Avtec L185DRS

good tv how much and where did you get it could use in bedroom in home too

Even with a decoder box?

I never really thought of it.

I suppose you are right. They are expensive enough to not do your job.

As you say if the interface is HDMI between two digital units (box/tv) the quality of the picture will be digital, but if the interface is co-axial cable the picture will be analogue via the analogue tuner, with a SCART connection pictures will only be viewable in SD, HD will bot be available.

As regards the difference between MPEG2 and MPEG4 as you say it's a higher compression rate for MPEG4, which is why 'new entrants' to DVB-T are choosing it for both SD and HD transmissions.
Currently there is a debate in the UK concerning the logistics and costs related to adding MPEG4 capability to the broadcast system there as the growth of more and more HD channels together with other broadcast services is expected to exceed the capabilities of the current MPEG2 system at some time in the future.

But, my OP concerned the lack of true multi-standard reception of the Avtex product, being a premium product at a premium price one should not have to purchase additional equipment to get full use from it. After all if Tesco can supply MPEG4 capable low end products to the Irish market surely Avtex should ensure their high end products perform similarly, or perhaps Avtex are not interested in their customers, both UK and Irish, being able to receive UK and Irish produced programs when touring in Saorview land.

It will still work perfectly with a mpeg-4 decoder box so not as useless as a Chocolate tea pot - I think my Avtex is great, the picture is better than most I have seen, the viewing angles are superb and the UK built in freeview decoder seems to pick up more channels easier than any other I have seen. Although It does seem silly not to provide an mpeg-4 decoder especially in the latest models.

Will an Irish Saorview mpeg-4 decoder work in France?, they are both in mepg-4 but are they using the same channels/frequency. Will we need a decoder for each country?

There is no benefit from HD with a TV 32" or smaller, other than the fact some channels or only broadcast in HD.

Good point, never realised the firmware could be changed on them to mpeg-4. Wonder can they be flashed.

Hi all

Have a range of 12v tv's in at the moment,, they will recieve freeview channels and saorview from the digital aerial, no need for other devices,, built in satellite tuner also

they are ideal for customers touring north and south of the isle,,

they are the megasat range of tv's

also still doing the avtex tellys..

Simon

Have emailed Avtex to see if there will be a flash upgrade to their Bios to make them Mpeg4.

Is it just me or is he afraid of a lot?

That doesn't seem to add up.
I was in my local Tesco to-day and their stock of TV's is all UK 'Freeview' with 'Saorview' stickers added. Other UK chains are the same, (Curry's, Argos, etc.) so it is unlikely to be anything other than a software or firmware upgrade, if a hardware change was required I would expect Tesco etc. to be selling specially assembled 'Saorview' only units for this market.

I remember back in the '80's a mate of mine was importing Audiosonic portables from France and all they did was take the set out of the box, adjusted the audio/vidio separation, put them back in the box and into stock.

IMHO 'Avtex and the rest of the UK based sellers are not just interested in supplying the MPEG4 sector of the market.
MPEG4 is not an 'odd ball' variant as 'Avtex seem to imply, it is the newest technology which is being adopted by current and recent entrants into the DVB-T scene, MPEG2 is 'old hat'. I wonder are 'Avtex still stuck in the old Windows 95 environment for their I.T. systems too.

Half true, most of Europe also use MPEG4 see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVB-T

Yes MPEG4 is backwards compatible for MPEG2, so as you say why they have not adopted this higher level technology as standard doe not make sense, particularly when 'Avtex claim to represent the pinnacle of the market.

BTW, 'Avtex's latest advertisement in The CC Magazine makes no mention that their products have Blu-ray disc compatibility either, so much for 'leading edge, multi-standard' pieces of technology.

I love their tag line "WHY COMPROMISE ?" which is exactly what they want us to do

Spanner in the works? Have a read of this...

HERE

We just use the TV for satellite reception on astra and we get that right down as far as Spain easy enough unless parked near a tree or sommit so MPEG4 dont effect our usage. The fact the TV can pause live TV while we get another drink is of more use lol. If sommit in the road just pop in a DVD or chill with some music That said we dont watch much TV when in the camper.
Last time I put a new TV aerial up at home added an RTE one as well think we watched one film one night and that was about it in 7 years. Freeview/Sat gives to many choices never mind what sky has as well.

Hi,
I think it all about " having choice"....like why do some people buy Caravans,,or some Motorhomes and tow with them. Hope you don't think I am mixing things up here . I don't usually if one takes time to re read my post on same on another fourm
Regards,
Brendan

Hi,
you are quite right it is all about choice , and that is your choice to make let it be Avetex TV or whatever,,lol,,,,,to make a statement that the Avtex TV's do not operate on the Saorview signal is not true and that is keeping it simple. Re read my posts on other fourms,
Regards,
Brendan