New Ofcom licences: Connect, Stream, Vision

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Muzer

03-09-2011

Originally Posted by Colin_London:
“This is just wrong. Both Sony and Samsung IDTVs have iPlayer and it's also available on Sony BD players, PVRs and Media Streaming devices.

It was also going to be on Humax PVRs but I don't know if it is live yet.”

But those ones aren't the official MHEG iPlayer, they're custom ones for those devices.

freeview_user

03-09-2011

And I'm not sure that they're MHEG either

I could be wrong.

Colin_London

03-09-2011

Well the Sony PVRs certainly use the MHEG version. The original BBC Blog about it stated that they were the main reason it was developed in the first place.

Anyhow, does it matter whether they are 'Custom' of 'Official MHEG' versions if they just work?

The list of Freeview HD devices with BBC iPlayer is actually quite big:

• 3VIEW Freeview HD PVR
• ADB i-CAN Freeview HD receiver and PVR: 2851T; i-CAN 5821T

• DIGITAL STREAM IP Set Top Box: DPS-1000
• HUMAX Freeview HD Receivers and PVRs: HDR-FOXT2
• LG Smart TVs: LV550T, LW550T, LW650T, LW950T, PZ570, PZ950; BluRay player: BD670 , HR600, HR650, HLX56S, HX46R, HX806 , HX906, HX966, HX976, HX996TS
• PANASONIC 2011 Viera TVs: VT30B, GT30B, ST30B, UT30B, G30B, S30B, DT30B, E30B
• Philips BluRay Player: BDP5200/05.
• SAMSUNG Smart TVs: C750, C650, C6500, C7000, C8000, C9000, D8000;
• SONY Televisions with Bravia Internet Video; Sony Blu-Ray Disk Players and Home Cinema Systems with Internet TV: BDP-S185, BDP-S280, BDP-S370, BDP-S380, BDP-S383, BDP-S470, BDP-S480, BDP-S570, BDP-S580; BDP-S770, BDP-S780; BDV-E280, BDV-E370, BDV-E380, BDV-E670W, BDV-E780W, BDV-E870, BDV-E980W, BDV-E880, BDV-EF200, BDV-F500, BDV-F700, BDV-H7000W, BDV-L600, BDV-L800, BDV-IZ1000; Sony Netbox: SMP-N100; Sony Freeview HD PVR: SVR-HDT500, SVR-HDT1000

• TOSHIBA Internet TVs: Regza RL Series, Regza WL Series, Regza VL Series

Muzer

03-09-2011

Someone asked why Freeview HD couldn't have iPlayer (implying an official one for all Freeview HD devices), and I just said it did but it only worked on one TV. Perhaps I'm wrong and it also works on a few Sony PVRs too as well as the one range of Sony TVs, I don't know -but it's still a ridiculously limited range of devices.

brumlad36

03-09-2011

Originally Posted by Colin_London:
“Well the Sony PVRs certainly use the MHEG version. The original BBC Blog about it stated that they were the main reason it was developed in the first place.

Anyhow, does it matter whether they are 'Custom' of 'Official MHEG' versions if they just work?

The list of Freeview HD devices with BBC iPlayer is actually quite big:

• 3VIEW Freeview HD PVR
• ADB i-CAN Freeview HD receiver and PVR: 2851T; i-CAN 5821T

• DIGITAL STREAM IP Set Top Box: DPS-1000
• HUMAX Freeview HD Receivers and PVRs: HDR-FOXT2
• LG Smart TVs: LV550T, LW550T, LW650T, LW950T, PZ570, PZ950; BluRay player: BD670 , HR600, HR650, HLX56S, HX46R, HX806 , HX906, HX966, HX976, HX996TS
• PANASONIC 2011 Viera TVs: VT30B, GT30B, ST30B, UT30B, G30B, S30B, DT30B, E30B
• Philips BluRay Player: BDP5200/05.
• SAMSUNG Smart TVs: C750, C650, C6500, C7000, C8000, C9000, D8000;
• SONY Televisions with Bravia Internet Video; Sony Blu-Ray Disk Players and Home Cinema Systems with Internet TV: BDP-S185, BDP-S280, BDP-S370, BDP-S380, BDP-S383, BDP-S470, BDP-S480, BDP-S570, BDP-S580; BDP-S770, BDP-S780; BDV-E280, BDV-E370, BDV-E380, BDV-E670W, BDV-E780W, BDV-E870, BDV-E980W, BDV-E880, BDV-EF200, BDV-F500, BDV-F700, BDV-H7000W, BDV-L600, BDV-L800, BDV-IZ1000; Sony Netbox: SMP-N100; Sony Freeview HD PVR: SVR-HDT500, SVR-HDT1000

• TOSHIBA Internet TVs: Regza RL Series, Regza WL Series, Regza VL Series”

And now also TVonics DTR-HD500, DTR-Z500HD.

Chris.

lbear

04-09-2011

Originally Posted by Muzer:
“Someone asked why Freeview HD couldn't have iPlayer (implying an official one for all Freeview HD devices), and I just said it did but it only worked on one TV. Perhaps I'm wrong and it also works on a few Sony PVRs too as well as the one range of Sony TVs, I don't know -but it's still a ridiculously limited range of devices.”

