MySky HD

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#143668 7-Jul-2008 11:56

On the subject of HD content already being 'available' (that is, if you work for Sky and have an HDi decoder), I notice in the EPG that several movies have HD next to their title, assuming this means the movie is transmitted in HD, so it looks like there are already transmitting sport and movies in HD, plus TV3, giving 3 HD channels. This should mean as soon as our boxes arrive, and the unit is plugged into a HD capable TV, we should be seeing HD transmissions from day one, which is great!

I can see several new posts arriving on geekzone soon with people comparing quality, bit rates, etc on each of the Sky HD channels, and especially comparing them to TV3/FreeviewHD which transmits at a decent bitrate.......

MattD

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#143685 7-Jul-2008 12:21

allstarnz:
aha, beta testing. Despite that, I still find it odd they were pushing it, despite it not being available to everyone.

Not sure how you push a satellite signal to a specific users?

old3eyes

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#143729 7-Jul-2008 13:09

timbosan: On the subject of HD content already being 'available' (that is, if you work for Sky and have an HDi decoder), I notice in the EPG that several movies have HD next to their title, assuming this means the movie is transmitted in HD, so it looks like there are already transmitting sport and movies in HD, plus TV3, giving 3 HD channels. This should mean as soon as our boxes arrive, and the unit is plugged into a HD capable TV, we should be seeing HD transmissions from day one, which is great!

I can see several new posts arriving on geekzone soon with people comparing quality, bit rates, etc on each of the Sky HD channels, and especially comparing them to TV3/FreeviewHD which transmits at a decent bitrate.......

It will be intereting to see if Sky follows the US providers and cut down the bitrate as the number of HD channels increase to save bandwidth as they do now with the SD channels..

Regards,

Old3eyes

motogpnz

112 posts

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#143846 7-Jul-2008 15:09

I see Sky now have the manual for the MySky HDi box online:

http://www.skytv.co.nz/Portals/0/data/images/High_Definition/B248-User-Iss1-Web.pdf

On page 70 the manual seems to suggest that HD over composite will be available, but then page 59 suggests that it will downscale the signal to SD if HDCP cannot be negotiated successfully so who knows? Also all the other SD connectors like S-Video, Composite and SCART appear to be there (except RF out as discussed). Pages 70-72 show some connection diagrams for HDTV, SDTV/VCR and audio devices.

The box will allow the HDMI signal to be "automatic" (determined by HDMI handshake with the TV), fixed 1080i/720p/576p or "passthrough".

There is a line on page 1 that is a little concerning though: "Individual programmes may delete once the licence period has expired". Does this mean we will have maybe a week to watch some content before it gets deleted automatically from the hard drive?

And couple of customer advisories are also on the site, especially this one:

http://www.skytv.co.nz/Portals/0/data/images/High_Definition/B248-Rec-Leaflet-Web.pdf

... which basically confirms that only two tuners will be available initially with the others to follow via a firmware upgrade.

Public rollout is definitely July 29 which is the date our installation is booked. We have Multi-room (2 standard STB's) and were also told by Sky's HD CSR specialist that to get the discount we would need to keep them both as well as the HDi. Apparently swapping one STB for the HDi doesn't count.

DaveB

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#143849 7-Jul-2008 15:11

It will be intereting to see if Sky follows the US providers and cut down the bitrate as the number of HD channels increase to save bandwidth as they do now with the SD channels..

If they do I will be one of the first to cancel my MySkyHDMi. What I have witnessed in the US is shocking. Freeview SD Satellite is far better than HD compressed via Satellite.

I made a post in another thread http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?ForumId=83&TopicId=23645 regarding the quality of the TVNZ test loop on Freeview channel 100. The Poseidon feature was very blocky - worse than DVD quality. It was similar to the compressed bitrate channels that I have seen in the US. It gives you an idea of what you can look forward to when a signal is compressed too much!

allstarnz

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#143863 7-Jul-2008 15:27

MattD:
allstarnz:
aha, beta testing. Despite that, I still find it odd they were pushing it, despite it not being available to everyone.

Not sure how you push a satellite signal to a specific users?

Pushing was more in reference to that logo coming up every ten minutes during the game.

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eXDee

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#143868 7-Jul-2008 15:35

motogpnz:On page 70 the manual seems to suggest that HD over composite will be available
There is a line on page 1 that is a little concerning though: "Individual programmes may delete once the licence period has expired". Does this mean we will have maybe a week to watch some content before it gets deleted automatically from the hard drive?

HD over composite? I'd love to see that.
Nah i know you mean component, but as you said its probably just a mistake in wording or something. HD over component has been said is not possible.

For licence period - thats pay per view on demand, eg moveis most likely. You 'rent' the movie for a week and then it auto deletes. Sky will probably advertise this as a substitute for renting a movie from the shop.

MattD

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#143881 7-Jul-2008 16:16

eXDee:
motogpnz:On page 70 the manual seems to suggest that HD over composite will be available
HD over composite? I'd love to see that.
Nah i know you mean component, but as you said its probably just a mistake in wording or something. HD over component has been said is not possible.

Page 70 refers to Component.

Connecting to your HD TV

The connection diagram below shows how MY SKY HDi may be

connected up to your high-definition (HD) TV.

An HDMI™ lead carries both high-definition video and audio signals.

HDMI™ is the recommended connection option.

If you instead use component video (Y Pb Pr) leads, you must also use one

of the optional audio connection methods shown on page 72.

Then on 72 it refers to HD COMPONENT VIDEO OUT

Note

If you connect to your TV, video recorder or other equipment via the HD

COMPONENT VIDEO OUT, VIDEO OUT or S-VIDEO OUT connectors,

you must also use an audio connection, in order to hear/record sound.

Not sure on the HW in the HDi but the spec for Component can carry HD content

Component video is capable of carrying signals such as 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p,1080i and 1080p, although many TVs do not support 1080p through component video.

MattD

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#143883 7-Jul-2008 16:18

The quality of HD Sky will be 576i via component and 720/1080i via HDMI.

KellyP

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#143914 7-Jul-2008 16:54

motogpnz:
I see Sky now have the manual for the MySky HDi box online:

http://www.skytv.co.nz/Portals/0/data/images/High_Definition/B248-User-Iss1-Web.pdf

Do you know if theres the manual for MySky 1 online as well?

motogpnz

112 posts

Master Geek

#143931 7-Jul-2008 17:37

Do you know if theres the manual for MySky 1 online as well?

No there isn't. Only the HDi manual and a couple of customer advisories, one about the tuners available and one about not moving a MySky box while powered on to avoid killing the hard drive. Just discovered the page this afternoon while browsing - way better than the comedy show playing on the interactive site.

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kiwipearls

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#143945 7-Jul-2008 18:09

I've noticed in the existing subscribers area MySky1 is not longer available.

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MattD

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#143951 7-Jul-2008 18:19

allstarnz:
Pushing was more in reference to that logo coming up every ten minutes during the game.

Apologies for my misinterpretation... I see now you were meaning promoting (pushing, selling) rather than pushing (sending) content/signal

Must have shown that I also did not pay too much attention to the match as did not notice it on screen (was watching recorded version the next day)

MattD

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#143953 7-Jul-2008 18:21

motogpnz: Just discovered the page this afternoon while browsing - way better than the comedy show playing on the interactive site.

the comedy show for HD that when viewed on Safari on Mac has no video just the main backdrop and audio!! (the interactive slider page)

rugrat

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#143956 7-Jul-2008 18:25

On page68 of that manual it's got 4 inputs for the satillite dish feed to go into. From other posts I thought only one was needed and it splited it off 4 ways inside the box?

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