New Freeview HD hardware: eXtra Terrestrial Freeview HD tuner

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8172 posts

Uber Geek
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#157253 15-Aug-2008 17:00

Hi Jason,

HDMI cables coming. Will get out to you as soon as they come in.

Te Awamutu, sorry bit far to be honest. Someone local should be able to help I'm sure, -good luck.

Cheers.

triode66

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#157292 15-Aug-2008 20:44

Thinking of buying a Extra Terrestrial for my lady friend so she can watch olympics ....... she only has a standard old crt tube tv set that will accept 576i over composite. She has a good uhf aerial ....... but no vhf aerial so at moment she cant even get analogue TV1.

Will the ET downscale 1080i (TV3) and 720p (TV1) to produce a 576i signal ??

My own TV is a Philips 36pw9527 which will accept 576i, 576p and 1080i

Does anybody have experience running the ET outputing a 576p signal ?
Does the ET downscale 720p and 1080i to produce a 576p signal ?
And does it upscale 576i to 576p ?

Also, does the ET upscale 576i to 1080i ?
And finally, does the ET upsacale 720p to 1080i ?

Quite a few questions ......... I would be most obliged if some kind members could give me some feedback on the above.

Many thanks,
Triode

pete9321

105 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#157296 15-Aug-2008 20:50

yes will down scale and up...simple...I think you use remote...Aspect button..

Spong

1016 posts

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#157302 15-Aug-2008 21:01

Your friends old CRT TV will probably not support any progressive input (well some do over component but not many older ones) and like any box, you'll only get 576i through composite and S-Video anyway. There is a resolution setting in the menu of 576P/ 720P and 1080i which applies to component and HDMI out. This is not the same setting as the aspect ratio. The unit scales whatever the native signal is (576/720/1080) to whatever you choose for the output, i.e. 576P/720P/ or 1080I

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

kiwitrc

4123 posts

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Inactive user

#157346 16-Aug-2008 06:57

MARK, take a look at this antenna design, simple to build yourself and might save you shelling out for a proper UHF install. One thing to note, dont put it in your ceiling cavity if you have an iron roof.

Jaxson

8172 posts

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#157406 16-Aug-2008 12:25

Hi all,

Finally got to try my box last night. Quick comments are:

Remote is good.
EPG is same as zinwell official, so really good.
HD does work on component (lucky for one of my TV's with DVI only in that didn't like a HDMI-DVI adaptor)
Quality is bout same as zinwell really, not much different, and does run cool.
Size is bigger than zinwell, but still smaller than most DVD player components.

Basically has all outputs, composite rca video, s video, component out, hdmi.
This will connect to any tv with av inputs but you'll need a hd tv to really view in hd.
Easy install, took bout 3 mins till watching tv.

One issue is a break up of digital audio out, when using digital connection to receiver via coax or optical out.
Supplier is working on a firware upgrade to correct this.
HDMI audio to TV and normal analogue stereo rca audio outputs still work fine.
Dolby Digital Output when available is fine too.

So basically I'm happy and the price is great.
I've ordered another batch for friends who have seen the first units.
I currently have a few left, but PM to see if they are still available.

Cheers guys, enjoy!

New World

Shop on-line at New World now for your groceries (affiliate link).

Gemini

429 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 23

#157612 17-Aug-2008 23:19

I now have an ET courtesy of Spong, thanks for all your help.

Seems like a good unit so far, still trying it out.

Couple of things not already mentioned
- I like the fact it has a power off switch on the back. Zinwells don't.
- Very well supplied with cables. Component + HDMI!
- Seems to output to all connectors at the same time so you can plug multiple devices in (haven't fully tested this yet).

Triode66 - I have the 29" version of your TV 29PT9420. Same software, inputs etc. I had a 1080i picture briefly but can't get it back now. I had similar issues when I connected an XBox 360 outputting 1080i, just can't remember how I fixed it. Works great on 576p anyways.

Video over RCA
Personally I wouldn't bother as the picture quality is not great. You really need to be outputting 576p over component as a bare minimum or it's not worth your $$$. You can get a widescreen CRT with 576p component inputs for $300 on TM or put the money towards a flatscreen with Freeview built in instead

Bigted

12 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#157842 18-Aug-2008 22:05

Jaxson: Hi all,

One issue is a break up of digital audio out, when using digital connection to receiver via coax or optical out.
Supplier is working on a firware upgrade to correct this.
HDMI audio to TV and normal analogue stereo rca audio outputs still work fine.
Dolby Digital Output when available is fine too.

So basically I'm happy and the price is great.
I've ordered another batch for friends who have seen the first units.
I currently have a few left, but PM to see if they are still available.

Cheers guys, enjoy!

Anyone know when this firmware update might be available and how we can get it?
My box suffers from the digital audio problem as well.

