New Freeview HD hardware: eXtra Terrestrial Freeview HD tuner

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#158680 21-Aug-2008 14:18

Anyway, I'm stoked that the 5.1 works fine over AC3. I only turn on the receiver when there is a genuine 5.1 source as I hate the results of the 'theatre' or other mode that simulates 5.1 from a 2 channel source. I'd naturally prefer it to revert to PCM and the basic mpeg audio when DD is not available. Or wish one of the outputs, AC3 or PCM, would work for both audio options with my reciever for both audio output types.

Jaxson and others, can I suggest you make this known to Peter at Satlink, because those of us with AC3 Dolby Digital decoding really find the current situation less than ideal. I'm not sure if the Chinese manufacturer understands what's required. Part of the difficulty maybe that the default audio track on Freeview is AAC/MPG. Currently only TV1 and TV3 use AC3 as their secondary but far superior sound track. If all Freeview channels moved to this configuration, we could just set AC3 in the ET, and we'd all be happy, but currently if we choose AC3, there's zero output over optical/coax for the other channels.

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

Jaxson

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#158686 21-Aug-2008 14:27

yeah have tried to describe/outlay our requirements consisely. Hope the planned firmware updates address what we actually want.

Other things I've spotted are just graphical and don't really impact on the core use of just watching tv. eg on most info banners the signal strength and quality letters are the wrong way around. And the banner should show what resolution the tv channel is being broadcast in, not what the output to the tv is set at etc.

I gave back my DSE zinwell unit prior to spotting the coax/optical dig out problem. On the Zinwell you just choose which soundtrack you want to hear on the channel selected and this gets output. No matter what soundtrack you choose, it will get passed fine to the receiver, though naturally you'll only get 5.1 if you select the dolby option.

Whilst there are some issues with this unit, there are just as many really with the 'official' one. The zinwell locked up on me, and my extra terrestrial has required a reboot every once in while too. The remote has failed to work once or twice but usually when I'm changing channels really fast. Many have found the zinwell one is really bad unless you're 10cm away etc anyway. Decoding the DVB-T mpeg4 picture is hard work and I don't think paying $100+ more for the official unit is getting you anything more than these fairly decent boxes.

kiwitrc

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#158693 21-Aug-2008 14:39

Spong: Peter from Satlink sent me a copy of the updated firmware for the ET box this morning, but at this stage it doesn't appear that anything concrete has been fixed. I believe there will be a further update appearing soon. See the following page for info.
http://www.satlinknz.co.nz/extra_terrestrial.html

Also, the Freeview Shop has the current firmware upgrade plus upgrade instructions available, for download at:
http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/downloads-i-23.html

As mentioned, in the case of the update I was given this morning, the AC3/AAC switching issue hasn't been fixed, and I believe the intermittent AAC audio dropout experienced by some people may not have been fixed either. As for recording to a USB drive in future goes, as I've commented to those who have bought a box from me, I don't believe you should absolutely count on this happening. If it does happen, consider it a bonus.

If its the same firmware that is on the freeviewshop site then it is version 1.03 which is what is already loaded on the ET units so there wont be any change.

Jaxson

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#158701 21-Aug-2008 15:02

From mammary, that's the firmware that fixed the epg, so it's mainly for guinea pigs who bought one of the very first trial units. Everyone with a recent box will have to wait until the new firmware is released to fix the digital audio problems.

Gemini

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#158783 21-Aug-2008 18:54

Yep ET has a few quirks
Can't see what the 4:3 vs 16:9 setting does, nothing changes?
Also does the picture looks the same on 576p as it does on 720p and 1080i to anyone else?

Jaxson

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#158860 22-Aug-2008 08:41

Hey Gemini, how have you connected your box to your tv and what sort of tv do you have?
Yes, definate difference between 576 (standard def) vs 720 or 1080.
On this box component and hdmi out are High def.
Yellow rca composite and svideo are standard def only and changing resolution wont change output quality to high def on these outputs.

BazNZ

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#158870 22-Aug-2008 09:30

Gemini: Yep ET has a few quirks
Can't see what the 4:3 vs 16:9 setting does, nothing changes?

This is a bug in the eXtra Terrestrial box. You must use the remote to change this setting. Press the aspect ratio or resolution button on the remote to change from 4:3 to 16:9 its the only way it will save your changed settings.

