Saorview Connect

Tigerandahalf · 03-10-2017 04:19PM

Tony wrote: »

Unlikely as saorview uses two muxes so unless you were recording two channels on the same mux you would need two terrestrial tuners.

No need for 2 inputs for terrestrial but you need 2 tuners so you can view rte1 while recording rte2.

What I am saying is there could be 2 dual tuners - 1 dual tuner for sat and 1 dual for terrestrial.

Tony · 03-10-2017 04:20PM

Thought I just said that:)

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

No need for 2 inputs for terrestrial but you need 2 tuners so you can view rte1 while recording rte2.

Gerry Wicklow · 03-10-2017 04:23PM

Doesn't matter if it has 10 tuners. They're pointless if it cant record.

Tony · 03-10-2017 04:24PM

That would be a great way to do it . I could never really understand why RTe and 2 were put on separate muxes, they started off life on one mux.

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

What I am saying is there could be 2 dual tuners - 1 dual tuner for sat and 1 dual for terrestrial.

Tony · 03-10-2017 04:25PM

Very true Gerry

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

Doesn't matter if it has 10 tuners. They're pointless if it cant record.

The Cush · 03-10-2017 04:31PM

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.

Yes, I guess it probably has the 2 sat inputs as the EKT OEM model also has but the conflict is with the flyer tech specs where they only mention one F-connector input, maybe one is inactive?

STB. · 03-10-2017 04:31PM

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.

Is there perhaps 2 dual tuners in it?

The picture from powercitys website is from EKT's website of the 7025 model, so its not necessarily the Powerpoint back! I had linked it earlier in the thread when I saw the telltale DXD model number.

I gather the model that saorview are releasing only has one dvb-t2 and one dvb-s2 config NOT three.

Johnboy1951 · 03-10-2017 04:32PM

The Cush wrote: »

Little information on these multi-format tuners but this from the EKT website, which seems to suggest that each tuner is software selectable. In any case only 2 tuners it appears for terrestrial/satellite.

STB. wrote: »

There are no such tuners that do that.

This is marketing blurb. It must relate to the configs available from the OEM that is EKT.

The multiformat only relates to the modulation types of satellite (s/s2/s2x) OR terrestrial (t/t2/c hybrid) on each single specific tuner. Its not a mix of all on one tuner.

@ The Cush - where is the non combo box. I see references to one being cheaper. They wouldnt have been stupid enough to order dvb-t only versions of this box, would they!

If it is marketing blurb only, then there are a number of companies claiming the same thing for some tuners.

From other blurb I have read it would appear that the user can select to view a channel on either DVB-T or DVB-S and that single tuner will lock to it.

It really is a little confusing, but I haven't tried to track down what exactly this blurb is supposed to mean.

STB. · 03-10-2017 04:49PM

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

If it is marketing blurb only, then there are a number of companies claiming the same thing for some tuners.

From other blurb I have read it would appear that the user can select to view a channel on either DVB-T or DVB-S and that single tuner will lock to it.

It really is a little confusing, but I haven't tried to track down what exactly this blurb is supposed to mean.

What other blurb ?. Its simply chenglish.

The bolded part is dependant on what tuner module is installed.

There is no single tuner module that does both sat and terrestrial. The only single hybrid tuner module that exists is DVB-T/T2/C/C2 and thats because the IF signal portion is demodulated by the SOC.

Multi format tuners in the blurb relates to demodulation types - dvb-s, dvb-s2 for sat. dvb-t-t2-c2-c for terrestrial. They are not mixable. They are specific modules. They are also soldered to the board, rather than plug n play like for example those below.

Plugable Single Twin tuner module for an E2 box
vu%20plus%20dual%20satellite%20tuner%20satexperts.ie.jpg

vu%20plus%20dual%20satellite%20tuner%20satexperts.ie.jpg

Thurston? · 03-10-2017 05:06PM

Why did people expect that anything other than the 'connect' part, & the terrestrial tuner would be much more than an afterthought?

And surely the viability of the terrestrial network itself will be questioned sooner rather than later, maybe not even on a purely cost-effective basis, but if you're only duplicating what people have already by other means, what's the point?

They're certainly not pushing Saorsat anyway ...

STB. · 03-10-2017 05:46PM

Totally agree Thurston.

They shoudnt have bothered at all. Its clear that the focus was on RTE's connected services and pushing adverts that way.

What they should have been designing is a FTA box along the lines of the Freesat model. But I guess the other broadcasters didnt want to know or contribute in any way to the platform.

Simple fact is the commercial muxes will never happen. Therefore any FTA box is going to have to mix the UK FTA and Irish Channels conveniently and in a manageable way. Its a mockery to say they could get access to the Fressat channels that blast into the country, but couldnt get the EPG data. Ignore the bigger issue, make an issue of the data ownership. These broadcasters on the Freesat platform are targeting adverts at Ireland.

