DTT Trials ending 31st July: Don't buy now.

Mossy Monk

i wish i had the signal for these tests

SimonMaher

Just bought one of those little USB receviers online and plugged it into the laptop. Tiny little antenna but sat on the kitchen table its picking up all the channels perfectly. 17.99 nerdily well spent!

Pete

DMC

Gwan, Pete... give us an exclusive... will Phantom appear nationwide on DTT or satellite???

byte

Heh, I for one hope so!

byrnefm

I myself am using a Wharfedale DV832B from Argos - changes channels quickly and a good picture with a coat hanger (!), though I noticed the following quirks with this receiver:

- time can be out by a couple of hours (but the minute is correct) overnight! I've read about this elsewhere. Bizarre.
- if you mute the sound, you mute it to the VCR also. Came across this by accident - had the SCART plugged into the wrong SCART connection.
- you can't re-arrange the channels.

Apart from that, it's a nice box, absolutely no problems setting it up.

Nice to see that subtitles are implemented by RTÉ!

Pete, where did you get your USB DTT thingy?

DMC

I've seen the Warfedale in Argos, and its the same as my Matsui.

Richard

Telef&#237 wrote: »

Might take a trip up to Newry so.

There used to be a big Currys near the by-pass, though I think it was one of the ones damaged in the recent goings on.

superdudeman007

I live in Greystones, Wicklow and get RTE1, RTE2 and TG4 perfectly, I presume from Three Rock. But I don't get TV3 at all for some reason and I get a (blurry) signal from S4C~, obviously from Wales. But I'm only using an indoor aerial and if I went for DTT I'd get a proper outdoor one.

Do you think it's possible that DTT signals from Wales/the UK that a lot of people on the east coast use at the moment could block Irish DTT signals? ie If RTE One and BBC1 Wales are both on channel 1, would people on the East Coast receive either of them properly when Irish DTT is launched?

L1011

RTE1/2/TG4 good, no TV3? That means you're getting the Greystones relay, not Three Rock. Indeed, I'd expect Three Rock to be impossible.

Proper DTT boxes would put the "second" set of channels claimig numbers way up the arse end and let you move channels around of its own accord.

jj@corksat.com

DTT is the as DVB-T ?
I can not find anywhere what is DTT. (I'm dutch and we use DVB-T for digital teristrial. If is DVB-T and there are testing, please can some one tell me where , I live in Cork and this is very interresting.

L1011

DTT = Digital Terrestrial Television. It is DVB-T here. But you won't get coverage in Cork, the transmitters testing are in Dublin and Louth, and cover Dublin, Louth, North Kildare and Meath well, thats all.

SimonMaher

DMC, I would love Phantom to be on digital terrestrial and Satellite and hopefully will be on both eventually. Have of course expressed interest with the relevant organisations for Digital!

On the receiver end, the one I bought was on Ebay, brand is DATACE and it cost 17.99 Stg plus a couple of quid postage. Nice little thing and the recording and subtitles functions and all that stuff work well. The antenna is only 5 inches but it works ok.

Pete

Mayo Exile

Press release about the official launch of the Irish DTT trial now on the Dept. of Communcations, Marine and Natural Resources website today (16 Aug.)

http://www.dcmnr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/Minister+Noel+Dempsey+Announces+Launch+of+Digital+Terrestrial+Television+%28DTT%29+Pilot+in+Ireland.htm

butts

superdudeman007, if you or anyone else manages to pick up DTT here in Greystones, please let us know.

DMC

superdudeman007 wrote:

Do you think it's possible that DTT signals from Wales/the UK that a lot of people on the east coast use at the moment could block Irish DTT signals? ie If RTE One and BBC1 Wales are both on channel 1, would people on the East Coast receive either of them properly when Irish DTT is launched?

Remember that the analogue signal from Wales is a lot stronger than the DTT signal, so you would have to invest in an outdoor aerial, for a start. Local knowledge is the key here, so I would approach a local TV aerial installer if the info doesn't turn up here.