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Jaxson

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#158883 22-Aug-2008 10:08

Thanks Baz, forgot about that issue with it not saving the changes. Once you get it to work you never have to go back there again. Also most of us never have to select 4:3 these days. Cheers.

SpikeNZ

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Wannabe Geek

#159019 22-Aug-2008 17:42

Spong: Re: The ET Freeview box.
I'm on the North Shore in Auckland, have been in business since 1985, and expect to be here another 15 years at least. In addition, I've been a qualified technician in the AV and computer fields since 1977, so have a fair amount of experience to help out if necessary. I'll PM you with my details, and can provide a very competitive deal, with pickup or NZ wide shipping of the excellent ET box. I'm an enthusiastic HD fanatic and have a collection of 150+ HD-DVD's, a lot less blu rays, and love my Benq W5000 1080P projector. BTW, this is also a product you can buy through me at "USA street prices" but with full NZ 2 year warranty, support and firmware upgrades here in my workshop.

Came here looking for Freeview hardware info and find Spong, who has built my last 3 pc systems (and 2 others for family) over the past 12 years

Very happy customer and can vouch for excellent customer service !!

Ordering my ET asap.

Galex

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#159332 24-Aug-2008 15:01

A question for you ET owners... Does the ET also output video on a spare UHF chanel via the RF out connection [ as most of the DVB-S decoders do], if it does, what is the pic quality like? Also what is the height of the unit please. Thanks in advance.

Garglo

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#159378 24-Aug-2008 19:16

No it doesn't provide a RF fixed frequency output. One can loop through to get the UHF Analogue for say "Prime" on your TV or directly to a VHS recorder with a normal Tuner. Really with this tuner why would one want the lowest quality output anyway. The sooner the Analogue broadcasts go the better. I hope it doesnt drag on to 2012 which is the suggested cutoff.

Sizes 290mm Wide x 230mm depth x 68mm height.

inichol

29 posts

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#159416 24-Aug-2008 21:56

Anyone else getting intermittent pixeliation with this box. Happens every few minutes on all channels that I have tried and lasts for less than one second (but annoying). Seems to be on all outputs including composite.
Same channels on Sky show no pixelisation at all.
Seems to be getting good UHF signal strength with the old UHF channels quite clear.
Notice that with the ET receiver signal strength is about 80% length of bar but quality is only about 25 to 30% length of bar. Is this normal?

Garglo

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#159440 24-Aug-2008 23:35

Where are you? If you are in an area like Auckland where there are Multipule Transmitters on the same frequencies. This may account for the interferance. I have no problem as I have an aerial directed to Pine Hill (Hor) although I can see the SKY tower (Vert) which is on the same freq. Check link below to check your status.
http://www.kordiasolutions.com/broadcast_solutions_digital_broadcasting_terrestrial_television_installers

kiwitrc

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#159450 25-Aug-2008 06:17

Galex: A question for you ET owners... Does the ET also output video on a spare UHF chanel via the RF out connection [ as most of the DVB-S decoders do], if it does, what is the pic quality like? Also what is the height of the unit please. Thanks in advance.

Hi Galex

I assume you want to do this to send the signal to other TV's around the house? I had the same problem with MySky HD and just bought a RF Modulator from Jaycar which works fine. You could do the same for the ET box.

sbiddle

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#159453 25-Aug-2008 06:44

Jaxson: You know the deal, if you don't have the face for TV you end up in radio...
I like the 5.1 but often there are places when it's basically not present in real life anyway.

Anyway, I'm stoked that the 5.1 works fine over AC3. I only turn on the receiver when there is a genuine 5.1 source as I hate the results of the 'theatre' or other mode that simulates 5.1 from a 2 channel source. I'd naturally prefer it to revert to PCM and the basic mpeg audio when DD is not available. Or wish one of the outputs, AC3 or PCM, would work for both audio options with my reciever for both audio output types.

I'm not sure exactly how you have your system setup but this shouldn't happen.

Both TV1 and TV3 are sending fulltime 5.1 DD audio. When the show is full 5.1 you'll get sound from all 5 speakers, if it's just plain stereo it's still a 5.1 broadcast however sound only comes from the FL + FR speakers. This means you can run an amp in 5.1 mode all the time and it won't sound funny.

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