Friday, September 5, 2008

MPEG4 switch over on September 15th?

According to the latest batch of letters being delivered to Dialog TV premium package subscribers it seems that Star Movies and the HBO channels will move to MPEG4 platform on Sep 15th. As per the letter Baby TV, Channel News Asia, etc will be available from the end of September. This date will only be enforced if Dialog TV is able to replace all decoders by the 15th.

At present there is a major discussion on this blog over the unavailability of HDMI and Component Outputs on the new decoder. This decoder that Dialog TV is issuing is a basic MPEG4 decoder. When Dialog TV launches HD channels we believe that a new decoder will be sold with HDMI and Component Outputs including DVR features for those who want to view the HD channels.

Please continue updating us with the latest news regarding Dialog TV.




33 comments:

justavisitor said...

New decoder must be a cheap one desined by Technosat for DTV. It's useless if it does not even have component outputs. Any new STB,DVD player, hard disk media streamer, tv has component video or even HDMI these days.

justavisitor said...

BigTV mpeg4 decoder has component outputs.
http://www.bigtv.co.in/features-setbox2.html

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

DTV has Disappointed LCD & Plasma TV users.
If DTV control room is using the Audio & Video out puts from satellite decoders/receivers for up linking again, what is the point of having HDMI,Comp out in DTV STB?
Some Sat channels & all local channels are poor quality with 544x480 px OR 544x576 format like VCD. After going to MPEG4, DTV can save transponder bandwidth & can put all these channels on 720x576 px format, then only we will get original DV quality.
When HD comes it will be on 1920x1080 px format & need another STB ,will costs about 4 times more to FTA receiver now.

riky said...

xxxxx

riky said...

I was very fortunate to see a test connection of SLT IPTV at one of my friends place.The quality was excellant and it was evident in the local channels (Rupvahini and Max which they have added).There were around 60 channels on test (Entire HBO package,Cebees,DD Sports and some channels what DTV doesnt have).The box was the sleekest i have seen and there were no complications,straight from the router to the box and no interupptions at all during the two hours i was there.

To me the quality was excellant and there were no complications

Unknown said...

Bravo SLT!

let the competition begin!

more the merrier!!!

yakuza said...

google web browser is been released

check it out

search

google chorme

riky said...

RIKEY IS THEIR RAIN FADE AND HOW MANY CHANNELS ON TEST

justavisitor said...

riky Do you ask questions from yourself? :)

http://www.blogger.com/profile/08739951094255228948

riky said...

sorry i have posted only the question sent to me via mail,It was gloomy and dark but the IPTV connection was working fine.They have space toon,BBC entertainment,Colors too which DTV does not have

yakuza said...

@riky

how was the picture quality?
better or worse than dtv?

and video streaming, any delays?

and audio video coordination?

Ekendra Edrisinghe said...

@yakuza

I have had a test SLT-IPTV installation now for about 5 days. The set-top box has Component and Composite Video output terminals, as well as S-Video output terminal with normal audio terminals and one S/PDIF Digital audio output terminal.

There are several channels on test but I have buffering problems mainly. The quality of the video signal via the component terminals is outstanding!

The SLT engineers who came for the installation appear to be very competent. The said that these issues will be sorted out before the commercial launch.

riky said...

Yakuza,

Yes the installation guys s dannymot said have been very competant and there have been 3-4 female staff who had called over.But the my friend had no buffering problem(Around Nugegoda) and the picture quality was par or better than DTV and there were no delays.

Priyantha De Silva said...

**** September DTV Guide,

Now we can share the Satellite TV guide for this month. (I've uploaded yesterday),

Follow the same link that used to download the last month guide on this blog.

*********** A happy Day !!!

justavisitor said...

@riky
I just noticed it that's why I asked.:)
Thanks for news about SLT IPTV. Those days you used to provide us some "inside info" about DTV. Anything new about them?

kumara said...

HI,

WHEN I CONTACTED DTV CC FOR A DATE FOR NEW DECODER UPGRADE( AS PER THEIR LETTER ), I WAS GIVEN A REFERENCE NUMBER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WILL NOT TAKE PLACE BEFORE 15TH SEP. THEY WILL CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

SO THERE WILL DEFINITELY BE A DELAY IMPLEMENTING THIS NEW SYSTEM.

TO MY SURPRISE DTV CC CONTACTED ME TODAY AND INQUIRED ME ABOUT THE RESPONSE OF THE CC STAFF WHO ATTENDED MY REQUEST.( WHETHER THEY WERE KNOWLEDGEBLE, WHETHER I WAS ADEQUATLEY ATTENDED, WHETHER THEY WERE COURTIOUS, WHETHER MY TIME WAS WASTED ETC ETC. )

FURTHER THEY ASKED ME ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE CHANNELL RECEPTION.

THIS IS SOME PLESANT SURPRISE FROM DTV. MAY BE THEY HAVE KICKED OUT THEIR USELESS MARKETING BUGGARS AND HIRED OUT WHO KNOWS AT LEAST ABC ABOUT MARKETING.

DTV, THIS IS SOMTHING GOOD. AND KEEP IT UP. EVEN IF YOU CANNOT CHANGE EVERYTHING IMMEDIATELY AT LEAST TRY TO UNDERSTAND CUSTOMERS AND BE ALIVE TO THIER NEEDS.

alf said...

MACHANG KUMAR,THEY FIRST TOLD ME THAT TECHNICAL GUYS WILL CALL WITHIN 24 HOURS,NEXT GUY THE OTHER DAY TO LD WILL CALL WITHIN FIVE DAYS,THE NEXT SAID BEFORE 10TH,THE NEXT SAID SEVEN WORKING DAYS,SO THIS CC GUYS ARE WELL INFORMED AND THEY KNOW WHATS HAPPENING.

