DVB-T Tuners

[Wolverine]

Anyone here running DVB-T Tuners ? I understand that some people have had limited success with these when car is on the move, but I am wondering if this is related to the quality of the unit/aerials rather than digital vs analogue debate.

Amazon sell a unit for £59.99 which they claim

"can be used anywhere in United Kingdom or Europe to watch digital freeview TV or Radio while on the move in your car, the sensitive receiver and pure TV signal on car on speeds up to over 200km/h, with no disturbance/no vague pictures or instability."

http://www.amazon.co.uk/JEJA-DVB-T02-Di ... B000K4WPM2

Comments ?? 200km/h is 125MPH fyi.

[craigyb]

I have a couple of them units, I would say that in a stationary vehicle it would work, but do not expect it to work in a moving vehicle.

With analogue TV the sound tends to remain and the picture fades whilst moving.
With Digital, the sounds goes first, then the picture freezes and goes blocky.

These units from amazon are available on ebay for less money.

Now considering my A8 with 4 antennas and a genuine DVB-TV module cannot get a good picture on the move, do you think this module will do any better.

[Wolverine]

What about the twin tuner units, like this one from Veba ...

http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/produc ... /4623.html

The idea here is the box continuosly receives two signals, and swicthes automatically to the strongest signal.

Craig, obviously Freeview reception is much more area dependent than analogue ... what is your experience in different areas?

I like the idea of DVB-T simply because in a few years analogue signals are likely to be phased out, and getting CBeebies for the kids would be heaven for me!

[Dippy]

I'll be going down this route but I think I'll wait until analogue is switched off and the Freeview transmitter power is increased.

[PetrolDave]

I'll be going down this route but I think I'll wait until analogue is switched off and the Freeview transmitter power is increased.

That will be 2012 then (where I live in the South we will be the last region to be switched over).

[craigyb]

Obviously I cannot comment on different areas of the country, DVB-TV where I live is poor, but when passing Winterhill (our local TV tower) DVB-TV was still not useable on the move and to be honest I don't think it ever will be.

[fil]

i have that dvb unit in my car, will not do a thing whilst moving? dont know how they claim that one?

I run it through an amplifier into a 2 element amplified antenna, reception is reasonable.

is just under the silver box in the pic, the silver box being an analouge tuner

[Wolverine]

Fil, did u buy a cheapo unit or is that one of the more expensive dedicated type of units ? And does it have twin tuners ?

[craigyb]

I would recommend the Audi add DVB-TV module, it uses the 4 antennas already in your car and plugs into AV1 of your TV tuner module.

If you can find one they are around 900 euros

[fil]

I've got the same one as the amazon one, originally posted, the unit itself is a bit buggy with the software, and allthough it has a usb port, i m yet to find anywhere to update it?

if used in doors it out performs reception, compared to other boxes I have, but I suspect its as good as any other on the market, being no all that great in a car!

[Dippy]

Craig, will the Audi DVB-TV module work with the 4D0 919 146 B tuner? Do you know the part number?

[craigyb]

I dont seen any reason why it will not work. As long as you have the B, C or D tuners the connections are the same. Now available for 549 euros

It comes in 4 parts

1. TV module
2. Remote control
3. Antenna cables
4. Power and aux lead.

http://shop.kufatec.de/product_info.php ... A8-4E.html

[Rich_C]

Wolverine,

I've been thinking about the whole TV tuner issue for my upcoming RNS-E install and ultimately I've gone off the idea. Why? well the analogue TV tuners are pretty expensive and all you get is 5 terrestial channels that I don't really watch at home anyway. The digital tuners sound good in principal but from what I've read on various forums signal strength is an issue especially when on the move. In the end I've decided to fit a multi-media player instead which I'll be able to use to play all sorts of media but for me mainly movies, TV series etc and won't suffer from picture distortion. If you get one with a reasonable size hard disk you'll not be bored of content.

Rich.

[Wolverine]

Rich, I look at it from a different perspective. I use the TV tuner a fair bit, while I'm sitting waiting for someone in the car, or whether stuck in traffic. I personally rarely use it on the move, but sometimes my wife will watch a programme while sitting in the passenger seat while on the move. Further, if I could also pipe the signal to the rear headrest screens and get CBeebies for the kids that would be another great feature for me.

I have considered the media player, but for me I would still need the TV function. I think the media player would be better suited to an alternative to say a phatbox, with the added advantage of giving you video playback. But realistically, you have to ask yourself, how often are you really going to watch films on your small RNS-E screen ? Not alot I bet.

With regards to re-sale, I think having TV function would be quite important selling feature to most people, considering the RS6 came standard with that feature anyway.

[Wolverine]

BTW Rich .... wot made you change your mind with the RNS-E upgrade ?