Satellite Newby - Clanger Dropped !!!

[moorsview]

Hi we just ordered a sagem DS186 HD freesat box from Amazon, but its on its way and I was told we should have bought a standard satellite reciever to get many more free channels.

Is that true have we dropped a clanger getting this one, or can you still tune in to other free channels beyond freesat, hope so.

Any suggestions, or advice about the best way to go or if this will do fine etc greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks Mark.

 

[swedish cook]

Generally no its not true. Freesat has the advantage of a 7 day EPG and the VAST majority of useful channels. Generic receivers give a useless now and next program guide.

If anything the clanger you dropped was not buying a recorder ! Thats a BIG clanger IMHO.

I checked the manual (link below) and you can add non-freesat channels (see page 20), some of the better Freesat receivers/recorders allow all non-freesat channels to be directly tuned. The non-freesat channels are mainly foreign language - do you want to pickup foreign language TV or just the odd channel ?

Manual

 

[moorsview]

Hi thanks , sounds promising and should be fine then.

It was actually a satellite installer told me it won`t do that, so I should have just got a standard one.

This has 3 colours out so handy for the old lcd projector and sounds as if upscaling is good too.

We have PVR on the tv and I think most things should store on that, well the digital stuff.

Anyway thank you again and for the link.

Best Mark

 

[logiciel]

Here are all the channels on the EPG: what-you-get/our-channels - what more do you want than those?

There are three questions - "3 colours out", "upscaling", "PVR on the tv" - what are you getting at on those?

 

[grahamlthompson]

Here are all the channels on the EPG: what-you-get/our-channels - what more do you want than those?

There are three questions - "3 colours out", "upscaling", "PVR on the tv" - what are you getting at on those?

Inspired guess

3 colours out - Yellow CVBS Red/White analogue audio

Upscaling built in upscaling with a hdmi output

TV has a usb port you can record to a seperate pen or real usb HDD.

 

[logiciel]

Guesses look good to me.
TVs normally record by USB only from their Freeview tuners, not from external sources, so OP needs that PVR!

 

[moorsview]

Hi the sagem was listed as having 3 colours out via RCA Red, Green and Blue, but it came earlier and sadly doesn`t. That was to go in to the LCD projector.

Yes the TV records with PVR to usb stick, its plays them nicely from a computer etc too. I was hoping it would record from Digatal satalite, whatever you ae watching, hope so, anyone know at all please ? Thanks.

Re upscaling , yes these boxes supposedly upscale the std channels up a bit to near HD quality, or a bit better anyway, but all a bit new to me.

We only have 1-4 at the moment BBC1, 2 , ITV and Channel 4, and after the switch maybe up to 15, with luck, and I needed an aerial anyway so having a dish put up on Monday weather permitting !!!!

Appreciate any help or suggestions.

Many Thanks Mark.

 

[grahamlthompson]

Hi the sagem was listed as having 3 colours out via RCA Red, Green and Blue, but it came earlier and sadly doesn`t. That was to go in to the LCD projector.

.

You can't get Red Green Blue out from only 3 connections a 4th is required for synchonisation. In a scart cable the cvbs connection provides the synch.

3 video outputs like that will be YPrPb generally called component.

 

[logiciel]

The specification says "Audio outputs 3 x RCA" which doesn't make sense.
It has a co-ax digital audio output socket, and two phono sockets beside that - what are they for?
You should be able to get the video and audio outputs that you require from one of the Scart output sockets.
It's unlikely that the TV's USB socket will allow for recording from anything other than its internal tuners.
The manual should tell you one way or the other.
Here are all the Freesat PVRs in case you want to get that receiver exchanged: http://www.freesat.co.uk/products/freesat-box-range.

 

[kevkbuk]

The specification says "Audio outputs 3 x RCA" which doesn't make sense.
It has a co-ax digital audio output socket, and two phono sockets beside that - what are they for?

Left & Right analgoue audio outputs, hence the confusion with 3 x RCA audio outputs in the spec. This receiver only has scart or HDMI video out.

 

[moorsview]

Hi it was listed with component out, 3 colours, oh well.

Thanks RE the scart, I think there is a lead can g out to5 RCA`s, 3 colurs and two audio, so that will be OK but not sure length wise.