The EPG content would have solved the planner issue for recording. But they couldnt even get the basic acceptable tuner configuration right. 2 single tuners and recording via USB (which isnt even sorted prior to launch!)

Lastly this is 2017 not 2010. And as regards the connected elements, H265 is a codec that is widely used by netflix (so I'm guessing this wont run that ?). Its not exclusive to UHD. Its becoming more and more the norm in streaming. It should have been a requirement.

You can buy boxes that have all of this for less than €100. If the pricepoint was 2010 for such hardware I'd say fine, but the availability of cheaper chipsets and the emergence of more manfacturers catering to the DVB market the price has dropped significantly. I am guessing something fell through with another box manufacturer and this off the shelf hybrid box was rushed to stop the questions.

Former Former · 03-10-2017 08:14PM

Thurston? wrote: »

Why did people expect that anything other than the 'connect' part, & the terrestrial tuner would be much more than an afterthought?

And surely the viability of the terrestrial network itself will be questioned sooner rather than later, maybe not even on a purely cost-effective basis, but if you're only duplicating what people have already by other means, what's the point?

They're certainly not pushing Saorsat anyway ...

The terrestrial network is not really viable in any commercial sense but it's not going anywhere. Unfortunately the lack of interest means it's always going to be underfunded and any improvements (such as this) will have to be a trade off between cost and quality. I'm sure Saorview would have liked to include all these features but I'm equally sure there are good reasons why they didn't.

It's a pity but it's just a reflection of what Saorview is and where it fits in the wider scheme.

Saorsat is never going to be improved and nor should it be.

STB. · 03-10-2017 08:57PM

Former Former wrote: »

Saorsat is never going to be improved and nor should it be.

I can see it disappearing fairly quietly.

€1.5m a year for TP space. The costs per viewer must be astronomical.

Atlantic Dawn · 03-10-2017 09:29PM

STB. wrote: »

I can see it disappearing fairly quietly.

€1.5m a year for TP space. The costs per viewer must be astronomical.

Giving each a free Sky entertainment Sub would make more sense for anyone with a viable case for no reception. I doubt there's more than 4000 homes unable to receive Saorview.

Gerry Wicklow · 03-10-2017 09:33PM

I thought it was primarily for a backup TX feed. Reaching non-saorview viewer was a happy coincidence.

STB. · 03-10-2017 10:16PM

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Giving each a free Sky entertainment Sub would make more sense for anyone with a viable case for no reception. I doubt there's more than 4000 homes unable to receive Saorview.

I'd say you'd find more people in front of you in the chipper queue on a friday night than have ka lnbs in the whole of Ireland.

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

I thought it was primarily for a backup TX feed. Reaching non-saorview viewer was a happy coincidence.

More likely a Sky Box

FRIENDO · 03-10-2017 10:27PM

STB. wrote:

I can see it disappearing fairly quietly.

I don't see it disappearing any time soon, unless RTE come up with an alternative option for viewers who can't get a reliable Saorview signal.

However Saorsat is a flop.
The rights issues with sport, shows how the idea of having it on a tight beam has failed.

And sadly no mention of Saorsat with the new Saorview Connect receiver.

I was in the market for a new receiver and waiting to see this new connect receiver, as the Walker Combo is totally unreliable for Saorsat recordings.

Back to the drawing board.

satstheway · 03-10-2017 10:33PM

Thurston? wrote: »

Why did people expect that anything other than the 'connect' part, & the terrestrial tuner would be much more than an afterthought?

And surely the viability of the terrestrial network itself will be questioned sooner rather than later, maybe not even on a purely cost-effective basis, but if you're only duplicating what people have already by other means, what's the point?

They're certainly not pushing Saorsat anyway ...

But they cant vanish the national broadcastor for licence fee paying customers.
Alot of whom are taking out subscription services.

But it is a crappy enough service and then saorsat takes the biscuit

Former Former · 03-10-2017 11:40PM

FRIENDO wrote: »

I don't see it disappearing any time soon, unless RTE come up with an alternative option for viewers who can't get a reliable Saorview signal.

However Saorsat is a flop.
The rights issues with sport, shows how the idea of having it on a tight beam has failed.

And sadly no mention of Saorsat with the new Saorview Connect receiver.

I was in the market for a new receiver and waiting to see this new connect receiver, as the Walker Combo is totally unreliable for Saorsat recordings.

Back to the drawing board.

This has come up a few times. Why would anyone want a Saorsat/Saorview combo?

Capt'n Midnight · 03-10-2017 11:46PM

Former Former wrote: »

This has come up a few times. Why would anyone want a Saorsat/Saorview combo?

So you can record one Irish channel while watching another Irish channel.

Unless of course this box can do that on the terrestrial tuner.

Former Former · 04-10-2017 12:12AM

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

So you can record one Irish channel while watching another Irish channel.

