The PVR DStv Decoder is a Personal Video Recorder and decoder in one. Some of the exciting features of the DStv PVR decoder include:
Ever wished you could pause live TV? How many times have you dreamed of being able to rewind and watch that moment again? Record all your programming automatically and watching it exactly when it suits you. Record 80 hours of your favourite programmes onto your decoder, pause and rewind live TV and even watch two different channels whilst recording a third. It's all possible with PVR. Its features include:
1. Pause Live TV
Now you can stop live TV whenever you want, and pick up right where you left off, all with the simple pressing of a button. Whether you like making a snack or answer the telephone you'll never miss a thing.
How it works
By pressing the pause button the DStv PVR decoder will begin recording. With the play/pause button you can resume your viewing where you left off.You can Pause LIVE TV for up to 120 minutes! This feature is available on both TV1 and TV2.
2. Fast Forward and Rewind
Make you own action replays. Rewind and fast forward TV. Tired of missing those crucial moments on television? With PVR you can rewind back and see it all again, even in slow motion.
How it works
When the programme is paused, slide the PLAY/PAUSE button to the right and then release it. (You will notice the picture is fast forwarding).
To increase the fast forward speed, slide the PLAY/PAUSE button to the right again.
To stop fast forwarding and resume viewing press the PLAY/PAUSE button twice.
The fast forward feature is only applicable to a recorded environment
When the programme is paused, slide the PLAY/PAUSE button to the left and then release it. (You will notice the picture is rewinding).
To increase the rewind speed, slide the PLAY/PAUSE button to the left again.
To stop rewinding and resume viewing press the PLAY/PAUSE button twice.
3. Watch 2 different channels while you record a 3rd.
The DStv PVR Decoder lets you watch two separate channels at the same time, and still record a third. What more you can pause, rewind and replay programming in both television environments.
4. Record 80 hours of television
With Dstv PVR you can record up to 80 hours of programming directly onto your decoder, to watch whenever you want. You can also record multiple shows in advance. It's television that suits your lifestyle.
It's so easy, you simply navigate the Electronic Programming Guide and press record on your preferred programme. The DStv PVR decoder will take care of all the other time consuming functions such as selecting the right channel, the right date and the right time to record all of which makes using the PVR much easier than a DVD or VCR recorder.
How it works
Recording
Select a programme from the i-Plate or TV Guide that you would like to record and press REC.
The programme is now scheduled to be recorded and will be listed in the PVR Schedule.
Remember you can watch two channels and record a third all at the same time!
Record your favorite series every week, favorite soapy every day, or once of movie recording automatically!
Press the GREEN button to go to the PVR Menu.
Select Time Based Recordings and follow the onscreen instructions.
Playback a recording
Watch what you want when you want!
Press the RED button to go to the Playlist.
Select the programme you want to playback and press OK.
5. Instant Replay
Ever seen an unbelievable goal or try that you wanted to see again? With a click of a button and the action is transported back 10 seconds, another click and you can replay the last 20 seconds.
How it works
Slide the PLAY/PAUSE button once to the left and then release it.
6. Bookmarks
Catch something incredible whilst watching your recording? You can now place a bookmark in your recorded environment and return to the spot with ease later.
7. TV Guide
For your convenience the DStv Guide is now available on both TV1 and TV2. What's more is it now loads instantly!
How it works
Simply press the TV GUIDE button for quick access to the complete guide.
You no longer have to leave the programme you're watching to use the DStv guide.
By changing the display option to transparent, and the audio and video of the channel you're watching will remain in the background.
8. Reminders
9. Saving your recordings
10. I-Plate
11. Parental Control
How it works
The edit and lock function on the PVR uses the same parental Pin code.
Remember to change the default parental pin code to a number you will remember.
The introduction of the new DStv HD PVR (High Definition Personal Video Recorder) decoder has further revolutionised the television experience with lifelike viewing, sharper images, more vibrant colours and precision picture quality.
Now you can enjoy colours so rich you can feel their intensity, and a picture so sharp you can see every face in the crowd. You’ll be wowed.
The HD PVR allows you to view one channel, while recording two other channels simultaneously. It also offers you the following benefits:
The DStv HD PVR also introduces a new feature called "Favourite Channels". If you select your favourite channels, you get the following :
While the DStv HD PVR may not be a dual view PVR we have introduced XtraView to cater to your needs. XtraView takes care of the second and in some cases, third viewing environment at no additional subscription fee to what you currently pay for on the DualView decoder or SD PVR.
