Comments for Conor's Bandon Blog http://conoroneill.com Local stuff and other stuff from a blow-in Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:36:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= Comment on How to avoid the Irish pharmacy gouge by buying from drugstore.com by Conor O'Neill http://conoroneill.com/2012/02/20/how-to-avoid-the-irish-pharmacy-gouge-by-buying-from-drugstore-com/comment-page-1/#comment-260023 Conor O'Neill Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:36:29 +0000 http://conoroneill.com/?p=1278#comment-260023 I'm sure Pat is right about counterfeit and illegal medicines but, last time I checked, Walgreens and RiteAid were in the business of selling legal and approved medicines. Also drugstore.com won't ship US prescription medicines or even limited drugs like Sudafed to Ireland. Which is entirely reasonable. Irish people who want cheap prescription medicines should do what most people do: get their friends who go on holiday to Spain to buy them, without prescription. I’m sure Pat is right about counterfeit and illegal medicines but, last time I checked, Walgreens and RiteAid were in the business of selling legal and approved medicines. Also drugstore.com won’t ship US prescription medicines or even limited drugs like Sudafed to Ireland. Which is entirely reasonable.

Irish people who want cheap prescription medicines should do what most people do: get their friends who go on holiday to Spain to buy them, without prescription.

]]> Comment on How to avoid the Irish pharmacy gouge by buying from drugstore.com by Dan http://conoroneill.com/2012/02/20/how-to-avoid-the-irish-pharmacy-gouge-by-buying-from-drugstore-com/comment-page-1/#comment-260021 Dan Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:26:50 +0000 http://conoroneill.com/?p=1278#comment-260021 Buying and selling prescription medicines online is not only illegal in the Republic, it is also potentially dangerous. “Counterfeit and illegal medicines pose a serious and potentially fatal threat to public health,” says Pat O’Mahony, chief executive of the Irish Medicines Board (IMB). http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2011/1001/1224305065821.html Not that I don't agree the prices of some items are crazy. A friend buys nicotine patches up north and saves a fortune. I have also found shipping from china cheaper than UK! Buying and selling prescription medicines online is not only illegal in the Republic, it is also potentially dangerous. “Counterfeit and illegal medicines pose a serious and potentially fatal threat to public health,” says Pat O’Mahony, chief executive of the Irish Medicines Board (IMB).

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2011/1001/1224305065821.html

Not that I don’t agree the prices of some items are crazy. A friend buys nicotine patches up north and saves a fortune. I have also found shipping from china cheaper than UK!

]]> Comment on How to avoid the Irish pharmacy gouge by buying from drugstore.com by Conor O'Neill http://conoroneill.com/2012/02/20/how-to-avoid-the-irish-pharmacy-gouge-by-buying-from-drugstore-com/comment-page-1/#comment-260007 Conor O'Neill Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:42:33 +0000 http://conoroneill.com/?p=1278#comment-260007 Hey Tom. Delighted you are into the barefoot running. It's time for me to get off the treadmill and out into the local parks! The NSAID rip-off is particularly disgusting since you have only two options when your kids' temp goes through the roof, paracetemol or ibuprofen. The sooner this old-boys-club is blown wide-open, the better. Find out why you can't get meds in certain Boots in Cork and you'll see just how broken this part of the market is. Hey Tom. Delighted you are into the barefoot running. It’s time for me to get off the treadmill and out into the local parks!

The NSAID rip-off is particularly disgusting since you have only two options when your kids’ temp goes through the roof, paracetemol or ibuprofen.

The sooner this old-boys-club is blown wide-open, the better. Find out why you can’t get meds in certain Boots in Cork and you’ll see just how broken this part of the market is.

]]> Comment on How to avoid the Irish pharmacy gouge by buying from drugstore.com by Tom A http://conoroneill.com/2012/02/20/how-to-avoid-the-irish-pharmacy-gouge-by-buying-from-drugstore-com/comment-page-1/#comment-259982 Tom A Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:38:30 +0000 http://conoroneill.com/?p=1278#comment-259982 Conor, you have an amazing ability to write blog posts about things that are on my mind. Last year it was standing desks and barefoot running (the latter of which I am completely addicted to) to name but two of your posts which resonated with me. Recently I've been enraged by the lack of sensibly priced ibuprofen in Ireland. For some bizarre reason it is now behind the counter, so you can't pick it up in supermarkets. Ibuprofen is the recommended NSAID for children these days and is safer than paracetamol. Yet paracetamol is still available on the shelves. So to get our supply of ibuprofen we've been paying €5 for 24 tablets in the local pharmacy. Whilst I'm happy to support these small businesses and realise they perform a valuable service I'm not prepared to pay 20 times the price for a generic product. In the UK you can walk into Tesco's and get 24 generic ibuprofen for around 20p. This should be a national scandal and if I was more energetic / engaged I'd be looking to start a campaign! Thanks for the info on Drugstore and US Unlocked - I may reluctantly start diverting some money out of the Irish economy, as being ripped off to this extent is just too much... I think I'd better sit down and take a few tablets to calm down ;-) Conor, you have an amazing ability to write blog posts about things that are on my mind. Last year it was standing desks and barefoot running (the latter of which I am completely addicted to) to name but two of your posts which resonated with me.