3 rca to 3rca 5 + Metres is easy usually

Best Mark.

 

[kevkbuk]

Thanks RE the scart, I think there is a lead can g out to5 RCA`s, 3 colurs and two audio, so that will be OK but not sure length wise.

There are such leads but they require scart sockets that output component, this probably doesn't.. you'll need a converter box which are approx £60.

 

[logiciel]

Where did you see that listing?
This is the actual specification: http://www.sagemcomdigital.co.uk/set-top-boxes/freesat/sagemcom-DSI86/.
If Component is really what you need for the PJ then my comment about the Scart sockets doesn't apply.
As kevkbuk says you might be able to do it with a converter.
I don't know of any Freesat machine that outputs Component, but generics often do.
A cable for it does use three cables, usually of different colours, but they don't carry separate video colours.
The cable can be of any reasonable length, but first you need the converter to connect it to!

 

[rolandh]

I don't know of any Freesat machine that outputs Component, but generics often do.

The Humax Foxsat-HD has Component out http://www.humaxdirect.co.uk/product.asp?ProdRef=10071#more-info but strangely according to the Spec of the Foxsat-HDR there is no Component.

Roland

 

[logiciel]

Strange indeed.
Maybe they got the idea from Sky.

 

[grahamlthompson]

The Humax Foxsat-HD has Component out http://www.humaxdirect.co.uk/product.asp?ProdRef=10071#more-info but strangely according to the Spec of the Foxsat-HDR there is no Component.

Roland

It's not strange shortly after the HD Foxsat was introduced Freesat restricted component output of boxes with component output to 576i. (1080i output works in non freesat mode like generic fta boxes). At the time I used a Foxsat-HD over component to a HD Ready TV with only one hdmi input (despite what the hdmi is best brigade says it delivered excellent HD pictures). As a result no later Freesat boxes have component output. Similar to earlier Sky-Hd boxes which also had HD component outputs. It's all down to DRM, HD analogue component can be copied.

 

[logiciel]

Agreed that component gives good results.

 

[moorsview]

Hi thanks for the foxsat advice.

Looks as if the sagem will be going back and one of those coming, for an extra £20 worth it for us.

Many Thanks Mark.

 

[swedish cook]

Hi thanks for the foxsat advice.

Looks as if the sagem will be going back and one of those coming, for an extra £20 worth it for us.

Many Thanks Mark.

Do consider getting a recorder, its a different world when your PVR can series record the programs you are interested in and when you want to watch TV you can just look at the recordings and see what YOU WANT to watch, rather than being controlled by the TV and watching whats currently on.

 

[logiciel]

Definitely - here they all are, again: http://www.freesat.co.uk/products/freesat-box-range.

 

[moorsview]

Hi thanks again, we ordered the Humax foxsat for £109 delivered from Amazon, as we have PVR on the tv for digital recording, seems ok, plus two decent vcrs.

Images on google show 3 colours out and listed as well so hopefully will be ok.

We do have DVI on the NEC LCD PROJECTOR so you can maybe get a long hdmi/dvi lead if needed , I think rgb in is sharper on it though.

Will the vcr record from freesat though, it shows one scart out to vcr on the humax image ?

Best, Thanks, Mark.

 

[grahamlthompson]

Will the vcr record from freesat though, it shows one scart out to vcr on the humax image ?

Best, Thanks, Mark.

Yes it will both scarts output 576i cvbs video and stereo analogue audio (if you have a stereo capable vcr). The vcr scart will also output s-video if you have a S-VHS vcr.

DVI should be way better as it outputs HD content if your projector is HD (and hdcp compatible). Unusually the Foxsat-HD also has HD component out (you have to use it in non-freesat mode) to get HD out of the component socket.

 

[logiciel]

we have PVR on the tv for digital recording
Images on google show 3 colours out and listed as well

Is that PVR actually the USB socket for recording from Freeview to external hard drive?
What do they mean by "3 colours"?

 

[grahamlthompson]

Is that PVR actually the USB socket for recording from Freeview to external hard drive?
What do they mean by "3 colours"?

Puzzled the hell out of me too. All my Freeview and Freesat kit is 24 bit colour a tad over 64 million colours

Anyone remember the first PC's which managed a whole 16 colours ? (12 bit)

 

[logiciel]

How many did my Spectrum have?