For the reasons mentioned by MYOB, it will be nigh on impossible to get the DTT signal from Three Rock in Greystones. Anything south of Dalkey/Killiney you could nearly give up on. As you are getting no TV3, TV3 doesnt broadcast from the Greystones relay.

Until you are certain of local knowledge, I would strongly advise not getting any DTT gear.

dmeehan

MYOB wrote:

DTT = Digital Terrestrial Television. It is DVB-T here. But you won't get coverage in Cork, the transmitters testing are in Dublin and Louth, and cover Dublin, Louth, North Kildare and Meath well, thats all.

not much chance of picking it up in Killarney then :mad:

SRB

"If RTE One and BBC1 Wales are both on channel 1, would people on the East Coast receive either of them properly when Irish DTT is launched?"

That's an interesting point you've raised there. One of the DTT boxes I have (Thomson) has inserted the Irish Channels on channels you can't access directly from the remote - you have to go to the channel menu and select it from the channel list rather than say, enter 1 for RTE1. (It's actually given RTE1 the channel number 15361.)

Another box (Philips) has insterted them down the channel list in the 802 onwards slots. My third box, a Nokia, has just replaced BBC1 on 001 with RTE1, BBC2 on 002 with RTE2 and so on. If you press 1 on the Nokia box you now get RTE1, however if you scroll up one channel, BBC1 NI, although the next number in the channel list is still displaying as number 001. BBC1 Wales is next in the list as 001 too.

byrnefm

Some additional snippets from electricnews:

http://www.electricnews.ie/frontpage/news-9769584.html

I notice that the Wharfedale box doesn't give much details about the transmissions - not designed for techies

Telefís

This is what I'm wondering. Given the limited information provided in the Argos Catalogue, how do you know that the box is MPEG4 compatible? Are all the mainstream boxes such nowadays?

Just looking at Argos here, I see the Wharfedale at £34.99, but there's even cheaper 'Digihome' and Bush boxes at £24.99 and £29.99 respectively, which are appealing given any aul shyte will do for the time being . Anyone know anything of their spec?

Yup Currys might be a bit of a problem alright Richard

L1011

SRB wrote:

Ahh, it IS running a 167Khz offset! Negative offset in this case. That might be why my DTT card point blank refuses to see *anything* on 738Mhz, because its not actually centered on 738Mhz...

lawhec

Just looking at Argos here, I see the Wharfedale at £34.99, but there's even cheaper 'Digihome' and Bush boxes at £24.99 and £29.99 respectively, which are appealing given any aul shyte will do for the time being . Anyone know anything of their spec?

I have the Digihome box in Argos that's at £24.99. It only has one scart socket (with RGB), RF loopthrough only (no modulator), no phono outputs and is what's termed a "Vestel" clone, identified by the purple & sky blue colours used in menus etc. The main problem I find with this is that it makes text hard to read (white on a transparent light blue background). There's a 7 day EPG though you have to leave the channel list to view it. You can rearrange the channels and rename, delete and lock them out them also. One handy thing is that the signal bar appears on the channel banner. Its not a first choice box except for those on very low budgets, more of a kitchen or bedroom box, and for its price its hard to argue.

P.S. I'm looking at getting one of those USB DVB-T receivers, if only because taking a laptop up a mountain to DX test is much easier than hauling a telly!:eek:

Zaphod

MYOB wrote:

Ahh, it IS running a 167Khz offset! Negative offset in this case. That might be why my DTT card point blank refuses to see *anything* on 738Mhz, because its not actually centered on 738Mhz...

Yeah, I found the Hauppauge card to be very particular about the frequency entered - 737834KHz.

Telef&#237 wrote: »

This is what I'm wondering. Given the limited information provided in the Argos Catalogue, how do you know that the box is MPEG4 compatible? Are all the mainstream boxes such nowadays?

I think the question is: are any boxes MPEG4 compatible? Apart from ones imported from France.

lawhec

Zaphod wrote:

I think the question is: are any boxes MPEG4 compatible? Apart from ones imported from France.

