New Freeview HD hardware: eXtra Terrestrial Freeview HD tuner

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69 posts

Master Geek

#164622 15-Sep-2008 21:13

Buster: We've had some remote control issues so loaded the new software V1.04 (Sep 12 2008) via USB. We're in Hamilton and don't get tvCentral any more.

Seems there is a mistake there. TvCentral should be UHF 40/622. The software has it as UHF 40(626MHz) ???

I'm also in Hamilton and can't get TV central, I have reset and reloaded firmware many times (see my detailed post). I can confirm V1.4 Public does not show tvCentral, in fact it doesn't detect the channel at all (wrong frequency as stated).

Spyware

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Lifetime subscriber

#164656 15-Sep-2008 22:34

UHF 40 (622 to 630 MHz) is the analog transmit frequency of TVCentral which has nothing to do with Freeview HD frequency for this channel. On DVB-T receivers a channels centre frequency (UHF channels are 8 MHz wide) is used, hence 626 MHz.

EDIT: TVCentral DVB-T version would be on Kordia mux which is channel 50.

Spark Max Fibre using Mikrotik CCR1009-8G-1S-1S+, CRS125-24G-1S, Unifi UAP, U6-Pro, UAP-AC-M-Pro, Apple TV 4K (2022), Apple TV 4K (2017), iPad Air 1st gen, iPad Air 4th gen, iPhone 13, SkyNZ3151 (the white box). If it doesn't move then it's data cabled.

bazzer

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#164725 16-Sep-2008 09:41

I've upgraded to the new 1.04 firmware and I'm sure I still noticed a few audio dropouts last night. It may have been when I was playing in the menu or bringing up the EPG or something, so that could be excused. I'll continue that testing.

I didn't notice the composite output being any better. I have my box set to AUTO resolution. It's fine on the SD channels, and TV3 is good but TV1 and TV2 are still a bit average. They are watchable, but you can definitely see pronounced jagged edges on everything. I wouldnt say it's unwatchable, never was. Maybe others' issues were worse and they've improved, not sure.

BadMac, are you saying that 5.1 sound is available over HDMI now? When I first got my box, Im sure it only output 2 channel PCM over HDMI. It might have been that I wasn't familiar enough with my box to know what I was doing :)

Jaxson

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#164731 16-Sep-2008 09:51

I tried the latest 1.04 (12th Sept release) last night. There are 3 issues that seem to have come up:
remote problems with a particular batch (2-5% of total boxes) -I had this on one box,
pixelation -I've never had this on any, and
audio breakups on digital outs coax and opt - I've had this on all boxes.

I tried last night and for me the audio out on optical was fixed. However I didn't try it very long. Mate at work upgraded his and left C4 going and still had breakups. Apparently it goes longer before happening, so is improved, but he is adamant that it is still present. I will try this tonight myself, (Music last night was sht when I tried!). Someone else could try this as well, he thinks C4 is a good test for this.

Bypass option is great, adjusts output based on soundtrack type automatically.

Only things left to fix now are:
EPG reverts display to fullscreen ratio, regardless of what you have when you start up the EPG
S and Q symballs are the wrong way around on the basic channel banner, correct in setup menu though
Coax/opt audio out possibly breaking up still, will need to test longer tonight.
Record to external hard disc?!...

Cheers all, we're getting there!

Jaxson

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#164733 16-Sep-2008 09:54

Hi Bazzer, mate just noticed your reply about the same time as mine. Yeah, I've heard that the dig out still has breakups, but goes longer before them so I need to test more. Mate here at work has a box from me and he just left it going in the lounge up loud and spotted gaps last night on C4.

My comments are based on coax or opt out as my receiver has no hdmi in.

pete9321

105 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#164737 16-Sep-2008 10:04

if you are getting pixalation , and audio breakup...suggest reception issues...

Audio seems more susseptable to bad signal/interference,etc that picture.

we have 4 units with different dealers, all working fine...audio on optical okay.
might drop off, if you enter menu,etc....

High gain panel antennmas...avail for folk around city environs...ex sky tower...etc...ideal in Ch.Ch...flat..$65 each
www.freeviewnz.com

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BadMac

69 posts

Master Geek

#164740 16-Sep-2008 10:16

Ok, I just retested the Audio stuff for a longer period.

V1.4 (Public).
Coax output. Drops sound at random intervals (tested on C4 for 10 or so minutes and first dropout was after about 1min, then had them every 30-40 seconds or so).

HDMI, I can't comment on 5.1 yet as I am waiting for my new receiver with the ability to extract 5.1/7.1 from HDMI (Yamaha 663). I am only using the HDMI into my TV and get great video and stereo audio over the HDMI.

On the AV output, I only tested on TV3 (I didn't realise that TV1/TV2 still existed, have they improved?). I will retest this and write a DVD while changing channels to really check it.

Note on the EPG changing resolution. Now that you mention it, you are right, When I first turn on the box TV3 appears in a 4:3 box surrounded by black bars. I go into and out of EPG and it scales on the screen properely.

Pixelation is still much improved, I have had small breakup on 2 occasions (likely to be true reception interference), but no where near what it used to be on the older firmware and on EPG I get a great picture in the window now.

Jaxson

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#164745 16-Sep-2008 10:34

I have line of site to wharite. Audio drops on dig out only, never on hdmi to TV or analogue stereo rca outs either. Never had pixelation issues. I will test with C4 further tonight.