Dish kit supplied and installed for standard DStv decoder.
Standard 60cm mild steel dish (1 Year warranty on dish only) R 899.00
Standard 60cm aluminum dish(10 Year warranty on dish only) R1080.00
Standard 60cm stainless steel dish (Limited life time warranty on dish only) R1420.00
DStv dish kit supplied and installed for SD PVR and HD PVR* decoders.
88cm mild steel dish with Dual feed LNB (1 Year Warranty on dish only) R1499.00
88cm aluminium dish with Dual feed LNB (10 Year Warranty on dish only) R1799.00
88cm stainless steel dish with Dual feed LNB (Limited life time warranty on dish only) R2099.00
*Multi-switch required on installation.
4 Way multi-switch R389.00
6 Way multi-switch R479.00*
8 Way multi-switch R729.00*
* Used when linking two decoders in Extra View configuration.
LNB`s (Low Noise Block Down Converters)
Single feed LNB R304.00
Dual feed LNB R489.00
Quad feed LNB R910.00
How does DStv work?
A DStv satellite dish is a type of parabolic antenna that receives electromagnetic signals from another location on the earths surface via a satellite orbiting the earth at a distance of 35,900 km above the Earth's equator. It takes 24 hours, moving from west to east at a rate of 11,000 km/h, to complete an orbit, appearing to hang stationary over one place of the Earth's surface. Geosynchronous orbits are used particularly for communications satellites. The use for communications satellites was first suggested by the English space writer Arthur C Clarke, thus your DStv satellites sit on what we call today, Clarkes Belt.
Modern DStv dishes intended for home television use, are generally 60 to 88 cm in diameter, and are fixed in one position, for reception from one orbital position. Prior to the existence of direct DStv satellite services, home users would generally have a motorised DStv satellite dishs from 1.2m up to 3.8 metres in diameter receiving programming from different (C-Band transponder) satellites orbiting the earth. Ku Band DStv dishes in this country are `off set` designed to receive signal from their sources, at frequencies between 11.7 GHz to 14.5 GHz. As technology had improved, DStv service provider companies could now broadcast their signals at a much higher frequeny thus allowing a smaller DStv dishs to be used, lowering installation costs together with quadrant phase shift keying technology allows the DStv signal to be compressed (Compression simply means that unnecessary or repetitive information is removed from the signal before it is transmitted. The signal is reconstructed after transmission) has brought satellite programming affodable for the masses. Satellite TV uses a special type of video file compression standardized by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG). With MPEG compression, the provider is able to transmit significantly more channels on different polarities which gives you significantly more DStv picture content from one satellite.
The end component in the entire satellite TV system is the receiver. It has four essential jobs:
It de-scrambles the encrypted signal. In order to unlock the signal, the receiver needs the proper decoder chip for that programming package. The provider can communicate with the chip, via the satellite signal, to make necessary adjustments to its decoding programs. The provider may occasionally send signals that disrupt illegal de-scramblers as an electronic counter measure (ECM) against illegal users.
It takes the digital MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 signal and converts it into an analog format that a standard television can recognize. In the South Africa, receivers convert the digital signal to the analog Phase Alternating Line (PAL) format. Some dish and receiver setups can also output an HDTV signal.
It extracts the individual channels from the larger satellite signal. When you change the channel on the receiver, it sends just the signal for that channel to your TV. Since the receiver spits out only one channel at a time, you can't tape one program and watch another. You also can't watch two different programs on two TVs hooked up to the same receiver. In order to do these things, which are standard on conventional cable, you need to buy an additional receiver.
It keeps track of pay-per-view programs and periodically phones a computer at the provider's headquarters to communicate billing information.
The signal received from the orbiting satellite is reflected off the DStv dish face into the end device on your the dish which is called an LNB (Low Noise Block Down Converter), which converts the high broadcast DStv frequency into a lower frequency which is fed to your DStv receivers IF input stage tuner via a 75 Ohm coaxial cable.
Although the 60cm DStv dish is more inconspicuous, the 88cm DStv dish performs better by holding obscured signals caused by thunder storm cloud cover either where the DStv signal originates from or where the DStv user is picking the signal up from, thus causing less picture breakup on those rainy days..
