DSTV HDTV details

[BigBear]

BigBear said:

MultiChoice subscribers will also soon be able to link the HD PVR to their current Dual View PVR to enjoy 3 viewing environments, or link the HD PVR to 1110 decoder to enjoy 2 viewing environments, as part of the XtraView offering.

The additional cost for XtraView is R55, which is the amount currently payable on the Dual View service.

 

[kenironside]

They are installing my DSTV today, with the normal decoder... should i wait? I guess it's not that hard, the normal decoder costs like R400 bucks, i'm willing to lose that and get the new HD one when it's released...

If you want the new HD PVR you'll need four antenna inputs, so get them to install a quad LNB plus four coax's to your TV viewing area.

Regards, Ken

 

[JAPSEP]

HD decoder specifications – audio related

New to this blog so excuse me for asking obvious questions.

Is any information available relating to the audio output for the HD decoder? Will we be able to send audio in digital format to an AV receiver or only via old fashioned stereo RCA output jacks?

If digital audio output functionality is available, will this be optical and/or digital coaxial and/or HDMI. I guess it’s really wishful thinking that the decoder will decode high definition audio formats onboard and send them via multi-audio output jacks, say 5.1 or 7.1?

Lastly, does anyone now whether Multichoice will be broadcasting any high definition audio formats? I know this would be depending on what content is being broadcasted (recent movies vs. sport).

 

[Rahl]

Will this channel be full HD (1080p) or just 720p?

Dont hold your breath. Were looking at 720p here most likely.
Same as Telkoms classification of broadband.

Still its better than a rusted sabre up the ass.

 

[UnoPanelvan]

New to this blog so excuse me for asking obvious questions.

Is any information available relating to the audio output for the HD decoder? Will we be able to send audio in digital format to an AV receiver or only via old fashioned stereo RCA output jacks?

If digital audio output functionality is available, will this be optical and/or digital coaxial and/or HDMI. I guess it’s really wishful thinking that the decoder will decode high definition audio formats onboard and send them via multi-audio output jacks, say 5.1 or 7.1?

Lastly, does anyone now whether Multichoice will be broadcasting any high definition audio formats? I know this would be depending on what content is being broadcasted (recent movies vs. sport).

Maybe just reread the article again.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Rahl : Sorry to burst your little bubble, but 720p is the broadcast standard used pretty much everywhere in the world that is broadcasting HD content.

 

[UnoPanelvan]

Sad that MyBB do not get contact with DSTV and get more details for us (hint)

I am glad for the 3 view possibility (Actually four considering the recording channel)

Just wonder if it will now cost me even extra

- Normal subscription - existing
- +R55.00 for Dual view - existing
- +R55.00 for Triple view. - ??????????

 

[Rahl]

My bad then.

 

[ITbob]

4 coaxial cables..... damn. sounds like moving to HD will be a bit of a pain, i'll have to upgrade my LNB and run 2 additional cables. I have enough cable mess behind my tv.

I not reallly interested in using my old PVR, as long as i can get the dual view (1 with HD) and record another channel i'm happy.

 

[UnoPanelvan]

Sad that MyBB do not get contact with DSTV and get more details for us (hint)

I am glad for the 3 view possibility (Actually four considering the recording channel)

Just wonder if it will now cost me even extra

- Normal subscription - existing
- +R55.00 for Dual view - existing
- +R55.00 for Triple view. - ??????????

Ok According to an DSTV agent the following is the case

Will be available from 1 August
Cost for dual view and triple view remains the same. (Cannot believe they are so kind)
You will need the quad LNB for sure

Rush to get yours on Saturday before stocks run out

HD Content
HD Content will be available from the 8 August with an HD channel dedicated to the The Beijing Olympic Games.

M-Net HD launches on 24 August with a premium selection of Movies, Series and Wildlife all in HD format.

http://www.dstv.com/main.aspx?Id=11107

Speak to C4?
http://www.dstv.com/Gysmm/Forum/threadView.aspx?sid=23552&Id=132

 

[Dr@g0nic]

So is it a must to get HD "PVR"?
Wont there be a normal Decoder in HD?

 

[UnoPanelvan]

So is it a must to get HD "PVR"?
Wont there be a normal Decoder in HD?

Nope! Its hardware platform bound. I am sure there will be equivalent products but at R2400.00 intro the effort is not worth it.
Like the dreambox http://www.simply-satellite.net/9000HD.html

MultiChoice Africa has chosen Pace's TDS850 HD PVR platform, which combines H.264 compression with DVB-S2 demodulation and comes with four tuners for a full HD experience, together with push-VOD capabilities. The MultiChoice TDS850 comes with OpenTV's Core 2.0 middleware and PVR 2.0 software together with content security from Irdeto.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2007_Sept_8/ai_n19505223?tag=rel.res1
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2006_Sept_20/ai_n26991761

What is great is that it seems that this unit does Upscaling up to 1080i ?

