now Dishtv goes HD

[sanjay0864]

I got Dish TruHD installed yesterday and my advice in brief to one and all is: BUYER BEWARE. DO NOT buy or upgrade to Dish TruHD. In a very long list of issues, one of the most important is that there is no Dolby Digital 5.1 sound on any of the HD channels on Dish TruHD. Both SunDirect HD and TataSky HD have Dolby Digital 5.1 sound on all their HD channels.

PS: This is not the only reason, there are numerous reasons to not get Dish TruHD.

 

[Dushie]

Good review and great inputs, wish we are able to get feedback for Tata Sky HD also, though personally i feel it will be better than Dish Tv.

 

[sanjay0864]

After fiddling around a bit, I set the HDMI output to use 1080i @ 50Hz in place of the auto settings and that fixed all the jerkiness problems. So if any of you are using a Dish Tru HD service and you see jerkiness, then set your output to 1080i @ 50Hz to fix the problems.

For the life of me I cannot find where one can change the output resolution settings. Could you please tell me where in the menu to find this.

Also, Dish TruHD people continue to insist that they have Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, but I am not getting it on any of the HD channels. Thus, are there any settings in the menu related to audio output?

PS: BUYER BEWARE: DO NOT buy Dish TruHD. Undoubtedly the Dish TruHD set-top box and the user interface along with many other issues are absolutely pathetic and probably could not be any worse than what they are.

 

[no1lives4ever]

For the life of me I cannot find where one can change the output resolution settings. Could you please tell me where in the menu to find this.

Also, Dish TruHD people continue to insist that they have Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, but I am not getting it on any of the HD channels. Thus, are there any settings in the menu related to audio output?

PS: BUYER BEWARE: DO NOT buy Dish TruHD. Undoubtedly the Dish TruHD set-top box and the user interface along with many other issues are absolutely pathetic and probably could not be any worse than what they are.

Step by step instructions for how to set the STB to output to to 1080i @ 50Hz
1. Press the Menu botton on the remote.
2. Press the left arrow on the direction pad once to take you to the Setup menu
3. Select "Picture Settings" using the up/down arrows of the direction pad. (Should be selected by default)
4. Press the Ok button on remote
5. Select HDMI Setting using the up/down arrow keys
6. Press the left arrow till you see 1920x1080i@50Hz
7. Press the up/down arrow to select SAVE
8. Press the Ok button on the remote

This should save the settings. You may also want to set the TV type to 16:9 at the same time. For some strange reason, the STB shows the TV type as 4:3 whenever I go into the menu while it is working in 16:9 mode.

As per the LG website, my TV is supposed to support Dolby Digital 5.1 decoding. But the TV only has 2 speakers and my laptop does not detect it as one that supports Dolby Digital 5.1 when I connect it using a HDMI cable. My laptop detects an AV receiver properly. Now in the program guide menu of the Dish STB, there is an option to select Surround mode for audio, but I do not see any difference with this option selected. The TV still shows 2 channel audio setup. Now I do not know if the problem is with my TV or with the Dish STB or with the Dish service. Once I get a AV receiver, I will be able to give a more definite answer to this.

-- no1lives4ever

 

[no1lives4ever]

I see a star sports HD channel on Channel 71 of the STB. But I am currently getting a 101. Channel not subscribed error. I called the Dish TV Customer Care number and the agent told me that the channel will get activated in the next 2 hours. Lets see.

One very annoying thing abt the Dish TV STB + my LG tv is that when I switch away from the HDMI input to which the STB is connected and switch back to the STB, I get a blank screen. A STB restart followed by selection of the channnel fixes the problem.

The STB displays the current time on its 4 digit 7 segment LED display when the STB is switched off. But this thing is bloody annoying when sleeping. The red light on the Tata Sky regular STB never bothered me much.
-- no1lives4ever

 

[askii2]

I got my DishTV HD connection today. I have connected Zenega HD STB to AV receiver through HDMI. Receiver is connected to HD LCD TV. I reconfigured the STB to output 1920x1080i@60Hz. Real HD channels are all great. Audio is stereo, not multichannel.

