Sky TV HDi etc

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#146609 11-Jul-2008 10:06

CAT5 to HDMI or component converters are readily available, these would probably be the better choice for anyone wanting runs over sort of 15-20m. Plus, they are far easier to pull through walls (not to mention that you may already have them in place anyway)

This will enable you, with an HDMI splitter, to send the signal to all the rooms in the house you require.

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David

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#146674 11-Jul-2008 12:08

Never heard of an HDMI splitter before....

networkn

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#146681 11-Jul-2008 12:14

has anyone actually ever tried this? I am relunctant to order and pay for a service unless I am 100% confident I will be able to watch foodtv on 1 channel upstairs whilst recording sky movies on the box downstairs? Right now I have my signal split so all tv's show the same channel which is fine, but according to sky to do the same thing (foodtv makes up 90% of my viewing) I'd have to pay $25 a month or multiroom which is a ripoff.

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#146686 11-Jul-2008 12:20

The HDi has multiple outputs including composite, svid and component etc that can produce SD outputs regardless of what is output via HDMI, however there is no RF output, so if you use RF out to feed your other TVs then you will need to use your old VCR or an external modulator to replace that service.

The HDi lke the currrent MySky can record one channel and view another simultaneously, only diff between the two is no RF, but you still have composite, S-Vid, etc.

Cyril

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#146691 11-Jul-2008 12:23

I read it can record TWO channels and play another.
What is the longest safe distance for HDMI? Obviously I can't use the component out, because I'd also need Sound.

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#146706 11-Jul-2008 12:38

The fact that you view via an RF feed shows that you are NOT interested in picture quality anyway so why are you interested in HD (15 Mbps H.264 is vast improvement over the 2 Mbps mpeg2 Food TV so the shock may kill you). I compare the picture quality on Food TV to be YouTube quality or worse.

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#146709 11-Jul-2008 12:42

networkn: I read it can record TWO channels and play another.
What is the longest safe distance for HDMI? Obviously I can't use the component out, because I'd also need Sound.

My Sky HDi is expected to have two tuners functional at the start similar to My Sky. The other two tuners are expected to be enabled via firmware upgrades but with one reserved for movies on demand.

Suitable HDMI cables can run to 15m without great issue. Beyond that some amplification, equalization or alternate system such as baluns may be required and may be dependant on your source/ receiving equipment etc

networkn

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#146713 11-Jul-2008 12:44

Because I watch foodtv in bed at nights, so the hd to my bedroom and kitchen doesn't matter, but hd to my lounge where I watch the allblacks play and my wife and I might watch movies.

HD isn't THAT critical, but mysky is important now, and I want to be able to still watch food in the kitchen and bedroom with sound).

Makes no sense to NOT get hdi, since its the same price as std mysky.

networkn

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#146736 11-Jul-2008 13:17

Does anyone know if you can edit your recordings (shorten them or remove ad's etc) and write these to DVD on the HDI Box?

stuzzo

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#146782 11-Jul-2008 14:24

networkn: Does anyone know if you can edit your recordings (shorten them or remove ad's etc) and write these to DVD on the HDI Box?

No, you can record only through playback on the analogue outs ie scart/composite /s-video.

motogpnz

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#146866 11-Jul-2008 16:07

Spyware: The fact that you view via an RF feed shows that you are NOT interested in picture quality anyway so why are you interested in HD (15 Mbps H.264 is vast improvement over the 2 Mbps mpeg2 Food TV so the shock may kill you). I compare the picture quality on Food TV to be YouTube quality or worse.

Of course we won't know until it happens, but I suspect that even outputting the HD downscaled to SD to a DVD recorder will give a superior result to the present SD signal over the same setup. Sure it won't be 720p HD but it will probably be near DVD quality. How many DVD recorders will record in anything better than 576p anyway?

The superior bitrate could actually be a greater benefit to most people. I have watched a 1200Kbps live internet stream of a sporting event that was on Sky at the same time and the image quality was pretty much the same.

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#147678 14-Jul-2008 10:16

I think it's rude to charge $25 for multiroom with HDI given you already PAY for the digital decoder in your base fee and you aren't getting a reduction by returning it. It doesn't COST sky anything extra to give it to me.

motogpnz

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#147722 14-Jul-2008 13:04

networkn: I think it's rude to charge $25 for multiroom with HDI given you already PAY for the digital decoder in your base fee and you aren't getting a reduction by returning it. It doesn't COST sky anything extra to give it to me.

I don't mind paying for multi-room and have done so for 18 months with two standard decoders. What I object to is the apparent anomoly:

Customer 1 has MySky 1. Upgrades to MySky HDi, keeps old MySky, gets 4 months free.
Customer 2 has MySky 1 plus standard decoder multiroom. Upgrades to MySky HDi, hands back standard decoder and apparently gets 4 months free.
Customer 3 has 2 standard decoders multiroom. Upgrades to MySky HDi, hands back one standard decoder and pays $100 extra over the same 4 months.

If this is something to do with MySky 1 subscribers having already paid $600 then come clean and say so, although MySky 1 users only have to pay a one off $49 to upgrade if they hand back the old box.

As a start-up adopter of digital back in 1998 we also paid about $600 install fee for our generation 1 Motorola box. Early adopters of new technology always pay a premium.

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#147725 14-Jul-2008 13:16

so is it $25 per room (ie 2 extra rooms would be $50) or just $25.

The only channels I want access to in my Kitchen is foodtv, and I am happy for the bedroom/kitchen to show the same channel.

I am thinking HDI + $25 for multiroom and split the signal like it is already with the decoder to the kitchen.

If I use Multiroom, will I only be able to get SD Channels in the other rooms?

The only devices I could see to convert HDMI to CAT were $900 does that sound right?

motogpnz

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#147746 14-Jul-2008 13:41

networkn: so is it $25 per room (ie 2 extra rooms would be $50) or just $25.

The only channels I want access to in my Kitchen is foodtv, and I am happy for the bedroom/kitchen to show the same channel.

I am thinking HDI + $25 for multiroom and split the signal like it is already with the decoder to the kitchen.

If I use Multiroom, will I only be able to get SD Channels in the other rooms?

The only devices I could see to convert HDMI to CAT were $900 does that sound right?

It's $25 per additional decoder. Just checking that you know the difference

Yes the older boxes will only get SD channels but the content should be the same, just lower resolution.
It depends on what wiring you already have in place but there are plenty of outputs on the back of the MySky HDi box, including component, composite and SCART. The only one missing is RF (i.e. TV aerial type signal) but you can do that by hooking the Sky box to an old video or an external RF modulator available from Dick Smith/Jaycar. There's little to be gained from trying to get an HDMI signal to a non-HD TV.

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