Necessary cables not coming with Saorview boxes

Tigerandahalf · 14-03-2012 07:00PM #1

I got a Saorview box today. The TV is an old analogue tv. The box is the Walker type. Included is a HDMI cable. However, this is no good to anyone who doesn't have these connections on the TV. Most of the old ones don't have these.
I am now going to have to buy a scart cable plus a coaxial cable to join the box to the tv.
Just be aware when you are buying. The guy in the shop never told me this. I paid €80 for the box. If I have to buy a scart cable that will prob bring the cost to €100.

grousedogtom · 14-03-2012 07:22PM

You wont need a coaxial cable from the box to tv ,the scart will do on its own.

Tigerandahalf · 14-03-2012 07:27PM

You're dead right. I took off the coaxial cable there and it works.
Still though I'm surprised that the store rep didn't tell me that a scart cable would be necessary.
A scart cable is necessary if you don't have a HDMI connection. Right??

Edit: I stole the scart cable from the DVD player.

Compton · 14-03-2012 07:30PM

I think Triax boxes come with a HDMI in the box. I've never seen a box come with a scart before.

Tigerandahalf · 14-03-2012 07:34PM

The Walker box came with a HDMI cable. However the majority of people who will have to buy these Saorview boxes have old TVs and thus will need a scart cable. These should be included with the boxes.

What do people think about the price I paid - €80?
It does have a USB slot and I can record tv onto the USB. Maybe not very useful for old people but maybe very useful to younger folk.

jaggiebunnet · 14-03-2012 07:36PM

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

I got a Saorview box today. The TV is an old analogue tv. The box is the Walker type. Included is a HDMI cable. However, this is no good to anyone who doesn't have these connections on the TV. Most of the old ones don't have these.
I am now going to have to buy a scart cable plus a coaxial cable to join the box to the tv.
Just be aware when you are buying. The guy in the shop never told me this. I paid €80 for the box. If I have to buy a scart cable that will prob bring the cost to €100.

20 euro for a scart cable? :eek:

Tigerandahalf · 14-03-2012 07:41PM

From that I take it that I can get a scart cable for a lot less. Happy days.

If they are that cheap they should be included along with the HDMi cable with the Saorview box.

Tigerandahalf · 14-03-2012 07:51PM

One other question for you all.
The TV is on now but the screen appears like it is on widescreen - a bit of the top and the bottom are black/blank. Is this normal or can I change the settings?
Thanks

Compton · 14-03-2012 07:55PM

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

One other question for you all.
The TV is on now but the screen appears like it is on widescreen - a bit of the top and the bottom are black/blank. Is this normal or can I change the settings?
Thanks

A scart is about 2 euro. Also I cant see why they should give a scart in the box. I think they shouldnt give any cable with the boxes as they can't know how people will be connecting it up

Tigerandahalf · 14-03-2012 08:02PM

I think they should include both cables. If sellers want to sell their boxes with Saorview approved on them, they should be made include the cables. Maybe it's a small point. I just thought the rep should have told me today, as he's an experienced chap. Anyway it's not a big deal to go back and get an extra cable. I just think it would be handier for older people, who can get one box and know they have all necessary cables. The boxes could at least state on them "scart cable will be necessary if you have old analgoue TV."

watty · 14-03-2012 08:17PM

A lot of stuff comes with no cables other than mains now.

Many Bluray players don't include HDMI (and they only work with HDMI).

When stuff did come with SCART cables I junked them as they didn't use screened wire for the 4 audio cables and coax cables for the 5 video cables, just a bundle of wires and overall screen. You often get video buzz on sound and moving horizontal bars on the video from the louder sound passages. Rubbish.

So I think you are on a loser on this one

PogMoThoin · 14-03-2012 08:24PM

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

One other question for you all.
The TV is on now but the screen appears like it is on widescreen - a bit of the top and the bottom are black/blank. Is this normal or can I change the settings?
Thanks

Do you have a widescreen or 4:3 TV? Sounds like your TV is 4:3 but the Saorview box is set to widescreen

Tigerandahalf · 14-03-2012 08:30PM

@ Pog

During installation i saw something about 4:3 alright. I just pressed ok and went through these initial screens.
How do I change set box to non-widescreen?
There were also options for resolution. I didn't know which to pick.

steveon · 14-03-2012 08:33PM

No Saorview boxes come with a scart included and the reason is for full HD i.e. on RTE2 you need a HDMI cable, personally I am surprised we even get a Hdmi cable included but I am sure we are paying for it to be included and if a Scart cable was included you would have probably paid more for the box. €80 is the recommended price for the Walker but I prefer the Triax Tr112 myself which retails for approx €90-€100.

Triax did for a while also include an RF cable for loopback for a while but stopped once they had established the TR112 and redesigned the packaging. However the Triax Combos still come with both a Hdmi and Rf cable.

Tigerandahalf · 14-03-2012 08:41PM

Ok lads,
I went into Video settings in Configuration.
Options have come up. I selected TV 4:3 and then selected Pan and Scan.
I have a full screen now but the sides are cut off, e.g. the 'RTE HD' can't be fully read, so I'm clearly missing some of the picture.
Ideas?