Real HD channels - ESPN - Worldcup only, Star Sports -Wimbeldon only, Discovery HDWorld, National Geographic HD
Picture quality of these channels is splendid. These are all wide screen. Audio is stereo.

Upscaled HD channels
Zee TV, Zee Cinema - These are upscaled at the source (read transmission) from their SD variants. Although picture quality is better than SD variants, it's not apparent unless one spends some time observing the differences.

SD channels
All channels are upscaled inside the STB. The quality of these channels is better compared to the same channels seen through the old SD STB.

I could get the audio also through optical SPDIF out connected to receiver. Haven't tried component video output.

Customer service turns out to be terrible. They didn't know that I had asked for an upgrade (exchange). They didn't take my old STB and gave me new dish, LNB etc. Now I have to check with their CC. I got a new VC. Old VC's balance hasn't been transfered. The installation guys had no idea about that as well. Hopefully these problems will be solved.

 

[spirovious]

Thats nice review.I am still holding my decision to change to HD-STB as many said HD ch are not that good.Curruntly I get good PQ with old DishTV STB.

 

[borg]

thanks i am going for tatasky

 

[sanjay0864]

Step by step instructions for how to set the STB to output to to 1080i @ 50Hz

Thanks for the very detailed instructions, but I was able to finally figure it out myself. Due to the typical stupidity of the technical department of Dish TV, the option to set the output resolution only becomes available when you have a HDMI connection. SInce I was initially testing the box on a TV with only component inputs, the option was not visible. Only when I plugged in the box to another TV thru the HDMI connection, that the option became available. How does DIsh TV expect people using the component output to set the resolution, is a mystery even they probably cannot resolve.

You may also want to set the TV type to 16:9 at the same time. For some strange reason, the STB shows the TV type as 4:3 whenever I go into the menu while it is working in 16:9 mode.

Selection of these options make nodifference because they seem to be disabled and the set-top box seems to be locked to 'TV type 16:9 and Fullscreen'. Setting the option for 4:3 SD channels to 'Pillarbox' also does nto work. Since most Flat panel 16:9 TVs lock into the 'full' aspect ratio mode upon recieving a HD signal, you cannot even fix the picture with your TVs aspect ratio feature. Which means that all the SD channels are upscaled and locked into a 16:9 aspect ratio, thus making every single SD channel unviewable due to the distorted picture that results from this totally retarded decision to disable the 'Pillarbox' feature. Thus the only way to watch the SD channels in their proper aspect ratio is by using a second connection via the composite connector. Really, how stupid can anyone be?

Now in the program guide menu of the Dish STB, there is an option to select Surround mode for audio, but I do not see any difference with this option selected. The TV still shows 2 channel audio setup. Now I do not know if the problem is with my TV or with the Dish STB or with the Dish service.

You can stop wasting your time trying to figure this one out, for I can confirm, that this is an issue with either Dish TrueHD's service or their set-top box and there is definately no Dolby Digital 5.1 audio on any of the HD channels. They actually have the 'surround' option under the 'guide' sub menu. Why in the world would they put the audio option under the 'guide' sub menu, is totally beyond my meager understanding.

 

[sanjay0864]

Upscaled HD channels
Zee TV, Zee Cinema - These are upscaled at the source (read transmission) from their SD variants. Although picture quality is better than SD variants, it's not apparent unless one spends some time observing the differences.

I am sorry but I ahve to disagree with you on this. How can you call a picture that is totally distorted due to the incorrect aspect ratio, as being better. In my personal opinion these channels are totally useless and unviewable due to the distorted picture.

SD channels
All channels are upscaled inside the STB. The quality of these channels is better compared to the same channels seen through the old SD STB.

Once again I have to disagree with you. Due to the non functioning of the 'Pillar Box' function of the set-top box, all the SD channels are rendered unviewable due to the fact that all the SD channels also get locked on most TVs in the Full mode (16:9 aspect ratio) via the HDMI input, resulting in a totally distorted picture. The only way to watch the SD & Upscaled HD channels in the correct aspect ratio, is to have a second connection between the set-top box and the TV, using the composite connections. Then you would have to switch between HDMI for viewing HD channels and Composite to view SD channels and the upscaled HD channels.

PS: BUYER BEWARE: DO NOT BUY 'DISH TrueHD'.

