A blog about TV in NZ and how to get more channels than Freeview or Sky.

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › A blog about TV in NZ and how to get more channels than Freeview or Sky.

mthredgo

80 posts

Master Geek

#101005 22-Apr-2012 20:57

I don't know if this is appropriate for the forum or not (delete it if it ain't), but I've started a new blog about TV in NZ. It's not selling anything. It's more a place where I can write stuff about my sat TV setup, how I set it up, and the channels I get. I'll comment on Freeview, Sky, Optus D2, Intelsat 5 and 8, and Asiasat3S channels, and it will be kind of a geek-lite sort of feel for my friends who's eyes roll back when I talk about multwitches and LNBs and stuff.

First post http://extra-channels.com/2012/04/22/a-public-broadcaster-for-new-zealand/ about why with the imminent demise of TVNZ7 NZ should part fund Australia's SBS so that we can get some quality ad-free public broadcasting in NZ.

I intend to write about:
what channels I get on Asiasat 3S with a dish that is too small (2.3m)
The story of how I bought a counterfeit Vu+ Duo and how I got my money back.
Tuning a large C-band dish.
Why Aussie Rules footy (on Australia Network) is better than that rugby malarkey.

ADKM

860 posts

Ultimate Geek

#613354 22-Apr-2012 21:25

How about mention of getting rid (or reducing the size) of those awful watermark logo's they all insist on using? They turn me right of and I consequently watch as little TV as possible (and never anything on FOUR).

It's easier to download stuff from overseas, where their watermarks are far less intrusive.

What gets me is, so many people tell me they don't even see them. Do they watch TV with their eyes shut? I predict they'll be animating them soon, TV2's already multi coloured.

They could be half the size and still do whatever job the channels think they do. I suppose we can all be grateful for graffiti free TV from the 60's to when this nonsense started. TV3 were first but we could ignore then as TVNZ had a clean screen till the late 90s.

What is their purpose anyway, is it to XXXX us off, blow their trumpet, or do they think we can't find the info button? The only legitimate use surely would be license commitments to prevent clean copies being reproduced - but that doesn't justify their size IMO.

Cheers - Kirk

mthredgo

80 posts

Master Geek

#613364 22-Apr-2012 21:33

ADKM, You'd go absolutely spare with the Ary channels from Pakistan on Asiasat 3S. Ary Musik is probably the worst. Just looking at it now, and the logo turns into a robot and jumps across the content. They actually have 2 tonight - the other is a cardboard box with eyes that gets all excited and shows its teeth. All of this in a frame at top and bottom that has palm trees and jandals hanging on a clothes line.

The music is mostly sung in Urdu. Urdu hip hop and Bollywood sounds. Fantastic.

ADKM

860 posts

Ultimate Geek

#613388 22-Apr-2012 21:58

I'm speechless ! Think I'll go any play some 78's :-) (No Urdu Hip Hop there!)

Cheers - Kirk

SteveON

1916 posts

Uber Geek

#613392 22-Apr-2012 22:01

ADKM: How about mention of getting rid (or reducing the size) of those awful watermark logo's they all insist on using?? They turn me right of and I consequently watch as little TV as possible (and never anything on FOUR).

It's easier to download stuff from overseas, where their watermarks are far less intrusive.?

What gets me is, so many people tell me they don't even see them.? Do they watch TV with their eyes shut?? I predict they'll be animating them soon, TV2's already multi coloured.

They could be half the size and still do whatever job the channels think they do.? I suppose we can all be grateful for graffiti free TV from the 60's to when this nonsense started. TV3 were first but we could ignore then as TVNZ had a clean screen till the late 90s.

What is their purpose anyway, is it to XXXX us off, blow their trumpet, or do they think we can't find the info button? The only legitimate use surely would be license commitments to prevent clean copies being reproduced - but that doesn't justify their size IMO.

your comment is way off topic and who really cares about the watermark?!

ADKM

860 posts

Ultimate Geek

#613405 22-Apr-2012 22:38

There you go - WHO CARES he asks - plenty !

Cheers - Kirk

SteveON

1916 posts

Uber Geek

#613412 22-Apr-2012 23:02

ADKM: There you go - WHO CARES he asks - plenty !

