Comments on: Indian Satellite TV (DTH) Players : The War has Begun http://amitslab.com/blog/2008/10/09/indian-satellite-tv-dth-players-the-war-has-begun/ Informing you of my findings in the world of technology Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:13:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Amit Goel http://amitslab.com/blog/2008/10/09/indian-satellite-tv-dth-players-the-war-has-begun/#comment-170 Amit Goel Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:04:33 +0000 http://amitslab.com/blog/?p=12#comment-170 Hi Roshan, nope, DTH system is a locked system and you cannot interchange vendors. So, one STB, one Card, one connection all provided by the same vendor. PC can be connected with it with just giving it the AV output of STB to PC input. and start watching it on screen using any AV software which plays line -in. Technically speaking, you should be able to watch any FTA channel but vendors dont allow that and it gets blocked. every broadcaster or vendor does that.. so practically, you can watch only those channels which are beamed by the broadcaster.. TV tuner is not needed with STB. STB runs on a software burnt inside it and remote control is needed for STB. TV tuner won;t work as TV tuner software wont be able to communicate with STB. however, if you connect you STB with PC as mentioned above, you should be able to record the content by using any recording software. hope this answers your questions.. Hi Roshan,
nope, DTH system is a locked system and you cannot interchange vendors. So, one STB, one Card, one connection all provided by the same vendor. PC can be connected with it with just giving it the AV output of STB to PC input. and start watching it on screen using any AV software which plays line -in. Technically speaking, you should be able to watch any FTA channel but vendors dont allow that and it gets blocked. every broadcaster or vendor does that.. so practically, you can watch only those channels which are beamed by the broadcaster.. TV tuner is not needed with STB. STB runs on a software burnt inside it and remote control is needed for STB. TV tuner won;t work as TV tuner software wont be able to communicate with STB. however, if you connect you STB with PC as mentioned above, you should be able to record the content by using any recording software.
hope this answers your questions..

]]> By: Roshan Tamang http://amitslab.com/blog/2008/10/09/indian-satellite-tv-dth-players-the-war-has-begun/#comment-168 Roshan Tamang Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:49:12 +0000 http://amitslab.com/blog/?p=12#comment-168 hi thanks for details. I am new for this DTH system and i know only how to watch my paid channels on my TV. But i want to know that how to setup my pc with this system? First thing, is it possible to use anyother set top box or any TV tuner card with existing DTH connection? Just like we use any SIM with any mobile. Some other country they locked there phone with mobile service provider but it still possible to unlock and use it. Can we do same thing with set top box? and we know that there are lots of free channels on air, so is there any possible way to watch those channels? Peoples in this world can do any thing, u can see in u tube unlocked 'iphone s' and some of them still using there locked 'iphone 3g". another thing is how to integrat mu tv tuner with DTH settop box and use similarly we use with cable+tv tuner+tv (we can use tv tuner remote for change channels, record volume etc). hi
thanks for details. I am new for this DTH system and i know only how to watch my paid channels on my TV. But i want to know that how to setup my pc with this system? First thing, is it possible to use anyother set top box or any TV tuner card with existing DTH connection? Just like we use any SIM with any mobile. Some other country they locked there phone with mobile service provider but it still possible to unlock and use it. Can we do same thing with set top box? and we know that there are lots of free channels on air, so is there any possible way to watch those channels? Peoples in this world can do any thing, u can see in u tube unlocked ‘iphone s’ and some of them still using there locked ‘iphone 3g”.
another thing is how to integrat mu tv tuner with DTH settop box and use similarly we use with cable+tv tuner+tv (we can use tv tuner remote for change channels, record volume etc).

]]> By: Samuel L. http://amitslab.com/blog/2008/10/09/indian-satellite-tv-dth-players-the-war-has-begun/#comment-161 Samuel L. Wed, 22 Apr 2009 06:50:54 +0000 http://amitslab.com/blog/?p=12#comment-161 Hey, nice tips. I'll buy a glass of beer to the person from that chat who told me to visit your site :) Hey, nice tips. I’ll buy a glass of beer to the person from that chat who told me to visit your site :)

]]> By: Amit Goel http://amitslab.com/blog/2008/10/09/indian-satellite-tv-dth-players-the-war-has-begun/#comment-145 Amit Goel Mon, 02 Feb 2009 08:48:06 +0000 http://amitslab.com/blog/?p=12#comment-145 @Krishna N, Clarity does not depend on MPEG4 or MPEG2. the digital signal is being broadcasted by everyone. I am not sure how did you measure the clarity as it is not easy to differentiate the broadcasters on clarity just by looking at TV? did you check signal quality and clarity using any electronic equipement? I am sure that the clarity aspect should be almost equal with every broadcaster. About the cost factor, cable is not completely digitized till now. CAS will definitely make the price go higher. Comaparing the Digital TV pricing with analog systems is not the right thing to do. @Krishna N,

Clarity does not depend on MPEG4 or MPEG2. the digital signal is being broadcasted by everyone. I am not sure how did you measure the clarity as it is not easy to differentiate the broadcasters on clarity just by looking at TV? did you check signal quality and clarity using any electronic equipement?