DStv satellite dishes are made in different material which include: mild steel, stainless steel, alluminium and glass fibre reinforced resin. Your choice will depend on invironmental and budget considerations. Differences only being the length of time the dish lasts, due primarily to rust Please contact us for more information
Despite their similarities, the two technologies are very different in the way they deliver the image to the viewer.
Plasma technology consists hundreds of thousands of individual pixel cells, which allow electric pulses (stemming from electrodes) to excite rare natural gases-usually xenon and neon-causing them to glow and produce light. This light illuminates the proper balance of red, green, or blue phosphors contained in each cell to display the proper color sequence from the light. Each pixel cell is essentially an individual microscopic florescent light bulb, receiving instruction from software contained on the rear electrostatic silicon board. Look very closely at a plasma TV and you can actually see the individual pixel cell coloration of red, green, and blue bars. You can also see the black ribs which separate each.
Whether spread across a flat-panel screen or placed in the heart of a projector, all LCD displays come from the same technological background. A matrix of thin-film transistors (TFTs) supplies voltage to liquid-crystal-filled cells sandwiched between two sheets of glass. When hit with an electrical charge, the crystals untwist to an exact degree to filter white light generated by a lamp behind the screen (for flat-panel TVs) or one projecting through a small LCD chip (for projection TVs). LCD TVs reproduce colors through a process of subtraction: They block out particular color wavelengths from the spectrum of white light until they're left with just the right color. And, it's the intensity of light permitted to pass through this liquid-crystal matrix that enables LCD televisions to display images chock-full of colors-or gradations of them.
PICTURE CONSIDERATIONSCONTRAST / BLACK LEVELS
Plasma technology has certainly achieved quite high contrast ratios, a measure of the blackest black compared to the whitest white. Many plasma display manufacturers boast a contrast ratio of 3000:1 these days though our tests have not proven these numbers out. Panasonic has long been the leader in plasma black levels and we measure contrast of a 42 inch HD Panasonic plasma at about ANSI 1450:1 - still impressive. Plasma displays achieve such impressive black levels by using internal algorithms to block the power to particular pixels in order to render a pixel dark or black. While this can limit a plasma television's gray scaling, it does produce exceptionally black blacks - depending on the manufactured plasma display element (i.e. glass). A plasma TV uses the most power when it is producing full white. As a result, some 2nd tier manufactured brands of plasma TVs have an audible buzz or whining sound when displaying white or very light images.
LCD (liquid crystal diode) displays, by contrast, utilize electric charges to twist and untwist liquid crystals, which causes them to block light and, hence, emit blacks. The higher the voltage passing through the liquid crystals in a given pixel, the more fully those crystals untwist and effectively block light - all of which makes these pixels darker. As opposed to plasma, LCD TVs use the most power when displaying a very dark or black image. This is a difficult process, and despite recent improvements in LCD black levels, only the best LCD televisions (like those produced by Sharp and Sony) have managed to topple the 1000:1 contrast ratio barrier. Recent improvements have brought LCD displays up to the level of plasma. The one continual drawback here for LCD is off axis viewing, when black levels consistently drop.
ADVANTAGE: Closer than a year ago, but still Plasma. LCD TV manufacturers have made great improvements in black levels and in many cases have managed to match the contrast ratio of plasma displays. However, Plasma displays still maintain a clear advantage in this category due to fading blacks when viewing LCDs from off axis. For scenes with a lot of dark and light images shown simultaneously - as with content originating from DVDs, video games, and NTSC TV signals - plasmas still consistently outperform LCD TVs.
COLOR ACCURACY
In plasma displays, each pixel contains red, green, and blue elements, which work in conjunction to create 16.77 million colors. Insofar as each pixel contains all the elements needed to produce every color in the spectrum, color information was more accurately reproduced with plasma technology than it was with other display technologies. The chromaticity coordinates were more accurate on most plasma displays. Though the color saturation resulting from the pixel design of plasma displays is remarkable, LCD technology has nearly caught plasma in gray scaling color accuracy. Plasma continues to exhibit more richness in color information and more natural coloration. Today, SMPTE color coordinates in top plasma displays still normally outperform those in LCDs, which tend toward oversaturation.
