[slyfox51]

I bought a 32" Panasonic tx-l32d28 fresat/freeview TV last year which has since been discontinued I find it very good but built in freesat TV's don't seem to have taken off.
What freesat TV's are now available?

[mac2708]

Not many by the looks of things.
This is the list on the Freesat site http://www.freesat.co.uk/products/hd-tv-range

[joshua_welby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mac2708

Not many by the looks of things.
This is the list on the Freesat site http://www.freesat.co.uk/products/hd-tv-range

Panasonic have just brought out a new Range of Freesat TVs the G50 Range and the VT50 Range both Ranges are Plasma 3D TVs

Here is a Link to the Panasonic TVs http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_G...l#anker_285292

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mac2708

Not many by the looks of things.
This is the list on the Freesat site http://www.freesat.co.uk/products/hd-tv-range

Supposedly Samsung have brought out a complete range of Freesat TV's? - but it's a closely guarded secret, not listed on Freesat or even mentioned on Samsung's website (including the single one mentioned on Freesat).

If you want a Freesat TV I would strongly advise a Panasonic one.

[iangrad]

With the advent of freeview HD now widely available the true need for freesat falls to a very small number of people . IE people who live right out in the sticks ( and how many of them are going to buy a high value TV ? )

Long term I think there is a question mark over freesat's viability as the number of UK viewers is small and the expats who use it in Spain & Portugal don't pay anything towards it !

The Pana models listed on the freesat web site are all long out of production ( replaced by the VT & WT ranges )

[grahamlthompson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iangrad

With the advent of freeview HD now widely available the true need for freesat falls to a very small number of people . IE people who live right out in the sticks ( and how many of them are going to buy a high value TV ? )

Long term I think there is a question mark over freesat's viability as the number of UK viewers is small and the expats who use it in Spain & Portugal don't pay anything towards it !

The Pana models listed on the freesat web site are all long out of production ( replaced by the VT & WT ranges )

I rather think it's the other way round. There's space on Freeview for 1 extra HD channel and little else. Take the Olympics coverage as an example.

In 12 months or so the capacity at 28.2E is said to increase dramatically, compared to a new national terrestrial channel satellite is much cheaper.

[iangrad]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grahamlthompson

I rather think it's the other way round. There's space on Freeview for 1 extra HD channel and little else. Take the Olympics coverage as an example.

In 12 months or so the capacity at 28.2E is said to increase dramatically, compared to a new national terrestrial channel satellite is much cheaper.

LOL are you a betting man ? should we agree to look at this in 4 years time . I would think in a few years time there will be no TV's with built in Freesat might be just few stand alone boxes left over ( look at the "clearance" offers on Freesat HD boxes in stores ) Whilst you are of course correct that sat has more capacity than freeview . Other than perhaps you and maybe one or two friends , do you know of any other people who use freesat ? £10 to the winner ?

[grahamlthompson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iangrad

LOL are you a betting man ? should we agree to look at this in 4 years time . I would think in a few years time there will be no TV's with built in Freesat might be just few stand alone boxes left over ( look at the "clearance" offers on Freesat HD boxes in stores ) Whilst you are of course correct that sat has more capacity than freeview . Other than perhaps you and maybe one or two friends , do you know of any other people who use freesat ? £10 to the winner ?

Freesat is just an epg for free to air channels. The same channels are used by a Sky box or generic fta boxes. Add all these viewers then the situation is entirely different. If the Freesat epg service stopped tommorow you could still view all the channels and more. you seem to think Freesat is a broadcaster. it's not it's sole purpose is to provide an epg.

Currently there are 513 free to air Radio and TV channels from 28.2/28.5E all of which are viewable using a Freesat box (albeit without a 8 day epg). Add a motorised dish or more lnb's the number increases to thousands. Do you really think Freeview can compete ?

Now lets take picture quality, Freeview-HD channels are restricted to 1440 x 1080 pixels. With the exception of the BBC the same channels on satellite are 1920 x 1080.

The reason why Freesat is less supported now than it was in TV's is simple, everyone wants twin tuner HD pvr recording capability so buys a pvr.

