Saorview Connect

STB.

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

Recording will be possible on both Saorview channels

The above would seem to indicate that the 2 tuners are satellite or terrestrial capable.

Does it ?

It says "Recording will be possible on both Saorview channels and if you access them, the free to air satellite channels (if you have connected your box to a satellite dish)"

That could be a number of things. 2 Saorview and 1 Sat most likely which would rule out recording on Sat and watching another on Sat unless on the same transponder.

Surely they have more than a month of beta testing done at this stage ? With 20 odd days to a firmware release I'd hope so. Tony spill.

Ten Pin wrote: »

RTE have invented a time travel machine

Sure no wonder this box was picking up awards.

mackersdublin

The box would need 2 Sat inputs for watching one while recording another Sat channel

fman

Ten Pin wrote: »

RTE have invented a time travel machine

Only way they would be able to deliver most of the promises on time.

Tigerandahalf

mackersdublin wrote: »

The box would need 2 Sat inputs for watching one while recording another Sat channel

It does have 2 satellite inputs.
Didn't kerri billen say the 2nd sat input would be available with the update.

STB.

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

It does have 2 satellite inputs.
Didn't kerri billen say the 2nd sat input would be available with the update.

3 inputs, so you reckon that the dvb-t tuner module is a dual dvb-t tuner. Yes that is possible. Of course the recording will be the proof as I havent seen the box with the lid off.

Johnboy1951

So it should be possible to record four different channels at the same time ...... 2 sat and 2 terrestrial.

It might even be possible to watch a fifth channel on screen ......

STB.

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

It does have 2 satellite inputs.
Didn't kerri billen say the 2nd sat input would be available with the update.

YOU should have been on the beta test.

patsryan

STB. wrote: »

YOU should have been on the beta test.

I applied for the beta test but never heard anything back either

Tigerandahalf

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

So it should be possible to record four different channels at the same time ...... 2 sat and 2 terrestrial.

It might even be possible to watch a fifth channel on screen ......

Possible that channels on the same mux could be recorded at the same time, as virgin 1, rte 2 and tg4 are on the same mux (If I have that right, I know rte 1 and 2 are on different muxes).

For satellite as you say it could be possible to record 2 satellite channels if they are being tuned from the same transponder and watch another sat channel on the other tuner.

Wait and see really.

I have only 1 sat cable in my sitting room so maybe I am not the best candidate to test the box. They might find it hard to get people with 2 sat feeds.

Johnboy1951

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

Possible that channels on the same mux could be recorded at the same time, as virgin 1, rte 2 and tg4 are on the same mux (If I have that right, I know rte 1 and 2 are on different muxes).

For satellite as you say it could be possible to record 2 satellite channels if they are being tuned from the same transponder and watch another sat channel on the other tuner.

Wait and see really.

I have only 1 sat cable in my sitting room so maybe I am not the best candidate to test the box. They might find it hard to get people with 2 sat feeds.

I am now a little confused, sorry.

Are there two double tuners in this box .... dual DVB-T and dual DVB-S?

If so then both DVB-T muxes can be accessible at the one time, as well as two DVB-S transponders with maybe 20 channels.

Tigerandahalf

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

I am now a little confused, sorry.

Are there two double tuners in this box .... dual DVB-T and dual DVB-S?

If so then both DVB-T muxes can be accessible at the one time, as well as two DVB-S transponders with maybe 20 channels.

The manufacturers state that the box has dual (normally means 2 separate) multi-format tuners that support dvb-s2 and dvb-t2.
We have been led to believe that software in the box can allow each tuner to either tune a terrestrial or a satellite channel.

How many channels can be recorded at the one time we don't know yet. But it should be possible to watch rte1 while recording rte 2. Similarly it should be possible to watch a satellite channel on one transponder while recording one on another (2 sat feeds needed).

That is what we have been drip fed.

lsjmhar

This is great news. Another step in the right direction. Once this is implemented and stabilised the team can work on new on demand apps.

STB.

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

The manufacturers state that the box has dual (normally means 2 separate) multi-format tuners that support dvb-s2 and dvb-t2.

We have been led to believe that software in the box can allow each tuner to either tune a terrestrial or a satellite channel.

The confusion only arose as they used descriptions of tuners that do not exist.

There are 3 tuner modules on this box. One DVB-T and Two DVB-S2. There are no hybrid tuner modules that do satellite and terrestrial as one tuner module.

It just happens that the single DVB-T tuner module is a Dual tuner. Why they couldn't describe it that way in the first instance I do not know.

Tigerandahalf

STB. wrote: »

The confusion only arose as they used descriptions of tuners that do not exist.

