Question:
I'm getting my Sky system put in a week on Wednesday...
I was wondering if there's any way that I can get a specific Digibox as I know some perform better than others...
Has anyone here managed this and how?
Also what's the best one to ask for?
I'm sorry if this has been asked before! :confused:
I couldn't, I got a Pace but after ITV Digital it is like a dream to use!
Someone here said that they asked when they originally phoned Sky for a Panasonic box and it was reserved so you might get some luck, but generally it's whatever they've got in the back of the van. For my installation today the guy said he only had Pace's so no choice anyway.
I'm happy with it :)
(if you do ask then my research suggested Panasonic best, Pace next, others okay but Amstrad slowest.... not my opinions just the impression I got from various searches on Google.)
I got a Pace box, and it is wonderful to use.
In had it for a week and only crash once due to disappearing subtitles and not responsing to my remote control, switch on and off the power sort the problem out. Don't know why it happens.
It is a lot better than ITV Digital box. If you love football you will get widescreen Sky Sports eg Premier League.
The picture and sound are great.
Only things I am unhappy about is lack of widescreen movies channels and company logo dog.
Originally posted by Legendary
Only things I am unhappy about is lack of widescreen movies channels.
Sky Premier WS, Film 4..
also the odd TCM film (non-anamorphic)?
as for the question about the choice of box?
I went for an independant installer (same price and deal) and was able to pay extra to get a Panasonic. £25 I think it was.
...errrr well if you had to pay extra it wasn't the same deal, MartinC!!! :nuts:
Originally posted by Nujol
...errrr well if you had to pay extra it wasn't the same deal, MartinC!!! :nuts:
<yawn>same installation cost and contract.
the choice of digibox was an extra.
so go on... surprise me, Pedantic Man..what special powers do you have?:p
people say I'm sarcastic.. I just dont see it.:confused:
lol........... twas only joking.................. or was I?.................... :???:
your powers are failing, nujol... the pink kryptonite must be starting to take effect.
:smokin: :smokin: :smokin:
I'd go with an independant installer, especially if you want to choose where the dish goes, or have it on the roof.
Martin I would prefer to see half dozen movies channels ;-) I don't like Pan and Scan movies. I got a nice widescreen TV and I want to enjoy widescreen movies ;-)
I watched Traffic on Sky Premier Widescreen - excellent. Added to list of DVD to get.
I also can watch widescreen movies on BBC, ITV, CH4, Ch5, ITV 2 but there are too many adverts and cuts on non Beeb channels.
I know exactly what you mean Legendary..
it would be nice if there was 5 or 10 w/s channels with films but its not happened yet.
it was rumoured for all the sky movies channels when they re-branded but never occurred.
and yes, obviously there are widescreen movies on normal terrestrial channels, BBC & C4 are usually best.. hardly watch ITV anymore to be honest.
of course, just because they are widescreen, doesn't mean they are the correct aspect ratio always. the Beeb has shown quite a few 2.35:1 films at 1.85:1 (Once upon a time in the West for example), and Sky aren't remotely bothered if they do this either.
I asked for a Panasonic DSB30 when I ordered it from Currys :nuts: They said they would try to get it for me but if it was out of stock then I would get something else.
The Panasonic turned up so it is worth asking. Go for Panasonic or Sony.
I went to one of those little local shops, cost me £25 install instead of £1 via Sky directly. I did it on the understanding that I got a Sony digibox, person behind the counter went into the back, retrieved one and wrote my name on the box :) Installer turned up with it two days later. Bingo.
That's how I did it.
Mike.
The issue of widescreen films is a thorny one. There are a couple of issues that dictate Sky's actions. One is that the format films are shown in are determined at the point of purchase from distributers/makers. They pay more to show films in a widescreen format, so limiting channels and screenings saves them money. The other issue is that Sky look at their customer base when determining issues such as widescreen support, and the vast majority of their customers are still 4:3 tv owners. The revolution will come, but it will take time. Alas the demise of the pay element of digital terrestrial tv means the changes may be slower than before.
Perhaps I should have stated that I'm having it installed directly through Sky directly... I went for the £10 installation deal. I guess that means I'm out of luck? :(
I am happy with my Pace box. I will upgrade when I got new TV, amps, and speakers then I can enjoy Sky Digital + with DD5.1 and hard disk recording. But for now I am sticking with Pace.
