Geekzone: technology news, blogs, forums
Guest
Welcome Guest.
You haven't logged in yet. If you don't have an account you can register now.


View this topic in a long page with up to 500 replies per page Create new topic
1 | ... | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | ... | 41
andrewcnz
961 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #137955 14-Jun-2008 12:07
Send private message

Ando: My panel is 4 years old (LG RT-42PX) , is there any easy way to check if the DVI has HDCP?  Nothing mentioned in manua.


A quick google search has a couple a forum posts that indicate that it does support HDCP.



Ando
23 posts

Geek


  #137958 14-Jun-2008 12:13
Send private message

Thanks for your help fellow Geeks.  Will get a DVI-HDMI converter and book install.

KellyP
1240 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified
Subscriber

  #137959 14-Jun-2008 12:14
Send private message

Something I'm interested to know is, will Sky roll out HD PPV movies?



midlifeadopter
4 posts

Wannabe Geek


#137966 14-Jun-2008 12:44
Send private message

Thanks for the post Cyril that makes sense, still not sure why the tech person needs to visit me and why I can't just pick up the unit I would have though Sky may want to save the money on paying these contractors. Great posting with the Foxtel Blogger that certainly answers a few questions. Given the Foxtel upfront approach it is sad Sky TV in NZ don't have a similar tech facing blogger their PR seems pretty poor the aussis have probably answered all the good questions anyway.


cyril7
9053 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified
Trusted
Subscriber

  #137967 14-Jun-2008 12:45
Send private message

sawyerboy, it is pretty much industry practice (and for ease of playout operational reasons) that a channel will always remain in a defined format (ie 1080i or 576i) and all material played on that service will be scaled either before or during playout to the format of that service. In otherwords its normal practice that the HD channels will always be in 1080i and any SD material will be scaled to 1080i before transmission.

As far as the box goes, based on the Foxel firmware, it be set to scale to 720p or 1080i (ie upscale SD channels) or passthrough, ie if its a SD channel you are watching it will output is as 576i, if its an HD channel then it will output it as 1080i (as said above and SD material on HD channels will be scaled before transmission).

Paul Sky have always had a must visit policy rather than letting you drop off and pickup, so nothing new there, guess it ensures that they dont have to visit again if you stuff up.

Cyril

richgamer
224 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user


  #138005 14-Jun-2008 15:31
Send private message

i read in the herald today that skytv said they will only be providing a standard cable that is connected from myskyhd to the tv. the herald said if you want better digital quality you'll have to buy a 3rd party digital cable so it shields from interference.

why can't skytv provide the best shielded digital cable when we get myskyhd?

cyril7
9053 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified
Trusted
Subscriber

  #138007 14-Jun-2008 15:54
Send private message

Exactly what cable did the article refer to, if its HDMI then its rubbish, all HDMI raw stock cable by specification has a individual sheild around each TMDS pair, I dont believe there is any cable stock made without this and due to the strict NEXT requirements of the HDMI interface I doubt it would work without individual pair shield.

Edit:
If by standard they mean a basic $5-10 yum char brand 2meter cable then thats no big deal I use these all the time and yet to see any issues. If you are talking about needing a 10-15m cable then you would be wise to spend a bit more.

Edit/2:  Now having read the salient issue I dont think Sky are doing anything that would compromise the performance of their product.

Cyril

 
 
 

Backblaze Unlimited Backup. World’s easiest cloud backup. Get peace of mind knowing your files are backed up securely in the cloud (affiliate link).
KellyP
1240 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified
Subscriber

  #138008 14-Jun-2008 15:56
Send private message

richgamer: i read in the herald today that skytv said they will only be providing a standard cable that is connected from myskyhd to the tv. the herald said if you want better digital quality you'll have to buy a 3rd party digital cable so it shields from interference.

why can't skytv provide the best shielded digital cable when we get myskyhd?


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10516281&pnum=2


Sky told me it will provide a standard cable free but those who
regard What HiFi magazine up there with Great Expectations may part
with hundreds of bucks for a super shielded HDMI cable with a mineral
count that would get the stock exchange excited.

The considered word is that a relatively inexpensive cable upgrade should bring
quality and durability benefits. But digital is very forgiving compared
with analogue in this department, so don't feel obliged to buy an
extremely expensive one.

 


timbosan
2150 posts

Uber Geek


  #138013 14-Jun-2008 16:44
Send private message

OMG, the great cable debate reaches Sky TV!  Simply put, its all a load of bollocks.  HDMI is a digital interface, either you get a perfect signal or you dont, its not like analog where there are varying degrees of good or bad cables.  If you want to run a projector off Sky HDi over a 10m length or more, you will need to buy a semi-decent cable, otherwise you will end up with no picture, but thats about the quality of the cable, not the quality of the picture.  But spending $100's or $1000's on digital cables is not worth it.

