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4TVinteractive

On Freeview channel 94 (November 2003)

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MS
Mark Smith
cwathen posted:
I'm getting 4TV on 704 and have nothing but a blank screen. Since it uses part of ITV's VBI, is it definately on in all regions yet?

It seems to be a data service for the new Daewoo Setpal VCR and Fusion PVR. Apart from that, all DTT receivers will see it as nothing more than a blank screen, unless they decide to put an MHEG caption on it.

I don't know why it needs a channel number at all though. The Engineering Channel, which is used to provide software updates to receivers, is hidden so how come this is not?

Edit: Oh I see what you mean about the VBI. I don't think standard teletext decoders can actually read the data, only the above mentioned boxes. The data is on channel 704, which is on Mux D on DTT (Crown Castle) and IIRC on the VBI of analogue ITV1.
NG
noggin Founding member
cwathen posted:
I'm getting 4TV on 704 and have nothing but a blank screen. Since it uses part of ITV's VBI, is it definately on in all regions yet?


Are 4TV's EPG on DTT and the Gemstar GuidePlus (which is in ITV1s VBI) and used by the new Philips DVD recorder at all related?

Or are they two competing EPG systems? Certainly Guideplus is supposed to carry adverts - as it is subscription free?

** EDIT - Just seen that the 4TV site mentions ITV1 analogue VBI usage - so unless Gemstar are sharing the data services in VBI - does this mean that there are two competing EPGs in ITV1s VBI? **
Last edited by noggin on 17 November 2003 12:14pm
CW
cwathen Founding member
So who can actually receive this? In terms of area and equipment. Is this actually just for setpal compatible equipment?

I'm in the Westcountry region and have a Goodmans GDB3 and get nothing but a blank screen. The box does recognise it as a text service so there must be some MHEG information in there somewhere.
NG
noggin Founding member
Mark Smith posted:
cwathen posted:
I'm getting 4TV on 704 and have nothing but a blank screen. Since it uses part of ITV's VBI, is it definately on in all regions yet?

It seems to be a data service for the new Daewoo Setpal VCR and Fusion PVR. Apart from that, all DTT receivers will see it as nothing more than a blank screen, unless they decide to put an MHEG caption on it.

I don't know why it needs a channel number at all though. The Engineering Channel, which is used to provide software updates to receivers, is hidden so how come this is not?

Edit: Oh I see what you mean about the VBI. I don't think standard teletext decoders can actually read the data, only the above mentioned boxes. The data is on channel 704, which is on Mux D on DTT (Crown Castle) and IIRC on the VBI of analogue ITV1.


I suspect that the Engineering channel is tied to a BBC service - whereas the 4TV stuff is carried independently - so has a channel number. It may be that 4TV put an MHEG barker/advert for their service up?

BTW - are 4TV as well as Gemstar using ITV1's VBI - or are they the same system?

AIUI the Gemstar EPG used by the new Philips DVD Recorder will be using ITV1 VBI on analogue, (and I think also on DSat - even though there is no other VBI service on DSat...) as well as Eurosport's VBI on DSat. I think the Eurosport VBI will be a higher speed service? They are using VBI as it is compatible with Sky without requiring any hardware changes.

Aren't 4TV specifically DTT based only - and using DVB data transmissions for their EPG (possibly in an MHEG5 shell)

I'm not sure why people are linking the 4TV DTT EPG and Gemstar VBI systems together - or do you know that they are linked?

** EDIT - Just seen the 4TV site which mentions usage of ITV1's analogue VBI. **
JV
James Vertigan Founding member
Yes, the engineering channel is tied to the BBC service, hence why some box manufacturers say you need to receive a good signal of the BBC mux in order to get software updates etc..
:-(
A former member
According to Digital Spy, if you leave your box switched to 704 overnight - at 3.15am all the boxes will be able to get some kind of information.

I have not tried it and since I have Pace, I have been told, it might not know what to do with the info....it's for the 7-day EPG apparently.

I am not a techhy so I am hoping someone can tell me in laymans terms what the hellthis means Smile
NG
noggin Founding member
Anyone in Wales with a new- (i.e. not an ex-ITV Digital/On Digital) Freeview box may find that their EPG fills up with more than Now+Next listings if they are watching via Wenvoe...

Anyone care to check ? I hear rumours of the "standard" Freeview EPG testing prior to a launch early next year.
DA
Dan Founding member
noggin posted:
Anyone in Wales with a new- (i.e. not an ex-ITV Digital/On Digital) Freeview box may find that their EPG fills up with more than Now+Next listings if they are watching via Wenvoe...

Anyone care to check ? I hear rumours of the "standard" Freeview EPG testing prior to a launch early next year.


My Pace box received an update last week. I'll check the EPG tonight (don't normally use it because the TiVo EPG is so much better).
FR
Freeview
When does it actually launch then? http://www.kswindells.co.uk/freeview/ss_4tv.html
says that it's only available from 3.15 - 4am and http://www.4-tv.net/newsroom.htm says you can receive it from 3am. So, back to my origonal question, does anyone know when it officially launches?
RD
RDJ
Freeview posted:
When does it actually launch then? http://www.kswindells.co.uk/freeview/ss_4tv.html
says that it's only available from 3.15 - 4am and http://www.4-tv.net/newsroom.htm says you can receive it from 3am. So, back to my origonal question, does anyone know when it officially launches?

It has launched just only for a hour for the people whos box is not compatiable! If it is compatable then it stays on all day! Sad
DA
Dan Founding member
noggin posted:
Anyone in Wales with a new- (i.e. not an ex-ITV Digital/On Digital) Freeview box may find that their EPG fills up with more than Now+Next listings if they are watching via Wenvoe...

Anyone care to check ? I hear rumours of the "standard" Freeview EPG testing prior to a launch early next year.


Yep, I can confirm this - although the listings take ages to load each time you go into the EPG.
MB
Mark Boulton
Sounds like nothing much better than the Teletext TV Guide, which, in the words of Captain Blackadder, is like "an asthmatic ant with some heavy shopping". Rolling Eyes

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