There are 3 tuner modules on this box. One DVB-T and Two DVB-S2. There are no hybrid tuner modules that do satellite and terrestrial as one tuner module.

It just happens that the single DVB-T tuner module is a Dual tuner. Why they couldn't describe it that way in the first instance I do not know.

Did you get confirmation of that from a reliable source?

Why the talk then of software changing the tuner function?

Johnboy1951

hehehehehehehehe

I remain confused over the tuner capabilities of this box



I guess I will have to wait and see what this software upgrade allows the box to do, to get some idea of it.

Tigerandahalf

https://www.ekt-digital.com/stb-devices/dxd7025

As we shared before the above link is the box that saorview have used for their Connect platform.

It clearly states that the box has dual multi format tuners that can tune t/t2/s/s2/c/c2.

Now we have been over this before so let us hope we can leave it until the recording is enabled, as this has already been debated over and back.

Unless stb has a reliable source.

The above linked box has the exact same 3 inputs (2 satellite, 1 terrestrial) as the Connect box.

Johnboy1951

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

https://www.ekt-digital.com/stb-devices/dxd7025

As we shared before the above link is the box that saorview have used for their Connect platform.

It clearly states that the box has dual multi format tuners that can tune t/t2/s/s2/c/c2.

Now we have been over this before so let us hope we can leave it until the recording is enabled, as this has already been debated over and back.

Unless stb has a reliable source.

The above linked box has the exact same 3 inputs (2 satellite, 1 terrestrial) as the Connect box.

So that brings it back to two tuners in total, which can be any combination of DVB-T and/or DVB-S.

Sam Russell

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

So that brings it back to two tuners in total, which can be any combination of DVB-T and/or DVB-S.

The box has two identical tuners, controlled by software. If recording is not enabled, then neither is the second tuner.

Each tuner can be DVB-T2 or DVB-S2, and is set by software. It follows, that the first tuner is used for viewing or recording, while the second is used for recording.

I pointed this out quite some time ago.

Johnboy1951

Originally Posted by Johnboy1951 
So that brings it back to two tuners in total, which can be any combination of DVB-T and/or DVB-S.

Sam Russell wrote: »

The box has two identical tuners, controlled by software. If recording is not enabled, then neither is the second tuner.

Each tuner can be DVB-T2 or DVB-S2, and is set by software. It follows, that the first tuner is used for viewing or recording, while the second is used for recording.

I pointed this out quite some time ago.

Yes I was aware of that previous post, which is why I used back and was referring to the information contained here
https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=108362528&postcount=2164

corm500

Anyone know if there will be a limit on the size of hardrive used? For example would a 2tb WD passport be ok?

Gerry Wicklow

It is now possible to get cheap SDR (software defined radio) tuners for under €20 which cover 25 to 1,500Mhz. Receiving FM, AM, CW, DVB etc is all down to the software after the tuner. I imagine it wouldn't take much to make something similar to receive DVB-T or DVB-S as required.

AngryLips

Does this mean that retailers will start selling this with a bundled harddrive?

patsryan

AngryLips wrote: »

Does this mean that retailers will start selling this with a bundled harddrive?

Unlikely will be bundled as the hard drive is external, but retailers may suggest the user to buy an external HDD.

Gerry Wicklow

patsryan wrote: »

Unlikely will be bundled as the hard drive is external, but retailers may suggest the user to buy an external HDD.

No doubt at equally inflated prices

Tony

Gerry retailers have little or no control over the wholesale price since there is only one supplier of connect boxes . Hard drives can be obtained by anyone at competitive prices so there's really no reason why these should be inflated pricewise.

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

No doubt at equally inflated prices

Sam Russell

Tony wrote: »

Gerry retailers have little or no control over the wholesale price since there is only one supplier of connect boxes . Hard drives can be obtained by anyone at competitive prices so there's really no reason why these should be inflated pricewise.

Just like HDMI cables, you know, the digital ones that are gold plated. A snip at €99.

STB.

Sam Russell wrote: »

The box has two identical tuners, controlled by software. If recording is not enabled, then neither is the second tuner.

Each tuner can be DVB-T2 or DVB-S2, and is set by software. It follows, that the first tuner is used for viewing or recording, while the second is used for recording.

I pointed this out quite some time ago.

The box has three tuner modules (NIMMs).

One is a dual dvb-t/t2 on the one input.

The other two are dvb-s/s2 tuner modules. One sat input is disabled right now. This is done by not loading the driver for that NIMM.

Disabling recording is not done by disabling the last tuner. Recording is disabled by not allowing the mounting of devices connected to the usb port.

