Beware pirate set-top boxes

With a lack of copy-protection mechanisms on the HD output to the TV, and into the personal video recording (PVR) functionality on these boxes, the broadcast and manufacturing industry would need to rely on the already heavily-burdened law enforcement agencies to stop these boxes entering the country, e-tv said.
Click to expand...

What is it about these boxes that qualifies them as "pirate" and "illegal"?
 
DJ... said:
What is it about these boxes that qualifies them as "pirate" and "illegal"?
Click to expand...
No SABS stamp i think. Also:


E.tv said that local manufacturers are very concerned about these boxes hitting the South African market as their investment in the production of compliant Digital Video Broadcasting
Click to expand...
 
HavocXphere said:
No SABS stamp i think. Also:
Click to expand...

AFAIK not being SABS approved does not make an item illegal whatsoever in this country. And if you've poured millions into R&D of a product without considering the Asia factor then you're a moron. Government have mechanisms to use to make these less attractive, or at least illegal in the purest sense if the importers don't follow regulations, but at the end of the day there are quite simply some things that other countries do better than us. Invest in what you're good at - don't try to legislate options away from consumers or use technology to do so in order to artificially create a local market for something, unless of course you can do it far better, which I doubt..

I'm all for protecting existing local markets. I'm not pro-regulation to create markets for the sake of it...
 
With a lack of copy-protection mechanisms on the HD output to the TV, and into the personal video recording (PVR) functionality on these boxes
Click to expand...

What they really mean is that these are perfectly fine receivers that aren't broken from the outset like theres are, and they're afraid of the competition.

SABS stamp is a matter of paying for testing (R5000 and up). I've little doubt they'll pass if someone paid for the testing.
 
They will need to be ICASA approved, this is a real requirement. I know that MultiChoice is like a hit squad when they smell Dreamboxes in the vicinity.
 
DJ... said:
What is it about these boxes that qualifies them as "pirate" and "illegal"?
Click to expand...
Nothing, it is a lie. TV sets don't need, why for set top boxes? They only need to meet standard SABS safety requirements, no certification (sticker) required.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X