I am sure that the clarity aspect should be almost equal with every broadcaster.

About the cost factor, cable is not completely digitized till now. CAS will definitely make the price go higher. Comaparing the Digital TV pricing with analog systems is not the right thing to do.

]]> By: Krishna N http://amitslab.com/blog/2008/10/09/indian-satellite-tv-dth-players-the-war-has-begun/#comment-144 Krishna N Sat, 31 Jan 2009 13:59:21 +0000 http://amitslab.com/blog/?p=12#comment-144 This is a pretty good article but does not talk about one important aspect, the clarity of the picture. From what I have seen, the Big TV picture is superior to that of Tata Sky which is way better than Dish TV. I have not seen Airtel, Sun and others. I don't know if this is because of the MPEG4 system that the quality is superior. Also, I don't agree that the cost is an advantage over the cable systems. These have only increased the cost from 200-250 to well over 300 per month if you have people watching sports, news, movies, children's and some regional package. This is a pretty good article but does not talk about one important aspect, the clarity of the picture. From what I have seen, the Big TV picture is superior to that of Tata Sky which is way better than Dish TV. I have not seen Airtel, Sun and others. I don’t know if this is because of the MPEG4 system that the quality is superior.
Also, I don’t agree that the cost is an advantage over the cable systems. These have only increased the cost from 200-250 to well over 300 per month if you have people watching sports, news, movies, children’s and some regional package.

]]> By: Amit Goel http://amitslab.com/blog/2008/10/09/indian-satellite-tv-dth-players-the-war-has-begun/#comment-44 Amit Goel Fri, 24 Oct 2008 06:40:10 +0000 http://amitslab.com/blog/?p=12#comment-44 @ Lt Col Khare You are absolutely right!!! but as I mentioned earlier, Indian DTH and cable market is in infancy stage. and Indian Media and People lack knowledge about it. especially Indian Media is completely being stupid about it. Let people learn about it and start deciding on their own.. Although just to correct you, DTH and cable TV fight in almost every country for the bigger pie. @ Lt Col Khare

You are absolutely right!!! but as I mentioned earlier, Indian DTH and cable market is in infancy stage. and Indian Media and People lack knowledge about it. especially Indian Media is completely being stupid about it.

Let people learn about it and start deciding on their own..

Although just to correct you, DTH and cable TV fight in almost every country for the bigger pie.

]]> By: Lt Col (Retd)VC Khare http://amitslab.com/blog/2008/10/09/indian-satellite-tv-dth-players-the-war-has-begun/#comment-43 Lt Col (Retd)VC Khare Fri, 24 Oct 2008 06:33:30 +0000 http://amitslab.com/blog/?p=12#comment-43 We have to learn from Indian Background. Cable TV was born free and I&B Ministry, as well as TRAI, are struggling to tame it with dismal success. DTH has been launched as alternative to Cable TV with Govt support. Unless regulations are enforced, subscribers alone will suffer. If DTH delivers better picture quality and QoE(Quality of Experience) fathomed against QoS, people will pay any price. The problem today appears to be that DTH service providers are complexed by service rates prevailing in Cable TV.Media needs to be clarifying that in addressable CATV, a-la-carte is implemented while in non-addressable CATV and DTH, bundling is in vogue. Ultimately customer will decide on business based upon afforadbility, availability and accessability. In foreign countries DTH is largely addressing locations NOT served by cable, while in India the effort is to compete with Cable TV subscriober base and attempt a churn in the cable connectivity. We should desist from comparing dollar prices. Dollar in US is like Rupee in India. We shpuld confine to currency being used in India while talking in Indian Context. We have to learn from Indian Background. Cable TV was born free and I&B Ministry, as well as TRAI, are struggling to tame it with dismal success. DTH has been launched as alternative to Cable TV with Govt support. Unless regulations are enforced, subscribers alone will suffer. If DTH delivers better picture quality and QoE(Quality of Experience) fathomed against QoS, people will pay any price. The problem today appears to be that DTH service providers are complexed by service rates prevailing in Cable TV.Media needs to be clarifying that in addressable CATV, a-la-carte is implemented while in non-addressable CATV and DTH, bundling is in vogue. Ultimately customer will decide on business based upon afforadbility, availability and accessability. In foreign countries DTH is largely addressing locations NOT served by cable, while in India the effort is to compete with Cable TV subscriober base and attempt a churn in the cable connectivity. We should desist from comparing dollar prices. Dollar in US is like Rupee in India. We shpuld confine to currency being used in India while talking in Indian Context.