Recently I’ve been enraged by the lack of sensibly priced ibuprofen in Ireland. For some bizarre reason it is now behind the counter, so you can’t pick it up in supermarkets. Ibuprofen is the recommended NSAID for children these days and is safer than paracetamol. Yet paracetamol is still available on the shelves. So to get our supply of ibuprofen we’ve been paying €5 for 24 tablets in the local pharmacy. Whilst I’m happy to support these small businesses and realise they perform a valuable service I’m not prepared to pay 20 times the price for a generic product. In the UK you can walk into Tesco’s and get 24 generic ibuprofen for around 20p.

This should be a national scandal and if I was more energetic / engaged I’d be looking to start a campaign!

Thanks for the info on Drugstore and US Unlocked – I may reluctantly start diverting some money out of the Irish economy, as being ripped off to this extent is just too much… I think I’d better sit down and take a few tablets to calm down ;-)

]]> Comment on The RTE Digital TV Switchover and a Xoro DTV-M5 Review by Éamonn http://conoroneill.com/2011/12/03/the-rte-digital-tv-switchover-and-a-xoro-dtv-m5-review/comment-page-1/#comment-258978 Éamonn Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:07:39 +0000 http://conoroneill.com/?p=1259#comment-258978 TG4, TV3 and 3e all continue to provide Analogue Teletext services. No information as to when they might change to Digital. I currently have a non-approved IdTV, one of the main problems I will have is that it will not auto-tune as new services appear, all Saorview approved IdTVs and STBs will auto-tune new services as they come on board. Or at least I have been told this is the case. I also assume when Saorview provide interactive services my non-approved TV may not work with those services, however I have access to Digital Aertel. TG4, TV3 and 3e all continue to provide Analogue Teletext services. No information as to when they might change to Digital. I currently have a non-approved IdTV, one of the main problems I will have is that it will not auto-tune as new services appear, all Saorview approved IdTVs and STBs will auto-tune new services as they come on board. Or at least I have been told this is the case. I also assume when Saorview provide interactive services my non-approved TV may not work with those services, however I have access to Digital Aertel.

]]> Comment on The RTE Digital TV Switchover and a Xoro DTV-M5 Review by Graham http://conoroneill.com/2011/12/03/the-rte-digital-tv-switchover-and-a-xoro-dtv-m5-review/comment-page-1/#comment-258961 Graham Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:36:30 +0000 http://conoroneill.com/?p=1259#comment-258961 Paddy - I meant to add - Some "UK" sets also have the mpeg4 & mheg5 necessary to receive SaorView digital teletext but you'd have to check the equipment manual or any manufacturer's support site to find out if it has mheg5. Just for example, I bought a new Standard Definition TV in England. It is not in Sony's list of sets that will work correctly with SaorView but its specs include mpeg4 [but not mheg5] so when I move back to Dublin later on I'll just have to find out if it works or not. Otherwise it will only be useful as a dumb monitor for recordings made on other equipment. Paddy – I meant to add –
Some “UK” sets also have the mpeg4 & mheg5 necessary to receive SaorView digital teletext but you’d have to check the equipment manual or any manufacturer’s support site to find out if it has mheg5.
Just for example, I bought a new Standard Definition TV in England. It is not in Sony’s list of sets that will work correctly with SaorView but its specs include mpeg4 [but not mheg5] so when I move back to Dublin later on I’ll just have to find out if it works or not. Otherwise it will only be useful as a dumb monitor for recordings made on other equipment.