LCD TVs reproduce colors by manipulating light waves and subtracting colors from white light. This is an inherently difficult template for maintaining color accuracy and vibrancy - though most LCD displays manage quite well. While color information benefits from the higher-than-average number of pixels per square inch found in LCD televisions (especially when compared to plasmas), LCDs are simply not as impressive as plasmas with similar pixel counts. LCDs however, produce a typically brighter picture. Greens sometimes look over-green and reds can run a bit warm, but in a room with bright outdoor lighting, an LCD TV would be my choice.
ADVANTAGE: Preference to plasma but depends upon room light, manufacturer and model. Plasma color richness and naturalness will prevail in rooms with lower to normal lighting. LCDs will be better in very brightly lit rooms due to their inherent anti glare technology and brightness.
VIEWING ANGLES
Plasma manufacturers have made much of their 160� viewing angles, which is about as good as horizontal and vertical viewing angles get. This owes to the fact that each pixel produces its own light, rather than light being spread across the screen from one central source. Hence, each pixel is more readily visible because its brightness is consistent with every other pixel on the screen. One consistent area of superiority of plasma viewing angles is demonstrated when viewing dark material content, especially DVDs. A Plasma display holds the black levels from off axis, while LCD TVs lose black level intensity more as the angle off axis increases. This usually occurs after around 90 degrees.
LCD TV manufacturers have done much to improve their displays' viewing angles. The substrate material on newer-generation LCD models by Sharp and Sony has helped to expand those units' viewing angles, though they still have some ground to cover before catching plasma. Expect the best LCD HDTVs to have between 120 and 130 degree viewing angles.
ADVANTAGE: Plasma
FUNCTIONAL CONSIDERATIONSCOMPUTER USE
LCD flat screens display static images from computer or VGA sources extremely well, with full color detail, no flicker, and no screen burn-in. Moreover, the number of pixels per square inch on an LCD display is typically higher than other display technologies, so LCD monitors are especially good at displaying large amounts of data - like you would find on an Excel spreadsheet for example - with exceptional clarity and precision. For the same reasons, LCD TVs will also be a slightly better template for video gaming.
Plasma technology has increased anti burn in tactics as well as computer and static signal handling. There are still issues with each depending very much on the model and manufacturer. For example, most EDTV plasma displays do not handle a computer input well and product a very jaggy image when viewing static images from same. Users may want to consider a commercial version plasma if their application calls for a lot of computer use.
ADVANTAGE: LCD
FAST-MOVING VIDEO PLAYBACK
Plasma gets the nod here because of their excellent performance with fast-moving images and high contrast levels. There are still some 2nd tier manufacturers whose plasma product displays some phosphor lag, a drag time in scenes changing from bright to dark.
While the response time of LCD TVs has markedly improved in the last couple of years, they still suffer from a slight trailer effect, where the individual pixels are just slightly out of step with the image on the screen. During fast moving sports scenes, the most discerning eyes can detect this slight motion response lag.
ADVANTAGE: Plasma
HIGH ALTITUDE
There is a reason LCD flat panels are the preferred visual display units for use on airplanes: LCD TVs aren't affected by increases or decreases in air pressure. Their performance is consistent regardless of the altitude at which they're utilized.
This is not the case for a plasma. The display element in plasma TVs is actually a glass substrate envelope with rare natural gases compressed therein. So, at high altitudes (6,500 feet and above), an air-pressure differential emerges, which causes plasma displays to emit a buzzing sound due to the lower air pressure. This noise can sound rather like the humming of an old neon sign. NEC has been effective in producing several plasma models that are rated to 9,500 feet.
ADVANTAGE: LCD , at 6,500 feet and higher.
LONGEVITY
LCD television manufacturers claim that their displays last, on average, 50,000 to 65,000 hours. In fact, an LCD TV will last as long as its backlight does - and those bulbs can sometimes be replaced! Since this is nothing more than light passing through a prismatic substrate, there is essentially nothing to wear out in an LCD monitor. However, one nasty little known fact about LCD technology is that as the backlight ages it can change colors slightly (think of florescent office lighting). When this occurs the white balance of the entire LCD TV will be thrown for a loop and the user will need to re-calibrate, or worse, try to replace the backlighting or ditch the unit altogether. Some of the early purchasers of larger LCD screens will be learning this tidbit in a couple of years. One thing that I've found in this industry, it is not easy to find out whether the backlighting on LCDs can be replaced. Manufacturers are either hesitant to discuss the topic, or they just don't know.
