With the launch of Saorview, Ireland’s new Digital TV service from RTE last Thursday, I had been testing the Approved Saorview Boxes on the market currently to see if I could offer any advice to readers of my blog. Not just that, but just for my own curiosity aswell. Rarely has any new technology gone to market without any glitches, so I wanted to put the boxes though their paces and see which indeed, was the best Saorview Box.
At the time of writing, there are only 3 Saorview boxes on the market at the moment although there is another one coming from Aldi in the next couple of weeks and I will do a preliminary report on that based on it’s manual and also from intimate knowledge of the industry.
After testing the 3 Approved Boxes, The Triax Tr112, the walker and the finlux, there can be only one winner really. The Triax TR112 is far ahead of it’s rivals.
While the Saorview spec has to be met exaclty to be able to display the Saorview approved logo, it’s in other areas that it surpasses it’s rivals. As I say, a Saorview Box is just a Saorview box, but it’s the little extras that make the box stand out.
I found the Walker and the Finlux to be poorly designed from an aesthetical point of view. A little time and effort could have gone into this and not made them look a bit ‘clunky’. It’s the software inside also that they fall behind too. The TR112 software is well laid out in a bright and easy to follow fashion, where as the competitor boxes lack this software design finish.
The next area where the Triax Saorview Box leads the way, and it is streets ahead of it’s rivals is the actual functions of the box. When the TR112 cam out, after testing, I found that there was only one glitch. When you recorded a programme using the EPG, the show thatw as saved, had the name of the previous programme. This was resolved by Triax within a week with a software update and now as I write this the box performs as advertised. Perfect.
The same cannot be said about the other two. Although cheaper boxes, they sill have several bugs that need to be ironed out with software fixes but given that these bugs are well known, they have been very slow to release a fix for them and this is why I am marking them down here. For example, the Walker pause button does not work and this was identified nearly a month ago and no sign of a software uopdate to date? Kudos to Triax for their speedy response.
Now for the new Aldi Saorview box. After reading it’s manual online from the manufacturer website, again it meets the saorview spec so from that point of view it is a runner. It’s cheaper than the others again which is always good but when you inverstigate further, you see why it is cheaper. The media player on the Aldo Saorview Box is worse than useless according to it’s own sppec, mp3 and jpg only. The Triax Saorview box, has an exceptional media player including high def movies. The cost of extra licencing fees for the additional codecs to do this obviously push up the cost of production but as an add-on to a saorview box, it is unrivalled by any of the others.
I can’t speak to how well the PVR functions work on the new Aldi Saorview box but it is my understanding that it’s is just a rebadged walker so there is no reason to believe that it will work any better than the original. So they better get the finger out and get that software update released.
The final point of the Aldi Saorview box is that the menu system, according to screenshots in it’s own manul look like it was designed by a child. Very basic, boxy, horrible looking in this writer’s opinion. But maybe that’s just me, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that.
Over all, there can really be only one winner at this point. The Triax TR112 is the only confirmed box without flaws or bugs, looks good and does exactly waht it says on the tin. The extras included with the box are unmatched and for the extra few quid it costs, why skimp?
COMPUTER users have been targeted by the operators of a sophisticated scam seeking to gain access to bank details and other personal information on their computer.
Scores of people in Dublin and other cities have reported receiving unsolicited cold calls in recent days, in which a telemarketer seeks to gain access to the person’s computer.
There are several variations to their approach, but most involve a “PC doctor” telling victims their computers are not working properly. The caller, who often claims to be working for “Windows” or to be a Microsoft agent, seeks to get the victim to turn on the computer and go to a particular website.
The calls are long-distance and appear to be made from India, according to a number of recipients.
Callers promise to speed up the victim’s computer, or rectify a claimed fault in the computer, or get rid of viruses. Older users have been particularly targeted by the cold calling campaign.