Some more details

http://www.dstv.com/Gysmm/Forum/threadView.aspx?Id=132&sid=33745

The subscription will NOT increase once the HD and SD are in an XtraView network. It may increase once a bouquet of HD channels are made available and if you want access to it, but for the current channels are well as the HD channel that will be launched soon, there will be no additional subscription and the only increases will be the normal yearly ones.
The HD PVR has the following outputs:
1 x HDMI (only source of HD)
1 x set AV (Red, white yellow)
1 x set YPbPr (Component)
1 x RF Out (F-type connector)
1 x SPDIF optical
1 x SPDIF coaxial
1 x TV SCART (RGB, S-Video, etc. available via menu options and adaptors (not supplied)

It also has the following inputs:
4 x LNB (F-type)
1 x RF IN (F-type)
Power (figure 8 socket)

The following connectors are for future use
1 x eSATA
2 x USB 2.0
1 x Ethernet

Pace TDS850 HD PVR set-top box
http://bbcfreesathdtvblog.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html

Watch and record high definition video with a Pace TDS850 HD PVR set-top box.

The next stage in HD set-top box technology, the TDS850 comes with H.264 compression and triple tuners for the ultimate HD experience.

Dual DVB-S2 tuners enable the user to watch one channel while recording another or record two channels while watching stored content. The third tuner is DVB-S compliant to enable a dedicated push-VOD service and enhanced electronic programming guide (EPG).

The 250Gb hard drive allows up to 60 hours of HD – or 120 hours of standard definition – content to be stored, with optional upgrades available.

HDCP is used for secure transfer of digital signals to the display via HDMI, while the auto set-up function enables easy and quick configuration with most display types.
****************
* High definition H.264 personal video recorder
* Triple tuners – two DVB-S2 and one DVB-S
* Supports push-VOD
* 250Gb hard drive for 60-120 hours of stored content
* Watch one channel and record another
* Record two and watch one stored programme
*********************************
* DiSEqC 2.0 compatible
* Range of middleware, CA and customisation options available
* Picture-in-picture capabilities
* Software download via Satellite Into FLASH memory supported

 

[UnoPanelvan]

I am getting one on Friday/Saturday 1st August

EVEN LOOKS GOOD

http://www.pace.com/media/corporate/PDF/manuals/tds850_spec.pdf

CONNECTIVITY:
• RF Inputs (IEC169-24 F-type, female)
• HDMI with HDCP
• TV SCART (IEC60807-9)
• VCR SCART (IEC60807-9)
• Mains Input (IEC60320)
• Telephone Line Socket (RJ11)
• USB 2.0 (Type A)
• Ethernet (RJ45 Female)
• RS232 (9 Pin D-type)
• Analogue Audio (RCA Phono/Cinch)
• Optical SPDIF (TOSLINK)
• S-Video Connector (Mini-DIN)
• Composite Video (RCA Phono/Cinch)
• Component Video (RCA Phono/Cinch)
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION:
• DiSEqC 2.0
• Two DVB-S2 tuners
• Additional DVB-S tuner
• Dolby Digital 5.1 mixdown processing and
digital audio output
• 576i25, 720p50, 1080i25
• MPEG-2 MP@ML, MPEG-2 MP@HL
• MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 [email protected]
• AC3 (Dolby Digital Stereo), MPEG-4 (AAC-HE)
• Audio MPEG-1 layers 1, 2, 3 (MP3)
• Macrovision copy protection
MEMORY:
• 256MB SDRAM
• 32MB FLASH
• 256Kb EEPROM NVRAM
• 250Gb Hard Disk Drive – optional upgrade

 

[bboy]

oh great, so it can't do 1080p, pos

 

[arf9999]

There is no 1080p broadcast standard anywhere in the world. Get over yourself. The decoder is capable of 720p or 1080i. Sky HD uses 1080i in the UK, but most HD broadcasts are 720p.

 

[Hogrod]

Can someone explain to me why we need a dual or even a quad LNB, why can't the decoder do the work that the LNB does? Take one signal and deal with it appropriately?

 

[nk1]

Can someone explain to me why we need a dual or even a quad LNB, why can't the decoder do the work that the LNB does? Take one signal and deal with it appropriately?

That's what I would like to know as well, just forked out some money for a single LNB recently and need to know whether I must now get another dual or quad LNB? Is the additional just for the recording channels?

 

[.geek]

So is it a must to get HD "PVR"?
Wont there be a normal Decoder in HD?

Yeah, I want to know the same thing?

 

[gboy]

was told by someone, it has to do with the capacity of the signal, normal DSTV signal stream does not have the capacity, so the need to split HD over 2 or 4? signals then your decoder will recompile it.

Also got told that DSTV, for example, a rugby match is playing, will increase the quality of that channel and reduce the quality of another channel to make up.

 

[bboy]

cause the LNB gets "tuned" to a frequency, one lnb cannot receive all the signals on its own, there are a range of horizontal and vertical frequencies that are broadcast.