New Sky TV PVR

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sti8u

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#4915 8-Sep-2005 22:57

Anybody know what make and model the new Sky TV PVR box will be?

Anybody know if it will have HDMI connectors?

info-finder

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#19925 10-Sep-2005 17:19

I believe they intend using the same as Foxtel IQ in aussie which is the Pace TDS460NF

don't take my word as gospel but that is what i found out from surfing around.

info from website:
http://www.pacemicro.com/Corporate/products/prodinfo.asp?PID=TDS460NF

Connectivity

Mains Input (IEC60320) - Auto ranging power supply inlet

Telephone Line Connector RJ11 - For V90 modem return path

TV/VCR SCARTS - Provides either composite or RGB video output to TV. Audio volume can also be controlled in software.

Analogue Audio Outputs (RCA) - Audio L/R and Composite Video. An important addition for users wishing to integrate the set-top box into their home audio system. Volume can be adjusted or muted under software control

S-Video Connector - For high quality connection to plasma monitors or VHS recorders

Electrical SPDIF Output (RCA Phono Jack) - For coaxial cable connection to a suitably equipped surround sound audio system or Hi-Fi amplifier

RS232 - Serial port connector for service and factory use only

USB 1.1 - To support external electronic devices

Terrestrial Antenna Loopthrough - Adds a modulated UHF/VHF video output to an existing terrestrial antenna feed

Optical SPDIF - For optical cable connection to a suitably equipped surround sound audio system or Hi-Fi amplifier

RF Inputs - Dual IF input to connect to Satellite Dish via Dual/Quad LNB

chiefie

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#20048 14-Sep-2005 10:42

Have a look at My Sky

from the look of it... i sure love to have that, wish TelstraClear Digital TV service have PVR options... Or at least a free upgrade to PVR Digital decoder.

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#20061 14-Sep-2005 12:12

Not as good as Tivo the only benefit is the dual tuner. There is no ethernet port and no capability for it to be your MP3 player as well. Sky have also disabled 'time shifting' for skipping ads. Seems like a lot of money for a box that you don't own - pay $599 and the PVR still belongs to Sky. I think they got it wrong really - it is a half baked attempt at what could have been a good product.

sti8u

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#20077 14-Sep-2005 22:06

Pity Sky aren't using this set top box...http://www.pacemicro.com/Corporate/products/prodinfo.asp?PID=TDC850HD

DVR with HDMI.....

I suppose HDMI isn't popular enough yet, it will be though in a year or two...

Techhead

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#20936 3-Oct-2005 13:40

chiefie: Have a look at My Sky

from the look of it... i sure love to have that, wish TelstraClear Digital TV service have PVR options... Or at least a free upgrade to PVR Digital decoder.

Hi These settop boxes that sky are releasing in december in my eyes are worth it, ok so you pay $599 to get it installed but depending on how many years you want to stay a sky subscriber it works out cheaper in the long run rather than going to the shop to pay $1200 for the hdd recorder.If you already have a second digital decoder then you only pay sky $499, other things that sky are doing to install this system which is why its expensive are replacing the Lnb on all satellite dishes throughout the country and they only have three years to do it.These Lnbs are a double head where as currently you have a single head lnb and that costs a lot to replace them, sky told me they are doing this for two reasons (1) To operate with the new settop box thats coming out (2) early next year sky are switching to their own satellite owned by sky which will alow them to have more channels and functions to us the subscribers, the new satellite sky will switch to is being built by NASA.Also next year sky will launch 5.1 surround sound which will be available on some channels but also an advantage to those with the new pvr in december as it has that function on it.Other things that are an advantage with the new pvr is it will always be under warranty as sky will fix any problems you have, also any changes to the software will be updated with the latest technology over the air to your settop box,these things are well worth it.Ive also been told that in three or four years time its possible sky tv might switch to HDTV which will make these new pvrs useless as they cant decode the signal for that.

sbiddle

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#20950 3-Oct-2005 19:07

Techhead:
chiefie: Have a look at My Sky

from the look of it... i sure love to have that, wish TelstraClear Digital TV service have PVR options... Or at least a free upgrade to PVR Digital decoder.

