DSTV HD PVR bugs

OverKill69 said:
It is worth it... as long as your TV is already FULL HD ready and is a decent size and quality. Some of the "not so good" TV's have a really pastel kind of feel to them with HD content... like the colours have been tampered with almost... I don't want to brand-bash here, but look carefully before saving R1000 on a LCD TV with a really inferior Picture Quality, even if it is one of the "big and trusted brands"
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So which brand/size would u recommend?
 
I don't want to say this brand is better than that brand. But there's a misconception with regard to the quality on some of the big names. Rather take your time and REALLY look at the picture quality... make a choice that you're happy with.

And don't listen to the salesman... EVER! They're all idiots!
They'll tell you that the picture quality is the same on a samsung and a pioneer because they both use "SAMSUNG" panels... AAAARRRRRGGGGG.
Rather just look around and make informed decisions and don't just buy a TV coz it has a fancy smooth glass finish with a chrome stand.

I'm a bit of an audiophile...
And I'm maybe slightly obsessive with my Home Theater gear. So any improvement on picture quality is brilliant for guys like me.
I even PVR'ed "GHOSTRIDER" just to see the HD shiny-ness... I feel a little embarrassed at admitting this...

But Anyway... The picture quality is WAY BETTER! as long as your TV is good quality too... and you enjoy the content.

Series, movies and some sport.

I enjoy the movies in HD coz it's usually stuff i don't get on DVD... HD makes listening to Horatio's (CSI: Miami) comments that much funnier, Horatio-isms in HD > all... and the Sport is just phenomenal in HD!
I watched Golf for over 15 mins... THAT'S never happened to me before!
I'll actually have a mini-stroke when F1 and Super 14 Rugby are broadcast in HD... My liver and credit card will be toast since all my mates will be living at my place on weekends!
 
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adsl3g said:
I am one of those totally dissapointed users of the HD PVR - this thing is terrible. One cannot use it to schedule any recordings - this was a very bad and I think embarrasment for Multichoice.
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There is a way to schedule recordings, just go to favorites, at the top change menu and then it will show the blue button option to schedule recordings.

I don't know the precise wording of the menu's, but will update tonight when I get home.

When you have worked with MS MCE for the last 4 years the HD PVR feels backward and slow to be honest.
 
I got one, and its awesome for Channel 170 (Mnet on HD) but otherwise I prefer the Std. PVR..........

It also hibernates and is a pain in the ass to wake-up....
 
BTW multi-choice bought this box in from the UK (pace) cause there one wasn't ready in time, now I hear that there one which has all the functions on, they will not be able to offer us because of contracts etc.... how sad
 
moosag said:
One thing I must admit. My Broadband .co . za you rock. Only on a site like this will individuals come together and setup something like this. I too have a HD PVR decoder and have noticed and experience all the bugs on a daily basis.

Personally I am too lazy to come online and do something about it. Once again MyBB is taking it to the top and looking out for the consumer!! I told myself that it would only be a matter of time till someone on MyBB comes up with something like this.

Kudo's Rudolph :)
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Actually it was a group of users from the DStv forums, not the MyBroadband forums (the initial list was created by a ps3za user).
 
I am pretty happy with my Compact 1110 connected to a LG 320GB HDD/DVD recorder. Monochoice hardware just feels "wrong" to me. Like telkom internet....
 
Lets not mention they have tried to pass off upscaled shows on the HD channel ! This decoder is shocking and I think this kuk service from Multichoice needs some airtime in the newspapers as well
 
OverKill69 said:
Well, the SD PVR was still R1999 at the time...

I THINK that's what the guy means... it wasn't over R4000 or something ridiculous like that... It was competitive with respect to their other satellite products.
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Importing a SD PVR that is similar to the features to the HD pvr in functionality (no 2nd tv etc) will cost you R7'000 to import. HD equipment will be slightly more. Then none of the EPG stuff or multichoice applications will work either, because of Multichoice's propriety software.

OverKill69 said:
Once you watch the sport on HD it makes it worth it! Knowing that there'll be more and more content available in the future is a bonus, but watching real-time sport on HD is what makes these bugs just mild irritations as opposed to stomach ulcers.

