32 replies to this topic

[alanh]

dugjac,
NZ uses MPEG-4 for all transmissions where as here we only use it for satellite transmissions. We are specifying that new receivers should be able to receive these transmissions.
Both of our countries use UHF transmissions. The main problem is our channels are narrower than NZ.

Freeview Australia claim that their approved products will work in NZ.

"Will Australian or UK digital terrestrial receivers (set top boxes) and iDTV's (integrated digital TV's) work in NZ?

Australian TV’s made in the last two years may. If the model number was released here it should work. Older Australian TVs and all UK TVs won’t work here as these use MPEG-2 (compression) for their terrestrial (UHF aerial) broadcast and Freeview|HD® uses MPEG-4. Some channels are broadcast in HD (high definition) only and therefore you need an HD capable receiver. " Freeview NZ


Contact Topfield and ask them.

AlanH

[alanh]

dugjac,
Topfield support says their products do not work in NZ.
AlanH

[GoForMoe]

alanh, on Dec 21 2010, 01:38 PM, said:

dugjac,
Topfield support says their products do not work in NZ.
AlanH

There is no reason to think that is accurate. It is more that their products can't be supported in NZ. Any MPEG-4 device should work fine to receive in NZ, I've never seen a STB without a 8/7/6MHz option, at worst you might need to manually enter the channel frequencies (as the channel numbers often don't line up). The advanced interactive stuff on NZ Freeview HD would need an Australian Freeview EPG supporting box (or another one with MHEG-5, which are rare here), but the base services will work.

[alanh]

GoForMoe
Despite what you think this is what Topfield support told me when I asked.

I agree with what you say however the instruction manual has no screen to select country or bandwidth.

Freeview EPG requires MHEG-5

AlanH

[gwnz]

Guys,
I bought a Dick Smith MPEG 4 box ($80A) from Australia plugged it into my UHF aerial in New Zealand changed the setting to the UK since NZ was not on the options for location and pick up all of the NZ Freeview channels perfectly. On the back of that success I bought a non freeview approved Akai combo tuner/DVD player PVR from a local discount crowd ($165NZ) which is marketed mainly to Australia and has MPEG 4 built in and has a NZ setting. it works perfectly off the UHF. So my conclusion is that most Australian set top boxes that have the HD MPEG 4 tuners built in will work in New Zealand but you may have to pick a European setting such as the UK to get them to work.
The pluses are the price is way cheaper than the Freeview approved boxes in New Zealand and you can choose to move the channel order around to suit personal preferences. The negatives are that you do not get the flash MHEG5 program guide but the program guide still displays fine and perfectly adequate for most users, the channel numbering can be a bit obscure starting at 801 etc and of course if a new channel commences you do have to manually tune it in by rescanning channels which is done automatically by the Freeview approved boxes.
For the average non technical punter buying an approved box makes life easier but you pay for the privilege.
Hopefully this helps those that might want to follow the same track.

[alanh]

GWNZ,
The UHF TV channels in NZ are identical to Europe including UK. Australian UHF channels are narrower and as a result their frequencies are also different.
You are right about MPEG 4. MPEG-4 is used in many countries including your own.

If you get STBs for Hong Kong, you will also get the MHEG-5 decoding for the program guide.
MHEG-5 is also in the Australian Standard for TV receivers from late last year so it will eventually be part of Australian receivers as well.

AlanH

[DrP]

alanh, on Aug 16 2011, 07:19 PM, said:

If you get STBs for Hong Kong, you will also get the MHEG-5 decoding for the program guide.

gwnz, whilst a receiver from another country may have a MHEG-5 stack it will likely not be able to show you the NZ Freeview MHEG-5 based guide as it won't have the huffman tables to decompress it.

Edited by DrP, 17 August 2011 - 06:42 AM.

[jsmith]

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JSmith