Freeview HD receiver for £70

I have actually spoken with RTE people and the "Intention" is to be ambitious even to delivering an HbbTV type experience.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HbbTV

However ethernet/WiFi isn't a mandatory part of spec, though MHEG5 can use it to integrate web RTE Player.

I think that they may have more aspirations and ambition than actual tested implementations. Though they did test a basic demo of MHEG5 EPG.

Via http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2010/07/07/freeview-australia-powered-by-st-mheg-engine/ on 7th July 2010

Freeview Australia has launched its long-awaited electronic programme guide using MHEG technology provided by the UK’s Strategy & Technology (S&T).

The EPG will provide eight-day listings for all 16 Freeview channels on the terrestrial platform and will be available on all services, providing Australian TV viewers a significant enhancement over the existing EPG services that only provide listings for the network they are watching.

The Freeview EPG will, for the first time, provide a consolidated platform for the consumer when navigating Freeview channels, and will also provide consistency of experience across multiple digital TVs in the home, so that the consumer only has to learn the navigation once,” said Robin Parkes, CEO of Freeview Australia.

The Freeview EPG is a customised version of S&T’s MHEG Guide product and will be available on all ‘Freeview EPG’ branded receivers that go on sale in Australia from this month onwards. S&T has delivered the MHEG application for the EPG together with schedule data processing and playout at each of the Freeview broadcasters. Magna Systems has provided installation and integration of the EPG and S&T’s TSBroadcaster carousel playout systems at each of the broadcasters’ sites.

S&T (UK Company) is for all practical purposes MHEG5 so it would be strange if RTE tried to do their own EPG rather than get a customised version of EPG from S&T. Then RTE can hire others or author additional custom applications. S&T Interactive Applications link.

Also the current "Digital style" text unlike Teletext is not set in stone. Because it's not "built-in" and only a downloaded appplication sort of like a cached javascript library (Most browsers, like TVs with MHEG5, don't actually reload a javascript library every time. It can be cached between reboots) it can change any time.

So if you think of ways to improve it you can actually suggest this to RTE.

Deleted User wrote: »

Your channel list is the same as mine on 6,7 and 8 with the irish channels.
I've put BBC1 hd on one now though instead of bbc1 wales and itv1hd on 3 instead of itv1 wales.

Theres no ch4hd on welsh tx's yet unfortunately , just s4c hd which has very very few viewers and is hopefully going to be replaced soon with ch4hd as the bbc is taking over s4c's out of control budget.

The sony and the sagemcom have a mini screen in their epg which is nice.
I'll post pics later to this thread

Could you please remind me of the Transmitter reception details for BBC Freeview HD out of Wales.
Having some success at times and have seen HD channels on the Bravia EX 403 TV,but am about to try,Group B Hor.is this correct,Thanks.

I am on the hunt for a Freeview HD box to pick up both Saorview as well as Freeview from NI.

The Metronic Zapbox T2 Freeview HD receiver is up in price on Amazon.co.uk and the Digihome DVB T2-665 receiver is no longer available on the Dixons UK website and on the Currys and PCWorld websites only in-store pickup is available.

Anyone have any other ideas or suggestions for a receiver that can be ordered online for below the £70 mark?

is the Technika STBHDH2010 Freeview HD Set Top Box saorview compatable..on that website it gets 9/10 rating..just want to know if it can get saorview and uk freeview and it seems a bargain

Apparently, this Freeview HD box is the Vestel 8300 badged as a "Digihome" and is the same 'insides' as the Walker Saorview certified box so should do both in theory... Maybe someone on the forums here can confirm that it ticks all the boxes for both Freeview HD and Saorview?

1) "Freeview HD" set-box. Like Saorview, it must have SCART and HDMI and must down mix 5.1 to stereo and HD to SD for the SCART. Yes, all "Freeview HD" boxes work for "Freeview", "Freeview HD" and Saorview TV and Radio. A SCART connection always works, but only down-converted for HD. SCART with down-converted (down-scaling HD) HD to SD is about 30% or more better picture quality than same channel would be if transmitted in HD.

