Disconnecting Airtel for ESPN HD. Alternative?

[garfield]

Hi
I have Airtel DTH in my HT and D2H DVR in my living room. The Airtel is better as far as software and ease of use but they have discontinued ESPN HD which is essential for me. So I am planning to disconnect it and get another one. The d2h does not have 5.1 sound, so what is the alternative? For me, HD Sports channels are essential and 5.1 sound. What would be the best choice?
G

 

[technobhatt]

D2H does provide 5.1 channels on selected HD channels through Optical Out except all Sports HD and 2 of the Zee HD channels- Zee TV HD and Zee Cinema HD.
D2H is the only DTH service having all the sports HD channels ESPN HD, Star Cricket HD, TEN HD and Sony SIX HD.
Also, none of the sports HD channel carries 5.1 sound, all are Stereo; If you see 5.1 sound on Sports HD channels (that's what Tata SKy does on ESPN HD and Star Cricket HD), that means it's fake; you can also do the same with Dolby Prologic settings in AVR!!

Go with D2H as it is the best choice at present.

 

[garfield]

Thanks

I think I will do that. The only problem is that the Videocon software (on the DVR) is painfully slow and the remote very confusing as compared to the Airtel. I will miss the Airtel pay per view movies also, but what I need most is the ESPN HD.

BTW Sony Six HD is definitely in 5.1 sound. Are you sure about d2H having 5.1 sound? Because my DVR did not when I got it. Will it give the 5.1 over HDMI? Because the Airtel does.

 

[mathan]

Thanks

I think I will do that. The only problem is that the Videocon software (on the DVR) is painfully slow and the remote very confusing as compared to the Airtel. I will miss the Airtel pay per view movies also, but what I need most is the ESPN HD.

BTW Sony Six HD is definitely in 5.1 sound. Are you sure about d2H having 5.1 sound? Because my DVR did not when I got it. Will it give the 5.1 over HDMI? Because the Airtel does.

Sony Six HD in 5.1 thro Airtel? I'm not getting 5.1 from Sony Six HD through Airtel HD. I'm getting 5.1 in all other HD channels which ever is transmitted in 5.1 sound but not sony six HD.

 

[technobhatt]

BTW Sony Six HD is definitely in 5.1 sound. Are you sure about d2H having 5.1 sound? Because my DVR did not when I got it. Will it give the 5.1 over HDMI? Because the Airtel does.

I repeat, none of the Sports HD channel is being broadcast in 5.1 sound, including Sony Six HD. And I am watching IPL on Six HD on Airtel DTH everyday, so I can confirm there is no 5.1 sound on Sony Six HD.
The only way you may get 5.1 on Six HD is...tune your AVR settings to Dolby prologic 5.1 and then you may get Stereo sound up-converted to 5.1; but I recommend ..don't do this ever, this will sound much much worse than original stereo broadcast.

And as I said earlier...D2H also is NOT providing 5.1 sound over HDMI till date, it's only through Optical cable.

 

[krish199]

If you are ok with less channel and Good customer service then can surely go for TataSky HD. Atleast with TS you would never face issue about Star Channels. D2H is also good but being a TS customer for cloas to a year will surely vouch for them.

 

[just4kix]

True 5.1 sound is with movies only and possibly with some western serials. I always take '5.1 sound' claim from DTH providers with a pinch of salt. I have TataSky HD and I think that I do get 5.1 sound from Star Movies HD. But I never bothered to check with the rest of the lot as I generally do not care. I may be wrong, but I think that HD sports channels do not have (true) 5.1 sound.

 

[rajeshg_k123]

Sony Six HD (hathway) on my AVR show's Dolby digital. The whole content is not 5.1, but when animated statatics of the match has some surround effect.