]]> Comment on The RTE Digital TV Switchover and a Xoro DTV-M5 Review by Graham http://conoroneill.com/2011/12/03/the-rte-digital-tv-switchover-and-a-xoro-dtv-m5-review/comment-page-1/#comment-258959 Graham Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:27:14 +0000 http://conoroneill.com/?p=1259#comment-258959 Paddy, A freeview set that has mpeg4 and is therefore an HD Freeview set will pick up SaorView but will not get the digital teletext service i.e. teletext on RTÉ1, RTÉ2 [I believe that 3 & TG4 are still broadcasting analogue teletext as they have yet to complete the digital transformation - but I saw this comment months ago so they might have already changed] [H.264 is also, I believe, a reference to HD formats] Paddy,
A freeview set that has mpeg4 and is therefore an HD Freeview set will pick up SaorView but will not get the digital teletext service i.e. teletext on RTÉ1, RTÉ2 [I believe that 3 & TG4 are still broadcasting analogue teletext as they have yet to complete the digital transformation - but I saw this comment months ago so they might have already changed]
[H.264 is also, I believe, a reference to HD formats]

]]> Comment on The RTE Digital TV Switchover and a Xoro DTV-M5 Review by Éamonn http://conoroneill.com/2011/12/03/the-rte-digital-tv-switchover-and-a-xoro-dtv-m5-review/comment-page-1/#comment-258955 Éamonn Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:42:04 +0000 http://conoroneill.com/?p=1259#comment-258955 Not sure of any makes or models that are both FreeviewHD and Saorview approved. Boards.ie has a section dedicated to Cable and Digital TV, if you ask there they will definitely be able to advise on the best approved STB/IdTV for spillover areas. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=76549581#post76549581 Hope its okay to redirect people to boards. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=40 Sorry I can't be of more help. Not sure of any makes or models that are both FreeviewHD and Saorview approved. Boards.ie has a section dedicated to Cable and Digital TV, if you ask there they will definitely be able to advise on the best approved STB/IdTV for spillover areas. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=76549581#post76549581 Hope its okay to redirect people to boards. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=40 Sorry I can’t be of more help.

]]> Comment on The RTE Digital TV Switchover and a Xoro DTV-M5 Review by Paddy http://conoroneill.com/2011/12/03/the-rte-digital-tv-switchover-and-a-xoro-dtv-m5-review/comment-page-1/#comment-258899 Paddy Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:51:44 +0000 http://conoroneill.com/?p=1259#comment-258899 Thank you Eamonn,but im a bit confused,what make or model should i look for.cheers,Paddy Thank you Eamonn,but im a bit confused,what make or model should i look for.cheers,Paddy

]]> Comment on The RTE Digital TV Switchover and a Xoro DTV-M5 Review by Paddy http://conoroneill.com/2011/12/03/the-rte-digital-tv-switchover-and-a-xoro-dtv-m5-review/comment-page-1/#comment-258898 Paddy Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:49:40 +0000 http://conoroneill.com/?p=1259#comment-258898 Thanks Dan for you advice,Paddy Thanks Dan for you advice,Paddy

]]> Comment on The RTE Digital TV Switchover and a Xoro DTV-M5 Review by Paddy http://conoroneill.com/2011/12/03/the-rte-digital-tv-switchover-and-a-xoro-dtv-m5-review/comment-page-1/#comment-258897 Paddy Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:47:54 +0000 http://conoroneill.com/?p=1259#comment-258897 Thanks Graham,will check this out.Ps i have got one of those mpeg4 .264 scart freeview and it seems to pick up Uk and Irish no bother, is this the same thing.It also records onto a usb drive.Take care Paddy. Thanks Graham,will check this out.Ps i have got one of those mpeg4 .264 scart freeview and it seems to pick up Uk and Irish no bother, is this the same thing.It also records onto a usb drive.Take care Paddy.

]]> Comment on Diary of A Virgin Semi-Veggie, Part 1 by Conor O'Neill http://conoroneill.com/2012/02/08/diary-of-a-virgin-semi-veggie-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-258882 Conor O'Neill Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:52:46 +0000 http://conoroneill.com/2012/02/08/diary-of-a-virgin-semi-veggie-part-1/#comment-258882 Thanks Jochen. So far so good here. I think I will do some fish too. I had a thought recently that many people could probably replace all the fast food chicken they eat with soy products. If you look at a McNugget, it's all just MRM sludge with tons of flavours added. I bet they could replace the chicken with soy or quorn plus the same added flavours and no-one would notice. Ditto KFC chicken popcorn etc. Thanks Jochen. So far so good here. I think I will do some fish too.

I had a thought recently that many people could probably replace all the fast food chicken they eat with soy products.