Hi These settop boxes that sky are releasing in december in my eyes are worth it, ok so you pay $599 to get it installed but depending on how many years you want to stay a sky subscriber it works out cheaper in the long run rather than going to the shop to pay $1200 for the hdd recorder.If you already have a second digital decoder then you only pay sky $499, other things that sky are doing to install this system which is why its expensive are replacing the Lnb on all satellite dishes throughout the country and they only have three years to do it.These Lnbs are a double head where as currently you have a single head lnb and that costs a lot to replace them, sky told me they are doing this for two reasons (1) To operate with the new settop box thats coming out (2) early next year sky are switching to their own satellite owned by sky which will alow them to have more channels and functions to us the subscribers, the new satellite sky will switch to is being built by NASA.Also next year sky will launch 5.1 surround sound which will be available on some channels but also an advantage to those with the new pvr in december as it has that function on it.Other things that are an advantage with the new pvr is it will always be under warranty as sky will fix any problems you have, also any changes to the software will be updated with the latest technology over the air to your settop box,these things are well worth it.Ive also been told that in three or four years time its possible sky tv might switch to HDTV which will make these new pvrs useless as they cant decode the signal for that.

Just a few corrections..

Sky are moving to a new satellite because their current one is almost dead. The Optus B1 was launched in 1992 and is at the end of it's 10yr design life and has suffered from it's main processor failing and is currently runing on backup. The new replacement satellite is Optus D1 and will be launched around March next year. Sky do not own the new satellite, Optus do, and it's not built by Nasa and in fact has nothing at all to do with Nasa and it's being launched by Arianespace.

The new decoders will be no different to the existing decoders in that you will not actually own them (like you don't own your decoder now) and software updated have always been done OTA anyway, Sky have updated their software many times in the past including the major update about 2 or 3 years ago.

Techhead

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#20958 3-Oct-2005 20:36

I realise all that what you explained as i was told several different answers from sky tv themselves, i just explained the rest in laymens terms for those who didnt understand what was going on,yes i realise sky is on a backup satellite but i was told by a sky technician who visited my place two weeks ago that he was told by sky that the new satellite is built by nasa and again sky told me they do own it even though its on optus b as this will allow sky to transmit more channels.Also im aware sky currently transmit their programme guide updates over the air, the point im making is any change be it big or small will be updated to the subscriber, where as at present when sky make suttle changes at their end we dont always get the update depending on what condition your settop box is in.

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sbiddle

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#20968 3-Oct-2005 23:12

Sky is not running on a backup satellite at present. They are still running off the same satellite however the main processor has failed on this satellite (which caused an outage several months ago). This satellite was due for replacement before this happened anyway.

Optus D1 is being built by Orbital (www.orbital.com) who have nothing at all to do with NASA. I think somebody has just told you NASA because they don't know any better! :-)

clayton

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#21909 23-Oct-2005 10:50

Whats the USB 1.1 for? Could you use it to transfer movies from your computer to the units hdd and watch them on the TV?

paulmellers

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#22809 8-Nov-2005 02:24

You would think that the USB's were for that wouldn't you?
Over here, they closely guard the content and i've only heard of one person sucessfully removing the content from the drive and he said never again! The problem is, is that the hard drive records the data stream from the satellite, in an unconverted format. so what the box does when you watch a pre-recorded programme, is "transmit" to itself again. Then the box (and the CA processor) decodes and makes the programme view. As it has 2 tuners and only one "decoder" you will only ever be able to watch one programme at a time (not one channel downstairs and another upstairs for example). There are plans to make avilable a "portable viewer" whitch decodes the programme so don't expect to be able to stream content to your computer any time soon!