]]> By: Amit Goel http://amitslab.com/blog/2008/10/09/indian-satellite-tv-dth-players-the-war-has-begun/#comment-40 Amit Goel Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:05:39 +0000 http://amitslab.com/blog/?p=12#comment-40 Again, may be you can email me at amitg@amitslab.com if you wish to have a good hearty discussion on this topic. :-) Again, may be you can email me at amitg@amitslab.com if you wish to have a good hearty discussion on this topic. :-)

]]> By: Amit Goel http://amitslab.com/blog/2008/10/09/indian-satellite-tv-dth-players-the-war-has-begun/#comment-39 Amit Goel Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:04:11 +0000 http://amitslab.com/blog/?p=12#comment-39 @Lt Col Khare I agree with your comment to a certain extent, but consider the following points 1) If you have to pay for each channel you wish to watch, then you'll end up paying more than what you pay now for bouquet. Most of the people wish to subscribe to atleast 30-40 channels which itself makes your bill go approx. 250 Rs/- considering all the major indian channels(sports channels are most costly). 2) The concept of Bouquet is prevalent in the whole world (only exceptions are sports channels or independent channels with high cost). This is a win-win scenario both for broadcaster and end-customer. 3)Yes, I do agree that broadcasters are still not adhering to QoS but then, Indian DTH market is still in infancy stage and let's give it some more time to evolve. 4)I am not very well versed with TRAI rules but i am talking from perspective of the business models in DTH around the world. If you consider DirecTV in US, people do run in bills worth more than $100 also in DirecTV subscriptions. and more during NFL season. 5) Just to give more hint towards future, DTH industry trends say that no country has space for at the most 2 DTH players. India already has six(with seventh in the offing). India being second largest populated country might survive 3 DTH players but in future, the worst performing DTH players wil die out. 6) About TRAI rules, the govt. will defintely mend rules a bit as business lobby is working hard towards it to get more flexilibity towards proprietary content. 7) The next war is about to start with Tata Sky already offering a PVR. check the website http://www.tataskyplus.com In a nutshell, This war will go on for atleast 2 years before the dust settles down and genuine players remain in the market. @Lt Col Khare

I agree with your comment to a certain extent, but consider the following points

1) If you have to pay for each channel you wish to watch, then you’ll end up paying more than what you pay now for bouquet. Most of the people wish to subscribe to atleast 30-40 channels which itself makes your bill go approx. 250 Rs/- considering all the major indian channels(sports channels are most costly).
2) The concept of Bouquet is prevalent in the whole world (only exceptions are sports channels or independent channels with high cost). This is a win-win scenario both for broadcaster and end-customer.
3)Yes, I do agree that broadcasters are still not adhering to QoS but then, Indian DTH market is still in infancy stage and let’s give it some more time to evolve.
4)I am not very well versed with TRAI rules but i am talking from perspective of the business models in DTH around the world. If you consider DirecTV in US, people do run in bills worth more than $100 also in DirecTV subscriptions. and more during NFL season.
5) Just to give more hint towards future, DTH industry trends say that no country has space for at the most 2 DTH players. India already has six(with seventh in the offing). India being second largest populated country might survive 3 DTH players but in future, the worst performing DTH players wil die out.
6) About TRAI rules, the govt. will defintely mend rules a bit as business lobby is working hard towards it to get more flexilibity towards proprietary content.
7) The next war is about to start with Tata Sky already offering a PVR. check the website http://www.tataskyplus.com

In a nutshell, This war will go on for atleast 2 years before the dust settles down and genuine players remain in the market.

]]> By: Lt Col (Retd)VC Khare http://amitslab.com/blog/2008/10/09/indian-satellite-tv-dth-players-the-war-has-begun/#comment-38 Lt Col (Retd)VC Khare Tue, 21 Oct 2008 06:13:06 +0000 http://amitslab.com/blog/?p=12#comment-38 It is incorrect to say that in DTH, a viewer can select his choice of PAY TV and pay only for selection. All service providers have made bundled bouquets with add on options. The choice of selecting PAY TV content and paying for selection is only available in Cable TV in CAS notified areas, i.e. addressable cable TV systems. Media has ceated an impression of synonism of CAS with Cable TV only, while CAS is mandatory in DTH (with the exception of DD Direct). DTH Service providers are also NOT adhering to QoS (Quality of Service) norms specified by TRAI. Both I&B Ministry and TRAI lack field resources to audit implementation of their policies on ground. It is incorrect to say that in DTH, a viewer can select his choice of PAY TV and pay only for selection. All service providers have made bundled bouquets with add on options. The choice of selecting PAY TV content and paying for selection is only available in Cable TV in CAS notified areas, i.e. addressable cable TV systems. Media has ceated an impression of synonism of CAS with Cable TV only, while CAS is mandatory in DTH (with the exception of DD Direct). DTH Service providers are also NOT adhering to QoS (Quality of Service) norms specified by TRAI. Both I&B Ministry and TRAI lack field resources to audit implementation of their policies on ground.

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