I know of no DTT receivers in the UK on sale in the general marketplace that can handle MPEG4, either versions 2 or 10. The only receivers about are those I'd say that are either imported from France, use the PCI slot of a PC (i.e. they have a capability, I think one of them does but its very few and far between) or are some of the HDTV triallists in London.

rkeane

Anyone recommend a good usb dvb-t receiver 4 a laptop? I have MS so I spend a lot of time in hospital...having tv on my laptop would make it nearly bearable.

Telefís

Thanks a million for all that Northern Correspondent about Digihome, the detail is much appreciated. I'm off to get one now so, as basic model is all that's required at present, for use in a study.

Just to clarify regarding the RF loopthrough - you mean there's an input and an output yes?

Thanks again

byte

Yes, RF Loopthrough is exactly that. Aerial input, and the output. Just no modulator so the DTT box won't be output on an RF channel.

Charles Slane

rkeane wrote:

Anyone recommend a good usb dvb-t receiver 4 a laptop? I have MS so I spend a lot of time in hospital...having tv on my laptop would make it nearly bearable.

There's a nice USB analogue/dvb-t receiver on Maplins UK site at

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=97394&criteria=dvbt&doy=17m8

not sure if it would be available in Ireland yet, but maybe give them a call to check.

Telefís

Cool - thanks byte. Thought as much
Does the Wharfedale have a mod anyone know? - it seems to be popular.

Vmaxer

rkeane wrote:

Anyone recommend a good usb dvb-t receiver 4 a laptop? I have MS so I spend a lot of time in hospital...having tv on my laptop would make it nearly bearable.

I orderd one from Hong Kong earlier this week and it worked out at about 30 Euro, haven't got it in the post yet but will let Ya know how I get on.

http://cgi.ebay.ie/New-USB-DVB-T-Digital-Freeview-TV-Tuner-Receiver-HDTV_W0QQitemZ200016149058QQihZ010QQcategoryZ96964QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

byrnefm

Charles Slane wrote:

There's a nice USB analogue/dvb-t receiver on Maplins UK site at

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=97394&criteria=dvbt&doy=17m8

not sure if it would be available in Ireland yet, but maybe give them a call to check.

There are different varieties of these available on eBay - for around €30 incl shipping. I'm guessing that they offload the processing to the CPU, which makes me wonder if they might also be MPEG4 compatible with a suitable software upgrade?

curryman

Im new to this can anyone tell me what i will need to recive dtt tests being done at the moment. I would like to recive it on my tv and pc. Can anyone tell me where to get the equipment for both and a rough price

DMC

Tell us where you are first

curryman

Sorry left that out living in deansgrange D18 plus also have no aerial only rabbit ears

watty

USB tends to perform poorly. Even USB2 id about 1/4 the real speed of Fireware and if more than one USB device much slower.


I got a PCMCIA/PC card model (not impressed with SW) that does analog video capture and is sold in Franch, so I hoped it would do VHF and MPE4 (Still don't nkow).

Turns out to be made in Shannon.

Only USB 2.0 is really fast enough at all, and my laptop only does USB 1.1

byrnefm

curryman wrote:

Sorry left that out living in deansgrange D18 plus also have no aerial only rabbit ears

Rabbit ears should be fine - I'm using a coat hanger :rolleyes: in Stillorgan. If you can pick up the RTÉ channels ok on UHF, you should be ok for getting DTT.

You need a UK Freeview box for the MPEG-2 channels currently being broadcast, sold by any store in the UK that sells TVs, including Argos, which seems to be the popular choice. Prices start from £25 (€38) for the most basic models without SCART. Based on reviews I saw elsewhere, I went for the Wharfedale (£35), although if using it as a timepiece is important, don't go for that one. It's a very basic receiver (2xSCART) but easy to get going.

If you want to get DTT on your PC / laptop, there are many USB DVB-T sticks available on eBay, for about €30 including shipping. They'll give you more techie info about the signal but it depends whether you want to watch RTÉ (and hopefully more channels later on) on your laptop or your TV set. On the other hand, if you won't be near the UK / NI any time soon, the USB way is probably the easiest way to get into the trial.

