Cheap MPEG 4 DTT Tuner

mcguyver · 20-03-2009 11:00AM #1

Guys can anyone recommend a cheap DTT tuner ( Less than 100e if Possible) just to pick up the 4 channels, I just want this to tie me over till it’s DTT is officially launched then ill buy a combo hopefully by then they will support the full 7 Day Epg.
I can remember seeing a post on here for one for about 80e but I can’t find it anywhere.

givecredit · 20-03-2009 12:59PM

This can be bought for 99 euro plus 13 delivery:

http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/2024987/art/sigmatek/dvb-500-hd-freeview-recei.html

I use one. Pictures are excellent over HDMI. epg not working at present. But i expect thats to do with tests. Not a fault of receiver.

Picture on pixmania site is deceiving. Receiver is actually quite small and neat. The is even an on/off button on front of receiver, which is a nice touch.

mcguyver · 20-03-2009 01:55PM

Cheers dude might give that one ago did the Epg ever work?

givecredit · 20-03-2009 03:48PM

Has never worked for me. I only have receiver about 2 weeks. Picking up dtt from Cairn Hill. Others on this forum have reported it (Epg) working previously.

gtg60 · 20-03-2009 05:22PM

It has been suggested that there is an error in the transmission tests that are causing these EPG failures, however if you receive DTT from Three Rock then the EPG should work fine.

channelsurfer · 20-03-2009 06:44PM

givecredit wrote: »

This can be bought for 99 euro plus 13 delivery:

http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/2024987/art/sigmatek/dvb-500-hd-freeview-recei.html

I use one. Pictures are excellent over HDMI. epg not working at present. But i expect thats to do with tests. Not a fault of receiver.

Picture on pixmania site is deceiving. Receiver is actually quite small and neat. The is even an on/off button on front of receiver, which is a nice touch.

I bought that one too and have it a few weeks. no epg but it is an excellent little receiver and no problems with it. smallish enough in size.

byte · 23-03-2009 08:42PM

Does this box have MHEG5 middleware?

slegs · 23-03-2009 09:11PM

No

watty · 23-03-2009 09:49PM

Then you likely will never get full EPG or other services. This set box is not recommended as it is not standards compliant.

Does it even do DVB-T2? I doubt this is compliant with Freeview HD. Maybe it's for the French or some other market.

slegs · 23-03-2009 10:39PM

Yes, it is purpose built for the French market. They are sold via Pixmania which is a French retailer.

STB · 24-03-2009 07:50PM

This question must come up at least three times a month. Watty suggests not buying them at all until boxer releases a product. However from a FTA perspective I have a problem with this.

The hardware would have to be very cheap and Either way it involve 12 month contracts as Boxer are the commercial operator. If one just wants a cheap DTT FTA box 2 things must be borne in mind as outside the detailed spec for Ireland it really comes down to 2 requirements.

1. MPEG4 H264: the STB processor must be able to receive these signals.

2. MHEG5: This is called middleware and will be used for EPG/TEXT and interactive services.

In most cases there is no freely available AND cheap box that can do 1 + 2. Eventhough the UK profile of MHEG5 is actually found on Freeview boxes unfortunately freeview products do not process MPEG4 transmissions. So you are looking at a NZealand Product such as the Zinwell or Draco that does both. At present these products are too dear!

However if you just wish to receive the channels themselves without the items listed at 2, then you can buy one for as little as an offer on ebay.

The search term is "TNT HD" on ebay france (they use mpeg4 HD for commerical stations). Typically you will be looking at a secondhand sigmatek, techwood, sagem or netbox branded boxes - they normally have "HD" in their item name. El cheapo way........ Check in here if unsure that the box is not fully up to spec - must have TNT HD capability.

Do not spend more than €50 as postage has to be factored in.....

givecredit · 30-03-2009 07:00PM

Full epg now working on this receiver.

slegs · 30-03-2009 09:58PM

STB wrote: »

This question must come up at least three times a month. Watty suggests not buying them at all until boxer releases a product. However from a FTA perspective I have a problem with this.

The hardware would have to be very cheap and Either way it involve 12 month contracts as Boxer are the commercial operator. If one just wants a cheap DTT FTA box 2 things must be borne in mind as outside the detailed spec for Ireland it really comes down to 2 requirements.

