from horst<br />selectv can be received with any humax 5400 - benjamin with cam irdeto-2 -nokia<br />and zinwell and others,openntel from kristal($185)it appeirs that poeple have a<br />problem with other receivers.<br />the programm line up of selectv is fantastic,give it a go.<br />have a good day

<br />The compatability thing is a bit of a issue.<br /><br />SelecTV should work on any ligitimate, recent Iredeto STB. Problem is old softcel version and unlicensed Irdeto implementations. Not everyone selling an Irdeto STB is acually paying royalties to Irdeto or have had their STB tested and certified by Irdeto (a process called DVT).<br /><br />We know that CAMs work with latter versions of s/w (these can be reflashed - see the SCM Micro site). The problem we have is that we can't afford to support every type of STB in the market - just too hard. If you have an Opentel or UEC box we will bend over backward to help, if you have somthing else we can only offer a service call ($79.95)<br /><br />The UEC and latter Opental STB come with a SelecTV customer key in the downloader, so we can download updated s/w to the boxes to fix problems and enhance finctionality. We have ambitions of offering a more fully featured EPG and supporting non-roman character sets - these will require new s/w in the boxes that we will download. The download process takes about 15 minutes and we do this in the small hours of the morning, or when the STB is in standby.<br /><br />So, we are selling the UEC DSD-990 at close to cost to encourage subscribers to use this box - give the customers a better experience & make our life easier. At $174.95 inc smart card this equates to a STB only cost of about $145. This is competitive with a CAM and not a lot more than a serviece call.

I ended up buying an XSAT 430 for use with SelecTV, as I wanted something with an S-video output.<br /><br />About 75% of the English package appeals to at least one member of our household.<br /><br />Q: Anyone else having lip synch issues on the movie channels, or is it just me?

Yes, the lack of an S-Video o/p can be an issue with higher end systems. It's on the list of things to fix .....<br /><br />I'm curious about the lip-sync issue, we have been particularly careful with the movie network channels, we have an uncompressed (270 Mbps SDI) fibre optic feed from their playout facility to our teleport, they only get compressed once and are digital end to end. So, lip sync should not be an issue (doesn't mean that it isn't).<br /><br />Can you help me out - what channels and event suffer this problem?<br /><br />It's not unusual for MPEG decoders to loose their PTS lock and get audio out of sync with video. Have you tried re-booting your STB when this happens?

[]Yes, the lack of an S-Video o/p can be an issue with higher end systems. It's on the list of things to fix .....[/]<br />In my case it was more because the TV in the family room only has a single S-Video input, which disables the composite inputs as soon as an S-Video cable is plugged into it (must be a switch inside the socket). So I run everything (DVD, DVB-T, and now DVB-S) via an S-video switch box. The XSAT 430 also has two composite outputs, so I've run one of them into the bedroom, then built a remote control extender.<br /><br />[]I'm curious about the lip-sync issue, we have been particularly careful with the movie network channels, we have an uncompressed (270 Mbps SDI) fibre optic feed from their playout facility to our teleport, they only get compressed once and are digital end to end. So, lip sync should not be an issue (doesn't mean that it isn't).<br /><br />Can you help me out - what channels and event suffer this problem?[/]<br />Seems to be Movie One and Two mostly.<br /><br />[]It's not unusual for MPEG decoders to loose their PTS lock and get audio out of sync with video. Have you tried re-booting your STB when this happens? [/]<br />Yep, tried that - doesn't seem to make any difference, nor does changing channels. Sometimes it just seems to get back into sync without me touching it. I thought that it may have been related to signal quality, but I haven't noticed a correlation.<br /><br />Another thing, but minor compared to the sync issue, is that the audio level on some channels is a LOT higher.<br /><br />I see that "Wine (test)" now says "Wine English". Getting closer? (Not that I think it'll appeal to me.)

selectv, there is a huge discussion on selectv on austech.info forum. Do you read them? it might be a better place to talk about problems/feedbacks. <br /><br />i didnt see your nick there and just wanted to let you know.<br /><br />(p.s. most are happy with the service)

.... or the more friendly DBA forums (Pay TV section).<br /><br />http://www.dtvforum.info

@SelecTV:<br /><br />I actually found time last night to sit down and watch a movie from start to finish ("Shall We Dance?" - Movie One, 2030). I didn't notice any lip synch issues at all, just one momentary glitch in the signal which could've been anything.<br /><br />However, BBC World seemed a little out of synch at one point this morning (probably around 0630??), but was OK again a little later.

