Combined DVB S / DVB T

[kiwisteve]

Just to start a bit of discussion going , whats everyone's thoughts on a combined set top box DVB T and DVB S ??
Would people prefer sep boxes or combined ?

Steve

[openmedia]

TV upgrade can wait until the sets with integrated H264 tuners appear, but for an STB I do like having DVB-T and DVB-S and analogue all in a single PVR solution.

Steve

[Global Kiwi]

If the receiver has both Terrestrail and Satellite inputs but is only to give one output of any selected variety (eg Component), then I'd prefer the two services on seperate boxes so one could feed a recorder and the other a TV set. I believe most dual boxes are what Ive described.:eek:

[kiwisteve]

Yes agree on the output of a ( Combined ) STB
It would need many outputs as I have two DVD recorders
and WS tv connected to existing SAT box

[bartender]

I know the Dreambox DM7025 has the dual tuners option, and you can mix and match between DVB-S/C/T... However it only has an MPEG2 HW decoder in it so you are pretty much stuffed for DVB-T in NZ.

Looks like the DVB-T STB's are going to be quite pricey as well... IMHO I think that will kill DVB-T from the outset, or severely restrict the customer uptake, who wants to pay $500+ just to get the same channels over DVB-T, and since most of the content in SD... I think it might be a hard sell IMHO. Apart from the people who have already spent 2K+ on their TV's... then those people won't mind paying a bit more for a H.284/MPEG4 STB, but not the average punter.

[Tony Dunnett]

Just to start a bit of discussion going , whats everyone's thoughts on a combined set top box DVB T and DVB S ??
Would people prefer sep boxes or combined ?

Steve

Already we have investigated a suitable STB for freeview's DTT and DTH service , yes it can be made but it would not be cheap as really its two boxes in one both with the majic middle ware, the mother boards can be sandwiched together to keep the case size down. The SMP has to be more robust and the remote functions redesigned .We'll see when the prototype arrives and we have test signals in auckland how it performs and if the idea is worth persuing further.

[richms]

Looks like the DVB-T STB's are going to be quite pricey as well... IMHO I think that will kill DVB-T from the outset, or severely restrict the customer uptake, who wants to pay $500+ just to get the same channels over DVB-T, and since most of the content in SD... I think it might be a hard sell IMHO. Apart from the people who have already spent 2K+ on their TV's... then those people won't mind paying a bit more for a H.284/MPEG4 STB, but not the average punter.

The average punter has financed a large flatpanel tv, so chances are they will get a STB for HD. I dont think that STBs will be as expensive as people make them out to be. There will be cost for the crap firmware on the official ones, but we can count on the asians to bring out dirt cheap ones just like the sat boxes have. Also there is the PS3 that will be getting a tuner and I cant see any with the cheap PC based USB tuners it brings it to anyone with a computer to watch on.

As for most programs being SD - no, most are made in HD these days, almost everything out of the states is except for the reality tv crap that doesnt matter. Movies are usually a HD transfer now, not that I watch movies on broadcast tv because of the age and interuptions. There is loads of HD content available to broadcast.