Edit:

I have these options in Video settings....
TV Type: 4:3 or 16:9
Display format: Letterbox 14:9, 16:9 or Pan/Scan
TV Out: RGB or CVBS
HDMI Resolution: HDMI 576p or 720p or 1080i

What settings should I select?

Thanks

steveon · 14-03-2012 08:49PM

Programs are broadcasted in 16:9 so setting the picture to 4:3 will mean you are going to loose some of the picuture notibly on the right you will prob just see some of the rte logo and now rte one etc..

Set the scart to rgb for better picture.

Tigerandahalf · 14-03-2012 08:58PM

Thanks man
I've done those changes but I'm back to the widescreen.

PogMoThoin · 14-03-2012 09:04PM

It's one or the other, bottom line is You need a widescreen TV. In my opinion it's not worth buying a set top box for a 4:3 TV (at the current prices). Widescreen is the norm for around 10 years now, that thing is a dinosaur. I advise anyone with a 4:3 TV to wait till October and there should be some cheap 25 quid boxes when demand is at it's highest.

steveon · 14-03-2012 09:04PM

I dont know much about the settings on the Walker but on the triax boxes for tv's that are 4:3 I put the settings down to 576 and then u can adjust the picture a bit better.

You will never get the picture perfect on a 4:3 as you will be shrinking the picture and so every1 would look squashed..

Tigerandahalf · 14-03-2012 09:20PM

Ok lads I think I will stick with the widescreen I have. At least the full picture is displayed. Thanks for your help.

Tigerandahalf · 14-03-2012 09:31PM

Another query lads,
This box came with a USB connection and I can record programmes onto the USB stick and play them back from the USB stick. I could also play these on my laptop etc, so it's quite handy.
What size of USB stick would I need to record say 3/4 hours of programmes - 5/6 GB or more?

Hotblack Desiato · 14-03-2012 11:25PM

steveon wrote: »

I dont know much about the settings on the Walker but on the triax boxes for tv's that are 4:3 I put the settings down to 576 and then u can adjust the picture a bit better.

I've a TR112, the resolution settings make no difference to the output if using a scart cable, only HDMI. Scart output always has the same line rate/field rate as analogue TV.

Using RGB instead of CVBS output makes a big difference on scart (although usually only the first scart socket on a TV can accept RGB signals)

There's no way to make a widescreen picture fit on a non-widescreen TV without black bars, clipping, distortion, or some combination of these...

4GB is the rule of thumb for recording an hour of HD programmes, SD programmes are usually between 1/3 and 1/4 of that. I have a 250GB USB-powered hard disk with my Triax Saorview box and it works fine. Sometimes I get a 'USB device not ready' message when the disk is spinning up (pressing Record) but it always works after a couple of seconds.

Some other boxes only work with USB sticks (or certain brands of stick!) or mains-powered drives - I have no experience of the Walker box.

Kristopherus · 14-03-2012 11:36PM

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

Another query lads,
This box came with a USB connection and I can record programmes onto the USB stick and play them back from the USB stick. I could also play these on my laptop etc, so it's quite handy.
What size of USB stick would I need to record say 3/4 hours of programmes - 5/6 GB or more?

Go for as high a capacity as you can. 32gb is common enough. Try amazon.co.uk for a start. If you spend £25 on gear supplied by Amazon themselves, the delivery is free.

steveon · 15-03-2012 12:54AM

ninja900 wrote: »

I've a TR112, the resolution settings make no difference to the output if using a scart cable, only HDMI. Scart output always has the same line rate/field rate as analogue TV.

Using RGB instead of CVBS output makes a big difference on scart (although usually only the first scart socket on a TV can accept RGB signals)

There's no way to make a widescreen picture fit on a non-widescreen TV without black bars, clipping, distortion, or some combination of these...

4GB is the rule of thumb for recording an hour of HD programmes, SD programmes are usually between 1/3 and 1/4 of that. I have a 250GB USB-powered hard disk with my Triax Saorview box and it works fine. Sometimes I get a 'USB device not ready' message when the disk is spinning up (pressing Record) but it always works after a couple of seconds.

Some other boxes only work with USB sticks (or certain brands of stick!) or mains-powered drives - I have no experience of the Walker box.

I beg to differ, if you select 1080i then you can only select 16:9. when you turn down the hdmi output you can change the box to 4:3... check for yourself.

Cantona's Collars · 15-03-2012 10:15AM

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

Another query lads,
This box came with a USB connection and I can record programmes onto the USB stick and play them back from the USB stick. I could also play these on my laptop etc, so it's quite handy.
What size of USB stick would I need to record say 3/4 hours of programmes - 5/6 GB or more?

Courtesy of Bargain Alerts http://www.mymemory.co.uk/USB-Flash-Drives/MyMemory/MyMemory-32GB-USB-Flash-Drive---Blue

Necessary cables not coming with Saorview boxes

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