(Note: this is an updated video on our original one. The box we originally used to test this feature didn’t support the digital teletext, even though in theory it should have)
Since Saorsat was tentatively launched, we have been asked by several customers if the new Aertel Digital Teletext service was available on Saorsat. Finally we had a few moments this morning and got the chance to test it and do a video up on the subject.
At a minimum you would, on paper at least, need a satellite receiver that is HD & DVB-S2 compatible along with having an Mheg5 engine onboard.
As can be seen in the video above, it would appear that digital teletext is is available on the Saorsat platform. A generic HD DVB-S2 Satellite Receiver like the Xoro 8530 HD Satellite Receiver, will do the job fine as far as receiving the Saorsat channels goes but would not support the digital teletext feature.
There’s a cracking summer of sport coming our way this year. Euro 2012 kicks off in June, the London Olympics take place in July and August and the GAA Championships run from May to September.
The great news is that all these events will be broadcast in HD for free on SAORVIEW.
For the first time ever, consumers will not need to pay a subscription to Sky or UPC to enjoy their favourite sports coverage in crystal clear HD quality. It’s all available on RTÉ Two HD on SAORVIEW.
Why not check out the new officially approved Saorview Combo by Triax. The TSC114 can not only get all the Irish Saorview channels but can also bring in the free UK channels also. It is simply the best combo receiver on the market in our opinion and is the only Saorview approved combo (correct as of 10/5/12) to date in Ireland. It does come at a premium because of the certification process for Saorview, so if you fancy something on the lower end of your budget, why not check out the xoro Combo Receiver. You still get all the same channels and the HD too but it comes without the mheg5 engine that then Triax TSC114 has which means no digital teletext but if that isn’t that important to you then maybe it’s the box for you.
It’s up to yourselves really, we have something for everyone’s budget here at TvTrade.ie. Make sure to check out all the videos under the user guides tab of each product to help you make your decision as the digital switchover approaches. Our videos are fast approaching 2,000,000 views and have proved massively popular with the public. Make sure to check them out. Be Saorview informed!
Word reached us today that there has been a development with regard to the saorsat channel line up. From May 1st 2012, Ireland’s Irish language channel, TG4, has been added to the Saorsat channel line up.
This brings the total of channels available on the free to air Saorsat platform to 6 in total. The channels that are available now are as follows…
RTE 1
RTE 2 HD
RTE News Now
RTEjr
RTE One+1
TG4
The only channels missing now are TV3 and 3e and hopefully some deal can be worked out with RTE to include these at a future point. By including TG4 on Saorsat, we are getting ever closer to a full line up which will make Saorsat an even more viable alternative to subscription TV for people who can’t avail of the new saorview service due to being in a poor or marginal signal area.
Thanks to everyone involved the the Big Wekend Cleanup in Portarlington that was shown on RTE’s Dirty Old Towns last night on TV. With a little hard work and a lot of community spirit, great things can be achieved. The video above is a cut together video of all of Portarlington’s contribution to the TV programme. See if you can spot yourself and well done to everyone.
With the start of the traditional growing season underway, our sister company ‘The Garden Shop’ has a range of discounts on a wide variety of items to kick off spring for you. With discounts ranging from 10 – 20% across a range of gardening categories, we’re sure that you will find a bargain for yourself. The categories included in this offer are listed below.
Make sure to enter the discount code ‘TheGardenShop’ during the checkout process and apply it to ensure you receive these discounts. Offers are valid until 30th March 2012.
CBS Reality has gone missing from Free to Air Satellite Receivers towards the end of March 2012. It has just moved transponder. The video above shows how to tune CBS Reality back in. Owners of official Freesat boxes will have to do nothing as CBS Reality will automatically retune itself.
A short time ago, a customer based on the Isle of Anglesey contacted us regarding getting a Saorsat system working in his home. His results were encouraging and below is the text of the conversation with him.
David (Anglesey resident) informed us;
At last I have got round to looking for Saorsat – with success.
I’m using HD Receiver – from a chain store satellite kit that contained a 65cm dish, HD receiver and standard single LNB.
I have ignored the 65cm dish and used an 80cm dish and your KA Band LNB – somewhat lashed up at the moment.
I receive 42 Quality and 77 Strength. I don’t know how much margin I have in hand but we have had lots of rain showers over the past couple of days on Anglesey and it has held solid reception.
For comparison – Off my Sky zone 1 Dish, I get 78 and 99 for Eutelsat/Astra on 28.2E off this receiver.
If the official line for Saorsat in Ireland is 80cm, even though it seems to be OK here I’m sure 90cm or 1m would give a better overall rain margin.
I have followed RTE reception since the days of Kippure ch7 which was excellent in Anglesey, and channels H and E – not so good (especially chE} over the last few years. I’m convinced they wound down the power at some point or changed the aerial directivity. Excellent when the troposphere is feeling kind. DVB-T – no sniff here but OK on higher parts of the mainland with a good sea path to Kippure/Three Rock.
I live in the village with the long name on SW Anglesey.
Our response;
Well done on getting this set up and working and thanks for emailing me.
Just to clarify you used:
An 80cm Satellite Dish
A KA Band LNB
HD Receiver
And are now able to receive the following channels
RTE 1, RTE 2 HD, RTEjnr, RTE News and RTE+1
This is very impressive – I had my doubts if it would work on Anglesey. I will do a blog post and use your findings to let others know who may be interested.
Lets hope the powers that be don’t do anything in the future to try and limit your access to Saorsat.
P.S. Best of luck in the Grand Slam game (It should have been us!)
Note: This is a guide for reference only. The signal strength and posotioning may change after official launch of Saorsat. Due to the nature of the Saorsat signal, it may not be receivable in every location on Anglesey. Residents of the Isle of Anglesey should consult the advice of professional satellite installers with regards to the reception of Saorsat on Anglesey.
Word has reached us this week of a development in pay TV. UPC have secured the rights to some of the new Saorview channels to broadcast them on their network. This is good news for UPC subscribers but the bad news is, you’ll still have to pay for them. It will be included in your monthly fee but are added on at no additional cost.
The Saorview channels that will be on UPC will be…………
RTE One+1 – EPG 107 – Available from Wednesday 14th March 2012
RTETwo HD – EPG 135 – Available from Thursday 15th March 2012
RTEjr – EPG 600 – Available from Thursday 15th March 2012
As I say this is in general good news for UPC subscribers but the fact is that RTE 2 HD will not be available to everyone currently on UPC. Only areas that are ‘HD enabled’ will be able to get RTE 2 HD on UPC. On a basic UPC subscription TV package, it has many disadvantages to Free TV systems
The simple fact is that by going free to air;
You do not have any TV bills
All the free Irish & UK HD channels are available to you
You are pretty much guaranteed 100% coverage in Ireland by either Terrestrial, Satellite or a combination of both
We are publishing the results of the Free TV in Ireland Survey Results today. A lot of the results were in line with what we thought but there were some surprises. For example, the majority of people would prefer if Adualt Content was preprogrammed into their receivers, a surprising result especially if used in a family environment. Another surprise was that the new Irish Digital Teletext Service was popular with the majority of respondents. We would have thought that, teletext was possibly a thing of the past with the advent of smart phones and the like but there is still evidently, a large market for this. Have a look a the results above and see if you agree.
The winner of the competition we ran along side this survey was Niall McKenna from Co. Meath.
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