Best DTH for 3D, HD & 5.1?

[srinivas1015]

I want HD channels but I'm surprised to see Airtel doesn't have HBO in HD?

I need a lot of HD channels, 5.1 audio as well. What are the 3D channels available in India? Will the IPL be in HD and 3D?

(I have an Optical port on my receiver.)

 

[Thtpro]

Have not heard of any operator offering 3D Channels-

 

[ukjeyaraj]

I have seen Videocon having some demo on 3D DTH in one exhibition. If I remember correctly it was passive 3D. Availability of content(if available) may be very less.

Check this link HD Digital Recorder with 3D - Digital Video Recorder - Videocon d2h

 

[baijuxavior]

At present maximum HD channels is provided by Videocon and the STB supports 5.1 audio also. Check before buying that the stb has optical out. Some stbs use coaxial output.

 

[viper08]

Videocon offers 22 hd channels and 1 3d channel.
3d channel shows same content in loop if i remember. It was demoed on both passive (LG) and active tvs (51e550) in showroom and worked for both.

 

[devilwearsprada]

1.Videocon's 3D channel is just a demo channel.
2.It offers decent enough PQ, with both its 22HD and other SD channels.
3.HBO HD is not available on Videocon.
4.It has a coaxial out, not an optical.

 

[srinivas1015]

Is there any DTH that offers HBO in HD?
If I go for Airtel, will I be able to watch the IPL in HD? On which channel will it premiere?

 

[mathan]

Is there any DTH that offers HBO in HD?
If I go for Airtel, will I be able to watch the IPL in HD? On which channel will it premiere?

Anyone taking a new DTH connection should definitely checkout Videocon. Myself would not suggest Airtel even though I have their HD connection reason being they cutoff the two HD sports channels. IPL matches are to be premired in Set Max and Sony Six the new Sony sports channel (Airtel has this as a HD channel).

 

[srinivas1015]

Anyone taking a new DTH connection should definitely checkout Videocon. Myself would not suggest Airtel even though I have their HD connection reason being they cutoff the two HD sports channels. IPL matches are to be premired in Set Max and Sony Six the new Sony sports channel (Airtel has this as a HD channel).

But doesn't Videocon only stereo audio and not 5.1? I saw the specs here: http://www.videocond2h.com/WSC/pdf/HDSTB.pdf

Are the new HBO channels in HD?

 

[mathan]

But doesn't Videocon only stereo audio and not 5.1? I saw the specs here: http://www.videocond2h.com/WSC/pdf/HDSTB.pdf

Are the new HBO channels in HD?

5.1 audio can be obtained thro optical or coaxial connection in Videocon. I think I saw some of our FM's mentioning that. In Airtel HBO channels are not in HD.

 

[srinivas1015]

5.1 audio can be obtained thro optical or coaxial connection in Videocon. I think I saw some of our FM's mentioning that. In Airtel HBO channels are not in HD.

According to this : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_HD_channels_in_India ,

DishTV has HBO channels in HD but not Star World & Star Movies. Airtel has Star channels in HD but not HBO. Videocon has more HD channels but doesn't have the new HBO channels .

I don't know which to choose now. Are SD channels in 16:9 aspect ratio?

 

[devilwearsprada]

HBO HD packs are not available in India AFAIK.
Videocon is great and it does have 5.1 audio for 80% of its HD channels(Including all movie channels).

 

[just4kix]

According to this : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_HD_channels_in_India ,

DishTV has HBO channels in HD but not Star World & Star Movies. Airtel has Star channels in HD but not HBO. Videocon has more HD channels but doesn't have the new HBO channels .

I don't know which to choose now. Are SD channels in 16:9 aspect ratio?

DishTV has long been upscaling SD channels to HD and calling them as HD. They are not true HD channels. But as long as you are satisfied with the quality, it does not matter. The original HBO channel is not in HD anywhere except DishTV which is actually upscaling it. That way DishTV is claiming nearly 50 HD channels which is not true. The two new HBO channels are available in HD and maybe Dish is showing them in (true) HD. But these are just launched and others will add them to their packages sooner or later.

As mentioned in some posts above, take 3D out of the equation. We are nowhere near 1080p and true HD sound, so 3D which requires even more bandwidth is a long distance away.

SD channels are not in 16:9 format but in 4:3 format.

TataSky is good in quality and best in customer support but way-way expensive and only with 11 HD channels. Airtel, DishTV, Big TV, and other lie somewhere in between. Based on current prices and configurations, Videocon D2H is the best bet. Hathway digital (cable) is not far behind and I believe has 16 HD channels. These are the best two that I can suggest at the moment.

 

[vnmathur57]

5.1 audio can be obtained thro optical or coaxial connection in Videocon. I think I saw some of our FM's mentioning that. In Airtel HBO channels are not in HD.

Right now watching "gone in 60 seconds" on d2h Star Movies HD in 5.1.

 

[srinivas1015]

DishTV has long been upscaling SD channels to HD and calling them as HD. They are not true HD channels. But as long as you are satisfied with the quality, it does not matter. The original HBO channel is not in HD anywhere except DishTV which is actually upscaling it. That way DishTV is claiming nearly 50 HD channels which is not true. The two new HBO channels are available in HD and maybe Dish is showing them in (true) HD. But these are just launched and others will add them to their packages sooner or later.

As mentioned in some posts above, take 3D out of the equation. We are nowhere near 1080p and true HD sound, so 3D which requires even more bandwidth is a long distance away.

SD channels are not in 16:9 format but in 4:3 format.

TataSky is good in quality and best in customer support but way-way expensive and only with 11 HD channels. Airtel, DishTV, Big TV, and other lie somewhere in between. Based on current prices and configurations, Videocon D2H is the best bet. Hathway digital (cable) is not far behind and I believe has 16 HD channels. These are the best two that I can suggest at the moment.

HBO Defined HD is something I really want so unfortunately I don't think I have a choice except Dish TV. I don't understand why Airtel & Videocon didn't add it in HD.
Does Dish TV have 5.1 audio?