[XxBlaKOuTZxX]

Is it possible to run Sky HD and Freesat off the same dish ?

[XxBlaKOuTZxX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

Supposedly Samsung have brought out a complete range of Freesat TV's? - but it's a closely guarded secret, not listed on Freesat or even mentioned on Samsung's website (including the single one mentioned on Freesat).

If you want a Freesat TV I would strongly advise a Panasonic one.

Yeah the Samsung ES TV range has both FreeSat and Freeview HD

[Chasing Shadows]

Quote:

Originally Posted by XxBlaKOuTZxX

Is it possible to run Sky HD and Freesat off the same dish ?

Of course it is. Two cables from dish to Sky HD box, one to Freesat TV (or two to Freesat+ PVR).

Both Sky and Freesat boxes are picking up same channels and pointing at same satellite clusters. Its just two different EPGs - one of which only shows the unencrypted channels.

[iangrad]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grahamlthompson

Freesat is just an epg for free to air channels. The same channels are used by a Sky box or generic fta boxes. Add all these viewers then the situation is entirely different. If the Freesat epg service stopped tommorow you could still view all the channels and more. you seem to think Freesat is a broadcaster. it's not it's sole purpose is to provide an epg.

Currently there are 513 free to air Radio and TV channels from 28.2/28.5E all of which are viewable using a Freesat box (albeit without a 8 day epg). Add a motorised dish or more lnb's the number increases to thousands. Do you really think Freeview can compete ?

Now lets take picture quality, Freeview-HD channels are restricted to 1440 x 1080 pixels. With the exception of the BBC the same channels on satellite are 1920 x 1080.

The reason why Freesat is less supported now than it was in TV's is simple, everyone wants twin tuner HD pvr recording capability so buys a pvr.

What you say is correct but perhaps what I should have said was Freesat could have long term sales problems & are you sure "everyone wants" twin tuner pvr . Ask a major distributor such as Solutions group !

[grahamlthompson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iangrad

What you say is correct but perhaps what I should have said was Freesat could have long term sales problems & are you sure "everyone wants" twin tuner pvr . Ask a major distributor such as Solutions group !

Anyone who doesn't want a pvr simply has to buy a Freesat-HD set top box. You can then choose any TV you want without paying a premium for a built in tuner.

What are you proposing that the thousands who are stuck with a Freeview-Lite service from relay transmitters (only 2 SD Mux plus 1 HD). If they want more channels in the foreseeable future for free, satellite is the only option.

Without a doubt having both is the best option I have a Freeview-HD pvr and Freesat HD pvr I know which I would choose to lose if I could only have one.

[XxBlaKOuTZxX]

I don't know much about Freesat so don't know what channels are available on it. Does it have the same HD channels as Freeview

[soulboy77]

To most a satellite receiver is a separate box so I guess a satellite TV isn't even on people's radar if they are going the Freesat route.

[soulboy77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by XxBlaKOuTZxX

I don't know much about Freesat so don't know what channels are available on it. Does it have the same HD channels as Freeview

In terms of the same HD channels as Freeview (in England), yes and Channel 5 HD which is not on Freeview is due to come to Freesat this year.

Freesat Channels - http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/freesat-channels

[Chris Simon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshua_welby

Panasonic have just brought out a new Range of Freesat TVs the G50 Range and the VT50 Range both Ranges are Plasma 3D TVs

Here is a Link to the Panasonic TVs http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_G...l#anker_285292

There are actually 6 new Freesat LED/LCD models out for 2012. The search facility on Panasonic's web site isn't easy to use, but these are the LED/LCD models:

TX-L55DT50B
TX-L47DT50B
TX-L42DT50B

TX-L55WT50B (3D)
TX-L47WT50B (3D)
TX-L42WT50B (3D)

These seem to be very high-end TVs, with a price-tag to match, but note that Panasonic's on-line pricing policy is to inflate the price by around £400. They are much cheaper in a store.

I have a first-gen Panasonic 32" Freesat TV, but I'd like a 42" or 47" but can not justify the outlay so seen afdter this one until it's "absolutely perfect" for what I want (DLNA, pause live TV, large LCD screen, Freesat). This new range is almost there, but I believe Panasonic is experimenting with passive 3D technology so I'm just hoping that the next range will include a Full HD 3D passive screen, then I'll buy immediately!