Lol just you.

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#613425 22-Apr-2012 23:49

Thanks mthredgo for an interesting read. I hope SBS doesn't disappear though -- it is my favourite channel.

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Journeyman

1186 posts

Uber Geek

#613434 23-Apr-2012 01:34

ADKM: What gets me is, so many people tell me they don't even see them. Do they watch TV with their eyes shut? I predict they'll be animating them soon, TV2's already multi coloured.

On what programmes are you seeing multicoloured watermarks on 2?

old3eyes

9119 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#613517 23-Apr-2012 09:36

SteveON:
ADKM: How about mention of getting rid (or reducing the size) of those awful watermark logo's they all insist on using?? They turn me right of and I consequently watch as little TV as possible (and never anything on FOUR).

It's easier to download stuff from overseas, where their watermarks are far less intrusive.?

What gets me is, so many people tell me they don't even see them.? Do they watch TV with their eyes shut?? I predict they'll be animating them soon, TV2's already multi coloured.

They could be half the size and still do whatever job the channels think they do.? I suppose we can all be grateful for graffiti free TV from the 60's to when this nonsense started. TV3 were first but we could ignore then as TVNZ had a clean screen till the late 90s.

What is their purpose anyway, is it to XXXX us off, blow their trumpet, or do they think we can't find the info button? The only legitimate use surely would be license commitments to prevent clean copies being reproduced - but that doesn't justify their size IMO.
your comment is way off topic and who really cares about the watermark?!

I do . Especially the ones on 3 and four.. Humongous great things.. Sort of size that Lifetime channel in the US would be proud of..

Regards,

Old3eyes

old3eyes

9119 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#613519 23-Apr-2012 09:36

Journeyman:
ADKM: What gets me is, so many people tell me they don't even see them. Do they watch TV with their eyes shut? I predict they'll be animating them soon, TV2's already multi coloured.

On what programmes are you seeing multicoloured watermarks on 2?

3News..

Regards,

Old3eyes

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#613526 23-Apr-2012 09:54

Back on topic: I just had somebody ask me what would be the best card to use in a PC which would enable viewing of SBS?

Suggestions please.

mthredgo

80 posts

Master Geek

#613549 23-Apr-2012 10:31

Any DVB-S or DVB-S2 card that isn't MHEG-5 locked (which none probably are).
And then add a dual polarity Ku-band LNB on a 90cm or larger dish pointed at Optus D1 and either the 22K tone generator switch, or a multiswitch in between the LNBs and the card to select between the polarities.

By the by - you can't watch SBS on demand in NZ at the SBS website as all the content is geo-blocked.

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#613690 23-Apr-2012 14:44

mthredgo: Any DVB-S or DVB-S2 card that isn't MHEG-5 locked (which none probably are).
And then add a dual polarity Ku-band LNB on a 90cm or larger dish pointed at Optus D1 and either the 22K tone generator switch, or a multiswitch in between the LNBs and the card to select between the polarities.

Cheers for that. I will have a look on PB Tech's website and see what I can find.

mthredgo: By the by - you can't watch SBS on demand in NZ at the SBS website as all the content is geo-blocked.

Yeah well a VPN gets around that issue. I've already done it without any problems. Unblock-Us would probably also work.

mthredgo

80 posts

Master Geek

#613894 23-Apr-2012 19:53

If you're interested I detailed my system setup with a few photos:

http://extra-channels.com/2012/04/23/installing-a-2-3m-dish/

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#613899 23-Apr-2012 20:06

mthredgo: If you're interested I detailed my system setup with a few photos:

http://extra-channels.com/2012/04/23/installing-a-2-3m-dish/

A serious installation for sure ... 4 different dishes is the most I've ever seen on one house!

For myself, recording a number of regular docos from SBS each week as well as the local current affairs programmes on TV1/2/3 plus Fair Go and the occasional movie gives all the TV I want to watch. At the moment my 2TB hard drive in the Vu+ Duo is filling up with all the programmes I haven't had time to watch lately. But if we get some rainy days, I'll have a viewing blitz to catch up on everything.