If you look at a McNugget, it’s all just MRM sludge with tons of flavours added. I bet they could replace the chicken with soy or quorn plus the same added flavours and no-one would notice. Ditto KFC chicken popcorn etc.

]]> Comment on Diary of A Virgin Semi-Veggie, Part 1 by Jochen http://conoroneill.com/2012/02/08/diary-of-a-virgin-semi-veggie-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-258881 Jochen Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:46:29 +0000 http://conoroneill.com/2012/02/08/diary-of-a-virgin-semi-veggie-part-1/#comment-258881 Oh, I forgot: There's the exception that we're eating fish. And a fillet of salmon is equally as tasty with soy cream. Oh, I forgot: There’s the exception that we’re eating fish. And a fillet of salmon is equally as tasty with soy cream.

]]> Comment on Diary of A Virgin Semi-Veggie, Part 1 by Jochen http://conoroneill.com/2012/02/08/diary-of-a-virgin-semi-veggie-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-258880 Jochen Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:44:15 +0000 http://conoroneill.com/2012/02/08/diary-of-a-virgin-semi-veggie-part-1/#comment-258880 Hi Conor, my gf is a vegetarian and my daughter had been diagnosed with allergies to egg and milk protein right after birth. Sometimes, you may spot a yoghurt or a piece of milk chocolate somewhere, but apart from those indulgences, we've become more or less a vegan household. I was actually surprised at first that that doesn't mean nibbling carrots all day. There are many tasty soy based products and some of those soy sausages are really hard to distinguish from meat-based ones. And additional to eating more healthy, I'm also losing weight. (If I manage to not compensate with candy and crisps...) Guten Appetit! Jochen Hi Conor,

my gf is a vegetarian and my daughter had been diagnosed with allergies to egg and milk protein right after birth. Sometimes, you may spot a yoghurt or a piece of milk chocolate somewhere, but apart from those indulgences, we’ve become more or less a vegan household.

I was actually surprised at first that that doesn’t mean nibbling carrots all day. There are many tasty soy based products and some of those soy sausages are really hard to distinguish from meat-based ones.

And additional to eating more healthy, I’m also losing weight. (If I manage to not compensate with candy and crisps…)

Guten Appetit!
Jochen

]]> Comment on The RTE Digital TV Switchover and a Xoro DTV-M5 Review by Graham http://conoroneill.com/2011/12/03/the-rte-digital-tv-switchover-and-a-xoro-dtv-m5-review/comment-page-1/#comment-258805 Graham Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:39:26 +0000 http://conoroneill.com/?p=1259#comment-258805 Paddy, I can confirm that this set works in the UK. I'm using it successfully in southern England. About UK-Éire digital TV standards 1 A UK SD signal uses Mpeg2 video compression & DVB-T 2 A UK HD signal uses Mpeg4 video compression & DVB-T2 [these are backwards compatible with Mpeg2 video compression & DVB-T so sets can also pick up UK SD signals] 3 A SaorView signal uses Mpeg4 video compression & DVB-T plus mheg5 [version 6] middleware for digital teletext & future interactive services So - a UK HD box will work in Éire but will not be able to use digital teletext [or the future interactive services] as that requires mheg5. A UK SD box will not work in Éire. Conversely, a SaorView box will work in UK but will not pick up HD channels. Personally, I haven't yet heard anyone confirm that the Xoro receives digital teletext correctly [but TVTrade's demo videos show it in use apparently correctly]. Perhaps Conor will comment. I'm just a bit suspicious because I've had a couple of warning signs up on one channel here [Dave Ja Vu] saying "Load mheg5". [This warning appeared on a set with the firmware upgrade & on a set without the firmware upgrade] The only other problems I have found with the Xoro it are probably signal-strength issues - 1 it hates BBC4 and will only start recording it manually not on the timer 2 the EPG freezes if I cross over the ITV3 line - so I just check the other channels first then check ITV3 programmes on their own by tuning to that station then viewing that line of the EPG only [it's just crossing over it between ITV2 & ITV4 that freezes it, if I stay on ITV3 in the EPG it is happy] Please note the discussion about the firmware upgrade [29 Jan, above] if you want to play recordings on your PC. Paddy, I can confirm that this set works in the UK. I’m using it successfully in southern England.