Of course I don't want to start a mass debate about this, and I don't want to veer off-topic, the cable Sky are supplying should work perfectly fine in all but the most extreme cases.

andrewcnz
961 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #138017 14-Jun-2008 16:50
Send private message

The Herald article says Prime will be in HD as well,really will it be on launch?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10516281&pnum=2


cyril7
9053 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified
Trusted
Subscriber

  #138019 14-Jun-2008 16:53
Send private message

Hmm, Prime, cant even get the news room in 16:9 let alone 1080.

Cyril

KellyP
1240 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified
Subscriber

  #138021 14-Jun-2008 17:10
Send private message

timbosan: OMG, the great cable debate reaches Sky TV!  Simply put, its all a load of bollocks.  HDMI is a digital interface, either you get a perfect signal or you dont, its not like analog where there are varying degrees of good or bad cables.  If you want to run a projector off Sky HDi over a 10m length or more, you will need to buy a semi-decent cable, otherwise you will end up with no picture, but thats about the quality of the cable, not the quality of the picture.  But spending $100's or $1000's on digital cables is not worth it.

Of course I don't want to start a mass debate about this, and I don't want to veer off-topic, the cable Sky are supplying should work perfectly fine in all but the most extreme cases.


I won a HDMI Monster Cable in a competition last year - I have yet to use it. Needless to say that I will compare the Sky cable with the Monster Cable and see if theres any difference. My rule of thumb is, when its an analogue cable, I get the best my budget allows and when it comes to digital I get something inexpensive but still not in the cheap and nasty area.




hazza87
352 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #138177 15-Jun-2008 15:32
Send private message

Anybody interested in the financial side of things may be interested in this link

http://www.abnamrocraigs.com/markets/pricing-charting/announcement-text.html?security=SKT&vendor=NZCR&gmt=633487435076200000

It has sky's predicted earnings on MySky HDi and the costs involved for them, a few interesting things in it.

It seems to suggest that the boxes cost sky US$330 each compared to normal decoders US$120.

allstarnz
1719 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

  #138213 15-Jun-2008 17:41
Send private message

interesting stuff about the Foxtel HD box.

I see they have eSata port on there (albeit disabled), which is good considering the small HDD on the boxes.  Anyone heard if Sky are going to turn on the component for HD like Foxtel will?

Those blogs are quite interesting from a sports fans point of view.  Shows their country cousins in NZ really have done bugger all to enhance their viewers experience.  Taking so long to upgrade to widescreen, still zero meaningful or helpful interactivity/red button options etc etc

:edit:  Just reading on Apsattv that Kordia (it has recently won the contract to provide coverage of Sky Sports in High Definition)  have purchased some fancy new uplink equipment to start testing shortly.
"The equipment will be used for the first time on 21st June in Christchurch for a test transmission at the 2008 IVECO Series ruby match, All Blacks vs England. Then on 5th July the equipment will broadcast live from the New Zealand vs South Africa, Phillips Tri Nations Rugby Test Match in Wellington."

jburrows
31 posts

Geek


  #138309 16-Jun-2008 10:39
Send private message

What happens with the movies recorded onto the original my sky box? will the installer copy it to the mysky hdi box for me?

1 | ... | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | ... | 41
View this topic in a long page with up to 500 replies per page Create new topic





News and reviews »

Amazfit Expands Active 2 Lineup with the New Active 2 Square
Posted 23-Jun-2025 14:49


Logitech G522 Gaming Headset Review
Posted 18-Jun-2025 17:00


Māori Artists Launch Design Collection with Cricut ahead of Matariki Day
Posted 15-Jun-2025 11:19


LG Launches Upgraded webOS Hub With Advanced AI
Posted 15-Jun-2025 11:13


One NZ Satellite IoT goes live for customers
Posted 15-Jun-2025 11:10


Bolt Launches in New Zealand
Posted 11-Jun-2025 00:00


Suunto Run Review
Posted 10-Jun-2025 10:44


Freeview Satellite TV Brings HD Viewing to More New Zealanders
Posted 5-Jun-2025 11:50


HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14-inch Review
Posted 3-Jun-2025 14:40


Flip Phones Are Back as HMD Reimagines an Iconic Style
Posted 30-May-2025 17:06


Hundreds of School Students Receive Laptops Through Spark Partnership With Quadrent's Green Lease
Posted 30-May-2025 16:57


AI Report Reveals Trust Is Key to Unlocking Its Potential in Aotearoa
Posted 30-May-2025 16:55


Galaxy Tab S10 FE Series Brings Intelligent Experiences to the Forefront with Premium, Versatile Design
Posted 30-May-2025 16:14


New OPPO Watch X2 Launches in New Zealand
Posted 29-May-2025 16:08


Synology Premiers a New Lineup of Advanced Data Management Solutions
Posted 29-May-2025 16:04









Geekzone Live »

Try automatic live updates from Geekzone directly in your browser, without refreshing the page, with Geekzone Live now.



Are you subscribed to our RSS feed? You can download the latest headlines and summaries from our stories directly to your computer or smartphone by using a feed reader.