I wish everything is in 16:9 format ;-(
Originally posted by Cable Monkey
The other issue is that Sky look at their customer base when determining issues such as widescreen support, and the vast majority of their customers are still 4:3 tv owners.
thats a bit of a generalisation surely?
of the people with sky, terrestrial digital or cable,
you'd expect a much higher percentage of w/s owners than with
just the general public taken as a whole.
yes, there are still a lot of 4:3 owners...
but of the "paying" public I reckon the percentage is very different in w/s- 4:3 comparisions.
for example, how many of thedvdforum's members have widescreen tvs as against 4:3? nearly all I'd expect.
okay, we are not a true representative since we all buy DVDs, but if you are buying a new TV now, you'd buy a 16:9 one.
over the next 5 years, I'd expect that number to vastly increase as people buy their "next" set (assuming a set lasts 5-8 years max).
It isn't a generalisation. It was actually the official response of Sky to the question of widescreen programming when questions were asked back in the days when Ondigital were pushing widescreen as a selling point. Lets not forget Skys focus is on the millions out there who are potential customers. Not us.
Well people who own 4:3 can sod off ;-) they can view widescreen program on TV. So why should we suffer pan and scan movies for people who use 4:3 TV.
I hope Sky will manage to get La Liga football in widescreen for new season as that would make me really happy.
Originally posted by Cable Monkey
It isn't a generalisation. It was actually the official response of Sky to the question of widescreen programming when questions were asked back in the days when Ondigital were pushing widescreen as a selling point. Lets not forget Skys focus is on the millions out there who are potential customers. Not us.
to some extent it must be a generalisation now.... 3 years+ ago definitely I'd agree. since then, the top "consumer" items all year and at xmas have been either a DVD player or widescreen TV..
loads have been sold and will be sold over the next 3-5 years (assuming a 5-7 year life on a TV).
so the percentages must be changing, especially in houses that already have satellite and/or dvd players.
Ondigital is long gone (thankfully).
and if widescreen isn't important, then why have Sky switched the Premiership to widescreen for the last season or so?
I see that as progress and expect there will be more widescreen channels very soon.. Sky 1 was rumoured, as was Sky MovieMax.
I'm very hopefully for some changes (good ones) in the next year or so.
as someone that has only just got a ws tv i must confess that i prefered to watched films in ws mode on my old 4:3 tv!
MartinC
can't disagree with you on the time element of the discussion regarding the second point of my original post. However, regardless of what we think of Ondigital, they were pushing the introduction of widescreen for broadcast viewing, as well as integrated TV's. Sky and Cable aren't because there are few integrated sattelite/tv's, and no Cable capable tv's. And all of this still leaves the fact that Sky have to pay extra for the priviledge of showing widescreen films, and until they can pass that cost on to you, the rumoured enhancements won't happen. You don't get owt for nowt these days! ;)
Betcha Sky will introduce a set of W/S channels that cost more.
I would prefer to see 5 widescreen movies channels in whole than 12 pan and scan movies channels and 1 widescreen.
Quality not quantity ;-)
I was wondering if there's any way that I can get a specific Digibox as I know some perform better than others...
Has anyone here managed this and how?
Also what's the best one to ask for?
I'm sorry if this has been asked before! :confused:
Answers:
I couldn't, I got a Pace but after ITV Digital it is like a dream to use!
Someone here said that they asked when they originally phoned Sky for a Panasonic box and it was reserved so you might get some luck, but generally it's whatever they've got in the back of the van. For my installation today the guy said he only had Pace's so no choice anyway.
I'm happy with it :)
(if you do ask then my research suggested Panasonic best, Pace next, others okay but Amstrad slowest.... not my opinions just the impression I got from various searches on Google.)
Answers:
I got a Pace box, and it is wonderful to use.
In had it for a week and only crash once due to disappearing subtitles and not responsing to my remote control, switch on and off the power sort the problem out. Don't know why it happens.
It is a lot better than ITV Digital box. If you love football you will get widescreen Sky Sports eg Premier League.
The picture and sound are great.
Only things I am unhappy about is lack of widescreen movies channels and company logo dog.
Answers:
Originally posted by Legendary
Only things I am unhappy about is lack of widescreen movies channels.
