DSTV HDTV

[Hades]

but the article says this:

The HD PVR allows for one viewing environment, two background recording environments and one channel for EPG data and video on demand downloads.

Appears that the other viewable channel is only for EPG data etc not a proper viewable channel?

sorry for the double post

 

[JoseQuervo]

HD PVR is dualview...

TV 1 is HD capable and interactive features capable... TV 2 is SD with no interactive features.

XtraView is to hook your new HD PVR to your existing SD PVR or Dual View decoder to get ANOTHER viewing environment! IE 3 IN TOTAL.

While the HD PVR may not be a dual view PVR we have introduced XtraView to cater to your needs. XtraView takes care of the second and in some cases, third viewing environment at no additional subscription fee to what you currently pay for on the DualView decoder or SD PVR

http://www.dstv.com/main.aspx?Id=13468&s=11

 

[PeterCH]

Get a HD PVR now before the price goes to over R4000

Don't buy the NoChoice marketing nonsense. The HD PVRs CAN only come DOWN in price
as they churn out more units. It's like saying you should buy a PC or a plasma/LCD
2 years ago because now they will be more expensive. It's also stupid
for NC to raise prices when the economy is faltering and people
are feeling the credit crunch - just to watch 2-3 channels in extremely
compressed 720p???

As for quality I'm willing to bet, if you follow the complaints of HD viewers in the
US, is that our HD signal will be heavily compressed, heck DSTV does this for
almost every channel. On a 40+ inch set the compressed HD signal will look UGLY.

If you really want HD, just buy a PS3 or an BD player and rent/buy some
BD movies, they cost almost the same as DVD variants, then you have
less compressed, properly mastered true HD (1920by1080) content. Everything
else is worthless (eg news) until everything broadcasts in HD by default on DSTV.

I see GAME is selling Full HD, Samsung sets for R19.999 in 46 inches. Hopefully
by next year we'll see that come down to R15.000 which is semi-affordable
for the lowest sized HD (HD below 46 inches is not true HD unless you
sit with your face against the screen). However DSTV HD is going to
be ugly on that set - at 46 inches....

 

[JoseQuervo]

The xtraview setup seems the way to go if you have a dualview or SD PVR already.

You go to the XtraVieaw "Setup options" page and you see some of the "layout diagrams" which simplifed things for me!

I then phoned DSTV's customer care department and grilled one of their consultants. I eventually got put through to someone who sounded like he knew his stuff.

What I came up with, seems to be the easiest way to go.
1) Get a HD PVR now before the price goes to over R4000
2) Price EXCLUDES installation (fine print ppl)
3) You can join your new HD PVR with the dual view or SD PVR via an RF connection. THIS is what makes XtraView possible. Your terrestrial antennae RF cable comes in from the aerial, and enters your SD PVR decoder and then the RF out carries "TV 2 + terrestrial TV" you then feed that "RF OUT" into the HD PVR decoder. You can then connect your HD TV via the HDMI and then your "TV 2" option comes from the "RF out" like normal with BOTH TV 2 channels.
4) LNB configuration seems to still be a mystery to the tech department at DSTV, but they're under the impression that one LNB goes to the HD PVR and another one goes to the SD PVR. This gives 3 independent viewing environments and TWO INDEPENDENTLY Recordable environments.
I have the sneaky suspicion that there might have to be a third or possibly even a forth LNB (ie 2 going to each decoder) to get EVERY CHANNEL independently on 4 viewing environments.

I already have the SD PVR, my big question is, will the TV2 output from the XtraView deliver HD content as well? I have 2 HDTV's in my house, I would like to view HD content on both of them. Judging from that picture you've linked, the TV2 output can either be from AV cables or a RF cable, those are not able to deliver HD images only SD images. TV1 will obviously be HD because it will link the HD PVR to the television via a HDMI cable which is designed to deliver HD images. Seems that they conveniently forgot to mention that TV2 would be Standard definition only.