Spong

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#164747 16-Sep-2008 10:45

Before blaming the ET entirely for random audio dropouts, I think there maybe other issues here also. I also use a HTPC for Freeview, and have tested the Vantage here also. Both displayed random dropouts at times, and I wonder if Freeview themselves are to blame for some of these. I know the demo channel is terrible for dropouts and distortion etc. If they're trying to impress prospective new users, they're doing a woeful job of it. For Gods sake Freeview, give us a fantastic sparkling faultless AC3 soundtrack on the demo channel at least! So far, I've found the latest ET Sept 12 firmware to be the best yet, and audio dropouts over opt/coax haven't happened for me so far.

Tivo upgrades to operate with the new OzTivo EPG, support and service. Over 400 performed here so far. See: www.hillcrest.net.nz

BadMac

69 posts

Master Geek

#164750 16-Sep-2008 10:52

Heres a (20Mb) video of the pixelation issue before I went to V1.4.

Picture and Audio were fine before and after opening EPG.

[URL=http://s178.photobucket.com/albums/w277/BadMac/?action=view¤t=MOV02564.flv][IMG]http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w277/BadMac/th_MOV02564.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

You'll have to extract the URL as I don't know how to post links yet.

coolvibe

39 posts

Geek

#164752 16-Sep-2008 10:56

Spong: Before blaming the ET entirely for random audio dropouts, I think there maybe other issues here also. I also use a HTPC for Freeview, and have tested the Vantage here also. Both displayed random dropouts at times, and I wonder if Freeview themselves are to blame for some of these. I know the demo channel is terrible for dropouts and distortion etc. If they're trying to impress prospective new users, they're doing a woeful job of it. For Gods sake Freeview, give us a fantastic sparkling faultless AC3 soundtrack on the demo channel at least! So far, I've found the latest ET Sept 12 firmware to be the best yet, and audio dropouts over opt/coax haven't happened for me so far.

I use a haupauge hvr 4000 and can agree with spong. unfortunatly audio droputs seem to be in the transport stream. You can prove this by recording the transport stream. the drop out will occur in the same place if it is a transport stream issue.
Due to the nature of the stream (packet based chunks of data.) maybe the audio error correction in the audio stream is much more noticable due to the nature of audio. where as a huge video glitch can go unoticed because the screen image does not change, it just skips a frame or a small artifact is left behind.
Dave

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Jaxson

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#164757 16-Sep-2008 11:05

Anyone got a zinwell they can plug in to feed digital coax or opt output to receiver in a similar fashion? C4 seems to be a good channel to test on. Lets see if it's freeview trasmission related. Should only take 10 mins to confirm based on what others are saying. 10 mins ET box, 10 mins zinwell, count the issues.

coolvibe

39 posts

Geek

#164760 16-Sep-2008 11:13

BadMac: Heres a (20Mb) video of the pixelation issue before I went to V1.4.

Picture and Audio were fine before and after opening EPG.

[URL=http://s178.photobucket.com/albums/w277/BadMac/?action=view¤t=MOV02564.flv][IMG]http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w277/BadMac/th_MOV02564.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

You'll have to extract the URL as I don't know how to post links yet.

What are all the clicks?
To me it looks like the box has issues. It could be something as simple as the PSU having slight noise and causing drop out when the overlay is turned on. the overlay with a reduced sized image is probably going to take more juice. so if the psu is on the edge the transport stream amp/decoder will probably be suffering. Have you tried a different box/ firmware. It is quite suprising what can be done with firmware upgrades on the chipset used.
Is it just that channel group or does the tv3 channel group do it.
Dave

BadMac

69 posts

Master Geek

#164798 16-Sep-2008 13:02

coolvibe:
BadMac: Heres a (20Mb) video of the pixelation issue before I went to V1.4.

Picture and Audio were fine before and after opening EPG.

[URL=http://s178.photobucket.com/albums/w277/BadMac/?action=view¤t=MOV02564.flv][IMG]http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w277/BadMac/th_MOV02564.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

You'll have to extract the URL as I don't know how to post links yet.

What are all the clicks?
To me it looks like the box has issues. It could be something as simple as the PSU having slight noise and causing drop out when the overlay is turned on. the overlay with a reduced sized image is probably going to take more juice. so if the psu is on the edge the transport stream amp/decoder will probably be suffering. Have you tried a different box/ firmware. It is quite suprising what can be done with firmware upgrades on the chipset used.
Is it just that channel group or does the tv3 channel group do it.
Dave

The clicks are the audio breakup, only happened in the EPG on V1.3 and V1.4 (Beta).
The problem has gone away with the V1.4 firmware upgrade (the Coax Audio dropout is a silence not clicks!).
I have also tried other boxes in the same setup (see my posts above and on the previous page) which worked great.
This was a box with the remote control problem (I have 11 boxes here at present [some for sale PM me if you are in Hamilton/Waikato] none of the others have this problem, I have opened them to test and upgrade to V1.4 firmware).

Note: I am not posting this as an attack on the ET, The boxes are great and without doubt are the best on the market at present (value, quality and feature wise).

I am a very happy owner.

I AM ONLY POSTING IN CASE OTHERS HAVE A BOX WITH MY ISSUES SO THEY CAN ADDRESS THEM RATHER THAN ATTACK THE ET PRODUCT.

I repeat again the problem shown in the video has been fixed by the V1.4 (public) firmware upgrade.

Buster

297 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 164

#164809 16-Sep-2008 13:53

BadMac:
I'm also in Hamilton and can't get TV central, I have reset and reloaded firmware many times (see my detailed post). I can confirm V1.4 Public does not show tvCentral, in fact it doesn't detect the channel at all (wrong frequency as stated).

I have a single UHF outside aerial to a splitter. HVR-2200 gets tvCentral fine. eXtra Terrestrial STB doesn't.

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