The high horse brigade

Sam Russell wrote: »

Just like HDMI cables, you know, the digital ones that are gold plated. A snip at €99.

Murphy's law.
It's morally wrong for suckers to keep their money

Gerry Wicklow

Sam Russell wrote: »

Just like HDMI cables, you know, the digital ones that are gold plated. A snip at €99.

Don't forget the "digital aerials" or "HD aerials"

Tigerandahalf

I opened the box last night. The screws were actually under the soft pads of the box. I couldn't see the tuners as the circuit board covered the top of the box.

Johnboy1951

STB. wrote: »

The box has three tuner modules (NIMMs).

One is a dual dvb-t/t2 on the one input.

The other two are dvb-s/s2 tuner modules. One sat input is disabled right now. This is done by not loading the driver for that NIMM.

Disabling recording is not done by disabling the last tuner. Recording is disabled by not allowing the mounting of devices connected to the usb port.

I do not have one of these boxes, but from what I have been reading it seems to be set up something like this .....

two tuners, which can be switched between DVB-T & DVB-S
The DVB-S inputs require two connections, because the device is not Unicable (or equivalent) compatible. The DVB-T input can be easily split inside.

So as each tuner is software switched to DVB-S it is also connected to a DVB-S input.
As each tuner is software switched to DVB-T, it then gets the connection to the DVB-T aerial input.

That gives a total of two tuners, each with dual capability (DVB-S & DVB-T), and seems to cover all the capability including that promised with the software update.

Is the above not a reasonable 'guess' at the internals of the box?

Tigerandahalf

As Johnboy says you have to have the 2 sat inputs on the box as to watch a satellite channel and record another you need both sat inputs.

There must be a connection from each input to each tuner.

As the tuners are either terrestrial or satellite you will be limited to the amount of channels you can record. Watch and record a satellite channel at the same time, you won't be able to record on the saorview side.

Likewise watch rte 1 and record rte 2 at the same time, you won't be able to do anything on the satellite side (the 2 tunere are taken up tuning rte1 and 2 as these channels are on different muxes)

corm500

lukeeman wrote: »

i used these instructions and it seperate the Humax box and Saorview box controls.
https://support.icetv.com.au/hc/en-us/articles/227081347-How-do-I-set-the-Humax-and-remote-to-a-different-code-or-2-Humax-PVRs-in-1-room

Thanks lukeeman. It worked a treat.

Sam Russell

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

I do not have one of these boxes, but from what I have been reading it seems to be set up something like this .....

two tuners, which can be switched between DVB-T & DVB-S
The DVB-S inputs require two connections, because the device is not Unicable (or equivalent) compatible. The DVB-T input can be easily split inside.

So as each tuner is software switched to DVB-S it is also connected to a DVB-S input.
As each tuner is software switched to DVB-T, it then gets the connection to the DVB-T aerial input.

That gives a total of two tuners, each with dual capability (DVB-S & DVB-T), and seems to cover all the capability including that promised with the software update.

Is the above not a reasonable 'guess' at the internals of the box?

It is right. Two tuners that are software switchable between DVB-S and DVB-T.

STB.

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

I do not have one of these boxes, but from what I have been reading it seems to be set up something like this .....

two tuners, which can be switched between DVB-T & DVB-S
The DVB-S inputs require two connections, because the device is not Unicable (or equivalent) compatible. The DVB-T input can be easily split inside.

So as each tuner is software switched to DVB-S it is also connected to a DVB-S input.
As each tuner is software switched to DVB-T, it then gets the connection to the DVB-T aerial input.

That gives a total of two tuners, each with dual capability (DVB-S & DVB-T), and seems to cover all the capability including that promised with the software update.

Is the above not a reasonable 'guess' at the internals of the box?

None of that differs from what I said.

3 tuner modules (ie 3 inputs)

2 Sat inputs and 1 dvb-t tuner. The dvb-t tuner module is a dual tuner. So there are 4 tuners, 2 for each.

There was much confusion in this thread that each tuner input (module) was switchable between dvb-s and dvb-t as if it had SDR like capabilities that covers those massive frequency bands, which was nonsense.

Tony

Note sure what your point is Sam. Connect is overpriced there's no doubt about that. My point was that there is no reason for hard drives to be overpriced too as they are available from many sources.

Sam Russell wrote: »

Just like HDMI cables, you know, the digital ones that are gold plated. A snip at €99.

Sam Russell

Tony wrote: »

Note sure what your point is Sam. Connect is overpriced there's no doubt about that. My point was that there is no reason for hard drives to be overpriced too as they are available from many sources.

If I am buying an overpriced product, the salesman will think I am fair game to be offered another related overpriced product. I think it is called upselling.

