New DSTV HD Decoder

Tim182 said:
When I phoned they denied it. I explicitly ask if the new decoder will boot and receive channels from a single lnb. I was told no, you cannot use it at all. I asked, are you sure, they said yes! Same story when I asked an installer
Click to expand...

That's what the call centre is told, the guys behind the phone just have an instruction book in front of them & have no background knowledge
Installers, I guess they do have a motive to deny it.
 
Tim182 said:
When I phoned they denied it. I explicitly ask if the new decoder will boot and receive channels from a single lnb. I was told no, you cannot use it at all. I asked, are you sure, they said yes! Same story when I asked an installer
Click to expand...

if its not in their 'script' as far as they concerened its not possible. they not willing or allowed to think out of the box :(
 
My baby HD decoder is running in full swing off a SINGLE LNB....I have an xtraview setup...

THERE IS A PROBLEM...it seems that there is some difficulty in pairing the baby HD decoder in an xtraview setup. We struggled for hours for the system to accept the code that the MC agent sends to your secondary TV while activating xtraview. Also, it seems that the baby HD decoder is not upgrading as easily. Even with automatic update, it does not follow through with the update. Doing it manually, the update gives and error after checking for an upgrade. I have to now take the decoder in so that it gets updated at the MC office...

other than that, I can watch ALL channels including the HD channels off on single LNB
 
the graduate said:
My baby HD decoder is running in full swing off a SINGLE LNB....I have an xtraview setup...

THERE IS A PROBLEM...it seems that there is some difficulty in pairing the baby HD decoder in an xtraview setup. We struggled for hours for the system to accept the code that the MC agent sends to your secondary TV while activating xtraview. Also, it seems that the baby HD decoder is not upgrading as easily. Even with automatic update, it does not follow through with the update. Doing it manually, the update gives and error after checking for an upgrade. I have to now take the decoder in so that it gets updated at the MC office...

other than that, I can watch ALL channels including the HD channels off on single LNB
Click to expand...


have you tried unplugging the cable for the extra view setup before doing the update? thanks for the info
 
Update for the unbelievers

OK, so I've got around to playing with the setup (a little).

To review original:

1 x single LNB
1 x RG6 cable to decoder connector #1
1 x Pace HD PVR P2 ("baby" PVR)
1 x DSTV Premium subscription (R529/m)

Gives me:

All channels incl. 3 X HD channels, EPG for current and next program, NO PVR (by request).
Decoder cannot perform OTT upgrade.

Newer setup:

1 x single LNB
1 x RG6 cable to 2 channel splitter combiner
2 X RG6 cable to decoder connector #1 and #2
1 x Pace HD PVR P2 ("baby" PVR)
1 x DSTV Premium subscription (R529/m)

Gives me:

All channels incl. 3 X HD channels, EPG (current, next, after next, and beyond), NO PVR (by request).
Decoder completed OTT upgrade.

This setup gives me HDD with no real cost except for the decoder and trivial amounts for Ellies RG6 and F-type accessories.

Can't comment on PVR performance with the splitter setup the way I have, but I suspect that it will work just fine - wait for Tim to post an update.

From the status menus the decoder knows that it can only see a single LNB, but assigns VER signal to one tuner and HOR to the other and merrily getting on with the job.

YMMV but I think that setting up the PVR with your current setup should be a DIY job cost a couple of hundred rand at most.
 
the graduate said:
My baby HD decoder is running in full swing off a SINGLE LNB....I have an xtraview setup...

THERE IS A PROBLEM...it seems that there is some difficulty in pairing the baby HD decoder in an xtraview setup. We struggled for hours for the system to accept the code that the MC agent sends to your secondary TV while activating xtraview. Also, it seems that the baby HD decoder is not upgrading as easily. Even with automatic update, it does not follow through with the update. Doing it manually, the update gives and error after checking for an upgrade. I have to now take the decoder in so that it gets updated at the MC office...

other than that, I can watch ALL channels including the HD channels off on single LNB
Click to expand...

Are you using a splitter... see my previous post. Once I added the splitter the OTT update went thru on manual with no problem.
 
BobJones said:
Are you using a splitter... see my previous post. Once I added the splitter the OTT update went thru on manual with no problem.
Click to expand...

I have bought the splitter when I got the decoder, but have not used it yet. I'll try this today....but I'll first see if the decoder updates when I remove the xtraview cable...

I report back on:
1. Does baby Pace upgrade without heartbeat cable
2. Does baby Pace upgrade with splitter (this has been answered by BobJones)
 
Mornign guys - what upgrade are you referring to? Is there a software update out already for our BABY PVR's?
 
Hey guys,

If we can stop the bickering for a second, can someone with the new "baby" decoder give me some reassurance that it's a good purchase?

I have a single TV (no plans on getting a 2nd) with dual-LNB installation already in place. I don't think I will ever need to record two channels while I am watching a third, so this new decoder seems tailor-made for me.

Is the PVR software otherwise the same as it's bigger brother? I am coming form the SD PVR which I have heard is superior software-wise to the HD PVR.

Basically I am just looking for a reason to go and get this thing.... ;)
 
StNick said:
Hey guys,

If we can stop the bickering for a second, can someone with the new "baby" decoder give me some reassurance that it's a good purchase?

I have a single TV (no plans on getting a 2nd) with dual-LNB installation already in place. I don't think I will ever need to record two channels while I am watching a third, so this new decoder seems tailor-made for me.