GOOD THAT IPTV SEEMS TO HAVE FINALY SURFACED,NUSHAD PERERA MUST HAVE ALREADY SWITCHED TO IPTV.

Elvis said...

Hi People, Dialog is introducing unlimited broadband via HSDPA (http://www.dialog.lk/en/mobile/technology/3g/unlimited_mobile_broadband.html) But pls dont fall for their mis-leading ads. Because the actuall bandwidth under 3.5G (HSDPA) is less than 2MBPS even though they advertised as 7.2 MBPS.

If they cant give 7.2 why do they advertise it. At least 3 MBPS would be reasonable. But its just 1.5MB most of the times under 3.5G network.

And you cant even browse a web site properly when it comes to GPRS. Pls be very very carefull if you are planning to go for dialog HSDPA unlimited broadband. Pls tell this to everyone you know. Rental is 3000/- bucks and if you are ok with 1.5 MBPS but only under 3.5G network, then go for it. others pls be aware.

FYI:
MBPS = Mega BITS: you have devide the value by 8 to get the actual data rate)

KBPS = Kilo BITS per second, again you have to devide it by 8 to get the actual KB/s value.

Lasantha said...

@Elvis

Thanks for the in formation.

I have been using both Dialog and Mobitel 3G broadband service since march, 2008. I'm always experiencing around 2.2Mbps speed with dialog 3G, In most of cases I'm using it outside of Colombo area. (I'm not sure how it is working in colombo ) Currently, Dialog roll out their 3G coverage to almost all cities. Even, when you are in Nuwaraeliya, Katharagama or Polonnaruwa, still you can enjoy 3G coverage. Also, All 3G (UMTS) enable towers also 3.5G (HSDPA) enabled. But I'm not sure about their 7.2Mbps speed.

However, this is great news for frequent travelers like me. But it is wise to wait another 2 months until Airtel launch. According to un-official sources, They'll have much attractive packages than this. (since they have already tested HSDPA island wide network.)

Dialog 3G Speed Test

MW said...

i received a letter for a new decoder yesterday. it says the change over is on 20th sep. When i called CC they said they are definitely changing decoders before 20th.

kumara said...

ALF,

IT IS OBVIOUS THAT DTV IS STRUGGLING AS USUAL TO IMPLEMENT NEW CHANGES. AS CUSTOMERS WE HAVE NO CHOISE. WE HAVE TO DANCE ACCORDING TO THEIR TUNE.

STARTING DATE OF NEW CHNGE HAS BEEN POSTPONED SEVERAL TIMES AS DTV CANNOT COPE UP WITH THE VOLUME OR MAY BE DUE TO SOME TECHNICAL REASON.

THE MISTAKE DTV IS MAKING IS THAT THEY ARE NOT OPEN AND TRANSPARENT WITH CUSTOMERS. IF CUSTOMERS ARE INFORMED WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENNING THEY WILL HAVE MORE TOLARANCE AND SYMPATHY TOWARDS DTV.

HOPE NUSHAD PERERA IS NOT WITH IPTV FOR GOD SAKE.

Nokia said...

@ Lasantha

Dialog GSM is now 3.75G I think its the fastest in the market

Elvis said...

Hey Lasantha, I dont know about this 3.75 story. But they support HSDPA and sometimes its WCDMA which is slower than HSDPA. And their speed is no better than 1.5Mbps in colombo.

And about this particular offer, they are doing a real garilla marketing here by giving this as a special offer between 7th and 15th of September. Because their billing month goes as 14th to 15th. So when we buy this connection at this time of the month they can charge 150% of the monthly rental as Pro-rata just for these 7 days. They are unbelievably cunning.

Unknown said...

can anyone give me a info on SLT IPTV?

What are the channels and charges etc.

Lasantha said...

Hey Nokia,elvis,

I didn't know about that 3.75G scenario. It must be this.
http://www.mobilecomms-technology.com/projects/hsupa/

Also, I didn't know that wireless broadband offer from 7th to 15th, they didn't mentioned it in the web page. However, This is another great trap, just like "Life time Discount"

Next finniest thing is, they mentioned that "Monthly fee entitles customer to broadband usage of unlimited duration and unlimited data volume (download/upload) " , later they specify their FUP. same way they did for wimax earlier. FUP is acceptable if it office at least 10GB data limit.

yakuza said...

@lasantha

about airtel, can you confirm airtel will start operations in two months? thank you

Nokia said...

@ Lasantha
This 3.75G news was there on the Monday Daily News. THen only I got to know about it.

The FUP attached to this offer is only for the speed. THere is no any ristriction for the downloading limit. If you exceed 6GB your speed will get slower. That's acceptable from my point of view as I'm a laptop user....

But still I didnt purchese it!!

Nokia said...

@ Yakuza

Airtel may get delaied with the current situation in the cuntry's mobile market. Mobitel has offerd 12 midnight to 6 PM outgoing free Package for government officials, with a fair user policy of 1000 minutes per month.

Dialog gives 25% - 50% discount in all the 2nd and 3rd minutes and their after.

So Airtel will have to double check their tarrif to SL market. And Remember it's an Indian company. People who works for indian companies may know the management's requirement :) I was lucky to have such an expiereance.

Lets wait and see.....

Radikal Zee said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Radikal Zee said...

Airtel accuses Sri Lankan operators

alf said...

RADIKAL ZEE,MACHANG I SAW YOU ON FACEBOOK

TV & Radio Sri Lanka said...

Please continue commenting under the new post titled "Dialog TV set top box vs SLT IPTV set top box".

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