1. MPEG4 H264: the STB processor must be able to receive these signals.

2. MHEG5: This is called middleware and will be used for EPG/TEXT and interactive services.

In most cases there is no freely available AND cheap box that can do 1 + 2. Eventhough the UK profile of MHEG5 is actually found on Freeview boxes unfortunately freeview products do not process MPEG4 transmissions. So you are looking at a NZealand Product such as the Zinwell or Draco that does both. At present these products are too dear!

However if you just wish to receive the channels themselves without the items listed at 2, then you can buy one for as little as an offer on ebay.

The search term is "TNT HD" on ebay france (they use mpeg4 HD for commerical stations). Typically you will be looking at a secondhand sigmatek, techwood, sagem or netbox branded boxes - they normally have "HD" in their item name. El cheapo way........ Check in here if unsure that the box is not fully up to spec - must have TNT HD capability.

Do not spend more than €50 as postage has to be factored in.....

Just for info...I imported a Draco NZ Freeview box to try it out. It doesnt work in its standard form. It only found the radio channels for some strange reason. Must be to do with the firmware settings around DVB-T and maybe differences in Irish and NZ standards. So I never got to check the MHEG-5 either. Was in touch with the distributor about firmware upgrades etc but got nowhere.

Onikage · 30-03-2009 10:04PM

STB wrote: »

This question must come up at least three times a month. Watty suggests not buying them at all until boxer releases a product. However from a FTA perspective I have a problem with this.

The hardware would have to be very cheap and Either way it involve 12 month contracts as Boxer are the commercial operator. If one just wants a cheap DTT FTA box 2 things must be borne in mind as outside the detailed spec for Ireland it really comes down to 2 requirements.

Don't think he's suggesting buying a box FROM Boxer, just to wait until they release and (I presume) the price wars start. Which is a reasonable suggestion.

fat-tony · 30-03-2009 10:31PM

Can someone with an MHEG5 capable receiver or STB please confirm whether MHEG5 is being used at the moment for EPG on the Irish DTT service?

As far as I can tell from analysing the datastream, the EPG is being transmitted in the standard EIT packets (although there are some issues with consistency of ONID which are causing problems for some receivers). There is the standard teletext (Aertel) being transmitted also, which I can see on my STB (Mvision) and my PC (DVBviewer). I can also see "private" data streams transmitted, but these seem to only contain teletext information (albeit in an enhanced form). I don't see EPG information in this presumably MHEG data.

My understanding of MHEG data is that it is used for teletext-type services and some limited user interactivity (a la "red button"). I didn't think it was being used for EPG (although obviously it could be!).

Apogee · 31-03-2009 12:25AM

The EPG is being sent as DVB-SI only.

RTÉ have plans for a bells and whistles EPG using MHEG5 sometime in the future - look though the RTÉ/UPC 'Easy TV' submission for the DTT licences on the BCI website for futher info.

watty · 31-03-2009 09:55AM

Onikage wrote: »

Don't think he's suggesting buying a box FROM Boxer, just to wait until they release and (I presume) the price wars start. Which is a reasonable suggestion.

Indeed don't buy a box from Boxer, Boxer may never launch anyway.

It just makes sense to wait till official Launch. Boxes will be cheaper, better supported , easier to get etc.

TS & EPG will work. Currently the content is nearly irrelevant

STB · 31-03-2009 01:04PM

Slegs I havent seen or tested the Draco, but I dont see why it wouldnt work. I had tested the Zinwell ZMT sometime back and it works including MHEG5 (very slow to load!)

The main difference in the MHEG5 spec between Ireland (ie UK Spec of MHEG5) and NZ is that NZ add on for Maori language character set.

MHEG5 & MPEG4 Boxes being used in New Zealand - vary in price NZ$295 and up. So €126+

Visione VE4000

SatMax SM801

Haute HD3000

Draco HDTV 5500
Draco%20Silver%203.jpg

Zinwell ZMT 620HD
4558_lg.png&width=405&height=266&padding=2

Homecast HT 3000
[IMG]http://www.easytv.co.nz/catalog/product_thumb.php?img=images/homecast HD.jpg&w=300&h=54[/IMG]
HDT HD801S

JC Matthew DVB-TB01

DSE HD

My Free TV HD3000

Extra Terrestrial ! I kid you not

Diginet DVBT901

slegs · 31-03-2009 01:23PM

Draco HDTV 5500 - this is the one I have. Definitely wont pick up the TV channels. I tried everything. Unless I got a dud.

STB · 31-03-2009 02:19PM

Can easily happen..... You did get the dvb-t one ! As I know they also use it in Singapore and they use a combination of DMB-T and DVB-T as far as I can remember so they may vary the tuner. Draco also had a previous version the 3900.

