Getting rte digital?

johnsmi

Hi folks,

I got a new lg plasma 42 inch tv model 42pt353k and was pleasantly surprised to find that it can pick up the new irish digital services rte 1 and 2, 3 and 3e and a few others.
Though the tv is in one of the bedrooms.

Just wondering does the new lg tv's have both the freeview and saorview boxes built in, as I can't get any of the freeview channels but as said above I can get a perfect saorview no problem?

Thanks for any info.

John

yorkie98

The LG TV you have purchased does not have both types of boxes built in, it does however appear to be compatible with both Mpeg2 (UK Freeview) and Mpeg4 (ROI Saorview and UK Freeview HD) systems so the TV will be capable of receiving UK Freeview SD, UK Freeview HD and also ROI Saorview.
This does not necessarily mean that ALL LG models will have the same compatability. It's best to check but in general, if the TV can get Freeview HD, it will get Soarview as well, as long as you are in reach of an RTE transmitter.

You are obviously not in an area served by UK freeview at present (currently served by a relay station and not a main station) which is most of the SE area of NI and some of the West and NW.

When Digital switchover takes place on October 24th, you will get all services available in your area. This will ultimately depend upon where you are and what transmitter you are on.

johnsmi

Thanks Yorkie98 for yoru reply. At the moment the way I have my aerial set up is that the aerial plugs into the sky box (rif 2 switched on) then it is relayed to the other tv's in the house (inclucing the lg plasma) with coaxail cable and the sky maigic eye.

For my main 5 year older philips crt tv that doesn't receive the rte digital (but has a built in freeview box) what is the order of the cabling to enable to hook a saorview box to it, do I connect the aerial to the saorview box then connect that to the sky box?

I have a scart leaving my sky box to the main tv.

Thanks for your help
john

yorkie98

The correct cabling is a bit of an either/or, some TV's allow the aerial to loop thru (if there is an aerial in and an aerial out) in which case it is best that the TV gets the aerial signal first but if not, then it's fine to loop thru the sky box and a VCR if you have one, as long as the RF output channels of the Sky/VCR are not on channels which carry freeview broadcasts, you'll soon know as the Sky RF picture will become really grainy on other sets. Remember, only one TV can get the aerial signal first but as long as it's all looped properly, it should all work after switchover and the fact that the Soarview is working now means that when the Freeview comes (and the analogue goes) it should all be fine.
Which way it's done will not make much difference and certainly won't be the reason you only get Soarview and not Freeview, this is just because you are currently in a non-Freeview area.

Roughly what area do you live in? I should be able to give more specific advice based on knowing your town/village.

johnsmi

Thanks very much Yorkie98 for your good advice. I'm in the Derry/L' Derry area.

As my main older crt tv (which doesn't reevive saorview at the moment but does have a inbuilt freeview receiver (Have scanned it but nothing only a few radio stations) is next to the sky box and connected by scart from it, what would you advice as probably the best way to add a saorview box to it?

aerial to sky box first or to saorview box first?

Do you think it would be worthwhile investing in one of these from ebay?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SAGEMCOM-ITD81-PICNIC-FREEVIEW-SAORVIEW-MPEG2-4-BOX-/230684787464?pt=UK_ConEle_SatCableFreeview_RL&hash=item35b5e28308

Thanks again Yorkie.

John

yorkie98

It looks like that box will get both Freeview (SD+HD) plus Saorview but don't hold me to it, for £20 (the average price of a normal SD box) it's worth a punt.
However, as you are in Derry/Lderry, you are most likely on the Londonderry transmitter (not being political here, that's the transmitters name) then you are not currently in a Freeview service area but will get the Freeview lite service and Freeview HD after switchover alongside the Saorview service which you are currently receiving from the Holywell Hill RTE site.
After switchover, my advice would be to check and see if you can get a robust signal from Limavady as this will carry the full Freeview service, gaining you many more channels. If required, a second aerial can be combined in to get the Saorview from Holywell.

desm52

johnsmi wrote: »

Thanks very much Yorkie98 for your good advice. I'm in the Derry/L' Derry area.


Do you think it would be worthwhile investing in one of these from ebay?
SAGEMCOM-ITD81-PICNIC-FREEVIEW-SAORVIEW-MPEG2-4-BOX

Thanks again Yorkie.

John

That box will pickup Saorview but will not display HD channels so wil not display RTE2. It would be better to spend a bit extra and get a freeview HD box. Other channels will probably go HD soon as well.

chunter

I've just being told that all mpeg4 devices are backward compatible with mpeg2. is this correct?
So if you're getting a new tv, if it's mpeg4 it's mpeg2 too!

So will there will a lot of very cheap tvs for sale this summer, as Northern Ireland retailers try and shift their stock of mpeg2-only tvs?

yorkie98

chunter wrote: »

I've just being told that all mpeg4 devices are backward compatible with mpeg2. is this correct?
So if you're getting a new tv, if it's mpeg4 it's mpeg2 too!

So will there will a lot of very cheap tvs for sale this summer, as Northern Ireland retailers try and shift their stock of mpeg2-only tvs?

They are indeed, Mpeg4 sets are always backwards compatible with Mpeg2.

Do be cautious with Mpeg2 only sets being sold. There's nothing wrong Per-Se with an Mpeg2 only set, it will get all Freeview SD channels but we have the unique situation here in NI that a non-Mpeg4 HD set will not get any of the Saorview channels from over the border.
People will need to their own research, I've already come across people who have been mis-sold TVs, be specific and maybe even get in writing. A non-specific question like "will it get RTE" is not good enough, a seller could rightly claim that the set does get RTE as they will be knowingly referring to it's current ability to get RTE via the analogue signal.
As a general rule of thumb, make sure your TV will get Freeview HD (there is usually a logo denoting this) and if you have been specific to your seller about your requirements get it in writing that the set has been sold with this understanding. If it turns out to be wrong, you'll then have a comeback against them.