FreeView Questions (Decoders & Installation)

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › FreeView Questions (Decoders & Installation)

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

78 posts

Master Geek

#61452 21-Feb-2007 14:39

How do TVNZ "Cert" their boxes? What stops people from only buying "non-certed" boxes?

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#61454 21-Feb-2007 14:46

pm: How do TVNZ "Cert" their boxes? What stops people from only buying "non-certed" boxes?

They are simply specifing minimum requirements for their STB's - some STB's won't meet the requirements. DVB-T for example is going to use MPEG4 for example whereas most older DVB-T STB's only support MPEG2. Buying a certified device will guarantee compatibility with the services, there is nothing to stop you buying a STB from elsewhere but you just run the risk of it not working fully.

cyril7

9058 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#61458 21-Feb-2007 15:13

As sbiddle said I basic box will let you veiw all the programs, however certed ones will support MHEG which allows for interactive features and a full EPG, it will also enable the broadcasters to manage firmware upgrades and program scanning. Basic boxs will require that you manally scan for new programs when and if added, the epg may only be basic now and next, although there is rumours that you maynot get basic epg on some basic boxs. That said you will still get all the channels and with the same picture quality and sound.

DVB-T boxs will need to support mpeg4, DVB-S boxs only need to support mpeg2. At this point DVB-T mpeg4 boxs are in the rocking horse dodo rarity state, and as such I would expect them to be well over $300 for some time to come (a price indicated by Hills recently).

Cyril

pm

78 posts

Master Geek

#61472 21-Feb-2007 17:57

Over $300?...

The DVB-S boxes are cheaper off freeview.com.
Since I already have an old sky satellite not being used, it might be cheaper getting a DVB-S box rather than waiting for DVB-T and then getting a box.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#61474 21-Feb-2007 18:06

pm: Over $300?...

The DVB-S boxes are cheaper off freeview.com.
Since I already have an old sky satellite not being used, it might be cheaper getting a DVB-S box rather than waiting for DVB-T and then getting a box.

That's $300 for a DVB-T box with MPEG4. You can pick up a cheap DVB-T box for under $80 in Aussie but these only support MPEG2 whereas NZ will use MPEG4.

If you already have a sat dish then I'd see no point in even considering waitng for DVB-T - just buy yourself a DVB-S STB which will be a lot cheaper.

cyril7

9058 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#61476 21-Feb-2007 18:36

If you already have a sat dish then I'd see no point in even considering waitng for DVB-T - just buy yourself a DVB-S STB which will be a lot cheaper.

Dead right.

Cyril

pm

78 posts

Master Geek

#61490 21-Feb-2007 21:20

Thanks guys, I couldn't ask for better answers.

Wise

Send money globally for less with Wise - one free transfer up to NZ$900 (affiliate link).

lchiu7

6474 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#61496 21-Feb-2007 21:47

I have an unused Sky dish in my house. It was working 3 years ago when I moved in. I am guessing I could use this for Freeview? If so what sort of STB should I be getting if I want to be an early adopter? From the thread it seems I don't need a DVB-S box that supports MPEG4 yet since it will be a while before they broadcast MPEG4 from the satellite (would annoy a bunch of Sky subscribers I would imagine).

Or should I wait to see if TCL retransmits their digital feeds to D1 over the cable? I am noticing TV1 and TV2 seems to be much clearer lately on the TCL cable. TV3 is still rubbish as is most of the other Sky channels but I can't tell if that is inherent in the Sky signal or in what TCL does to it before it sends it down the cable.

Larry

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

richms

28172 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#61498 21-Feb-2007 21:56

LNB is probarbly dead by now since the old ones have problems with water ingress (new ones may in a few years too, guess we will find out eventually) - so worst case you are out a few bucks for a replacement to put on the dish, assuming that you can unscrew bracket off the arm after all these years.

Richard rich.ms

lchiu7

6474 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#61502 21-Feb-2007 22:25

Folks who were here before me had Sky. I am assuming it's irrelevant whether or not the dish is being used, the weathering is the same. So what you are saying is, had they not moved or I had connected up Sky when I moved in, I could still be seeing this LNB problem? If the bracket cannot be removed then it could be a new dish which doesn't seem cost effective and anyway, if I were a Sky subscriber and this happened I would be pretty annoyed!

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

cyril7

9058 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#61513 22-Feb-2007 07:52

If its an older CalAMP LNB then by now there is a reasonable chance that it has bit the dust. You can get 2nd hand Sharp ones on Trademe for $18, or new Chinese ones (also on trademe) for $49.

But first get an STB and try, once again try trademe there are several guys selling STB's there (new ones all cheap and chearfull Chinese ones that seem to go just fine) for 135-200.

and, and

Cyril

lchiu7

6474 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#61800 23-Feb-2007 20:48

I see them on Trademe. They aren't too expensive so might be worth a punt

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

cyril7

9058 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#61821 24-Feb-2007 07:51

Ensure you get one that meets your needs, some are composite only, others support S-video, and composite, and some component, you will pay more like $200 for ones that do component.

Cyril

RobDickinson

1524 posts

Uber Geek

#62147 27-Feb-2007 15:01

I've recently borrowed a DVB-S box to try out.

Dish on my house was there when I moved in, no idea when it was last used.

Pluged the box in (already 'tuned') cabled it up (using s-vid/stereo phono audio) and away I went, 80% or so signal strength / quality, TV1/2 mauri, TVNZ etc all in great quality. Far better than most of the channels on UK's Sky system.

The DVB-S is a cheap base Strong box but supports now/next (if not full epg) , works fine, very impressed - for a plug & go solution, dont want to give it back now!:D

lchiu7

6474 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#62153 27-Feb-2007 15:57

I just picked up one from Trademe. Has component and s-video outputs. Hope my Sky dish is okay and that tuning the box isn't too onerous. It will be good to have two single sources (I also have TCL cable) so I can record at least TV1/2 and one of the cable channels at the same time

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5