Plasma, on the other hand, utilizes slight electric currents to excite a combination of noble gases (i.e., argon, neon, xenon), which glow red, blue, and/or green. This is an essentially active phenomenon, so the phosphoric elements in plasma displays fade over time. Many manufacturers state a new half life of 60,000 hours. While I am skeptical of this spec, I do believe strides have been made to nearly even the playing field with LCD. At half life, the phosphors in a plasma screen will glow half as brightly as they did when the set was new. There is no way to replace these gases; the display simply continues to grow dimmer with use.
ADVANTAGE: Even , depending upon manufacturer quality.
SCREEN BURN IN
LCD technology is not prone to screen burn-in or ghosting (premature aging of pixel cells) due to the nature of the technologies of twisting crystals.
With plasma, static images will begin to burn-in, or permanently etch the color being displayed into the glass display element. The time it takes for this to occur depends greatly on the anti burn-in technology of the manufacturer. Recent improvements by plasma manufacturers have certainly extended the time it takes to burn in a plasma pixel cell. In the past I was concerned to place a DVD on pause 15 minutes. Now, many of the enhancements such as better green phosphor material, and motion adaptive anti burn-in technology are greatly reducing the risk of burn in. It's gotten so much better that I don't even worry about it anymore. In a new model plasma from any top tier manufacturer I would put ghosting estimates at an hour or more now (Ghosting can be washed out by displaying static gray material). Permanent burn-in I would put at more than 10 hours.
ADVANTAGE: LCD , though not as much a concern as it was a year ago.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONSPRODUCTION SIZE AND COST
All television measurements are stated in inches and are for diagonal measurement of the screen from corner to corner - not including framing.
Both plasma and LCD TVs are becoming more readily available in larger sizes though plasma still leads the size battle by a great margin. Pioneer and LG produce 61 inch plasma sizes while Panasonic has a readily available 65 inch model. Though it is not being imported into the U.S. yet, Samsung has produced a gigantic plasma of 100 inches. Though such mammoth monitors are expensive, they exhibit none of the kinks one might expect with such large displays. In other words, even the largest plasma displays are reliable. Large plasma displays will consume power - try 675 watts for a 65 inch display compared to around 330 watts for a 42 inch plasma.
The substrate material for LCD TVs has proved difficult to produce in large sizes without pixel defects owing to faulty transistors. Sharp produces one of the largest available LCD displays at 45 inches, while Samsung has a 46 inch LCD. Sony and NEC currently produce units measuring 40 inch diagonally. This will change very soon. These manufacturers will have very large LCD screens here this year if production goes as planned.
ADVANTAGE: Plasma , though the playing field is leveling. Even though production costs and retail prices have come down for both technologies, plasma still has the edge as far as production cost and capacity go.
POWER CONSUMPTION
Because LCDs use florescent backlighting to produce images, they require substantially less power to operate than plasmas do. LCD TVs consume about half the power that plasma displays consume. The reason: Plasmas use a lot of electricity to light each and every pixel you see on a screen - even the dark ones. Though plasma manufacturers have improved voltage consumption requirements a plasma TV will consume around a third more power for the same size display.
ADVANTAGE: LCD
PRICE AND RESOLUTION
LCD HDTV displays will have a higher resolution per same size comparison than plasma. The lowest resolution of a 40 inch LCD will be 1366 X 768 - easily full HD resolution in 1080i or 720p. A 42 inch HD plasma has a resolution of 1024 X 768. While this is not truly an HD resolution, it's close enough so that it's difficult to know the difference. A 50 inch plasma TV will have a resolution of 1366 X 768, while a 45 inch LCD displays 1920 X 1080 (1080P) resolution.
Those extra pixels and the production process of LCD HDTVs cost more money to produce. Expect to pay a third as much more for a similar size LCD TV than a plasma display.
ADVANTAGE: It's currently a toss-up.
Reviewer: Phil Connor
We supply, install, repair and allign satellite dishes in all types of situations.
Dishes are available in different materials and finishes for invironment and budget considerations.
Please contact us to find the right dish for you or for more information.
We install all leading brands of LCD and Plasma TV displays available in South Africa
Johannesburg
078 115 8054
Space House
78A Republic Rd
Randburg
Johannesburg
P O Box 4090
Randburg
2125
