Sky MPEG-4 upgrade

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628 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#2059260 20-Jul-2018 11:33

afe66: I got surveyed about a new digital box running off fibre which mentioned some 4k programmes.

Does anyone know more about this?

While the current satellite box is showing its age, I'll wait to see if there is actually any real 4k before jumping..

Here's the ~~propaganda~~media release from Chorus team: https://company.chorus.co.nz/chorus-trial-live-4k-broadcasting-service-over-fibre

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afe66

3181 posts

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#2059271 20-Jul-2018 12:08

I know the infrastructure exists but that doesn't mean Sky will use it much presumably the 4k streams will be more expensive.

I am curious as to whether anyone has more information from Sky rather than Chorus.

Are we looking at only special events like world cups or all the super15, F1 etc.

Do sky record games with 4k compatible cameras etc

Anyone on the "trial" due to run from May?

Spyware

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#2059273 20-Jul-2018 12:16

Given most of their channels are still 576i it would be safe to assume that initial 4K content would be limited to live sport as it is elsewhere in the world. Sky don't even have the infrastructure to play out all Auckland based channels in HD let alone 4K irrespective of multicast over fibre or satellite.

New decoder is a year away at best.

stinger

628 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#2059280 20-Jul-2018 12:31

Spyware:

New decoder is a year away at best.

This is going to be the biggest issue. The multicast stream uses a separate port on the ONT, so the boxes are going to have to have two ethernet ports, which means new hardware (or a new device connecting to the existing hardware. It also will not be practical if you have a multiroom set up. Same issues are going to affect FTA over UFB broadcasts too.

The other issue is that if Vodafone and Vocus do get to offer Naked UFB, these services won't have Chorus's multicast stream on it, and given how Vodafone and Sky work very closely together that is going to be a large chunk of Sky's customer base.

Spyware

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#2059299 20-Jul-2018 13:24

No existing Sky hardware is 4K capable so it would obviously be new hardware. Also not necessary to have two Ethernet ports as Chorus will provide both multicast and unicast streams from the one secondary ONT port for each aspect of the service. No overseas implementations use two Ethernet ports that I know of. Multi-room could be implemented by addition of a switch.

Apsattv

2354 posts

Uber Geek

#2059685 20-Jul-2018 22:06

The chorus test/trial uses port 4 of the ont. But that's getting a bit offtopic

callumb

83 posts

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Devoli

#2060676 22-Jul-2018 21:15

chillr:
rscole86:

@chillr, I have finally managed to get it working, but also have the [[00]] etc on each title, can you provide your dictionary or advise what changes need to be made to it?

@rscole86, have sent you a PM

Don’t suppose you could give me a hand too? :)

Behodar

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#2064088 28-Jul-2018 13:18

openmedia:

So have Sky finished the cut over to H264 for most of their channels?

For what it's worth, I got a letter from Sky today telling me that my old decoder (Pace DSR620-GM) will stop working on 7 September. It only picks up Prime (it dates back to before Prime was on Freeview, where you could buy a dish and decoder for a one-off payment).

cws82us

788 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2068377 5-Aug-2018 22:59

What gets me is sky have access to Optus D3 and Optus 10 and had a big roll out of the new LMBs and they stuck with only using Optus D1. So satellite room is not a problem. I maybe the satellite broadcasting equipment as I know rugby in Uk is in 4K and other sports are in 4K in UK too

Spyware

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#2068418 6-Aug-2018 04:14

What about the obvious fact that no Sky decoders can do 4K so any lack of broadcast equipment is moot.

Rentakill

80 posts

Master Geek

#2068447 6-Aug-2018 08:48

Your Right in Assuming there is massive amounts of capacity using other localized Optus Satellites.

One thing that many overlook is the cost of leasing this so called capacity.

If you have a spare couple of Hundred Grand to take care of the Fees - then you'll get your 4K.

Until then - Your Stuck with Mr Fellets Buisiness plan.

What I've always thought is why don't they just Can Sky all together and get Foxtel to broadcast into NZ. After all they carry all the same services Sky Provide plus more in HD.... Sky's Dual LNB's are currently aligned to D1 - C1/D3 for Backup purposes should D1 Fail like the original B1.

ockel

2031 posts

Uber Geek

#2068466 6-Aug-2018 09:57

Rentakill:
Your Right in Assuming there is massive amounts of capacity using other localized Optus Satellites.

One thing that many overlook is the cost of leasing this so called capacity.

If you have a spare couple of Hundred Grand to take care of the Fees - then you'll get your 4K.

Until then - Your Stuck with Mr Fellets Buisiness plan.

What I've always thought is why don't they just Can Sky all together and get Foxtel to broadcast into NZ. After all they carry all the same services Sky Provide plus more in HD.... Sky's Dual LNB's are currently aligned to D1 - C1/D3 for Backup purposes should D1 Fail like the original B1.

Who is "They"? If you mean merge with Foxtel such that broadcasting rights don't have to be rebought or renegotiated, then all you need is shareholder approval for such a deal at the right price.
And you have to have 21St Century Fox and Telstra, as Foxtels shareholders, to agree to such a deal.

But sadly if a telco can't buy Sky, then what chance that another pay TV operator will be allowed to???

Sixth Labour Government - "Vision without Execution is just Hallucination"

tdgeek

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#2068471 6-Aug-2018 10:02

Its no secret that

1. sometime this year, as they said a year ago, they will make available a Sky app

2. Optus comes up for renewal in a year or two

3. SkyGo has improved in quality, errors, and number of channels

So, it makes sense that Sky may look to drop satellite and get more and more users to use VDSL/Fibre. Maybe keep a lower cost smaller satellite capability that will be user pays, so what Chorus are trialing is well worth looking at. It may also make 4k more viable

stinger

628 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#2068502 6-Aug-2018 10:33

tdgeek:

1. sometime this year, as they said a year ago, they will make available a Sky app

How many years in a row have they said this now? :o

tdgeek:

3. SkyGo has improved in quality, errors, and number of channels

Quality: Still SD, no Chormecast support.

Errors: Crashed twice on Saturday night (NRL/Super Rugby/Darts and Supercars).

Number of channels: Meh. More than Fan Pass. Still way less than available on the TV.

tdgeek:

So, it makes sense that Sky may look to drop satellite and get more and more users to use VDSL/Fibre. Maybe keep a lower cost smaller satellite capability that will be user pays, so what Chorus are trialing is well worth looking at. It may also make 4k more viable

I've said it in other threads, but it is going to be at least 10-15 years before Sky even consider shutting down satellite delivery. VDSL/UFB is still not widely available, and even where it is, not all houses have a VDSL/UFB connection. Foxtel Australia run Foxtel Now (delivered via the Internet) as well as a satellite / stb packages, and they don't seem to have any plans either to shut that down.

kryptonjohn

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#2068503 6-Aug-2018 10:34

This is probably unrelated and coincidental but our MySky+ decoder has become buggy/unreliable/unresponsive in the last few days. It will work fine mostly, but maybe once every day the UI will freeze up with a banner on the screen and the live TV continuing to play behind it. It then refuses to respond to remote (or front panel) button presses, then after a few minutes might respond to them then freeze again. At this point nothing helps other than pulling the power.

If I run a diagnostic everything is fine apart from the HDD which it claims is not responding to the test - red herring or the problem perhaps?

This is intermittent. Seems to have run OK last night but will probably be back. Anyone else seeing this?

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