 

[EtienneK]

I'll start thinking of getting this when Supersport becomes HD as well. Rugby in HD == epic win!

 

[Jinx10]

HD PVR is dualview...

TV 1 is HD capable and interactive features capable... TV 2 is SD with no interactive features.

XtraView is to hook your new HD PVR to your existing SD PVR or Dual View decoder to get ANOTHER viewing environment! IE 3 IN TOTAL.

@ Hades
You've been to my house...

thanks , I was also under the impression thatthe HD PVR was not dual view, sure i read it somewhere....

 

[Jinx10]

whats worring is that this is supposed to be released tomorrow and we have very few actual facts!! I to hear a lot of people saying how different will it look then the current dstv channels and is it a worthwhile difference......

 

[Tomasz-London]

FYI
Specs on the Pace TDS850: http://www.pace.com/media/corporate/PDF/manuals/tds850_spec.pdf

 

[milomak]

I am highly unexcited by al lof this. I can quite easily see myself still not having got HD this time next year.

 

[PeterCH]

whats worring is that this is supposed to be released tomorrow and we have very few actual facts!! I to hear a lot of people saying how different will it look then the current dstv channels and is it a worthwhile difference......

Broadcast HD TV is very compressed. Just do a Wikipedia search on it.
Plus visit some foreign forums and hear people moan about the piss
poor quality.

What is really amazing is true HD from a BluRay disc but on a large set
or via a projector. To tell HD vs SD you need to sit three screen heights
away from the set/screen OR less. So you either need a big set for
an average living room or a 40 inch (and below) set for smaller room,
otherwise your eyes can't resolve the signal. A true HD projector
would be ideal as it can easily project a 60-100 inch image in a large
room allowing you to be awed by the sharpness and size of the picture.

 

[avr-rulez]

HDCP is to prevent copying of content to external machines.

So only able to save onto internal HDD

http://www.digital-cp.com/

 

[Tns]

this is all utterly confusing, at least my TV is "ready" with a few HDMI input/outputs, not getting DSTV right now.

 

[OverKill69]

Info Update at this stage:

The HD PVR decoder IS NOT DUALVIEW as I originally posted... I misinterpreted the drips and drabs that have been issued to us on the DSTV website.
What is possible is VIEWING one channel, but recording another. So you can watch only one channel at a time.

******************
MY BAD... I appologise.
******************

BUT... if you have a SD PVR decoder or a dualview decoder already... NO EXTRA MONTHLY COST will apply to hook the the HD PVR in XtraView.

The other iffy bit of intel I've been told is that the price excludes INSTALLATION.
I phoned around the "accredited installers" and they're in the dark. They do not know what to charge for installation or for upgrade to HD from an existing installation.

I fear that Multichoice is rushing this whole HD PVR project for the Olympics. When the largest accredited installers of DSTV says: "I don't know what equipment is needed for an installation and neither does my manager, we'll know next week." I don't think there has been alot of thought put into the roll out of HD this fast.

***********************

From what I understand of the technology, we'll need the following:

1) For Full HD PVR functionality, 4 LNB cables are needed. This is for the increased b/w requirements of the HD content. 2 will be for WATCHING HD, the other two will be for recording HD content while watching another channel.
2) For XtraView you'll need additional LNB Cables going to the additional decoder. So HD PVR + DualView/SD PVR will require up to SIX LNB cables! where as 2 x HD PVR's will require up to EIGHT!

I remain skeptical, but DSTV claims the resolution of the HD content is true 720p. I hope I am proven wrong!

English Soccer fans will be pleased to know that you'll be able to watch premiereship soccer in HD.
Only one local sporting event per week will be broadcast in HD after the Olympics. The website says that this "one local sporting event" will be *cough* PSL.
I don't think I am alone with the funny facial expression I made when I read about the "one local sporting event"...
Personally, I'm not a soccer fan at all. But I have faith in that situation changing! I cannot see how a local soccer game with empty stands will be shot in HD while a jam packed international Tri-Nations clash at Ellis Park won't be?