The MHEG5 version of the BBC iPlayer as used on Freesat and Freeview HD require the appropriate extensions to the MHEG 5 instruction set and a "live" ethernet connection. These would require software updates for virtually all boxes and the BBC would have to approve the combination before it release. With the late introduction of the Freeview version, which SHOULD have been done immediately after the introduction to Freesat, makers have gone another route.

Many have used another "app" based version of iPlayer that many would find preferable as they include an HD version that is better than the Freesat "high quality" one and access to radio programmes which is not on the MHEG5 version. The BBC still have to approve the software/hardware for access to allow the manufacturers to include their servers' address in their software.

Muzer

04-09-2011

Originally Posted by lbear:
“The MHEG5 version of the BBC iPlayer as used on Freesat and Freeview HD require the appropriate extensions to the MHEG 5 instruction set and a "live" ethernet connection. These would require software updates for virtually all boxes and the BBC would have to approve the combination before it release. With the late introduction of the Freeview version, which SHOULD have been done immediately after the introduction to Freesat, makers have gone another route.

Many have used another "app" based version of iPlayer that many would find preferable as they include an HD version that is better than the Freesat "high quality" one and access to radio programmes which is not on the MHEG5 version. The BBC still have to approve the software/hardware for access to allow the manufacturers to include their servers' address in their software.”

But all IDTV models that support iPlayer on their Freesat version should now support it - my Panny G20 for instance - and don't, thanks to the BBC's stupidity.

Any box that works with these three new services should also work with iPlayer, so once this service has been launched and it becomes clear which ones work, the BBC won't have any more excuses. But they still won't launch it, of course.

freeview_user

04-09-2011

My S20 should also. I have a PS3 so I just use that. It isn't MHEG. It's web-based

Secret-Squirrel

06-09-2011

Just came across this article on the register:-

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/06/freeview_iptv/

thewilks

06-09-2011

Originally Posted by Secret-Squirrel:
“Just came across this article on the register:-

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/06/freeview_iptv/”

I came here to post the link to that too... ya beat me

mersey70

10-09-2011

We have a Grundig GUD300HD box upstairs which to be honest I didn't even know had a ethernet connector but out of interest I connected it to the router and it clearly isn't active.

I had a look at the 'www.thesupportsite.co.uk' and there isn't an upgrade availablle right now.

As it appears to be a Harvard box would I be right in thinking it will be upgradable? I am a total novice with Freeview HD so apologies if this is a stupid question but is it a likely an OTA update could activate the ethernet port? Accessing international channels would be of great interest to me.

Thanks.

lbear

10-09-2011

Originally Posted by mersey70:
“We have a Grundig GUD300HD box upstairs which to be honest I didn't even know had a ethernet connector but out of interest I connected it to the router and it clearly isn't active.

I had a look at the 'www.thesupportsite.co.uk' and there isn't an upgrade availablle right now.

As it appears to be a Harvard box would I be right in thinking it will be upgradable? I am a total novice with Freeview HD so apologies if this is a stupid question but is it a likely an OTA update could activate the ethernet port? Accessing international channels would be of great interest to me.

Thanks.”

I rather doubt it. Harvard lost the right to use the Grundg name to Manhattan. However, the electronics for your Grundig appears to be shared by the Goodmans (also from Harvard), Tesco Technika STBHDH2010, Alba and Manhattan HDT 700. Tesco and Argos have drastically reduced the price of their versions (The Argos price is still about double Tesco's!!)

It may still be worthwhile emailing Harvard - and the people who sold you the Grundig - to point out that an enabled ethernet connection was part of the Freeview HD box minimum specifications and therefore it is "unfit for purpose". Under the Sale of Goods Acts, they should either remedy it or offer a refund.

mersey70

10-09-2011

Originally Posted by lbear:
“I rather doubt it. Harvard lost the right to use the Grundg name to Manhattan. However, the electronics for your Grundig appears to be shared by the Goodmans (also from Harvard), Tesco Technika STBHDH2010, Alba and Manhattan HDT 700. Tesco and Argos have drastically reduced the price of their versions (The Argos price is still about double Tesco's!!)

It may still be worthwhile emailing Harvard - and the people who sold you the Grundig - to point out that an enabled ethernet connection was part of the Freeview HD box minimum specifications and therefore it is "unfit for purpose". Under the Sale of Goods Acts, they should either remedy it or offer a refund.”

Thanks for the advice.

If the electronics are shared with those other models you mention would that mean in theory any update for those boxes would work on the Grundig?

We were given the box by someone who got it as a free gift with another appliance over a year ago so probably cannot get a refund.

lbear

10-09-2011

Originally Posted by mersey70:
“Thanks for the advice.

If the electronics are shared with those other models you mention would that mean in theory any update for those boxes would work on the Grundig?

We were given the box by someone who got it as a free gift with another appliance over a year ago so probably cannot get a refund.”

