Currently in London and I need a new satellite PVR back home.

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#568379 13-Jan-2012 13:29

Jaxson:
grant_k:This FAQ from Sky makes it pretty clear:

Is there any additional cost to SKY Subscribers to get TV ONE and TV 2 in High Definition?There is no additional cost, both channels are included in the basic package for MY SKY HDi subscribers.

By pretty clear that means you would have to have My Sky HDi to get the channels TV1, 2 and 3 in HD.

I suspect that this is the case if you have a SKY decoder, but if you have your own you're not limited by the channels they preset for you. You certainly can get Sky HD channels on a basic Sky ticket on a Vu+Duo.

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grant_k

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#568424 13-Jan-2012 14:51

xarqi: So if I read those FAQs correctly, it seems that a Basic Sky subscription doesn't give HD access to the otherwise FTA content after all. You have to have a mysky HDi subscription at $15/mo more, even if you can get out paying the $599 fee up front for hardware that wouldn't be needed.

As far as I can see from the SKY site, there is no such thing as an HD ticket any more.

Or have I still got it wrong?

There are 2 issues here:

1) Whether you have access to the HD channels for TV1/2/3 or not

2) Whether you can watch them on a 3rd party decoder such as Vu+ Duo

Sky Basic subscribers definitely do have access to TV/1/2/3 in HD without needing an HD ticket.

In order to watch those channels, however, you need the blue smart card starting with 45. The usual way to get one is by paying for a MySky (as I did) or MySky HDi or MySky+. However, some Sky customers with the late model small silver decoders have also been supplied with them as I explained above.

Whether you will be given a small silver decoder with a non MySky HDi/MySky+ installation is luck of the draw, whereas with any of the MySky series decoders it is part of the package.

Does that make it clear now?

speedy23

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#573934 27-Jan-2012 07:50

Thanks everyone. I have bought a Vu Duo and put a 2 Tb hard drive in it. Are there any other bits and bobs I should get whilst over here?

Speedyboy

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#573944 27-Jan-2012 08:26

I think as suggested and if you have A) room in your bags and B) funds - buy extras and sell them on trademe when back home ;-)
Just be aware of possible import costs ie GST.

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#573973 27-Jan-2012 09:20

speedy23: Thanks everyone. I have bought a Vu Duo and put a 2 Tb hard drive in it. Are there any other bits and bobs I should get whilst over here?

I haven't checked availability or pricing here and there, but the only "accessories" that I can think of would be a WiFi USB adapter (if you think you'd use it - OK for SD, but struggles with HD, so a wired network connection is recommended), or a USB DVB-T tuner. Also, the HDMI cable that came with my Duo developed a fault after a year or so (a loose wire I think), so I had to replace it. I'm not sure how common that is.

You may need a power plug adaptor or replacement cord to fit the NZ socket too.

Jaxson

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#573979 27-Jan-2012 09:48

A terrestrial add on tuner bit would be worth acquiring. There is surely a need for some to have both in their units. You can't get the EPG on terrestrial more than now/next data but you can book via the full satellite EPG and then switch the channel part only from satellite to the terrestrial version.

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xarqi

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#573980 27-Jan-2012 09:53

Jaxson: You can't get the EPG on terrestrial more than now/next data but you can book via the full satellite EPG and then switch the channel part only from satellite to the terrestrial version.

Sneaky!

speedy23

44 posts

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#585210 22-Feb-2012 15:44

Thanks everyone. Back home now and HOT! Was lovely in the big dump of snow. So which Panasonic now. A couple of good specials in Hamilton would get me the 42ST with two sets of glasses for $1500, or, for $1900, the GT46 but no glasses. Has anyone tried the 2D to 3D conversion and is it worthwhile for general movies. Otherwise the 3D is a bit borderline. Definitely can't go to 50 inches and the wife may baulk at 46 even, but..... The 46 has a nicer look, but again, is it worth the money - although I guess that is an individual taste thing. I guess the bottom line is, are the sound and picture any better on the GT - I can't really tell from reading the specs which seem to differ depending on which web site you look at. Thanks again, Speedy

Speedyboy

bfginger

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#585235 22-Feb-2012 16:31

There is no big difference between the GT and ST for picture quality. The GT has slightly better black levels and a THX mode. I don't think there is any difference for sound in the NZ model. The GT46 is available for $1799.