We are updating the s/w in our compression systems in the next week or so, may solve some possible including random lip sync errors. New kit can be a little tempremental at first ;-)

Hi.<br /><br />I'm using a current Topfield TF3200IR IRD running the latest official system firmware and only have one problem; sometimes, the Movie Extra channel "blinks" on bright scenery and some (not all) Movie Extra movies have a black border around them.<br /><br />All other SelecTV channels work just fine.<br /><br />Anyone else seen this?<br /><br />Ciao.<br />T.

[]some (not all) Movie Extra movies have a black border around them.<br /><br />Anyone else seen this?<br />[/]<br /><br />It's called pillarboxing, and it's normal when a widescreen channel is showing a 4:3 source.

This is normal.<br /><br />Three of our movie channels ,Movies 1&2 and Movie Extra, are provided in 16:9 aspect ratio. (Movie Greats ids 4:3) We set the aspect ratio descriptor on the MPEG streams to tell the STBs that these channels are 16:9 (anamorphic) - the STB can then deal with the aspect ratio conversion. <br /><br />When The Movie Network plays a 3:4 movie on these three channels it plays it in "pillarbox" mode - so it appears as a 4:3 rectange in the middle of the 16:9 screen with black borders on either side. This is all well and good for those with 16:9 diplays - the down side is if you are watching 16:9 on a 4:3 TV in letterbox mode, this looks like a postage stamp in the middle of the screne. This is the same feed that is supplied to FOXTEL.

The Movie Network feed may be the same as supplied to Foxtel/Austar - but it is not a problem with Foxtel/Austar decoders. Their decoders have 3 screen resolution options. You can 1. fill the screen or 2. go with the 4:3 rectange in the middle of the 16:9 screen with black borders on either side and 3. the widescreen option (letterbox / VistaVision - Black border top and bottom only)<br /><br />I realise this may be off-topic - but any idea when the additional English language channels will be appearing on the SelecTV basic package and / or as add-on packages?<br /><br />------------------------<br /><br />Austar - SelecTV - LBF Australia <br />When too many channels are not enough<br /><br />.

The aspect ratio control is STB specific. The SELECTV UEC box will also resolve this, but requires more key presses that I would like.<br /><br />Now that our financial issues are resolved, we are getting back to the business of running a pay tv operation. So, the additional English add-on packages are back on the front burner. Can't promise timeframes, but I think you will like the channels and the price - stay tuned!

What about the rest of the packages that are not English channels?<br /><br />How about improving the German Package ? ok DWTV is ok its German and From Germany but you cant expect Wine TV and Euronews are German channels? just because there dubbed in German doesnt make em good.... where are the top networks for Germany ie. ZDF, RTL, N-TV and the list goes on even having one of these channels would vastly improve this so called German Package you have now....<br /><br />Ok Greek Package not much can be done about it as you have what is available to you there isent anything else available to SelecTV ok Ant1 is an ok channel ERT FTA on most satellites charging extra for it i dont like but hey if people dont want a second dish to recieve it free thats there choice to pay extra for it<br /><br />Ok Vietnamease dont know much about it but surely having a channel actually from Vietnam and not from the USA would improve things....<br /><br />Italian and Spanish seem ok a few more channels wouldt hurt<br /><br />English channels get some variety / entertainment channels its going to be interesting to see what SelecTV get will it be similar to what the rest has ie Foxtel, Austar etc or some totally different channels that we havent seen in this part of the World before...<br /><br />This is just some things i would improve on but hey im nobody its up to SelecTV at the end of the day<br /><br />My 2 cents worth

I would not mind some more german channels especially a mix of ZDF, N-TV, RTL, VIVA, SAT1 or even ORF from Austria. I would then consider subscribing to the german package. It would be good if there was a bit more variety to the package.

Wouldn't mind if Discovery and History channel got added. Other than that, DW-TV as a cheaper add on to the english package would be good. Plus Viva.. and MCM.. and Russia today.. and Spike channel as someone else mentioned somewhere...