While they are at it, maybe they can also fix the lack of audio when the box is set to Dolby Digital
and the channel being watched only has an AAC sound stream.

It should be fixed to, say, "prefer" Dolby digital and then "fall back" to AAC if DD is not present.
It is a right pain to have to change the setting backwards and forwards everytime I change channel.

jasonbrice

100 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 6

#157900 19-Aug-2008 09:00

Hi Jaxson,

Can you please give those of us who bought from the first batch of ETs when we might expect the HDMI cables? I have to return the cable and box I "borrowed" by Thursday, or I will have to pay for it.

Thanks,
JB

Jason Brice | Development Engineer

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Jaxson

8172 posts

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#157903 19-Aug-2008 09:06

Agreed, a friend of mine was after the sports extra channel but only had an older crt monitor with composite (yellow rca plug) video in. I tried this output on the box and it is really blocky, much worse than 'normal' analogue tv. To be fair the zinwell output a fairly good composite out, but really that's not why 90% of people will be buying an HD box. I haven't tried s-video, or lowering the output resolution to 576, so maybe I should check this first before completely ruling it out.

Audio, yes current situation is:
In the Main Menu, HD TV Settings, TV Settings location:
PCM - outputs mpeg audio AND Dolby (as 2 channel only) via coax/optical and suffers from audio drop outs.
AC3 - outputs dolby digital 5.1 only via coax/optical and works fine.

So my personal selection is AC3 and I only bother turning on the amp if there is a 5.1 source.
The firmware update is coming to (apparently) auto select AC3 when dolby is selected, and pcm if mpeg is selected, and hopefully fix the dropout issue under pcm output. This will be available via the NZ supplier and will be installed by usb stick as per the manual.

HDMI out and the analogue stereo (red and white rca plugs) work fine and are not affected by the menu setting. The menu settings above relate only to digital output to a receiver.

Jaxson

8172 posts

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#157904 19-Aug-2008 09:07

Hi Jason,

Cable arrived yesterday and is being sent out to you today.

Cheers,
Jackson.

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

jasonbrice

100 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 6

#157909 19-Aug-2008 09:12

Appreciated!

Jaxson

8172 posts

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#157910 19-Aug-2008 09:14

Yeah no worries, sorry about the delay.
My main focus was getting a cheap deal for us all, but it's been difficult to keep up the good service as well with all the delays.

BadMac

69 posts

Master Geek

#157923 19-Aug-2008 10:08

Jaxson: Agreed, a friend of mine was after the sports extra channel but only had an older crt monitor with composite (yellow rca plug) video in. I tried this output on the box and it is really blocky, much worse than 'normal' analogue tv. To be fair the zinwell output a fairly good composite out, but really that's not why 90% of people will be buying an HD box. I haven't tried s-video, or lowering the output resolution to 576, so maybe I should check this first before completely ruling it out.

I just plugged an ET box into my old Sony 29" CRT and it works fine using the Video outs. All channels work and their is ZERO blockeness or anything, so yes you can buy one and plug it into a CRT, people won't get HD but will get the newer channels and should get better reception (compared to the sometimes grainy VHF channels I get, the UHF Digital is crystal clear).

I have a reasonible stock of ET boxes so PM me for any further tests or questions.

inichol

29 posts

Geek

#158136 19-Aug-2008 21:00

Have had one of these for a few days

HDMI and Component output works really well

Cant tell the difference between the two - beautiful crisp pictures.

However S Video output is not as good as expected.

Picture has lots of bluring around edge of objects even when watching HD Olympics. My S Video picure from my digital 8mm video camera gives a much better picture. Also the old standard Sky TV produces better picture!!

Needless to say composite output on the eXtra Terrestrial Receiver not too flash either.

I was wanting the S Video output so that I can record on my Panasonic DVD recorder. Hopefully a future firmware upgrade will enable HD recording from the eXtra Terrestrial receiver to an external USB hard drive.

Have been looking at other means of recording video as well
Dick Smith has a DVD recorder with Component input and Component/HDMI output - http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/48aa8669008e3fb82740c0a87f3b0715/Product/View/G3053
Does anyone know if this can pass Component video between input and output without any loss in quality plus have the option of recoding at DVD quality. I have Emailed them these questions but no response to date.

Does anyone have any other cost effective way of recording in reasonable quality.

As reported in earlier posts the optical audio has problems with long dropouts of audio. Audio via HDMI seems to work very well though.

For the price I am quite happy with the box but a little let down by the lower than expected S Video/composite video quality

I am using a 52 inch Samsung Series 6 TV with this setup which I must say is excellent. The Olympics in HD are amazing and non HD video like the One news is very good as well.

Also have programmed Logitech/Harmomy 880 remote to work with these devices. This works well.

Ian

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