In theory yes but there are model specific detailed differences in the software that may mean a single update will not work (the most obvious are that different "makes" have different colour backgrounds and the name on the display).

mersey70

10-09-2011

Originally Posted by lbear:
“In theory yes but there are model specific detailed differences in the software that may mean a single update will not work (the most obvious are that different "makes" have different colour backgrounds and the name on the display).”

Thanks.

It's not a disaster if it cannot be upgraded,as you suggested the HD boxes are cheap enough now in some stores.

TelevisionUser

10-09-2011

Originally Posted by Secret-Squirrel:
“Just came across this article on the register:-

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/06/freeview_iptv/”

Thank you for posting that, Secret-Squirrel.

This all looks quite promising:

Dozens of new television channels are coming to Freeview this month, thanks to clever use of the MHEG standard and the connectivity already built into every Freeview HD box...Come the end of September those applications will allow viewers to select from dozens of specialist channels accessed over the internet connection mandated by the Freeview HD standard.

However, it would be nice to see some specific channel details as it's already one third of the way through September especially since we've already had the "Here today, gone tomorrow" TView!

If this does work out though, this could be a cheaper way of delivering local TV news and content to Freeview which is what the government wants.

chrisy

14-09-2011

Originally Posted by moon2011:
“http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/b...031451.article

Kelvin Mackenzie unveils new sports channel for freeview slot 112”

Ch 112 has now changed to specifically mention Sports Tonight, so it looks like that is all that will be on Stream for now.

It also tells me to connect my device to the Internet, so the screen it is displaying is wrong - I take it this is a side-effect of it not having launched yet. I get exactly the same message on a non-HD receiver.

It mentions http://www.sportstonightlive.com/info and that doesn't exist either.

Pressing Greem-Blue gives a password entry same as Ch 110.

lbear

14-09-2011

Originally Posted by Secret-Squirrel:
“Just came across this article on the register:-

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/06/freeview_iptv/”

It is very clearly a direct lift from a press release or an ill researched piece of reporting:

Quote:
“Not that Vision sees itself as a competitor to Freeview HD, pointing out that even the BBC's iPlayer can't deliver real High Definition. Indeed, while earlier versions of iPlayer claim programmes are "Also available in HD", the more-recent incarnations simply offer "Higher Quality for Fast Connections": a semantic, but significant, difference. Freeview HD broadcast remains the highest quality picture, for purists.”

Strange that cos the recently implemented Humax HD Fox T2 version of iPlayer does offer "Also available in HD" and delivers 720p

I also understand that the upcoming version for the Technika STBHDIS2010 is being developed with three qualities for connection speeds between 800kbps and 2800kbps for HD.

RileyM

16-09-2011

Originally Posted by chrisy:
“Ch 112 has now changed to specifically mention Sports Tonight, so it looks like that is all that will be on Stream for now.

It also tells me to connect my device to the Internet, so the screen it is displaying is wrong - I take it this is a side-effect of it not having launched yet. I get exactly the same message on a non-HD receiver.

[b]It mentions http://www.sportstonightlive.com/info and that doesn't exist either.[/b[

Pressing Greem-Blue gives a password entry same as Ch 110.”

Remove the /info

HugoBoss

16-09-2011

I'm currently seeing nothing to compel me to connect a Cat5 cable to my Panny DTR-BWT700 other than when it has a firmware update to install. A waste of both the freeview and internet bandwidth. I already get iplayer and the like on my Sony BDP-S470 and PS3.

There's no sign these IPTV services will appeal to me and I'd rather see efforts being made to increase the number of HD channels which can be made available. Not new channels but HD versions of more of the most popular existing ones. I know that's some way off but it's preferable to more "sports" (aka soccer-biased) channels and "lifestyle" (aka any old rubbish) IPTV offerings.

chrisy

16-09-2011

Originally Posted by RileyM:
“Remove the /info ”

That just goes to the main video stream, whereas the /info address is supposed to contain information about the Freeview channel.

Ch 112 now has EPG information saying SPORTS TV. However, the channel is still not live, even if I tap in the code

Nick{D}vB

22-09-2011

chrisy

22-09-2011

Originally Posted by Nick{D}vB:
“I managed to pull these urls from the DSMCC data:

http://connect-tv.info/mheg/vision/a”

That led me to these:
http://connect-tv.info/mheg/vision/main.asn
http://connect-tv.info/mheg/vision/images/vision_bg.jpg
http://connect-tv.info/mheg/vision/i...on_nav_bar.png
http://connect-tv.info/mheg/vision/rc/popup.txt

Which are obviously the text and graphics from the splash screen, although they are different to the ones I see - and sound like the "alternate" ones mentioned earlier in this thread.

Also: http://connect-tv.info/mheg/stream/28384_logo.png

Ray Cathode

22-09-2011

Originally Posted by Nick{D}vB:
“I managed to pull these urls from the DSMCC data:

”

Did that come out of the 23kbps Mux D stream 0x0bd6 or from the server to box internet connection?

Colin_London

22-09-2011

Very interesting!

The Vision Network Freeview portal webpage http://tvnetwork.new.visionip.tv/ shows three channels:

Polska Plus: http://www.tvp.pl/, http://www.polskaplus.tv/
Hellenic TV: http://hellenic.new.visionip.tv/HellenicTV/
Turkish TV

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