The P42VT30Z is available for $1997 and should include glasses.

speedy23

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#586336 24-Feb-2012 16:26

Sorry to ask another probably silly question, but...
Climbed onto the roof just now to fit an F type connector to the "spare" side of the twin cable that the Sky man had left plugged and noticed there is only one output on the LNB. Appears to be a dual unit (Sharp Ku LNBF, BS1D1AQ112A) and despite looking at all sorts of threads and adverts, can't work out whether I need a different dual output model to hook up my new Vu Duo using the twin cable. It is hooked up to a 60 cm dish. Would I be better to get a 90 dish whilst about the upgrade? If so, will that fit the existing bracket or will it all have to be changed and re-aligned. Thanks for your patience! John

Speedyboy

grant_k

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#586346 24-Feb-2012 16:45

speedy23: Sorry to ask another probably silly question, but...
Climbed onto the roof just now to fit an F type connector to the "spare" side of the twin cable that the Sky man had left plugged and noticed there is only one output on the LNB. Appears to be a dual unit (Sharp Ku LNBF, BS1D1AQ112A) and despite looking at all sorts of threads and adverts, can't work out whether I need a different dual output model to hook up my new Vu Duo using the twin cable. It is hooked up to a 60 cm dish. Would I be better to get a 90 dish whilst about the upgrade? If so, will that fit the existing bracket or will it all have to be changed and re-aligned. Thanks for your patience! John

I have the same Dual-Throat/Single Output LNB as you do, and don't find it to be a problem in day-to-day use.

The only limitation you will come up against, is not being able to record SBS Tasmanian service (on V-Pol) at the same time as Sky/Freeview channels (on H-Pol).

For myself, I don't find that to be a significant limitation, but you may view it differently. I just have the standard 60cm Sky-provided dish, and find it does all I need, including all 4 SBS channels intended for Tasmania. One of them is HD (720p) and the other 3 usually show the same programme for some reason.

Unless you want to watch other birds apart from Optus D1, there doesn't seem to be any point in getting a bigger dish.

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speedy23

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#593676 11-Mar-2012 18:37

Took the plunge last week and bought the 42VT and got a great deal I think at $1894. Also bought spare glasses at a killer price - $79 and the matching Panasonic 3D Blu ray unit also on a steal price - $250. Skype camera also at $72 - RRP $249!! Worried now what the wife will say when she sees the Visa bill...... Anyway, am about to mount the TV in an existing wall unit that I built some years back. I have pulled the unit out of the wall in the lounge and am changing partitions to accommodate the bigger TV. Question is, can I mount it slightly recessed - say 20 mm back - or should it sit out from the front of the unit. Either is possible but if set back, would that interfere with sound as opposed to being set out a little to help dissipate heat generated. Does a Plasma generate more heat than an old CRT set? Thanks again for ideas and help. John

Speedyboy

speedy23

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#601965 29-Mar-2012 15:17

After a few hiccups setting up the Vu+ Duo, I am up and running at last. (Had to set the LNB up in advanced setting.) SBS in HD is fantastic! Anyway, one of the (many) things I can't work out yet is bouquets and picons. Can anyone give me some clues as to how to find them for NZ or set them up. Thanks. Also discovered when recording Prime the other night, can't even watch SBS as it tells me there is no channel available. So, up the ladder I go to put the new LNB on. Also, just for the fun of it the other night, had six channels recording at one time. Amazing. Very powerful box but so much to learn!

Speedyboy

injuised

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#601977 29-Mar-2012 15:34

If your watching or recording SBS yor LNB will be on the vertical polarity , meaning anything on horizontal wont be watchable, youll need a dual output LNB

xarqi

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#602031 29-Mar-2012 16:39

I've not bothered with any bouquets except setting "favourites" - there just isn't that much choice that I need to subdivide the available services.

Picons - haven't bothered - I'm not interested in "pimping" anything.

Yup - you'll need a dual output LNB to get H and V pol transponders simultaneously, you'll have to run two cables down to the box (or via a multiswitch), and you'll need to split the tuners in the Duo (that is, not have them set to loop through).

That still won't help you record off 3 transponders simultaneously though.

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