The worst I have tested is the Snazio Home theatre something or other with a H264 tuner which also had a USB port and handled certain versions of Divx. The tuner was rubbish..... you'd need to be beside the transmitter for it to work.

Even the Zinwell has a very poor remote range (or maybe I was unlucky, again!)

I see the Kiwis seem very keen on the Hyundai Combo Sat/freeview Box. I dont why as it doesnt have MHEG5 for the terrestrial.

channelsurfer · 31-03-2009 02:55PM

Boxer.....very silent so far. I bet they are trying to get the licence for next to nothing and trying to negotiate a cheap deal with the BCI instead of whatever they bid. as for not buying boxes yet well I am happy with the sigmatek one i have with the epg now working. cost 120euro from pixmania and will do me. I will buy a cheap 2nd one when they do become officially available but that will probably be this time next year at this rate at the earliest!

STB · 09-04-2009 01:59AM

The SIGMATEK DVB500HD is also down in price to €68.44

http://www.rueducommerce.fr/hifi/showdetl.cfm?Product_ID=2846814#xtorAL-47-6[comparateur]-60005[pricerunner]-[0]-[pricerunner.fr]-[ctxt]-[c018b]

it does the basics - ie pick up MPEG4 DTT and display stations - no MHEG5 (for interactive & MHEG5 text). Cheap option.

slegs · 09-04-2009 09:43AM

STB, not sure the first is an MPEG4 DVB-T box....looks like it plays MPEG4 files via USB

Thats a very good price on the Sigmatek though.

ethernet · 09-04-2009 12:42PM

slegs wrote: »

STB, not sure the first is an MPEG4 DVB-T box....looks like it plays MPEG4 files via USB

Thats a very good price on the Sigmatek though.

Thanks for the links. Think so. Dug up the manual:

Décodage Stream: MPEG-2 ISO/IEC 13818
Niveau Profil: MPEG-2 MAIN PROFILE @MAIN LEVEL

The Sigmatek seems more popular and nearly twice the price on Irish sites!

STB · 09-04-2009 01:11PM

Thanks. too good to be true alright

Just goes to show that you cant trust whats on some of the retail sites in france either - http://www.pc-infopratique.com/peekton-pk-1650-dvb-t-1204814-fiche-technique.html (to illustrate how you cant)

Where they signify HDTV (MPEG4) as Oui - this is referring to the tuner reception. They have filled it out as yes when it should not be. Misleading.

Original post amended. Ta.

Sigmatek Ok.

Glos · 09-04-2009 02:10PM

STB wrote: »

The SIGMATEK DVB500HD is also down in price to €68.44

http://www.rueducommerce.fr/hifi/showdetl.cfm?Product_ID=2846814#xtorAL-47-6[comparateur]-60005[pricerunner]-[0]-[pricerunner.fr]-[ctxt]-[c018b]

it does the basics - ie pick up MPEG4 DTT and display stations - no MHEG5 (for interactive & MHEG5 text). Cheap option.

My French is not good

Has anyone bought off this French Site ?
Do they deliver to Ireland ?

Thanks
gLog

ethernet · 09-04-2009 02:37PM

Glos wrote: »

My French is not good Has anyone bought off this French Site ?
Do they deliver to Ireland ?

Thanks
gLog

Nor mine

Tried using an online translator but had issues. Eventually got the sentence: "RueDuCommerce delivers everywhere in Metropolitan France, Belgium and in Luxembourg".

TVDX · 09-04-2009 05:42PM

Glos wrote: »

My French is not good Has anyone bought off this French Site ?
Do they deliver to Ireland ?

Thanks
gLog

They wont delvier to Ireland, nor will most of these french etailers selling these and other mpeg 4 DTT boxes.

CrowdedHouse · 09-04-2009 06:02PM

Maybe slegs could stock a few of the Sigmateks ?

I could do with a second stb but don't need/want to pay for another combo or a new telly.

ethernet · 09-04-2009 06:09PM

Amazon.fr won't deliver these to Ireland either. Went ahead with ordering and got the error message about delivering to an Irish address.

+1 on Slegs stocking a few

Will probably miss the MHEG5 support but could do without.

Came across saortv on eBay when I Googled the receiver but didn't see any

slegs · 10-04-2009 08:34PM

I can get them in but at nowhere near that price. I think those sellers are selling off the stock by the look of that price.

Cheap MPEG 4 DTT Tuner

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