[iangrad]

The "passive 3d" models are the budget models in the range IE TX-L47ET5 etc . You may have to wait a very long time for passive & freesat to be combined , I would say it may never come . The active shutter ( Full HD ) models VT have freesat as well as freeview HD .

[grahamlthompson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by XxBlaKOuTZxX

I don't know much about Freesat so don't know what channels are available on it. Does it have the same HD channels as Freeview

Currently 1 more NHKWorld TV. Channel 5 HD may arrive eventually. Using non-freesat gives you STV-HD if you use a postcode that gives you one of the two ITV1-HD versions (London or Granada). Freesat also gives you access to all the BBC regions on the same epg.

[grahamlthompson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by XxBlaKOuTZxX

Is it possible to run Sky HD and Freesat off the same dish ?

Yes no problem. Sky fit quad lnb's (4 outputs as standard), the Sky HD box uses two. You just need one cable for a Freesat box from a spare output or both for a pvr.

[grahamlthompson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Simon

There are actually 6 new Freesat LED/LCD models out for 2012. The search facility on Panasonic's web site isn't easy to use, but these are the LED/LCD models:

TX-L55DT50B
TX-L47DT50B
TX-L42DT50B

TX-L55WT50B (3D)
TX-L47WT50B (3D)
TX-L42WT50B (3D)

These seem to be very high-end TVs, with a price-tag to match, but note that Panasonic's on-line pricing policy is to inflate the price by around £400. They are much cheaper in a store.

I have a first-gen Panasonic 32" Freesat TV, but I'd like a 42" or 47" but can not justify the outlay so seen afdter this one until it's "absolutely perfect" for what I want (DLNA, pause live TV, large LCD screen, Freesat). This new range is almost there, but I believe Panasonic is experimenting with passive 3D technology so I'm just hoping that the next range will include a Full HD 3D passive screen, then I'll buy immediately!

As Nigel says quite a few of the Samsung current range have Freesat tuners. Unbelievably there website only mentions they have DVB-S2 tuners when in fact they are Freesat capable.

[XxBlaKOuTZxX]

Samsung aren't exactly forthcoming with their info though are they. It's the basic stuff they tell you about and that's it. I found going onto the John Lewis site gave me more info than Samsung did.


http://www.johnlewis.com/Electricals...zJnqFtjmH1Rg==




Here's the list of Samsung Freesat/freeview HD TV's

[Chris Simon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iangrad

The "passive 3d" models are the budget models in the range IE TX-L47ET5 etc . You may have to wait a very long time for passive & freesat to be combined , I would say it may never come . The active shutter ( Full HD ) models VT have freesat as well as freeview HD .

Well, I'm an optimist!

As far as I'm concerned, passive is the way to go. The next step after passive will be glasses-free, and then holographic!

Active 3D flickers and darkens the image, and the glasses are heavy, need charging, are expensive and need to be within a certain range. When passive technology comes of age (full HD and wider viewing angle) it will be better, and active will look unwieldy and cumbersome and old technology.

Also, I wouldn't call those models "budget" actually...

It's a shame that Freesat isn't considered standard and therefore there has to be an equivalent different model produced for each Freeview one to provide parity. Wouldn't it be more efficient to develop one piece of software for installing in all sets and then providing two tuner slots in each TV where you could simply buy and slot in whichever tuner you wanted.

[grahamlthompson]

There's a thread somewhere about the passive system now used by LG that is said to remove the flicker and preserve the resolution of the active shutter system. Not seen it in action but has to be worth a look.

[Chris Simon]

I believe that Panasonic buy in the LG panels for their passive TVs. I was reading somewhere that it was an unusual move for Panasonic to suddenly enter the passive market, it seems they've realised certain limitations of the active system, especially when trying to make things affordable. I really see active technology as a "fudge", a stop-gap to make 3D popular and available initially. We had the active system in 3D PC games at least 20 years ago, it's not exactly new technology.