Before I drop $600, a few MySky questions....

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Before I drop $600, a few MySky questions....

Tankguy

20 posts

Geek

#15378 19-Aug-2007 18:18

With the announcement that MySky version 2 has been further delayed, I am seriously considering subscribing to the current MySky service. My main reason for doing so is the ability to watch/record multiple sky channels concurrently.

Before proceeding, I have 3 questions:

1. Does the MySky box replace my current sky box (motorola dth335) or is it in addition to this, i.e. will I have one or two sky boxes to accomodate in my a/v cabinet?

2. Assuming MySky replaces existing Sky box, what outputs are available from MySky? I can currently output to component (via scart), svideo (via scart) and composite, as well as the RF output for ditribution of Sky around the house. Will I lose any of these outputs if I go to MySky. I currently output component to my avr, svideo to my HTPC (w/PVR150 card), and composite to my old vcr.

3. Is it possible to transfer recordings made on the MySky HDD to another HDD on my home network? If so, is this a straighforward process or more difficult/frustrating to achieve?

Thanks for any assistance.

Peter

rugrat

3140 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 944

Lifetime subscriber

#82897 19-Aug-2007 19:52

1. Yes it replaces it.

2. Not sure about composite, but has 2 scart outputs, I'm using 1 of them and it's running through component. Has the round plug for super video out. RF in and out. The yellow video and red, white audio plugs, SPDIF optical out (DD5.1 capable if they ever decide to broadcast it)

3. Can plug in recording device as with your current decoder. As far as I know recordings can only be transfered by using analog means - not a digital transfer. Pay per views have macro protection so won't copy to another device (Unless the device ignores the macro signal :) )
To date haven't found copy protection on other channels.

As far as I'm aware the non mysky decoders don't use any copy protection, so the only thing you'd lose is the ability to record pay per views to another device with mysky.

Hope this is of some help.

cyril7

9073 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2499

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#82914 20-Aug-2007 07:15

The MySky is well appointed for AV connections, in addition to the two SCARTS that have all the same features as your currrent decoder it has a seperate MiniDin S-video output, a composite video output, RCA L&R and a coaxial spdif output should Sky start doing DD as they have spoken about on several occasions over the years. The spdif will pass pcm decodes of the current mpeg1L2 audio.

Cyril

old3eyes

9158 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1364

Subscriber

#82918 20-Aug-2007 08:28

I would also ask the questuion as to why Shy NZ still charges $600 to install this thing when Foxtel in Oz does it for free and if your on Foxtels Preminum plan there is no rental. If not it's $15.00 / month..

Regards,

Old3eyes

Tankguy

20 posts

Geek

#82921 20-Aug-2007 09:12

Thank you for your replies. They have clarified my concerns.

Old3eyes,
With respect to the cost of subscribing to the service (one off $600), from my point of view, this gets me a piece of hardware that has a "lifetime" warranty, and provides an EPG and a HDD on which to record two Sky programmes concurrently. If I wanted this capability without MySky, I would need to provide either a DVD recorder or HTPC, I would need to sort an EPG from one of the alternate sources (since no formal EPG available in NZ), and I would need to subscribe to a second Sky decoder at $25/month. On this basis, MySky is not bad value in my mind.

I don't disagree that $600 is steep, especially when compared to Australia, but NZ has both a much smaller market, and no competition to Sky. What I am most interested in will be how Sky treats exisitng MySky subscribers when the version 2 box is released. I would like to think that an upgrade will be cheaper for exisitng MySKy subscribers, but who knows?

old3eyes

9158 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1364

Subscriber

#82965 20-Aug-2007 12:42

TI don't disagree that $600 is steep, especially when compared to Australia, but NZ has both a much smaller market, and no competition to Sky. What I am most interested in will be how Sky treats exisitng MySky subscribers when the version 2 box is released. I would like to think that an upgrade will be cheaper for exisitng MySKy subscribers, but who knows?

But it's the same box. Sky NZ just rebrands it and in Oz it comes with a the same life warrenty. The smaller market thing does not apply.. Just a monopoly ripoff here in NZ../

Regards,

Old3eyes