Tony

I'm a salesman and I do not think that way. Sorry for off topic guys

Sam Russell wrote: »

If I am buying an overpriced product, the salesman will think I am fair game to be offered another related overpriced product. I think it is called upselling.

patsryan

In other news did anyone get access to the beta?

JDxtra

patsryan wrote: »

In other news did anyone get access to the beta?

Nope. I enquired on October 11th. Heard nothing at all. There's probably no beta.

Sam Russell

Tony wrote: »

I'm a salesman and I do not think that way. Sorry for off topic guys

Tony, I am sure you do not sell overpriced goods and do not attempt to upsell other overpriced goods that might relate to the sale. You always come across as very professional.

I am refering to the selling of waranty extensions of an extra year (but sounding like two years) at a cost of 20% of the sale price or the expensive cables you do not need.

Tigerandahalf

I was talking to the user THHB on another thread about the Connect box having a 2.0 usb. This probably means that recordings at one time will be limited in number as usb 2.0 could only accomodate upto 2 HD channels at a time. This is a limitation of having an external drive.

Given that one will need timeshift functions on the channel you are watching this could mean recording is limited to one HD channel or perhaps 2 if timeshift is not in use (a channel not being watched).

I think Saorview in designing the tender had very low expectations of what the box needed to offer.

In truth recordings are not a huge deal to me anyway. Having a player (with very little or short ads) in HD is much more important.

Tony

Fair enough Sam

Sam Russell wrote: »

Tony, I am sure you do not sell overpriced goods and do not attempt to upsell other overpriced goods that might relate to the sale. You always come across as very professional.

I am refering to the selling of waranty extensions of an extra year (but sounding like two years) at a cost of 20% of the sale price or the expensive cables you do not need.

tsue921i8wljb3

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

I was talking to the user THHB on another thread about the Connect box having a 2.0 usb. This probably means that recordings at one time will be limited in number as usb 2.0 could only accomodate upto 2 HD channels at a time. This is a limitation of having an external drive.

I think Saorview in designing the tender had very low expectations of what the box needed to offer.

In truth recordings are not a huge deal to me anyway. Having a player (with very little or short ads) in HD is much more important.

USB 2.0 has a theoretical speed of 480 Mbps which would accommodate 48 - 60 HD channels. Obviously you won't get that in real world applications but the limit would be far greater than two.

Tigerandahalf

Lincoln Important Syllable wrote: »

USB 2.0 has a theoretical speed of 480 Mbps which would accommodate 48 - 60 HD channels. Obviously you won't get that in real world applications but the limit would be far greater than two.

But that doesn't work out in reality. Best case is 480 Mbps. I'll leave it to the other user to explain better as he knows a lot more than me.

Take it anyway, you won't be recording more than 2 hd channels at a time.

I just checked the humax 1100s specs and it also has a usb 2.0. I wonder how many channels it can record at once. I wonder is the cpu an issue.

I gave a quick check there at the humax specs and it seems to be limited to recording 2 channels as well. I do wonder if it could record more channels on the same transponder.

tsue921i8wljb3

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

But that doesn't work out in reality. Best case is 480 Mbps. I'll leave it to the other user to explain better as he knows a lot more than me.

Take it anyway, you won't be recording more than 2 hd channels at a time.

Two HD channels are probably max 20 Mbps so USB 2.0 won't be the limiting factor if there is one.

You completely misunderstood what he said so I don't need it explained. Thanks for the suggestion though.

STB.

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

I was talking to the user THHB on another thread about the Connect box having a 2.0 usb. This probably means that recordings at one time will be limited in number as usb 2.0 could only accomodate upto 2 HD channels at a time. This is a limitation of having an external drive.

Given that one will need timeshift functions on the channel you are watching this could mean recording is limited to one HD channel or perhaps 2 if timeshift is not in use (a channel not being watched).

I think Saorview in designing the tender had very low expectations of what the box needed to offer.

In truth recordings are not a huge deal to me anyway. Having a player (with very little or short ads) in HD is much more important.

The system memory is 1 gig of DDR3. Had it been any lower, recording or timeshifting might not have worked at all.


The SOC on these is an ALi M3733 dual core Cortex A9 processor with a dual core Mali-400 GPU as used on the GoWarrior Tiger Development boards.

The high horse brigade

I think you'll find I said the Connect needs to be decent hardware with a fast enough CPU and enough ram to handle 2 or more 1080i writes to a usb drive.

thatwilldopig

patsryan wrote: »

In other news did anyone get access to the beta?

Nope..

Treviso

Got an email from them this afternoon to say I was included in the testing. Just needed to reply to them with the serial number of my device.