 

[askii2]

My LCD TV has 16:9, 4:3, zoom and wide zoom viewing options. I use 16:9 for real HD channels and 4:3 for SD and SD coverted to HD channels.

SD channels connected through HDMI in 4:3 viewing mode look better compared to SD channels connected through composite video because of upscaling within the STB. SD upscaled to HD at source (read trasmitter) appear even beetter because they don't suffer as much compression.

I am sorry but I ahve to disagree with you on this. How can you call a picture that is totally distorted due to the incorrect aspect ratio, as being better. In my personal opinion these channels are totally useless and unviewable due to the distorted picture.
Once again I have to disagree with you. Due to the non functioning of the 'Pillar Box' function of the set-top box, all the SD channels are rendered unviewable due to the fact that all the SD channels also get locked on most TVs in the Full mode (16:9 aspect ratio) via the HDMI input, resulting in a totally distorted picture. The only way to watch the SD & Upscaled HD channels in the correct aspect ratio, is to have a second connection between the set-top box and the TV, using the composite connections. Then you would have to switch between HDMI for viewing HD channels and Composite to view SD channels and the upscaled HD channels.

PS: BUYER BEWARE: DO NOT BUY 'DISH TrueHD'.

 

[Dushie]

Well currently i feel TS HD has picked up well, others are behind in sales... Time will tell, but in terms of quality and build i always felt tata has the advantage of tie up with Sky as they are one of the leaders in the market.

 

[spirovious]

Tatasky has anounced a kind of bidding & prizes I think.

 

[rajivrao]

Saw Airtel HD on their website. Asked for customer to contact me. Supposed to be with Dolby 7.1. Will keep you all updated as I get some updates..

Cheers.

 

[sanjay0864]

My LCD TV has 16:9, 4:3, zoom and wide zoom viewing options. I use 16:9 for real HD channels and 4:3 for SD and SD coverted to HD channels.

The problem is that many, if not most, HD TVs get locked into the 16:9 (Full) mode when receiving a HD signal. Thus, in the case of Dish TrueHD, the TV gets locked in the 16:9 mode when watching thru the HDMI input, rendering all the SD and upscaled channels useless due to the distorted picture. The solution to this normally, is to set the set-top box to output SD channels with 'Pillar Boxes', which is a function that has been disabled by the infinitely wise men running 'Dish True HD'.

PS: Bottom line: DO NOT BUY Dish TrueHD.

 

[sanjay0864]

Supposed to be with Dolby 7.1.

It is shocking how easily people fall prey to marketing gimmicks by Indian companies.

 

[master007]

It is shocking how easily people fall prey to marketing gimmicks by Indian companies.

Hey Sanjay!
What do you suggest to go out for? Tata Sky HD or Airtel HD. As far as reviews are concerned, quality of SD channels in Tata Sky HD is poor compared to normal STBs of TataSky or of other companies. But still not found any review about Airtel HD & qlty of SD channels in it.

 

[adder]

Well tata sky has the highest number of transponders,but the SD channels are transmitted in MPEG2 so they eat up more space compared to say airtel which uses mpeg4 so airtel make do with lesser transponders.
but because of HD tata sky as tied up with Ericsson's to upgrade to MPEG4 which has alteady done ,since HD channels from tata sky are in MPEG4 ,so eventually they will move to mpeg 4 for all channels,in that way i see Tata sky has having more potential to give more HD/SD channels in future then rival players like airtel.

I have both airtel and big tv,for SD channels big tv has the edge.

 

[borg]

I have both airtel and big tv,for SD channels big tv has the edge.

i want to buy an HD DTH,so do you think big tv is better than TS in PQ(both SD and HD)?

 

[Dushie]

Hey Sanjay!
What do you suggest to go out for? Tata Sky HD or Airtel HD. As far as reviews are concerned, quality of SD channels in Tata Sky HD is poor compared to normal STBs of TataSky or of other companies. But still not found any review about Airtel HD & qlty of SD channels in it.

Well i got Tata sky HD installed today, SD channels are looking good, no concerns at all on the same. HD channels will get activated in 24 hours.

As far as the reviews are concerned better to go for TS HD as it is better than the rest for now.