OK. Thanks for the advice.<br /><br />In my case, I can set "centre-extract" in the "system settings" on my Toppy which then "zooms" the image to fill my widescreen TV but I lose a small amount of image in the process. Having a black border top and bottom is normal and expected for differing aspect ratio widescreen presentations but I didn't expect the black border encircling the image on 4:3 presentations. It's quite annoying and yes, the image looks ghastly on a regular 4:3 TV.<br /><br />My Sony widescreen TV has 5 different aspect ratio settings and the Toppy has two relevant settings and only the Toppy's "centre-extract" setting is of any use in this mode.<br /><br />I would have expected better and more conservative MPEG stream compatibility with a current release and name-brand STB like my Toppy TF3200IR but I guess that's what the studio is feeding.<br />I wish you much success in your venture.<br /><br />Cheers.<br />T.

[]I would not mind some more german channels especially a mix of ZDF, N-TV, RTL, VIVA, SAT1 or even ORF from Austria....[/]<br />I suppose broadcasting rights issues kills off a lot of ideas that we mere subscribers might come up with, although a couple of the channels that you mentioned have made it to South Africa (according to LyngSat), so maybe there is some possibility???<br /><br />At the very least, maybe SelecTV could rebroadcast some of the DW-Radio channels???<br /><br />[]DW-TV as a cheaper add on to the english package would be good.[/]<br />That'd get my vote too.

Speaking of radio, yes, DW-Radio would be good, and I' add Radio Netherlands to that.<br /><br />I can't wait for the extra music package. 10pm, and there's no music on either MTV nor VH1. I miss the Max.

[]Speaking of radio, yes, DW-Radio would be good, and I' add Radio Netherlands to that.[/]<br />Yes, both of their English-language slots on ABC NewsRadio are good. Speaking of NewsRadio, I found them on PAS-2 (Ku) when I was mucking around with my dish a few weeks ago. Next time NewsRadio is broadcasting football or Parliament I might have another look and see it carries the "normal" programming instead (if it's still there), and if so, I might see if I can rig up another LNBF for PAS-2 on the same dish.<br /><br />[]I can't wait for the extra music package. 10pm, and there's no music on either MTV nor VH1. I miss the Max.[/]<br />I found something I liked (ambient) on Optus C1 (I think. If it wasn't C1, then it would've been B1 or B3) when I was mucking around, but I can't remember the details now.<br /><br />When I think that I can sneak it past the financial controller, I want to put up a second dish, so that I can muck around without affecting my SelecTV setup. I've been checking at Revolve (the recycling centre at the local tip), but all I've scored so far is a UEC 720i.

Yes, I'd noticed newsradio there. We can't get newradio here (Illawarra) until WIN (Wollongong) vacates channel 3 as newsradio has been allocated 90.9Mhz which apparently interferes with Channel 3. So I guess it'd be fitting if Selectv/WIN had newsradio as well By pointing my dish half-way between Pas 8 and Pas 2 I can get both, but signal strenght suffers. While I like some of the stuff on B3, I don't like it enough to make me want to put on another dish or get a motor etc.<br /><br />Radio Netherlands has 3 channels on B3 (RNW1,2,3). I think RNW2 is english 24x7. It's off the Globecast service, but FTA.

Can you receive NewsRadio on 630 AM from Sydney? When we've visited relatives in the Nowra region I've sometimes been able to get my NR fix that way.<br /><br />NR in Canberra used to be on 1440 AM, but went to FM last year, including an FM translator on the southside, which I'm very appreciative of.<br /><br />Yes, I tried pointing my dish between PAS-2 and PAS-8 as well, but it was then a no-go on both for me. I've seen pictures of twin-head LNBF's designed for this type of scenario, but I don't know if they're available in Australia. (Tasmania, perhaps? ;)) Most people here seem to go for the multi-holder approach, which is what I might do. I think there's a thread (with pictures) on the Vetrun forum somewhere, where someone has put about five LNBF's on the one dish; B3/C1/B1/PAS-8/PAS-2, or something like that; might've been AMC23 even.<br /><br />On the day that I had a play, the only TV channel on B3 of passing interest to me was Russia Today, and they've since left.

Yes I can get newsradio on 630AM during the day, but at night it starts to get swamped by an adjacent ABC signal to the point where it's useless unfortunately.<br /><br />I might consider the multiholder approach depending on what happens with the new channels. I suspect nothing new will happen channel wise until after the WIN deal is sealed later this month. <br /><br />I also noticed while looking at the APV web site that APV is still progressing with it's offer, as an addition to the WIN tv deal.

