DSTV HD worth it?

Sheesh - found it - I thought I'd lost it - you need to install this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950124

Then go down to Multichoice in the Set-Top brand, and select the following remote codes:
TV1 - S1959
TV2 - S1960

When testing TV1 and TV2, you might have to fiddle with the IR Control Table (an option when testing) - I had to change mine three times on each TV
 
xrapidx said:
Sheesh - found it - I thought I'd lost it - you need to install this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950124

Then go down to Multichoice in the Set-Top brand, and select the following remote codes:
TV1 - S1959
TV2 - S1960

When testing TV1 and TV2, you might have to fiddle with the IR Control Table (an option when testing) - I had to change mine three times on each TV
Click to expand...

Thanks. I feared it would be a windows based solution. does MCE create a file with the codes in it? If so if you still have that file can you PM me and I'll give you my email address (assuming it is not a huge file).
 
xrapidx said:
Yeh - thats why I'm waiting for the UEC decoder...

Thought there was more than one channel - I'll wait for more to be added then. . . Media Center is more important than one channel :p
Click to expand...

- Same here, one channel just isn't worth the time, even three or four channels really wouldn't be worth it.
 
Not really worth it now maybe a little further down the line when there are more channels but right now there is only one channel
 
I think launching HD with only one so-so HD channel is a joke! They haven't even got widescreen sorted out for the SD channels.

Until most content is at least widescreen, I'm not buying an LCD/Plasma.
 
milomak said:
Thanks. I feared it would be a windows based solution. does MCE create a file with the codes in it? If so if you still have that file can you PM me and I'll give you my email address (assuming it is not a huge file).
Click to expand...

Oh - thought you were looking for a windows media center solution : I'm pretty sure someone must have solved the SDPVR issue by now on other platforms.
 
xrapidx said:
Oh - thought you were looking for a windows media center solution : I'm pretty sure someone must have solved the SDPVR issue by now on other platforms.
Click to expand...

Is the SDPVR made by UEC? Perhaps a search by brand and model might crop with some useful info. tbf I hadn’t put much effort into searching for the solution since about 2 years ago when I first setup MythTV.

Do you know if MCE can control the HDPVR?
 
Mr smarty pants, how many broadcasters broadcast at 1080p? By the way DSTV broadcast at 1080i (which you probably confuse with 1080p)
 
R13... said:
Mr smarty pants, how many broadcasters broadcast at 1080p? By the way DSTV broadcast at 1080i (which you probably confuse with 1080p)
Click to expand...
Interlaced and progressive, I deal with footage all day, it's part of my business. I know what delivery formats MC request and how to produce those formats and the difference between progressive and interlaced. DSTV or Multi Choice broadcast @ 720p50, your decoder upscales to 1080i25. Simply put DSTV send out a 720p50 which is a 921.6 Mbit/s stream as opposed to 2073.6 Mbit/s for 1080p50, they can't facilitate the bandwidth and hence why they only send out a 720p50 signal. In all honesty a 1080p program source displayed on a 1080p TV is the best possible image you can get. For action or sport I would want to watch a progressive signal, less motion blur.

Your HD decoder upscales to 1080i, but in my experience, using your TV to upscale you lessen motion blur than if you had the decoder do it. Of course, different people notice different qualities in an image, and have different TV sets, so the ultimately test, for you yourself switch between the two. If you do not notice a difference, then I would suggest going with 720p decoder side, as your DSTV box will be doing no upscaling on the HD channels, let your TV do the work!! TVs these days have arm processors so it makes easy work on upscaling.

