MySky vs. FTA Questions

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99064

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#8731 26-Jul-2006 00:41

Hi Guys,

Just a few quick questions which Sky have been unable to answer:

1) MySky has 2 tuners in it so do they:
- use one satellite, one LNB and put a splitter just before the decoder
- use one satellite, two LNB's and run two cables to the decoder
- use two seperate satellite's and cables
reason I ask this, when they installed Digital he had to drill 4 holes in the wall before he got it right and i would hope installation is not a HUGE job.

2) I'm able to get FTA either by satellite and terrestrial so am I correct in saying FTA don't currently have an EPG which would require manual setting of my PVR reciever

3) What is the highest quality video I can get out of the MySky STB? Component (Y,Pr,Pb and/or Y,Cb,Cr)?

4) I've read quite a few of the bugs noticed in MySky, is it worth waiting? (my guess is no because they can do the firmware upgrades whenever they need to but for the people that have it, what is you're best reccomendation?)

5) Do we get to keep the existing decoder when they install MySky?

Cheers guys

GingerNinja

52 posts

Master Geek

#42477 26-Jul-2006 08:22

1) - one satellite, two LNBs, but runs through one cable

2) ?

3) Component I think

4) I got MySKy just last week. The only problems I've had was that it wouldn't book a particular program to record, but then it was able to go that the next night (well in advance of the show). And the series link wasn't working, but this was fixed over the weekend and so everything appears to be going as it should. Get it now, its awesome.

5) You only get to keep the existing decoder if you pay the second decoder rental for some number of months. I think you get $100 off the mysky installation too. I think Sky are currently running a promotion where if you get MySky you get the second digital decoder free for 4 months. I didn't get it though as I only have one TV (but the tech installed a splitter on the satellite cable so that I can get second decoder later on).

cyril7

9058 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#42479 26-Jul-2006 08:23

MySky uses one dish and LNB (the same as for a standard STB), a splitter is installed directly at the rear of the MySky.

It is expected that the TVNZ/CanWest FreeView service will have an EPG, but at this point they have not declared what software they will use, it is expected to be MHEG. Assuming your FTA PVR supports whatever system the FreeVeiw platform uses then you can use it in a similar manner to the MySky (but only on the channels FreeView transmit). Currently the test FreeView service has limited EIT EPG which provides now and next info only, this is the minimum DVB EPG service.

The MySky can output, composite, S-Video, RGB and Component (also known as YCrCb) all at 576i. The term YPrPb is often incorrectly refered to ExtendedDef or HD component (ie scan or resloution rates above 576i), however YPrPb is acutally just a digital rather than analog existance of component video, and until recently only existed in profesional situations. Regardless of all that MySky outputs component video at 576i.

There still does exist a few small bugs with MySky, however they can and do update the firmware automaitcally. Once you have used MySky the ease of use compared to a simple EPGless PVR makes those minor bugs disappear. The exact same Pace MySky is used throughout the world (Foxtel/IQ, BskyB/Sky+, SkyItalia/MySky, and probably others) I am sure there is a team working on these bugs every minute of the day.

Yes you can keep your old decoder as well as the MySky, the cost of install is reduced if you do so, they will change you $25/month to keep it.

Cyril