Direct-To-Home television in India. Update DTH HD announced

[jigbarai]

@dadu,

If I understand your question about surround sound correctly - there is an option of a coaxial cable at the back of the HD box which feeds into the co-ax of the Amp of the 5.1 setup. This is how I have routed my TataSky HD to my Onkyo Amp.

The rest of 5.1 processing is done by the Amp itself (like you would connect any other 5.1 source eg a DVD) to your Amp.

The sound produced on HD channels is indeed 5.1 surround, displays Dolby D on the LED.

However i have noticed that the regular sound coming from TV on an HD channel is much 'lower' than a regular channel (comparing Star Plus regular and Star Plus HD here).

HTH

[yajaman99]

@dadu, i too like jigbarai have connected my TSHD STB to my Onkyo via the coaxial output. The SR601 Amp recognizes the input signal as DD (Dolby Digital). Hence i am eagerly awaiting MoviesNow to start on DTH.

[dilipkumar7278]

Guys
Today installed Airtel HD STB. Installation was quick, the technician completed it in an hour. Connection done with the supplied HDMI cable. Initial impression seems good. Paid 3090rs for stb and 5months package.

[dadu]

Thanks Jigbarai and Yajaman, on further digging, this is what I found.

HD Channels in India DTH Tata Sky, Airtel, Sun Direct, BIG TV,Dish TV and Videocon comparison Chart:

Following are the list of High Definition Channels currently available:

Discovery HD World
National geographic HD
ESPN HD( Event Based Channel)
Star Sports HD( Event based)
Colors HD( only on SunDirect )
Zee Cinema HD ( only on DishTV)
Zee TV ( only on Dish TV)
Sun HD ( only on SunDirect )
Tamil Service HD ( only on SunDirect)
Telugu Service HD ( only on SunDirect)
Ten Sports HD( Dish TV HD, shows India-New Zealand-Sri Lanka ODI in HD)

Only Discovery HD and National Geographic HD are only full time real HD channels. All other channels are either not full time or most of the contents are up scaled to HD!

New HD channels expected are StarPlus HD and Start Movies HD on TataSky.


[1] Though Optical out is available, Dish TV does not seem to provide 5.1 audio yet
[2] Though Optical out is available, BIG TV does not seem to provide 5.1 audio yet
[3] BIG TV entry cost is high. But, they are only one giving DVR Recording
[4] For Sun Direct HD Metro pack is a must whichs costs Rs 1490/- for 6 months
[5] Call customer care for exact offer for existing Airtel Digital TV Users
[6] Rs 500/- discount for existing BIG TV Users
[7] Rs 400/- Cash back for existing Dish TV Users
[8] You must get METRO Packs for Rs 1490/- for 6 months to get the HD channels
[9] Some HD Channels in SunDirect are not working after the INSAT failure.




[1] At present only TataSky is showing Airtel Champions League Cricket in HD exclusively
[2] DD HD is started for Common Wealth Games. Not sure if it will be a full time channel. Also this channel is available on DD Direct Plus DTH.
[3] Some HD Channels in SunDirect are not working after the INSAT failure. They removed Colors HD and Sun

Looking at these, I doubt that the current HD channels will justify a movement to HD but you could say its a pre-investment into the HD Box. This is purely my personal opinion.

Key points to note:

• BIG TV is the only HD DTH with Recoding DVR capability. If you are looking for HD DTH with DVR , it is the best.
• You can have any base package and add HD as add-on in all DTH except Sun Direct HD. You need to have METRO pack active for HD channels
• Tata Sky,Airtel Digital TV and Dish TV TruHD has Coaxial S/PDIF out for 5.1 Dolby audio. BIG TV and Sun Direct has Optical TOSLINK out. Make sure your Home Theater receiver has the corresponding port when you buy the High definition DTH Set Top Box
• Only Airtel and BIG TV offers Universal Remote.

Statistics/ Info Courtesy : techupdatesindia.com

[Newpunter]

I think the data in the above chart might be a bit old as both Dish TV , Big TV and Tata Sky require you to subscribe to their highest package when you get an HD STB. Or maybe my data is old coz i checked it a couple of weeks back .

[dadu]

Originally Posted by Newpunter

I think the data in the above chart might be a bit old as both Dish TV , Big TV and Tata Sky require you to subscribe to their highest package when you get an HD STB. Or maybe my data is old coz i checked it a couple of weeks back .

Your data is old, I just checked the detail today with both TATA Sky HD and Airtel HD. You have the option of buying only the HD STB or HD STB with a combination of Packages. It works out cheaper if you buy a combination package.

TATA Sky is out of HD boxes currently.