Presently loads of broadcasters broadcast 1080p25 or 1080p30 dependent on country of origin, my list I receive is 70 HD channels thus far.
Here is a list of some of the channels I am getting
SKY SPORT1 HD
MTV LIVE HD
ANIMAL PLANET HD
DISCOVERY HD
HISTORY HD
COMEDY CENTRAL HD
,NAT GEO HD
EUROSPORT 2 HD
EUROSPORT HD
DISNEY XD HD
ITV 2 HD
ITV 3 HD
BBC HD
MGM HD
SKY FAMILY HD
SKY TRILLER HD
EUROSPORT 2 HD
CINEMAX HD
NAT GEO WILD HD
NatGeo HD
ESPN AMERICA HD
PRO 7 HD
KABEL EINS HD
CCTV News
SKY NEWS HD
SKY MOVIES MODERN HD
SKY MOVIES DRAMA & ROMANCE HD
SKY MOVIES SCIFI & HORROR HD
SKY MOVIES COMEDY HD
HBO HD
HBO 2 HD
FOX HD
HISTORY Italy HD
BIO HD
SyfY HD
Cinema Passion HD
Cinema Family HD
AXN HD
Cambero Rosso HD
Fox life HD
BBC HD
MGM HD
Cinemax 1 HD
France 3 HD
France 2 HD
France 4 HD
France 5 HD
M6 HD
TF1 HD
France 24 HD
ARTE HD
M6 HD
W 9 HD
TMC HD
RAI I HD
RAI II HD
CINEMAX Italy HD
Hustler HD
Penthouse HD 1
Penthouse HD 2
Redlight HD
 
Roman4604 said:
DSTV forum mods indicate MC broadcasts HD almost exclusively in 1080i. Setting your HDPVR output to 720p50 downscales/de-interlaces it from 1080i50.


http://forum.dstv.com/showpost.php?p=98509&postcount=32
http://forum.dstv.com/showpost.php?p=93034&postcount=12
http://forum.dstv.com/showpost.php?p=68856&postcount=84
http://forum.dstv.com/showpost.php?p=91035&postcount=16
Click to expand...

Yeah. I was told 4 years ago that Multichoice will mostly use 720p. Then (from about 2 years ago) the word on the street was that it is now mostly 1080i... Wonder what the story is here.
 
Roman4604 said:
DSTV forum mods indicate MC broadcasts HD almost exclusively in 1080i. Setting your HDPVR output to 720p50 downscales/de-interlaces it from 1080i50.


http://forum.dstv.com/showpost.php?p=98509&postcount=32
http://forum.dstv.com/showpost.php?p=93034&postcount=12
http://forum.dstv.com/showpost.php?p=68856&postcount=84
http://forum.dstv.com/showpost.php?p=91035&postcount=16
Click to expand...

Most of these posts refer to source material and not the live signal feed... however the one post says exactly what I stated. Progressive source displayed on a progressive LED or LCD TV is a winner ;-)

Interlaced and progressive, differences between the two lie in the way in which the signal is scanned onto an HD monitor. Interlaced sends images in alternative fields, meaning that each row of pixels is regarded as either even or odd. Odd fields are displayed first while even fields are displayed second; both of these fields together create a full frame on the screen. Progressive displays all frames progressively. This means that both even and odd fields are displayed together, resulting in a smoother image.

Currently MultiChoice broadcasts its HD signals at 720p and perhaps 1080i... If they are sending out a 1080i signal this would explain the terrible motion blur whilst watching sport.... 720p50 vs 1080i25, u decide but a 50 frames per second signal that scans progressively makes all the sense for a clear fluid motion image, were 1080i25 is 25 frames per second with an alternate field scan would give you fantastic motion blur or even a weird split screen effect on camera pan movements... May be good for movies but for sports or any action this is gonna look terrible..
anyways really glad to say bye bye to DSTV and have this new service.... I can watch sport in ultimate quality.
 
Last edited:
Quantum Theory said:
I've always said this... but some guys here will tell you that a modern TV deals with interlacing so well, that you would not be able to tell the difference between 1080i and 1080p.
Click to expand...
That's my personal experience comparing the same movie on 1080p24 Bluray to DSTV's 1080i50 (25 fps frame doubled). The bitrate is lower than Bluray though (according to the port throughput on a DVB-IP HDPVR2P), so up close you can notice more artifacting in dark detail.

From a motion handling perspective, unfortunately there is no 1080p50 content out there to compare to DSTV's 1080i50, but superficially I don't notice the kind of picture corruption/tearing you'd expect from an unprocessed interlaced picture on my decent/modern TV.

As far as the resolution goes, the locally shot stuff using MC's own HD cameras (esp in studio) is too sharp & clear on a 1080p display to be 720p.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X