Selectv can you give me the DVB specs that you once mentioned that allows the box to auto update the available channels list?<br /><br />Trying to research it.

[]I might consider the multiholder approach depending on what happens with the new channels.[/]<br />I can't imagine that SelecTV would ever rebroadcast NewsRadio.<br /><br />Given that my local FM outlet for NewsRadio is currently broadcasting the football, I just moved my dish over to PAS-2 to check NewsRadio there. As I'd hoped, it's still carrying the "regular" programming. :)<br /><br />It's on 12281 V, 27500, 2/3, 1322, left audio channel. The right audio channel is carrying something different - perhaps that's Radio National?

I don't think they'd rebroadcast it either given their target audience. Still, austar does plus a swag of other radio channels and they're going to also launch a cut price plan. I think the value for money equation for me would still swing in Selectv's favour if it's anything like the foxtel plans.<br /><br />I saw your earlier post (not sure if it was here or elsewhere) about Newsradio on Pas2 so I went searching for it and found it, so thanks for that And yes, I think that is Radio National on the other channel.

Hi Apsattv,<br /><br />Check out ETSI TR 101 211 v1.4.1(2000-07) - there maybe latter versions?<br /><br />"DVB Guidelines on Implementation and usage of Service Infermation."<br /><br />One relevent paragraph is: <br /><br />"4.1.10 Table update mechanism<br />The section syntax used in the DVB Service Information (SI) supports various signalling mechanisms for SI contents<br />updates.<br />The update of a section will be signalled by incrementing the version_number field. The update will be effective<br />immediately following the last byte of the CRC_32 of the new version of the section, so the current_next_indicator shall<br />always have the value of "1". Sections with current_next_indicator set to "0" are never transmitted."<br /><br />The usual STB implementation is for the box to remenber and monitor the version_number of the SI tables that it has in memory, when it sees the version_number increments, it re-aquires the SI - this way the STB doesn'tneed to spend excessive MIPS processing SI. This mechanism is common to most (if not all) DVB tables. Both DVB and MPEG are designed to by asymetric coding schemes, they trade off increased complexity (MIPS and cost) in the headend for lower complexity 9MIPS & cost^) in the STB.

I recently bought a 90cm dish and motor. I didn't realise until spending a bit of time on B3 just how much DW-TV is rebroadcast on AMTV and SCTV. And RT is back on B3 now, too.

I'm still toying with the idea of doing similar, but not up to scratch yet with what gear to get or the lingo. How does the dish cater for the fact that Say B3, Pas8 and Pas2 are on different altitudes? The one that I was looking at (~$100) only rotated the dish, it didn't adjust the angle from horizon (decliantion?).

I'd need to replace my 65cm dish too as it's not quite good enough for the RT signal on B3 really...

Maybe you were looking at a simple azimuth-only rotator, meant for terrestrial applications? For around $100 you can motorise a Ku dish (up to around 1m) with something like this.....

http://www.jaeger.com.tw/tvro/superjack/diseqc_superjack.htm#dg120

.... which is what I have, except that it's sold here as a Geotrack H-120.

A bit more will buy you a Motek SG-2100, which essentially does the some thing, but it also supports USALS, if that's important to you (didn't matter to me).

And then there's STAB motors which cost more again, but don't seem to be as readily available in Australia.

Some DiSEqC motors claim to be able to take a 1.2m dish, but you'd have to watch weight and wind loading.

When setup correctly, they move the whole dish so that it tracks the Clarke belt with reasonable accuracy. I found this yesterday whilst looking for something else. It might help to fill in a few blanks.....

http://www.sbe24.org/techdocs/Geosat/satgeomt.asp

And for more information and discussion, have a look here.....

http://www.vetrun.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=21

.... and here.....

http://www.vetrun.com/forums/showthread.php?t=911

Google will find you plenty more of course, but most of it will be worded for the Northern Hemisphere, so keep that in mind when they talk about aiming due South, etc.

thanks for all the info Colin. I did look at the GS2100, but somehow I got the impression it couldn't do that... Now all I've got to do is go to those links and see what's involved, then figure if I can do the job myself without falling off the balcony