Broadband or DSTV HD?

Hemps

Hemps

Honorary Master
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
11,664
Reaction score
1,633
Location
Slummies
Need advice
I'm currently sitting with uncapped from mweb and download TV show's etc.
But am thinking of switching to DSTV HD?
I mean I currently pay:
R173 for phone line
R139 adsl line
R219 to mweb
elect p/m R80
total= R 611 p/m
Slow 384k internet.

Should I ditch the adsl and go over to DSTV HD.
What is the DSTV HD content like and HD quality wise?
Only thing is you can't choose what to watch etc. like adsl give's you, but HD downlaods take forever.
And the same show's I get off adsl are sometime's on DSTV.
I know they repeat everything........but it's so much less hassle than downloading.
I'm mainly into supersport, disocvery hd and mnet hd.

Is the quality that much better than normal dstv, I'm on easyview at the moment and the quaility on LCD sucks.
 
Regarding the quality comparison with normal DStv, it is way better. And MC have added the on-demand service after the 5 May software upgrade.
It's a toss-up really. I watch plenty of telly, so DStv HD works for me better than uncapped 384Kb.
 
Quality is excellent.

There are a few good shows on Mnet HD (Fringe etc) and Discovery HD, but not enough. You are not going to get 80% of your downloads on these channels.

Make up your own mind.
 
One thing is the sport, rugby in HD looks awesome, I have internet access at work so I dont surf when I get home, it's just constantly downloading from rapidshare.
I'm mostly into House, Big bang theory, mentalist etc.
Only thing about dstv is there's no choice to choose which season you want to watch, so I might be left behind.

Another thing is I have spent R1000 on routers etc. and now how much will it cost to upgrade to HD.

I have a SD decoder and Sat dish - currently with EasyView
 
I don't have HD yet and planning to get it before the World Cup because I really want to watch my rugby in HD and of course the SWC in HD too - I really want to watch the Sunday night movie as well as some TV series I don't get off the net in HD. Plus since at 7 for 7:30, we are putting our toddler to bed, my wife misses a lot of the 7:30 shows on M-Net, so PVR is a huge necessity in our household.

In our case, we slot in content I get off the net with our viewing on M-Net. Although Fringe starts at 9:30 on M-Net, we watch Fringe at 7:30 (same ep as M-Net), then go onto other shows like Legend of the Seeker, Vampire Diaries, etc. On Tuesdays, we watch Ugly Betty on M-Net and hit FlashForward on the Mede8er. On Mondays, we stick to M-Net since for some reason, Greys's 5.1 soundtrack that I get off the net is crap! It is as if the two front channels have been swopped with the two rear channels.

To be honost, the tv shows in HD that you download off the net are good, but not nearly as brilliant as you'd get from DSTV, but much better than the lower resolution versions and for me the huge bonus is that you get a 5.1 DD soundtrack! I am really enjoying The Pacific, not only for HD video, but the sound is awesome!

So, I'd if you have to choose, perhaps get DSTV HD and bum content from your friends (that is what I do).
 
You need both dude...if you ditch your uncapped you'll be back within a month...and you'll still have you hd decoder so problem solved :)
I wouldn't get HD just for HD....main selling point for me was the pvr, so why buy a SD decoder when you can add a few bucks and get the HD one.
 
Now with TopTV coming in, wonder how the quality is?
Also if they will be thinking about HD?
I have an htpc with blu-ray so movies are not a problem - I hire them.
The video store I just joined has a crapload of series on dvd, not the latest or in hd though.
I' enjoy watching sport and fishing - and also am a big fan of discovery , animal planet etc. it's what I'm downloading now but at 1.3GB an episode , 1 and a half hd episodes a day, whereas on dstv hd there are many, but repeats.
 
Seriously, the only thing on DSTV that you can't get off the Net at equal or better quality is live sport, IMHO. I'd have ditched my DSTV long ago if I could just get streaming soccer and Formula 1.
Prob gonna cancel after the world cup anyway. Their pricing is crazy. And I'm not even on HD.
 