2) Picnic was made down to a price to Sky spec for a service that doesn't exist. It has ZERO "Freeview HD" compatibility and very poor Saorview ability. It's junk.

3) Some "Freeview HD" set boxes put Irish channels in the 800s instead of 100s and 200s. Not a big deal. Some allow renumbering.

4) I don't know about the daylight savings time. If there is a problem, it's likely a bug.

5) All "Freeview HD" boxes do MHEG5, UK Profile. The "Freeview+ HD" versions have extra PVR features. Unless the software is buggy, it should work with the mandatory Saorview MHEG5, as it's exactly the UK profile!

6) Teletext. Yes and No. TV3 and TG4 currently only have EBU Teletext, RTE Channnels all do MHEG5 based Text. RTE1 has both. Saorview Spec says EBU Teletext should work if there isn't specific MHEG5 text for that channel. Many "Freeview HD" TVs and Set-boxes don't do ANY EBU teletext on any channel if MHEG5 is detected. After 2012 this is not an issue as the EBU Teletext used on Analogue is to be switched off. So "Freeview HD" may be only partially compatible today (no EBU teletext on most boxes) but be fine after 2012.

Conclusion:
Other than a Saorview certified box or TV, a "Freeview HD" box or TV is next best and superior to any generic MPEG4 HD solution that has no MHEG5 and might not have the down-scaling feature.

If you can receive actual Freeview with possibility of "Freeview HD" after 2012, then a "Freeview HD" box or TV is a better solution. A Saorview box should mostly work with Freeview, but may not work with "Freeview HD" unless it has a DVB-T2 tuner.

See http://www.saortv.info/about/faq/

kellermaneire wrote: »

Just purchased this off ebay, very reasonable price and receives all saorview channels plus digital text.

Look familiar?

Except Krystel have managed to include a DVB-T2 tuner and it costs about €25 less than the Walker box when postage is included. Obviously not Saorview certified though.

I wonder how any of these uncertified Vestel boxes will react to OTA Saorview updates aimed at the Walker box?

Tesco UK are selling a Technika Freeview HD box for £30.

They are also on the shelves in some GB shops but I don't know if any have made it to NI. It may be possible to order online for collection in-store.

holidaysong wrote: »

Yes it will. All the channels will show up on the one EPG which makes it very handy. The Saorview channels usually show up in the 800s but you can rearrange them yourself on most models.

Hi i recently bought the metronic t2-hd zapbox. The issue im having is rather puzzling in that i live in the killygordon area of Co. Donegal and receive all irish channels and bbc1+2, itv, channel 4 +5 on my basic aerial. When I plug in the zapbox im getting the saorview chanels perfect (they come in at uhf channel 30 and are listed in the 800's), however im getting zero uk channels. Has anyone any idea why this is happening?. - Thanks

Chewey2000 wrote: »

Hi i recently bought the metronic t2-hd zapbox. The issue im having is rather puzzling in that i live in the killygordon area of Co. Donegal and receive all irish channels and bbc1+2, itv, channel 4 +5 on my basic aerial. When I plug in the zapbox im getting the saorview chanels perfect (they come in at uhf channel 30 and are listed in the 800's), however im getting zero uk channels. Has anyone any idea why this is happening?. - Thanks

As far I no the UK and Irish system are different (although the UK HD boxes can work here the regular boxes do not. I imagine when they are transmitted (if you are close enough) you would be able to receive the UK HD channels I am not sure about the UK non HD channels because of the different system they use. I also have a metronic box which is working fine here in Cork pity about the pitiful amount of channels on Soarview compared with Freeveiw in UK which is why I have a Free Sat box as well.

No, a Freeview box or Freeview HD box or A Saorview box doesn't pick up ANYONE'S analogue channels ever.
All Digital boxes only do digital.

There are no Digital Aerials. Digital TV is transmitted as a specially encoded Analogue signal.