Which TV tuner? FlyDVB-T Duo or FlyTV Prime 35

naitkris

hello, i am a complete newbie when it comes to TV tuner cards but wanted to know if people have any experience on the following 2 TV tuner cards i have come across:

LifeView FlyDVB-T Duo - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5197852709

LifeView FlyTV Prime 35 FM Platinum Edition - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5196313328

the main and perhaps only advantage of the FlyDVB-T Duo over the FlyTV Prime 35 is digital tuning of both digital TV and radio (as it seems to do everything the FlyTV Prime 35 can do also) however it appears that digital tuning is only useful for Free to View TV (http://www.freeview.co.uk/) which may not be available in Ireland so i've heard - what do people know on this?

i am also on a low budget, so something too pricey is a no-go for me

pauln

Have you looked at the Hauppage range, they make some good stuff also.

secret_squirrel

Nice bit of kit - shame the FreeView tuner will be useless over here.

You might want to consider something without a DVB tuner since it might lower the price.

The FlyTV MCE FM from the same bunch will do what you want - plus its MCE 2005 compatable too.

naitkris

thanks for the advice, i think i will go for the LifeView FlyTV Prime 35 FM Platinum Edition card.

positron

secret_squirrel wrote:

Nice bit of kit - shame the FreeView tuner will be useless over here.

Sorry about the newbie question, but why? All the channels listed in that link (or this link: http://cgi.ebay.ie/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=96913&item=6775821662&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW ), any of them available here?

secret_squirrel

afaik - unless you are near the border there are no digital terrestrial channels in Ireland. I've heard tell that you might be able to pick up one of the welsh transmitters cant confirm this though.

Stephen

That FlyDVB-T Duo was given with the Aldi laptop a few weeks back, so I have one. The posters above are correct in saying that the DVB part of it will be useless here, as there are no digital terrestrial broadcasters in Ireland, but it works fine with analogue TV signals too.

positron

Thanks Squirrel and Stephen!

po0k

What about Linux support? :)

stagolee

i was looking at this one myself
http://komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=306786&view=detailed
but i was under the delusion that there might be some free digital terestrial stations on the go soon due to reading an article here
http://www.dvb.org/index.php?id=260
heres the article

_Ireland

Latest

Digital TV system to be tested in Dublin



The Government will unveil a pilot digital television project in Dublin next month and announce plans to switch off the existing RTÉ analogue television service according to the Irish Times 28/03/2005.

The test service is now expected to begin broadcasting in Dublin later this year. It will enable consumers with a digital television to receive up to 12 television and radio channels for free without having to pay a subscription fee.

Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey is quoted as saying that the service would form the first stage of a nationwide roll out of a digital terrestrial television service.

"We hope to have up to 12 channels available on the system, all the national channels and an additional six or seven channels for TV, video or radio services."

Mr Dempsey is also quoted as saying that the Government would switch off RTÉ's existing analogue free-to-air television service sometime between 2010-2015. The final date chosen for switch-off would probably be closer to 2010 than 2015.

According to the article 38 per cent of households in the Republic still depend on analogue terrestrial broadcasting, and as many as 90 per cent of homes use a normal aerial for extra TV sets.

The Government and RTÉ first began preparing a strategy to introduce digital television in the Republic in 1997. But the first attempt to hold a competition to entice a private operator to set up and run a system ended in failure in 2002.

Source: Jamie Smyth Technology Reporter, Irish Times 28th March 2005.

Recent

Ireland plans free DTT

Ireland's DTT service is to be free-to-air. The decision was revealed in a wide-ranging consultation from communications watchdog, Comreg, on the use of spectrum in the digital age.
Source: Cable & Satellite, Europe. January February 2005

To look at the original Comreg 04/108 document click on
http://www.comreg.ie/_fileupload/publications/ComReg04108.pdf



Background

Applications for a DVB-T Digital Multiplex licence were sought by the Minister in 2001. The only applicant has since withdrawn. In 2002 the Office of the Director of Telecommunication Regulation (ODTR) was replaced by the Commission for Communications Regulations (ComReg) and the current situation is unclear. Some reports suggest that DTT will not be deployed in Ireland until after the Regional Radiocommunication Conference RRC, which plans digital terrestrial broadcasting services in Region 1 and takes place during 2004/5.
Planning for 12 main stations and 18 major transposer stations has been completed and a further 20 transposer stations will be included later.

A DVB-T pilot trial in Dublin is soon to go ahead according to some reports. The four Irish-based terrestrial stations, RTE1, Network2, TV3 and TG4 along with six other channels will be broadcast. A start date is still to be announced.




General
Legislation in place March 2001
Analogue switch off 2010-2015 not decided

Sparky

knowing rte and the government, these tests wont happen till its too late.

secret_squirrel

I agree I wouldnt hold your breath....