True I think I'll wait until toptv get's sorted, much better value for money.
DSTV premium is just too expensive, my dad has dstv and there are often times there is just nothing to watch.
 
Seriously, upgrade your DSL to 4MB uncapped for an extra R300/month and be done with 'We tell you what to watch and when to watch it' forever!!!
 
Roo! said:
Seriously, upgrade your DSL to 4MB uncapped for an extra R300/month and be done with 'We tell you what to watch and when to watch it' forever!!!
Click to expand...

+ another 1. Exactly!
 
If i have a choice between the 2 i would go with dstv, If you are heavy into sport it is a no brainer in my opinion, i watch so much sport and i could not imagine watching all the sport off a live stream which would be horrid quality.

If you are not heavily into sport go with the 4 meg option and download all the series you want. Also the ad breaks on dstv drive me nuts but then i have 4 meg uncapped and dstv, i want hd but i dunno 3k for the decoder more for upgrading your dish and extra every month. Not sure it is worth it.

eztv is about the best there is

Discovery OMFS, i hate watching it. You have to sit through 5 minutes of bloody discovery ads every 15 minutes or something stupid.
 
Last edited:
killadoob said:
...snip

Discovery OMFS, i hate watching it. You have to sit through 5 minutes of bloody discovery ads every 15 minutes or something stupid.
Click to expand...

I agree; and you don't even need to download many of those Discovery shows - just stream them from the Disc. website. Easy if you on 4mb.
As I said earlier, the only thing going for them is sport.
 
killadoob said:
If i have a choice between the 2 i would go with dstv, If you are heavy into sport it is a no brainer in my opinion, i watch so much sport and i could not imagine watching all the sport off a live stream which would be horrid quality.

If you are not heavily into sport go with the 4 meg option and download all the series you want. Also the ad breaks on dstv drive me nuts but then i have 4 meg uncapped and dstv, i want hd but i dunno 3k for the decoder more for upgrading your dish and extra every month. Not sure it is worth it.

eztv is about the best there is

Discovery OMFS, i hate watching it. You have to sit through 5 minutes of bloody discovery ads every 15 minutes or something stupid.
Click to expand...

Do you suggest EZTV for 384? is it worth the monthly subs?
 
Hemps said:
Need advice
I'm currently sitting with uncapped from mweb and download TV show's etc.
But am thinking of switching to DSTV HD?
I mean I currently pay:
R173 for phone line
R139 adsl line
R219 to mweb
elect p/m R80
total= R 611 p/m
Slow 384k internet.

Should I ditch the adsl and go over to DSTV HD.
What is the DSTV HD content like and HD quality wise?
Only thing is you can't choose what to watch etc. like adsl give's you, but HD downlaods take forever.
And the same show's I get off adsl are sometime's on DSTV.
I know they repeat everything........but it's so much less hassle than downloading.
I'm mainly into supersport, disocvery hd and mnet hd.

Is the quality that much better than normal dstv, I'm on easyview at the moment and the quaility on LCD sucks.
Click to expand...

yes the HD qoulity is prety good and you get 5.1 etc, the same shows are available on line if you know where to look.
with regard to sport thats more dificult online.
I have dstv premium on HD but i still download a few show mind you a lot less then i used to. I wouldnt get rid of you uncapad adsl if i were you, also maybe wait a while the new HD decoder is due out soon hope fully at a decent price.
 
I watched The Pacific on HD last night, the picture and sound quality was amazing i so wish all the HD channels were that good.
 
I'm serously considering scrapping the 384k line, just too slow - baby HD decoder is on special for R1999.

I have a single lnb and SD decoder with easyview at present, if I buyt this decoder apparently I can get HD if I sub. to dstv premium.

What would I pay for dstv premium without all the extra stuff, just to view the channels etc. no recordering, etc
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X