TV's with MPEG4 DTT decoder

mcwhirter wrote: »

The mheg5 must not have been transmitting then, as all I saw was regular teletext.

Both are transmitted , if you have a Panasonic then you will see the old 'text' based text cos Pannys do not support MHEG5 in Ireland.

rsmike wrote: »

Panasonic can offer all the excuses they like,

Taking the piss that is, Samsung and LG and Sony and Phillips were broadly complaint with their 2009 models have released firmware in some cases to ensure full compliance.

Panasonic are heading for a Do Not Buy campaign in very short order , klutzes

Outline. Copy n Paste dude.

In August 2008 RTE together with their Saorview Brand Technical Verification Partner issued a document entitled

Minimum Receiver Requirements
for the DTT Network
(Sweden, Denmark and Ireland)
Additions and clarifications to the NorDig Unified specification
(CA System, MPEG4 AVC HDTV etc)
Version 2.0 (C) Date 2008-08-18

While based on the Nordig V2.0 specification which pertains to all Scandinavian countries it clearly sets out the following variances.

1.1.1. Swedish DTT (S-DTT) network
The S-DTT network includes 6 parallel Multiplexes. The service bouquet within the current S-DTT network
is a mixture of Free-to-Air (FTA) and scrambled services. The majority of the services within the S-DTT are
normally scrambled (in total by spring 2008 approx 38 TV services within the network, where approx 26
scrambled and 10-12 FTA services).
In autumn 2008 the Multiplex 6 is launched within the S-DTT network and all its services are MPEG4 based.
The current (2008) Multiplex 1-5 within the S-DTT network are MPEG2 based, but the Swedish Regulatory
Authority handling digital terrestrial broadcasting within Sweden (‘Radio och TV verket’), has a clear
ambition that these should migrate into MPEG4 based technology.
Since spring 2007 there are also pilot transmissions of one to two MPEG4 based HDTV services within SDTT
network’s 7th multiplex. (This 7th multiplex has at the time of writing a limited broadcast coverage area
compared to the other multiplexes, which is Stockholm area with surroundings).
1.1.2. Danish DTT (D-DTT) Network
The D-DTT network includes 5 parallel Multiplexes (Mux 2-5 expected to be launched autumn 2009) with a
service bouquet of a mixture of Free-to-Air (FTA) and scrambled services.
Services within D-DTT Multiplex 2-5 are using MPEG4 and advanced codecs for video and audio.
Multiplex 1 in the D-DTT network will continue broadcasting services based on MPEG2 codecs until 2012.
1.1.3. Irish DTT (I-DTT) Network
For the Irish DTT will in addition include a mandatory requirement for MHEG5 API as specified in DTG DBook
specification (instead of DVB MHP).

Since then Panasonic have released a 2009 Irish model range and a 2010 Irish model range which do not conform to this MINIMUM specification in that Panasonic have dumped televisions with no MHEG5 support into the Irish retail channel.

Panasonic has provided MHEG5 features in their UK ranges at all times. Furthermore Panasonic launched Freeview HD sets in the UK during 2010 which televisions contain all of the software functionality required of the Minimum Receiver Requirements and which should work perfectly in Ireland.

We feel that it is time that Panasonic were informed of a key difference between UK and Irish consumer law, one on which they should educate their staff and channel managers.

In Ireland it has been the law since 1980 that a product sold to the consumer should be "fit for the purpose" . As Panasonic Digital televisions supplied to the retail channel in Ireland in December 2010 are unable to display MHEG5 Digital Teletext, despite this being a Minimum Receiver Requirement since August 2008 we will have no option but to recommend to all consumers that these televisions, particularly the 2009 ranges purchased by many at prices well north of €1000 are returned to the retailer on whom the onus to ensure that a product is "fit for the purpose" falls.

We shall further seek to ensure that all retailers are fully informed of the failure to comply with the Minimum Receiver Requirements and of their future liability in this respect. We shall recemmend to them that they purge their stores of these non compliant Panasonic televisions in order to avoid strict retailer liability as per the provisions of the 1980 Act.

Lest Panasonic think that this failure to comply with the Minimum Receiver Requirements is widespread we would advise them that many manufacturers were compliant in their 2009 ranges as distributed in Ireland and that others have remedied anomalies since with Firmware updates that rendered their product compliant. Panasonic are teh ONLY MAJOR MANUFACTURER who are non compliant.

As a sign of goodwill we expect Panasonic to immediately recall EVERY non compliant television in the retail channel and to replace their retail stock with either.

1. Televisions that comply fully with the Minimum Receiver Requirements

or

2. Televisions that comply in general with the Minimum Receiver Requirements and where a firmware update by ( latest) Feb 28 2011 will render them fully compliant with the Minimum Receiver Requirements. This to include full implemention of DVB-SSU functionality for over the air firmware updates not UK-OAD specification updates.

Finally we expect an undertaking from the highest levels in Panasonic UK not to release these non compliant and evidently unresearched product into the Irish market again. If such is not forthcoming in a timely manner, ie this week, then Panasonic will find itself on a very sticky wicket for a company that pretends to be a premium brand.

If Panasonic want to figure out how sticky then imagine yourselves as a Toyota caught selling cars with no heaters...as standard...in the current inclement climate.

watty wrote: »

The recent Nordig 2.2 doesn't seem to have changed anything other than DVB-T2 is optional here?

But the real point is that there was a feature FREEZE in August 2008 and that Panasonic have not released anything in Ireland in their 2009 or 2010 ranges that are compliant with that freeze.

If allowed then Panasonic will do the exact same thing in 2011. I think they should withdraw all their product from the retail channel in Ireland and work hard on their 2011 range to make it compliant.

That was a draft Anyways lets see.

They are well dug in saying they did nothing wrong so an organised boycott of their non compliant and non updateable product is the next logical step.

They seem to think that the individual consumer is only there to be brushed off as a nuisance but they are wrong. Sony Phillips LG and Samsung are well positioned to eat their lunch right now and I have not even checked the story with Toshiba Sharp and Hitachi who are...I suspect...well able to fill any gap.

2 Quick questions: I want to get a 32 inch or 37 inch flatscreen for Christmas. I know nothing about LCD v Plasma, makes or models, the new DTT thing coning in etc. What should I get:


A) If money was no object, ie THE BEST

If my budget was around 500 Euro


Thanks in advance. Christmas would be gone if I was to read all the way through this thread!!!!!!!!!!