Unless of course this box can do that on the terrestrial tuner.

That doesn't add up, if you could get Saorview in the first place you wouldn't go near Saorsat.

Capt'n Midnight · 04-10-2017 12:26AM

Former Former wrote: »

That doesn't add up, if you could get Saorview in the first place you wouldn't go near Saorsat.

Most TV's and Saorview receivers only have one tuner.

Anyone with a Saorview receiver probably wouldn't go near Connect ?

FRIENDO · 04-10-2017 01:34AM

Former Former wrote:

This has come up a few times. Why would anyone want a Saorsat/Saorview combo?

The fact this receiver has a Satellite tuner,
How hard would it be to have it Saorsat aproved also?

At the moment we have no Saorsat approved receiver on the market.

Anyway the fact it doesn't record at the moment - I wouldn't buy it.

Tigerandahalf · 04-10-2017 08:05AM

FRIENDO wrote: »

The fact this receiver has a Satellite tuner,
How hard would it be to have it Saorsat aproved also?

At the moment we have no Saorsat approved receiver on the market.

Anyway the fact it doesn't record at the moment - I wouldn't buy it.

What type of tuner is needed to pick up saorsat or is it just that a bigger (80cm?) dish is needed?

Thurston? · 04-10-2017 09:01AM

Former Former wrote: »

This has come up a few times. Why would anyone want a Saorsat/Saorview combo?

I doubt it's come up here too many times, but if you have UK terrestrial reception (Freeview), but no Saorview, the combo would be useful in that situation.

Former Former · 04-10-2017 09:22AM

Thurston? wrote: »

I doubt it's come up here too many times, but if you have UK terrestrial reception (Freeview), but no Saorview, the combo would be useful in that situation.

The number of people (in the Republic) who can get Freeview but not Saorview must be miniscule. The number of them using Saorsat must be a tiny fraction of that number, considering you can get RTE and TG4 via Freeview. And then the number of those who have decent broadband must be into single figures.

But even if these people got a Saorsat/Saorview combi box, they'd lose all the Freeview functionality (EPGs, series link, etc), which no one would want to do.

This box is a piece of crap, but non-inclusion of Saorsat was a great call.

Johnboy1951 · 04-10-2017 09:56AM

Former Former wrote: »

The number of people (in the Republic) who can get Freeview but not Saorview must be miniscule. The number of them using Saorsat must be a tiny fraction of that number, considering you can get RTE and TG4 via Freeview. And then the number of those who have decent broadband must be into single figures.

But even if these people got a Saorsat/Saorview combi box, they'd lose all the Freeview functionality (EPGs, series link, etc), which no one would want to do.

This box is a piece of crap, but non-inclusion of Saorsat was a great call.

So what prevents the satellite tuner in the box from being used to receive Saorsat?

I am not asking about the Sat dish alignment or the LNB type used.

Is this not a Saorsat/Saorview combi box?

What am I forgetting?

Former Former · 04-10-2017 10:05AM

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

So what prevents the satellite tuner in the box from being used to receive Saorsat?

Nothing. This box will receive Saorsat signal.

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

I am not asking about the Sat dish alignment or the LNB type used.

Is this not a Saorsat/Saorview combi box?

What am I forgetting?

If it doesn't have the correct Saorsat software, then the EPG won't work fully, remote record etc won't work, channel updates would have to be done manually.

You could still use the Connect features of course, so you'd still have your 7-day catch-up etc.

But the fundamental problem is that Saorsat has all the disadvantages of Saorview, but with a tiny, tiny proportion of the user base. Any improvements to the service are a waste of public money.

FRIENDO · 04-10-2017 10:09AM

Former Former wrote:

This box is a piece of crap, but non-inclusion of Saorsat was a great call.

It makes no logic what so ever of RTE commissioning a Saorview Connect Combo box that isn't Saorsat aproved.

In fact the only reason RTE should produce a receiver for satellite reception is for Saorsat.

A receiver with capabality of picking up other satellite's like 28e, 19e etc is nothing more than a bonus and no real concern for RTE, In fact RTE spending time on such an unapproved sat receiver is a waste of our tax and licence fee money.

RTE Channels are broadcasted Free to Air on either Saorview or Saorsat for this State.
That should be the only concern for RTE in relation to a combo, or any terrestrial or Satellite receiver badged by RTE.

Tony · 04-10-2017 10:16AM

Not sure there is such a thing as " Saorsat approved" . As Saorsat uses KA band its dependent on having the correct LNB on the dish. The satellite part of the connect receiver would be no different in that regard than any other satellite box. I doubt saorsat is of much concern to the manufacturer at this point, they have much bigger things to worry about in my view.

FRIENDO wrote: »

It makes no logic what so ever of RTE commissioning a Saorview Connect Combo box that isn't Saorsat aproved.

Saorview Connect

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