Saorview Connect

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

Is there any difference between a satellite tuner and a terrestrial - like can they be interchanged, as in the tuner can tune both but not at the same time?

They cannot be interchanged. When the firmware update arrives in the middle of next year, you will still not be able to record one satellite channel and watch another.

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

Is there any difference between a satellite tuner and a terrestrial - like can they be interchanged, as in the tuner can tune both but not at the same time?

I think it can only decode one mux on terrestrial, possibly only watch or record one terrestrial and possibly only watch or record one satellite channel, but the record is not available yet so hard to know. For now, you could presume you can only watch one thing, possibly more in the future.

Basically the terrestrial connector is for Irish channels, the satellite connection is for UK channels. In theory it might be able to record one while you watch another, but no way to know until summer 2018

The Cush wrote: »

The specs do mention "Dual Tuner with multi-format solution which supports DVB-S2 and DVB-T2", whatever that means?

Marketing waffle. If it said FBC tuners then that would be something at least, but these are standard tuners here. Nothing fancy that a bog standard combo box wouldn't have.

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

Is there any difference between a satellite tuner and a terrestrial - like can they be interchanged, as in the tuner can tune both but not at the same time?

Yes theres a huge difference. DVB-S2 is satellite. DVB-T2 is Terrestrial.

In terms of interchangability they would have to be a "plug and play tuner" in order to just slot in. Quite common in Enigma2 boxes, so that you can configure it with your desired tuner types.

These boxes from the spec are not plug n play, they are stationary.

Also there is no single tuner that does both dvb-s2 and dvb-t2. They are seperate tuners. The dvb-t2 also do dvb-c but the dvb-c is for cable tv which is encrypted in Ireland for UPC.

Multiformat means - sat tuner does dvb-s and dvb-s2. Terrestrial tuner does dvb-t, dvb-t2 and cable (dvb-c no use in Ireland)
Dual Tuner - just means there are two different type tuners in it. If both were the same they would be referred to as Twin. It would be common to see these on the one tuner module.

My god. I didn't know that this box would cost more than it's worth. €220 for it is very poor value if people are new in using Saorview Connect for the 1st time. It is a very weak start for the beginning of Saorview Connect. If other TV providers like Sky, VM, Eir or Vodafone didn't bother with offering recording facilities; they could be laughed out the door or become a victim of fierce anger from their customers. I suppose they are a lot more lucky that they have more advanced equipment for them than their poorer counterparts on Saorview. I do hope other manufacturers involved in Saorview Connect here will buck the trend, of what the Powerpoint box provides, by offering suitable recording facilities for their own boxes or TV's. This box not bothering to offering recordings to Saorview users could be a blip in Saorview Connect starting up as a new entrant to the Irish market. There could be other boxes or TV's from Saorview Connect that could miles better than what this first one is offering to the public. Good things comes to those who wait.

Admittedly; nobody here would disagree that this is a bad start from Saorview. Although it could become a lot better than what we have now for the moment.

The Cush wrote: »

We need a guinea pig to buy one of these , it won't be me.

No I'll wait myself. It wouldnt interest me other than to cause a bit of devilment. Like say going to the OEM and ordering the 7025 box and then editing the bootloader line and then loading the ALi 4mb firmware abs file that I have backed off a legit box and then selling them at half the price, probably

The Cush wrote: »

I don't think we'll see one. Also it appears EKT OEM hardware is the chosen base product and having a quick look at their range I don't see a box in that range with an internal HDD. Will Saorview Connect users require a 2 box solution to record programmes?

Yes well some fool has ordered a watch satellite/ record terrestrial (or vice versa) config from 1999.

So lets presume they have the software configured to actually be able to SWITCH during recording!

Limitation is the ability to watch and record the same satellite channel or channel on that TP OR watch a terrestrial channel. Also if recording a terrestrial channel you could watch channels on the same multiplex (we have 2 unfortunately) or watch a satellite channel.

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

Do Sky/Virgin/Vodafone/eir provide 7 day rollback?

I can see that being attractive for users when it comes out, e.g. you go to a match and can come home and watch it straight away on the tv.

If the damned thing could record that would not be necessary

Will all programmes be covered under the rollback?

I do not believe so.

One other thing. One person mentioned that the box might be linux based. Does that mean one could set it up with 7 day epg for satellite?

Aside from the fact that it's too expensive, it has no internal hdd, only has one sat tuner (possibly) and only has now/next sat epg - can we just talk about how it looks for a moment?

Believe me, I am fully aware that it's is a box which will sit under a tv (so it doesn't need to be a stand-out design masterpiece), but for €200 it needs to look somewhat premium! Right now, it looks like any other cheap stb - in fairness, probably because it is.

I mean, look at any of Humax's freesat or freeview recorders from the past few years. I'm not sure I'd ever use the word 'pretty', but they certainly look like they are trying to convey a sense of 'premium' without being too flashy. i particularly liked the dot matrix display on the 1000s before that fell by the wayside on the later revisions. This box seems to only have a 4 digit numerical display, which again makes it look like a cheap generic box.

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

Has anyone looked at the image of the back of the box on the powercity site. It only shows half of it but I think I can read 'sat in 2' indicating that there are 2 sat inputs.

Very good point. It does indeed show two sat inputs. Full image here: https://powercity.cdn.webangel.ie/productimages/50583.jpg

I wouldn't trust the stock image, but instead would like to see it for real.

This box could be ok yet.
If there are 2 sat inputs that means the sat tuner must be capable of recording/viewing at the same time.
The same perhaps then for the terrestrial.

Is there perhaps 2 dual tuners in it?

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

This box could be ok yet.
If there are 2 sat inputs that means the sat tuner must be capable of recording/viewing at the same time.
The same perhaps then for the terrestrial.

...it's €220, has no hard drive, and has no ability to record for probably six months (or longer judging on how long it took to get to this stage).

It's still not OK.