However, by connecting to the website to which they are directed, users could inadvertently allow scammers to access their computers. Gangs use spyware to spy on what a person does on a computer and keyloggers to record what keys are pressed, and the information gleaned can be used to identify banking passwords and other private information.
In another variation of the scam, the caller offers to “fix” the computer remotely and charges a fee for this, as well as a further fee if the person agrees to sign up to a long-term maintenance deal.
While it is possible to repair computers remotely, consumer advocates say it is very unwise to hand over credit card details to a third party, especially a cold caller, whose credentials have not been checked.
A reputable, above baord IT company will NEVER contact you to tell you, you have a virus. Never give these f*ckers the time of day. Just get their name, company name, or website(do not visit it) and take the phone number that rang you. Hang up(fell free to shout some abuse at them first) and give the details to the police.
The only way to safely remove viruses is to give your machine to a qualified IT technician. The PC Mechanic offers virus removal in Laois
The BBC today launched a simulcast of BBC One in high definition (HD).
BBC One HD, which will simulcast a network version of the BBC One schedule for the first time, will see some of the BBC’s most loved programmes including EastEnders, Holby City, The One Show, The Apprentice, The Weakest Link and QI move to HD by the end of the year. They will be broadcast alongside Autumn schedule highlights including Strictly Come Dancing, Human Planet and Waterloo Road.
Plans are also underway for HD moves for Songs Of Praise and Casualty, as well as Match Of The Day, A Question Of Sport, and Blue Peter.
BBC One in HD will be made available to all digital television platforms offering HD channels
It will be in addition to the existing BBC HD channel, which will showcase the best of the rest of the BBC in HD. It is also announced today that the BBC HD Channel itself will extend its regular broadcast hours over the coming months from around nine hours a day to 12.
The BBC is charged with “delivering to the public the benefit of emerging communications technologies and services” under its Royal Charter. With today’s announcement, the BBC continues its transition to deliver all its programmes in HD, with BBC One leading the way.
TV3 have joined Ireland’s Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) revolution and have joined Saorview lineup. The channels now on the system include
RTE1
RTE2
TV3
TG4
RTE News
RTENL2 (test transmissions only)
What does this mean ?
Finally for those living in Terrestrial TV land there is a full digital alternative to the existing analogue. Along with the 4 Irish you can also get the pretty excellent RTE News channels. So for those who like their TV free from bills and static interference this is by all accounts a good day. Those of us who have been following this story over the last year will know that TV3 had been DTT service last year and then went off so hopefully this time it is for real
How do I tune TV3 into my DTT receiver or MPEG4 TV ?
You don’t need to do anything it will come in automatically where the old RTENL1 signal was. If you rescan this signal is now called TV3
How Can I get the DTT service ?
To receive Digital Terrestrial TV you will need a UHF TV Aerial kit & some type of DTT receiver You have 3 basic choices in terms of receivers
Buy an MPEG4 TV – this way you don’t need a buy a receiver
Buy a DTT receiver – currently we only stock the TRIAX TR110 DTT Receiver which is SD but we hope to have a full HD DTT Receiver in stock by November 25.
Buy a combo Satellite & DTT receiver such as the Edision Argus combo receiver - which gives the 5 Irish, BBCs, ITVs etc on a single box
Where can I find information on the DTT Transmitters in ireland ?
Google analytics failed to collect any data on the 2nd of November 2010. Google are currently experienceing problems with the analytics software and should have it fixed shortly. It is effecting website tracking statistics from all over the work and not just Ireland.
The effects of this is webmasters and website owners are unable to track the usage of their website through analytics. This will not stop their websites working but is a hinderence in their SEO efforts.
For more info on SEO in Laois, contact the PC Mechanic.
Why my Freeview Receiver dropped the BBC Channels ?
BBC has changed the transponder it uses for certain channels
Which Freeview Channels have been affected ?
A range of BBC channels and their regional variations have been affected. From an Irish prespective the main channels are:
BBC 1 Northern Ireland
BBC 2 Northern Ireland
BBC 4 / CBeebies
*Note BBC 1, 2 London are unaffected – found around channel # 65, 66
How do I tune the Missing Freview Channels back in ?
