDI-MMI-2G-most-4E0910148-D-E-A4-A5-A6-Q7-A8-/161596072992 (ebay Poland, they use MPEG-4 compression on their DTT network)

Ok so that possibly means that p/n is mpeg2, but the car is sold all over the world so possibly there is a different p/n that is mpeg4 compatible...

My MMI is 2G high and I see the later years have 3G MMI and have mpeg4 capable tuners so i'll have to keep digging!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7zQ8r9QVLg

Gerry Wicklow

If it is MPEG2 only it is unlikely to work well even near the east coast or border counties as a car aerial would not be high enough to give a reliable signal.

Johnboy1951

debabyjesus wrote: »

Hi all, bit of an odd question for ye. My Audi A8 had a tv function installed as standard in the factory, however its an analogue tuner and is obviously no use anymore, all i get is static. I can remove the analogue tuner box and install a digital version that is a straight swap and uses all the existing aerials and equipment to work. The digital box is fairly pricey so I need to be sure before I buy it, so that brings me to the question.

The digital upgrade box for the car is a DVB-T tuner. A few people have done this in the UK and it works fine over there. They can pick up all the free to air channels. I seem to remember when saorview was launched that it was a different format to the UK version, mpeg2 vs mpeg4 over here?

So is a DVB-T tuner able to pick up all mpeg formats or is saorview an oddball format?

This is the tuner I need to buy. Audi just call it a DVB-T tuner. P/N 4E0910148
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A6-C6-A8-D3-Q7-Digital-Hybrid-TV-tuner-Receiver-DVB-2G-4E0910148-/191477013240

So i guess my question is that if it works in the UK, will it work here?

If they can get HD channels on it then it should be good for Saorview here.