It is worth it... as long as your TV is already FULL HD ready and is a decent size and quality. Some of the "not so good" TV's have a really pastel kind of feel to them with HD content... like the colours have been tampered with almost... I don't want to brand-bash here, but look carefully before saving R1000 on a LCD TV with a really inferior Picture Quality, even if it is one of the "big and trusted brands"

One example is the Samsung 40" Full HD TV... The picture is "funny"! It looks like the picture was enhanced using "MS Paint". The picture has a pastel kind of feel and motion looks and feels wrong too. My sister bought one recently and I didn't have the heart to tell her that I find the picture to be far inferior to other LCD's I've seen around. (It was on a mega-special tho)
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That is not entirely true, LCD might appear more elegant to the eye because it fools you, displaying colours that is actually not close to what was originally recorded. This can cause a heated debate into what is better, some actually prefer the "morphed" look. You will find that the more expensive equipment most of the time deliver as close as possible to the original recording, and might disappoint those that are used to looking at modified output. :( You will especially find this with audio equipment, the more you pay the more crappier it sounds to guy that bought a less expensive equipment. Some audiophiles might agree with me here. I prefer the close to original sound/video, and might not appeal to those that prefer the lesser. ;) Don't forget the built-in hardware deinterlacer, hardware scaler, all depends on which methods they follow and of course what what your output device is doing to the signal. I prefer plasma, because black is truly black unlike on LCD. Until they start using LED to replace the backlit. LCD will always be bad to those that can pick up the difference.

OverKill69 said:
Its not just samsung... A friend of mine has the B&0 65" plasma (about R150 000 worth of TV) and you had that same kind of sensation with motion as you did with those first LCD monitors with a 24ms response time... that ghosting effect when you played fast paced FPS games, well this Plasma had that kind of feel to normal television and DVD's. He's sitting next to me going "WOW! check the picture! Its like watching REAL LIFE"... I was like "Yeah... amazing!"
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Yes that was one of the main hurdles for LCD panels to go bigger, was the response. They claim that they did over come this problem, but we will still have to wait for equipment that was adapted to the new method of delivery.

HD still has a long way to go. :confused:
 
HD size

As far as i can see, (and I have opened my HDPVR, the HD is 500 GB not 250, unless the s/w artificicially restricts acess to only half of the drive

best

Geoff
 
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# Audio problem when changing between Stereo and Surround (Reported by: Patrick No 1 | Verified by: ?)

Manifests as squealing or clicking via SPDIF and "audio format not supported" message via HDMI on Sony Bravia KLV-40S400A reference display.

Workaround: Block your ears.
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ROFL!
 
Nice discussion regarding the article and the new HD PVR. I noticed that there is some criticism about the positive angle of the article: I think MultiChoice should get some credit for looking at what their subscribers are saying and actually providing MyBroadband with a detailed list of the bugs and where they stand on it.

We have tried to address similar issues with other companies and the response is typically ‘We always try to do the best for our clients’ without any concrete action or details. I think MultiChoice realizes that users are in fact a very valuable resource to improve their services and it was refreshing to see that they take this issue very seriously.
 
House and Home has got a nice special on the HD PVR

R1980...no T&C's as far as I can see
 
Good news for DSTV HD PVR subscribers is that MultiChoice is well aware of these bugs and has documented plans to ensure that these problems are resolved soon.
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And communicated those plans with millstone delivery dates to whom?

MyBroadband was provided with a detailed spreadsheet of the known bugs listed on the user generated WiKi and the action that is being planned to resolve each issues. The next software release should resolve most of the problems which were listed by consumers.
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Did i miss a link where this sheet is published?

Multichoice further pointed out that some of the ‘bugs’ listed are actually not bugs but rather a system limitation.
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Hay they can call them "undocumented features" if that gets them trough the day.
Bottom line, being a monopoly is sweet.
They are ripping off SA consumer with no shame, all so called services that they offer are disproportional with compensation they command trough subscription fees.
Subscription of R600 PM is a LOT of cash for what they supply... not to mention that consumer still bare the cost of financing their inferior technology rollout.. thus why there are BUG riddled decoders read "system limitations" just so we are (NO)(Multi)choice PC.
 
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rpm said:
Nice discussion regarding the article and the new HD PVR. I noticed that there is some criticism about the positive angle of the article: I think MultiChoice should get some credit for looking at what their subscribers are saying and actually providing MyBroadband with a detailed list of the bugs and where they stand on it.

We have tried to address similar issues with other companies and the response is typically ‘We always try to do the best for our clients’ without any concrete action or details. I think MultiChoice realizes that users are in fact a very valuable resource to improve their services and it was refreshing to see that they take this issue very seriously.
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With all due respect Sir, my sizable investment into their rubbish decoder technology (R2800), topped up with additional R600 pm, expects immediate action and transparency.

So as much as I'm in favor of "give credit where credit is due", I'm afraid it is not the case in this instance, they have monopolized, "proprietorialised" and abused the SA consumer for way to long to deserve a credit for doing what they have to do to satay in "the game"..

Besides, I can still not find a reference or link to the spreadsheet listing ramification to the consumer raised issue, allegedly passed to MyBroadband
 
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