The example below lists how to tune the back in these channels on Triax SR110. But the procedure is basically the same for all Freeview satellite receivers.
Note: covered in the video but not in the instructions here asre steps to delete any channels that have gone missing for the list.
Press ‘Menu’ button
Scroll down and select ‘Installation’ option
Enter Password ’0000′
Select ‘TP Scan’
Type in Frequency, Polarity, Symbol and Specify ‘Free’ Channels only
Channel
Frequency
Polarity
Symbol rate
BBC 1 Northern Ireland
10,817
Vertical
22000
BBC 2 Northern Ireland
10,817
Vertical
22000
BBC 4 / BCeebies
10,803
Horizontal
22000
BBC 1 Wales
10,788
Vertical
22000
BBC 2 Wales
10,788
Vertical
22000
Select ‘Search’
Additional channels are added to the end of the channel list.
Exit out of installation menu and check new list and sort as desired (covered in the video).
Fixes for Freeview Receivers with USB Ports
Note for all Freeview Satellite Receivers sold by TVTrade.ie that come with a USB port they have uploaded an updated channel s/w file e.g.
Just go the links above and click on the ‘Attachments’ tab and download the new channel list file.
Will this happen again & How do I prevent it ?
This is quite an usual problem. The BBC have not changed their frequencies in about 6 or 7 years, but it is a very big problem as there is probably about 5-10 million generic Free to air satellite receivers in the UK and Ireland which have been effected.
One way to prevent this would be to use an offical freesat receiver which will come with automatic channel updating.
InsulateYourHome.ie are offering BER certificates for FREE* if you get insulation or heating system grants from the SEAI Home Energy Savings Scheme. InsulateYourHome.ie will complete a Building Energy Rating certificate for the homeowner for the €100 that the homeowner will get back through the Home Energy Saving Scheme if the homeowner uses InsulateYourHome.ie for their upgrade works!
The Building Energy Rating Certificate (BER) is part on the Energy Performance of Buildings EU Directive. The aim of the Directive is to make the energy performance of a building transparent and available to potential purchasers or tenants.
The BER is simply a check to see how good your house is at using energy and will measure how much energy and carbon your house will use or produce over a given year.
The certificate will most likely be similar to the energy label for domestic electrical appliances, which rates the energy performance of the appliance from A to G.
The BER will cover energy use for space heating, water heating, ventilation and lighting, calculated on the basis of standard occupancy and will be valid for 10 years from the date of its being issued
The BER Cert will be required at the point of sale or rental of a building, or on completion of a new building. At this time the BER is only a rating of a home’s energy efficiency. The homeowner looking to sell or rent is under no obligation to make any recommended improvements.
The Building Energy Rating Certificate is an indication of the energy performance of a specific dwelling. It covers energy use for space heating, water heating, ventilation and lighting, calculated on the basis of standard occupancy. It is expressed as primary energy use per unit floor area per year. A Rated properties will tend to be the most energy efficient and will have the lowest energy bills.
I just want to give a shout out to Martin and Tiina in SelfStorageUnits.ie. They provide Self Storage facilities in Portlaosie. From what I have seen, they are they provide the largest range of storage options to home and business customers in the midlands.
‘We are located just a few minutes off the M7 Dublin-Cork-Limerick intersection point of the motorway, so you don’t have to drive through busy town traffic.
We have many Storage Units of varying sizes to suit every customer’s needs including short-term, medium-term & long-term storage rental and now offering Refrigerated Storage & Vehicle Storage services to our customers.
So whether you want to just tidy up your home, securely store your belongings while you are in the middle of Moving House, store all you old files and office documents, work on that old classic car in your own Workspace, store your caravan or mobile home, SelfStorageUnits.ie is the only Self Storage facility for you.’
Give them a shout or visit their website www.selfstorageunits.ie to see what services they offer.
