i-CAN Freeview HD box upgrade to translate HD channel sound to Dolby Digital

AnthonyUK

I have been given a i-CAN freeview HD set-top box and I believe there is (or has been) an update for it to translate the transmitted HE-AAC sound on Freeview HD channels to pure Dolby Digital sound over the SPDIF socket for output to a home cinema AV amp/DVD home cinema system or blu-ray home cinema system equipped with a optical digital input. I have tried searching for over air software updates and looked at the website for the box www.i-can.tv for this update and can't find a HE-AAC to Dolby Digital audio translation software update at all. Is anyone else in the same predicament as me with an i-CAN Freeview HD set top box? Please advise.:beer:

almillar

This latest software was linked to from the homepage, check if you've already got it, or get it installed. No information about what the update contains, but I'll put 2+2 together and guess the audio update is part of it.
http://www.i-can.tv/en/component/content/article/15/252-how-can-i-upgrade-my-easy-hd-receiver

AnthonyUK

Yes installed the box update and the box translates the HE-AAC digital sound transmitted on HD channels to full Dolby Digital audio which gives 5.1 DD sound on shows recorded and/or transmitted that way.

Freeview HD doesn't use Dolby Digital sound apparently as it's would take up too much bandwidth (which wouldn't allow an additional AD (audiodescription) service to be transmitted).

HE-AAC audio format on Freeview HD channels apparently does 5.1 surround sound, but Freeview HD capable set top boxes/devices equipped for Dolby Digital don't automatically output it in Dolby Digital 5.1 format, and nor do they recognise it as such;the equipment receiving the HE-AAC bitstream on the HD channels has to transcode this to a DD5.1 surround sound bitstream.

The Freeview HD receiving equipment that you have must apparently be able to transcode the HE-AAC 5.1 surround sound into a pure Dolby Digital 5.1 surround format signal which is output via SPDIF/coaxial output to a suitable home cinema AV amp/speaker setup or DVD/BluRay home cinema setup equipped to handle a Dolby Digital signal thru SPDIF/coaxial connection.

Also, some Freeview HD boxes/equipment apparently allow the transcoded DD5.1 signal to be output thru HDMI connection into a compatible Dolby Digital capable plasma/LCD/LED television set which can then be passed out to a home cinema AV amp and speakers on a SPDIF/coax digital connection from your TV.;);););)

almillar

That's all good except the last paragraph - you should be connecting from FreeviewHD box to Amp to TV. Let the amp pass the picture on, not the TV pass the sound on. I know that a lot of TVs that do this pass through will only pass stereo on! Later with Jools (or the short versions) on BBC HD are 5.1 so record some of those to test.