About UK-Éire digital TV standards
1 A UK SD signal uses Mpeg2 video compression & DVB-T
2 A UK HD signal uses Mpeg4 video compression & DVB-T2 [these are backwards compatible with Mpeg2 video compression & DVB-T so sets can also pick up UK SD signals]
3 A SaorView signal uses Mpeg4 video compression & DVB-T plus mheg5 [version 6] middleware for digital teletext & future interactive services
So – a UK HD box will work in Éire but will not be able to use digital teletext [or the future interactive services] as that requires mheg5. A UK SD box will not work in Éire. Conversely, a SaorView box will work in UK but will not pick up HD channels.

Personally, I haven’t yet heard anyone confirm that the Xoro receives digital teletext correctly [but TVTrade's demo videos show it in use apparently correctly]. Perhaps Conor will comment. I’m just a bit suspicious because I’ve had a couple of warning signs up on one channel here [Dave Ja Vu] saying “Load mheg5″. [This warning appeared on a set with the firmware upgrade & on a set without the firmware upgrade]

The only other problems I have found with the Xoro it are probably signal-strength issues –
1 it hates BBC4 and will only start recording it manually not on the timer
2 the EPG freezes if I cross over the ITV3 line – so I just check the other channels first then check ITV3 programmes on their own by tuning to that station then viewing that line of the EPG only [it's just crossing over it between ITV2 & ITV4 that freezes it, if I stay on ITV3 in the EPG it is happy]

Please note the discussion about the firmware upgrade [29 Jan, above] if you want to play recordings on your PC.

]]> Comment on The RTE Digital TV Switchover and a Xoro DTV-M5 Review by Éamonn http://conoroneill.com/2011/12/03/the-rte-digital-tv-switchover-and-a-xoro-dtv-m5-review/comment-page-1/#comment-258798 Éamonn Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:03:42 +0000 http://conoroneill.com/?p=1259#comment-258798 If at all possible try to get a Soarview and Freeview HD approved STB, just to avoid an future issues. If at all possible try to get a Soarview and Freeview HD approved STB, just to avoid an future issues.

]]> Comment on The RTE Digital TV Switchover and a Xoro DTV-M5 Review by Dan http://conoroneill.com/2011/12/03/the-rte-digital-tv-switchover-and-a-xoro-dtv-m5-review/comment-page-1/#comment-258797 Dan Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:01:14 +0000 http://conoroneill.com/?p=1259#comment-258797 Paddy for combined UK Freeview, Saorview and Freeview HD a UK Freeview HD box is best. It will also get UK HD pictures and saorview. A Saorview box will not pick up UK HD. Paddy for combined UK Freeview, Saorview and Freeview HD a UK Freeview HD box is best. It will also get UK HD pictures and saorview. A Saorview box will not pick up UK HD.

]]> Comment on The RTE Digital TV Switchover and a Xoro DTV-M5 Review by Paddy http://conoroneill.com/2011/12/03/the-rte-digital-tv-switchover-and-a-xoro-dtv-m5-review/comment-page-1/#comment-258793 Paddy Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:33:41 +0000 http://conoroneill.com/?p=1259#comment-258793 Ok Conor Thanks,Paddy Ok Conor Thanks,Paddy

]]> Comment on The RTE Digital TV Switchover and a Xoro DTV-M5 Review by Conor O'Neill http://conoroneill.com/2011/12/03/the-rte-digital-tv-switchover-and-a-xoro-dtv-m5-review/comment-page-1/#comment-258791 Conor O'Neill Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:32:06 +0000 http://conoroneill.com/?p=1259#comment-258791 Hi Paddy, I'd be confident it would work since it is DVB-T and MPEG-2 compliant for UK and MPEG-4 compliant for Ireland. Might be worth popping an email to them just to be 100% sure. Hi Paddy, I’d be confident it would work since it is DVB-T and MPEG-2 compliant for UK and MPEG-4 compliant for Ireland. Might be worth popping an email to them just to be 100% sure.

]]> Comment on The RTE Digital TV Switchover and a Xoro DTV-M5 Review by Paddy http://conoroneill.com/2011/12/03/the-rte-digital-tv-switchover-and-a-xoro-dtv-m5-review/comment-page-1/#comment-258789 Paddy Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:27:27 +0000 http://conoroneill.com/?p=1259#comment-258789 Hi Conor,I live in Donegal and pick up all the uk stations on an mpeg 2 but not the Irish tv.Will this work for Uk and Ireland.Cheers Paddy Hi Conor,I live in Donegal and pick up all the uk stations on an mpeg 2 but not the Irish tv.Will this work for Uk and Ireland.Cheers Paddy

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