At present, the trial is 'limited' to RTÉ technicians with the proper trial beginning October, this means that until then, you'll probably only get the four Irish stations plus five radio channels.

Note: none of the above will cater for MPEG-4 (HD) trials - I have no idea where you could source boxes for this part of the trial.

lawhec

Prices start from £25 (€38) for the most basic models without SCART

I don't know any UK DTT STB's which don't have a SCART socket included as standard.

DMC

Yes, all set-top boxes (not USB devices) have scarts sockets, but some may not have scart leads included.

FunkyDa

Homebase DIY, in Santry(in, past the Crown Plaza Hotel), had Wharfedales on the shelf, yesterday. Didn't see a price sticker, but would guess about 50Euro.

byrnefm

Northern Correspondent wrote:

I don't know any UK DTT STB's which don't have a SCART socket included as standard.

When I was over in Grimsby in May, Argos had a Freeview box going for £24.99 (their cheapest model at the time) which only had regular co-ax input and output. It was a very small box. Can't remember which model it was, though - I was looking through different models to see which one I might go for when the trial finally started. Maybe SCART-less models aren't sold any more?

byte

Did it have 3 Phono outputs instead of the Scart socket maybe?

A digital box of any sort without Scart and RGB output is pointless IMHO.

superdudeman007

* Someone was wondering who will run the service after the trials. I think it's BT.

L1011

Its nowhere near decided who will have -anything- to do with it after the trials are over.

watty

It isn't even decided what there will be for anyone to operate after trials. There is really no plan at all yet to replace the Comreg PDF that outlines DTT licence conditions from about 2001.

byte

Yeah, it's a big joke at this stage. Maybe after this trial they'll wait a year or two, and have another trial! :rolleyes:

Is there anything to stop them rolling out the "trial" to other major transmitters?

slicedpanman

byrnefm wrote:

I don't know if you'd pick up Three Rock's DTT from Shankill - when DAB was on the air from Three Rock, it was even hard to get it in properly in parts of Dún Laoghaire...

I checked by ariel (in attic) over the weekend and it is pointing directly at 3Rock mountain. From what I can see in various posts (someone please confirm/deny) that all I need to confirm now is that I can get a good analog signal (on UHF) for RTE... if I can, does that mean I should be able to get a good DTT signal?

DMC

A better indication would be TG4, as its on channel 55, right beside the DTT tests. Whats TG4 like with you? It is possible that if TG4 is snowy, you have a group A aerial. I wouldnt rule it out, because of the robustness of the signal on little more than bunny ears.

Last

watty wrote:

Draw a line from Three Rock to Kells. If you cross west of it then no Three Rock. Going out N7 you lose it before Rathcool.

Getting almost full signal in Rathcoole (Kilteel Rd) on Wharfdale box from both Three Rock (using quarter of old quad) & Clermont Carn (using Hirschmann). Also getting very poor intermittent signal using rabbits ears.

In case anyone is interested I bought the Wharfdale in Homebase Naas Rd yesterday. Not on shelf but in back stores because of many returns. Had to speak to a few people before a guy named Phil sorted me out. Price €56.09.

watty

(last "rathcool service station" on N7, not Rathcoole itself)

watty

byte wrote:

Yeah, it's a big joke at this stage. Maybe after this trial they'll wait a year or two, and have another trial! :rolleyes:

Is there anything to stop them rolling out the "trial" to other major transmitters?

Only money.

slicedpanman

DMC wrote:

A better indication would be TG4, as its on channel 55, right beside the DTT tests. Whats TG4 like with you? It is possible that if TG4 is snowy, you have a group A aerial. I wouldnt rule it out, because of the robustness of the signal on little more than bunny ears.

Thanks DMC, I'll check out the TG4 reception when I get home and will report back tomorrow...

"Ariel pointing @ 3Rock" + "good TG4 analog reception" => "good chance of DTT reception" ?

[EDIT] just noticed that hshortt (in Bray) is getting reception... hshortt, roughtly where in Bray are you picking up a DTT signal? pretty good chance I'll get one in Shankill/Ballybrack if you get a signal out in Bray ?!