TV Systems

[Shiny58]

Hi Folks, I should like to improve my TV set-up but must admit to being completely clueless about it. Following the Telmicro debacle I have recently purchased a 1.9m dish and a 'Dark Box' from Digital Satellite Systems (DSS) and this provides a lot of channels in what appears to be decent quality. However, I should be grateful to anyone who can answer the following questions:

1. Does the quality and length of cable connecting the dish to the digibox materially affect the reception quality, particularly with regard to HD?

2. Are there better digiboxes around than the 'Super Dark Box HD Rev 2008 Satellite HD Conax with 2CI' (Phew) that I have got from DSS, and if so in what way are they better?

3. The Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) on the Dark Box does not seem to do an awful lot. Is that a function of the box or of the satellite? Is it possible to get a worthwhile on-screen programme guide without having a Sky card? (I don't have a Sky card and don't particularly want one).

4. If I were to purchase a new TV is it a good idea to go for one, such as the Panasonic Viera range, that has the digibox built in?

5. Is the reception through a dish here on the Costas good enough to take full advantage of the capabilities of these so-called 'Full HD' Televisions coming onto the market?

Sorry to be so long winded. Any advice will be gratefully received.

[satandpcguy]

Try this forum satandpcguy.com • Index page

no worries - i am also here now - since the other forums collapsed a few weeks ago!

1. Does the quality and length of cable connecting the dish to the digibox materially affect the reception quality, particularly with regard to HD?

generally yes - the longer the cable the more loss of and (SD or HD) signal along the cable.
i have found that copper foil cable is better than the aluminium foil cable - it helps a lot in minimising the loss of those weaker signals

2. Are there better digiboxes around than the 'Super Dark Box HD Rev 2008 Satellite HD Conax with 2CI' (Phew) that I have got from DSS, and if so in what way are they better?

depends what you mean by better...

3. The Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) on the Dark Box does not seem to do an awful lot. Is that a function of the box or of the satellite? Is it possible to get a worthwhile on-screen programme guide without having a Sky card? (I don't have a Sky card and don't particularly want one).

the Sky EPG is specifically written for sky boxes, hence why it is not on any boxes like the dark box. thats one advantage of a sky box the full 7 day programmable EPG - as opposed to the now and next you only get with some of the generics.
all the data is available on the data streams form the satellite - its all down to the EPG and software in the receiver and what it can use and display.
many generics limit the memory for software to make more psace for channels - hence why generics can store 5000plus channels

4. If I were to purchase a new TV is it a good idea to go for one, such as the Panasonic Viera range, that has the digibox built in?

i have not tried one yet to see how it performs - and am unsure if if has a "non freesat mode" to get the many channels not available on the freesat epg - like for example sky news.

5. Is the reception through a dish here on the Costas good enough to take full advantage of the capabilities of these so-called 'Full HD' Televisions coming onto the market?

again it depends on the frequencies that the hd channels are broadcast on - for example c4hd is on a much stronger signal than the normal c4 - but i am unsure if c4hd is broadcast in 720, 720 upscaled to 1080 (which some recivers can do to "fake" / "simulate" fullhd) or 1080 (the latter is full hd)

and full hd tvs are cabable of displaying hd at 1080...so you will need a receiver capabale of handling the 1080 signals - i am not too sure how many channels are in 1080 - or in the lesser 720 hd versions -


from the questions you are asking you really understand that reception of channels are based on the ability to receive the signal...not on the fact that a channel is hd or not...and not all hd channels are on good strong signals...for example many of the sky movie HD channels are on the North beam - a tricky signal to get sometimes...Discovery hd is on a north beam, but discovery SD can be got all day on an 80cm dish!

hope this helps

[Shiny58]

TV Systems

Many thanks. I appreciate your input. You too WendyG. I suppose regarding my Question 2, what I meant was, "are there significant differences in the facilities and performance of the various digiboxes around, or are they all pretty much the same?"

Regarding your answer to Question 3, does that mean you need a Sky subscription to get a decent EPG?

[_Chris_]

Many thanks. I appreciate your input. You too WendyG. I suppose regarding my Question 2, what I meant was, "are there significant differences in the facilities and performance of the various digiboxes around, or are they all pretty much the same?"

Regarding your answer to Question 3, does that mean you need a Sky subscription to get a decent EPG?

Did you get a solution to this at all ? The epg on my dark box isn't very good either, on some channels, even ITV1, it doesn't show any epg at all ?

[satandpcguy]

Many thanks. I appreciate your input. You too WendyG. I suppose regarding my Question 2, what I meant was, "are there significant differences in the facilities and performance of the various digiboxes around, or are they all pretty much the same?"

Regarding your answer to Question 3, does that mean you need a Sky subscription to get a decent EPG?

apols for not replying...i did not see this post until just now....

yes digiboxes (sky freesat and generic (like the DB)) do vary in performance.
for example the Pace 2600 SKy receiver is a very good receiver for spain. But i have found that the newer PAce 440 and 445 are probably one of the worst receiver i have seen for Spain.

Obviously Sky and Freesat receivers use their software for the full 7 day programe guide. If some bright spark were to write some software of the DB then you could put this into your DB receiver, as all the EPG information is available on the satelelite signals already (one for Sky receivers and one for freesat receivers!).

Many generic receiver forgo EPG data for a bigger channel list - hence why some can store 5000plus channels...and only display Now and Next information.

You get the Sky EPG on any Sky receiver. You can use the Sky EPG without the need for a Sky card. You only need a sky card to unlock the encrypted channels.

Hope this helps

PS Where did wendys post do...did she delete it?

[Shiny58]

Sky EPG

Thanks for that SatandPCGuy. Sounds like the answer to meaningful EPG is to get a Sky Receiver. Do you have any advice on where you can get one and how much they cost? Also, someone told me the Humax PVR9300 box is a good bit of kit. Any views on what sort of performance and facilities you can get out of one of those? Your advice is much appreciated by the way.

[satandpcguy]

you can try the installers in the area (like Nortons or lee-digital), or try an source one from ebay....

most humax's work quite well for the weaker signals, but have not tried that specifc model, so cannot really vouch for actaul performance

[Shiny58]

Sky EPG

Many thanks. Your advice is gratefully received.

[barnick1304]

I have a pace 2600c1 Skybox avaliable. Phone 600899096.