Is the PVR software otherwise the same as it's bigger brother? I am coming form the SD PVR which I have heard is superior software-wise to the HD PVR.

Basically I am just looking for a reason to go and get this thing.... ;)
Click to expand...

if the baby HD is anything like the daddy HD pvr, stick to your SD pvr, you are correct the software on the SD is muc more better then the HD
 
StNick said:
Hey guys,

If we can stop the bickering for a second, can someone with the new "baby" decoder give me some reassurance that it's a good purchase?

I have a single TV (no plans on getting a 2nd) with dual-LNB installation already in place. I don't think I will ever need to record two channels while I am watching a third, so this new decoder seems tailor-made for me.

Is the PVR software otherwise the same as it's bigger brother? I am coming form the SD PVR which I have heard is superior software-wise to the HD PVR.

Basically I am just looking for a reason to go and get this thing.... ;)
Click to expand...

It is just myself and my wife at our house and I previosuly had the SD-PVR for 2years. I bought the HD-PVR last week and am really glad I did. The HD picture is amazing and even my wife is now impressed after initially feeling it was a waste of money.

We are currently watching all our daily series episodes on the HD channel as the better picture makes the shows even better! I have kept the SD-PVR as it;s dual-view capability is nice to have for our bedroom. Plus I now have the ability to record 2 things because of the 2 decoders in EXTRAVIEW setup.

The baby PVR is superior speed wise compared to the 2 BIG HD-PVR's. However - the SD-PVR is still untouchable when it comes to performance with things like changing channels, starting recordings and starting to play recordings - it is just SOOO much faster to react. But it has it's flaws too and I have to reboot mine about once a month!

If you have 3grand to blow - then get a HD-PVR installed next to your SD-PVR. I still feel my 3grand was worth it!
 
flashsa said:
It is just myself and my wife at our house and I previosuly had the SD-PVR for 2years. I bought the HD-PVR last week and am really glad I did. The HD picture is amazing and even my wife is now impressed after initially feeling it was a waste of money.

We are currently watching all our daily series episodes on the HD channel as the better picture makes the shows even better! I have kept the SD-PVR as it;s dual-view capability is nice to have for our bedroom. Plus I now have the ability to record 2 things because of the 2 decoders in EXTRAVIEW setup.

The baby PVR is superior speed wise compared to the 2 BIG HD-PVR's. However - the SD-PVR is still untouchable when it comes to performance with things like changing channels, starting recordings and starting to play recordings - it is just SOOO much faster to react. But it has it's flaws too and I have to reboot mine about once a month!

If you have 3grand to blow - then get a HD-PVR installed next to your SD-PVR. I still feel my 3grand was worth it!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply.... I think if I had quad-LNB installed already, I'd consider the larger HD PVR, but it's too much of a ballache. Other option is to get a multiplexer, but those are R500 apparently.

This Baby PVR has got my attention because for R1,999 it's cheap, and it seems to suit my needs perfectly.
 
isie said:
if the baby HD is anything like the daddy HD pvr, stick to your SD pvr, you are correct the software on the SD is muc more better then the HD
Click to expand...

You cant say "if" and then say SD is better
The Baby HDPVR operates perfectly, quick & hassle free, nothing like the older ones
 
StNick said:
Thanks for the reply.... I think if I had quad-LNB installed already, I'd consider the larger HD PVR, but it's too much of a ballache. Other option is to get a multiplexer, but those are R500 apparently.

This Baby PVR has got my attention because for R1,999 it's cheap, and it seems to suit my needs perfectly.
Click to expand...

Cool!

My installation guy hit me R900 to install a 2>4 multiswitch and setup the whole extraview story with the heartbeat cable etc etc

Included in that was R150 he told me he was going to charge me to get a new smartcard for the SD-PVR because it needed to be changed for extraview to work. I could've done it myself but I was flat out busy at work and didn;t have the time or patience to go and collect the card, visit the multichoice agency, change the card and drop it off at home. for R150 his effort was worth it.

So I would say R750 was a fair price - could've been R100 or so cheaper but I trust the guy I use and he is very neat. So with the purchase price of the decoder, R2750 and I was sorted!
 
I currently have a single view decoder and an HTPC. I would like to upgrade to HD and perhaps this baby HD decoder is perfect for me.
I would like to keep my single LNB set up (no need to spend money when it's not needed) and I don't need/want PVR since I use my HTPC to record.

I would like to connect HDMI to my TV and the AV RCA outputs to my HTPC (only SD capable anyway). Does the decoder simultaneously output on both ?
Has anyone tried the IR link (ir transmitter beans) from an HTPC yet ? i.e Does the channels change correctly from an HTPC (Windows Media Center 7) ?
 
Mier said:
I currently have a single view decoder and an HTPC. I would like to upgrade to HD and perhaps this baby HD decoder is perfect for me.
I would like to keep my single LNB set up (no need to spend money when it's not needed) and I don't need/want PVR since I use my HTPC to record.

I would like to connect HDMI to my TV and the AV RCA outputs to my HTPC (only SD capable anyway). Does the decoder simultaneously output on both ?
Has anyone tried the IR link (ir transmitter beans) from an HTPC yet ? i.e Does the channels change correctly from an HTPC (Windows Media Center 7) ?
Click to expand...

I recommend splitter set up so TV guide and updates work! I will test simultaneous HDMI and AV soon, hopefully this evening.
 
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