If all I can see is Wayne Rooney's ugly face in 720p I might just reconsider buying one of these decoders. If all I could get was "Ladies beach volleyball" on the other hand... (BTW - Ladies Beach Volley Ball is an Olympic sport)
Maybe the added picture quality will aid in deciphering those hand signals they make behind their backs before their teammate serves!

WRT the price:
I paid more for my SD PVR decoder than R2499, I think I paid over R3000 ex installion. When the SD PVR decoder was first released it was offered for way less.

The question you have to ask yourself is:

Do you want to watch the Olympics in HD and series like CSI and Lost after the games are finished? Do you want to be the first kid on your block to have a HD PVR?
Or
Do you want to wait for the introductory offer to end and wait and see what new technology arrives in the next few months? Do you wait for your neighbor to invite you over and show you how upset he is with the poor quality of his crappy supposed HD system.

I answered the question for my self already. Whether its worth it or not will have to be determined at a later stage.

I'm gonna get one and even attempt to install the bad guy myself. Extra cables and dishes and all!
After all, what do those experts know anyway!

I'll let you all know how it turns out.

 

[lpvoid]

I wish I had DSTV. Oh wait I have an interweb and a sports bar.

 

[OverKill69]

Average of:

8 x premiership football matches to choose from.
Otherwise
2 x Grand Prix races per month (hopefully)
3 x Rugby games per month (Hopefully)

4 x beer or 4 x soft drinks at the sports bar
excluding meals.

there's your DSTV monthly charges right there.

Internet connection? we won't include line rental since it's a necessity.
But B/W is expensive mate... especially if you're STREAMING like you should be! or purchasing DVD's via the internet because that's the only way of viewing HD content via the internet.
At R350 a HDDVD or BlueRay those costs sure add up.

 

[Laanie]

What if your HDTV has HDMI but doesnt have HDCP???
Or is that not possible?

 

[PeterCH]

What if your HDTV has HDMI but doesnt have HDCP???
Or is that not possible?

There are versions and subversions of HDCP. The HDMI port can be
HDCP capable or not, and as mentioned there are different versions of HDCP.

Best to check in your user manual.

 

[Laanie]

There are versions and subversions of HDCP. The HDMI port can be
HDCP capable or not, and as mentioned there are different versions of HDCP.

Best to check in your user manual.

I cant find my manual...

Well my TV is not listed on DSTV's compatible HDTV list so I guess is doesnt have HDCP.

I know that everybody knows little about the decoder but do you think that if you should connect it to a plasma that has a Non-HD native res, will it be better that SD?

 

[PeterCH]

I cant find my manual...

Well my TV is not listed on DSTV's compatible HDTV list so I guess is doesnt have HDCP.

I know that everybody knows little about the decoder but do you think that if you should connect it to a plasma that has a Non-HD native res, will it be better that SD?

Google with the make and model number . NoChoice may not have their details up to scratch.

If your HDTV is ED (extended definition) it should be a bit better, ED is 850x.... (poor memory)
but its greater than current PAL SD (DVD, MNET, DSTV) = 720 by 565.

What's the native res of your plasma?

 

[Laanie]

Sinotech MP-42T9

107cm PDP MP-42T9 MODEL SPECIFICATIONS


· Samsung Panel
· Screen Size: 42" wide

(16:9)
· Resolution: 852*480
· Dot Pitch: 1.08*1.08mm
· Brightness: 1500nits
· Contrast: 10000:1
· TV Tuner: *1
· Video System:

PAL/SECAM/NTSC

I am looking to buy another tv end of the year but I would like to use the HDPVR and connect it to my tv via HDMI and have better PQ if possible.

I got my Xbox connected to it using VGA cable set a 1280x720 and it could fool me for not being HD - looks great!

When I bought it GAME advertised it as 1366x768 that is why I bought it but only found out later that it wasnt so.