[ghodlur]

There's a news article in DNA about Dish TV increasing the no of channels. to 350 with 30 HD channels. I just checked the Dish TV website, it still shows only 5 channels as HD. Anyone had any update on the same. The news link attached.

Dish TV increases channels to 350 plus - Money - DNA

[vvrchandra]

Some time in Jan 2011, Airtel will be increasing their channel count which includes more HD channels as well than the no. they have currently. The source is Airtel HYD head.

[s0uljah]

Never imagined that things would be such a mess for a consumer approaching to make a purchase. Best source is a forum like this or tech blogs, the actual providers have no clue to their products, services and finally availability.

My dad wants to get a box ASAP and im unable to really come to conclusion here at the moment.

[dadu]

Originally Posted by vvrchandra

Some time in Jan 2011, Airtel will be increasing their channel count which includes more HD channels as well than the no. they have currently. The source is Airtel HYD head.

I am all eyes to it.

Originally Posted by s0uljah

Never imagined that things would be such a mess for a consumer approaching to make a purchase. Best source is a forum like this or tech blogs, the actual providers have no clue to their products, services and finally availability.

My dad wants to get a box ASAP and im unable to really come to conclusion here at the moment.

Your current choice ends within Airtel and TATA Sky for a normal box and Airtel for HD box(TS is out of boxes), focusing more on "ASAP" here.

[bblost]

Originally Posted by bblost

BIG TV

Thing is I am shifting my house sometime next week.

Called up customer care and asked them the rates for shifting. Did not inform them about the error. Was told the cost is about 500.

Paid 2490 for a new Big TV Connection.
Bronze pack free for one year. Includes Malayalam and Tamil Regional packs.

Logged work order in the morning. Connection completed by evening.

Will add on some packs later, right now don't have much time for TV.

TV by the way is a simple 21" CRT. So HD is not needed.

[RedOne]

Originally Posted by dadu

Your current choice ends within Airtel and TATA Sky for a normal box and Airtel for HD box(TS is out of boxes), focusing more on "ASAP" here.

I just found that out. Wanted a TS HD box but they didn't have it in stock. The local office guy said they were upgrading to HD + recording, hence the delay and it wud be available in end Jan.

So got the regular one at 999 and the supreme or grand package (Rs 350 p.m) for 9 month with 3 months free. I'll anyway take a second connection, so will wait for the HD one for that.

Gears,
Red-One.

[dadu]

Originally Posted by RedOne

I just found that out. Wanted a TS HD box but they didn't have it in stock. The local office guy said they were upgrading to HD + recording, hence the delay and it wud be available in end Jan.

So got the regular one at 999 and the supreme or grand package (Rs 350 p.m) for 9 month with 3 months free. I'll anyway take a second connection, so will wait for the HD one for that.

Gears,
Red-One.

They gave me the same offer, which I rejected and went over to Airtel, the universal remote was also a decision parameter, very convenient. My primary purpose of a STB was HD and will go for a SD one soon for the second CRT TV which is anyways running fine on the cable connection, not on a priority to change.

[BaCkSeAtDrIVeR]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

I just checked the Dish TV website, it still shows only 5 channels as HD. Anyone had any update on the same. The news link attached.

Conversely, is there any relationship between whet these guys say on their websites and their salesmen blabber?

Even with other providers, the guys at retailers and websites are very divergent on what is offered and at what price.

I just changed over to Asianet (analog to digital). I am no keen TV watcher, but teh sound and pci quality has improved a lot.

The sales girl over the phone offered 3 packages @ 1999. 23XX and 24xx. The 1st sales guy who called up insisted that there is no 1999 plan. He lost his cool when we asked for a list of channels. (Their website is outdated). Neitehr the sales guy nor the girl on the phone had any clue of options on STBs. Their web site lists 4 options.

Growl, is all I can say about their customer relationship.

BTW, I as amused to find FTV listed on several packages; AFAIK, it is banned. At least, it not there on Asianet. (ok, now we are going to see at least 3 pages in next few hours). So, how up to date are the web sites?

Originally Posted by bblost

Paid 2490 for a new Big TV Connection.
Bronze pack free for one year. Includes Malayalam and Tamil Regional packs.

So, a personal question - you understand Malayalam?

[bblost]

Originally Posted by BaCkSeAtDrIVeR

So, a personal question - you understand Malayalam?

Malayalam is the default regional pack.
Its not optional.
Among the optional Tamil/ Telugu/ Kannada, I chose Tamil as I am from Chennai.
In fact I am writing this while watching the greatest superstar of all times MGR.

I am very bad at picking up new languages.
Almost 8 years in Hyderabad, but barely know more than 3-4 words in Telugu.

So although I have a big Mallu friends circle, my knowledge of the language is sadly very limited. But I can talk and talk about the food. Simply one of the best cuisines in the world.