Sky Premier WS, Film 4..
also the odd TCM film (non-anamorphic)?
as for the question about the choice of box?
I went for an independant installer (same price and deal) and was able to pay extra to get a Panasonic. £25 I think it was.
Answers:
...errrr well if you had to pay extra it wasn't the same deal, MartinC!!! :nuts:
Answers:
Originally posted by Nujol
...errrr well if you had to pay extra it wasn't the same deal, MartinC!!! :nuts:
<yawn>same installation cost and contract.
the choice of digibox was an extra.
so go on... surprise me, Pedantic Man..what special powers do you have?:p
people say I'm sarcastic.. I just dont see it.:confused:
Answers:
lol........... twas only joking.................. or was I?.................... :???:
Answers:
your powers are failing, nujol... the pink kryptonite must be starting to take effect.
:smokin: :smokin: :smokin:
I'd go with an independant installer, especially if you want to choose where the dish goes, or have it on the roof.
Answers:
Martin I would prefer to see half dozen movies channels ;-) I don't like Pan and Scan movies. I got a nice widescreen TV and I want to enjoy widescreen movies ;-)
I watched Traffic on Sky Premier Widescreen - excellent. Added to list of DVD to get.
I also can watch widescreen movies on BBC, ITV, CH4, Ch5, ITV 2 but there are too many adverts and cuts on non Beeb channels.
Answers:
I know exactly what you mean Legendary..
it would be nice if there was 5 or 10 w/s channels with films but its not happened yet.
it was rumoured for all the sky movies channels when they re-branded but never occurred.
and yes, obviously there are widescreen movies on normal terrestrial channels, BBC & C4 are usually best.. hardly watch ITV anymore to be honest.
of course, just because they are widescreen, doesn't mean they are the correct aspect ratio always. the Beeb has shown quite a few 2.35:1 films at 1.85:1 (Once upon a time in the West for example), and Sky aren't remotely bothered if they do this either.
Answers:
I asked for a Panasonic DSB30 when I ordered it from Currys :nuts: They said they would try to get it for me but if it was out of stock then I would get something else.
The Panasonic turned up so it is worth asking. Go for Panasonic or Sony.
Answers:
I went to one of those little local shops, cost me £25 install instead of £1 via Sky directly. I did it on the understanding that I got a Sony digibox, person behind the counter went into the back, retrieved one and wrote my name on the box :) Installer turned up with it two days later. Bingo.
That's how I did it.
Mike.
Answers:
The issue of widescreen films is a thorny one. There are a couple of issues that dictate Sky's actions. One is that the format films are shown in are determined at the point of purchase from distributers/makers. They pay more to show films in a widescreen format, so limiting channels and screenings saves them money. The other issue is that Sky look at their customer base when determining issues such as widescreen support, and the vast majority of their customers are still 4:3 tv owners. The revolution will come, but it will take time. Alas the demise of the pay element of digital terrestrial tv means the changes may be slower than before.
Answers:
Perhaps I should have stated that I'm having it installed directly through Sky directly... I went for the £10 installation deal. I guess that means I'm out of luck? :(
Answers:
I am happy with my Pace box. I will upgrade when I got new TV, amps, and speakers then I can enjoy Sky Digital + with DD5.1 and hard disk recording. But for now I am sticking with Pace.
I wish everything is in 16:9 format ;-(
Answers:
Originally posted by Cable Monkey
The other issue is that Sky look at their customer base when determining issues such as widescreen support, and the vast majority of their customers are still 4:3 tv owners.
thats a bit of a generalisation surely?
of the people with sky, terrestrial digital or cable,
you'd expect a much higher percentage of w/s owners than with
just the general public taken as a whole.
yes, there are still a lot of 4:3 owners...
but of the "paying" public I reckon the percentage is very different in w/s- 4:3 comparisions.
for example, how many of thedvdforum's members have widescreen tvs as against 4:3? nearly all I'd expect.
okay, we are not a true representative since we all buy DVDs, but if you are buying a new TV now, you'd buy a 16:9 one.
over the next 5 years, I'd expect that number to vastly increase as people buy their "next" set (assuming a set lasts 5-8 years max).
Answers:
It isn't a generalisation. It was actually the official response of Sky to the question of widescreen programming when questions were asked back in the days when Ondigital were pushing widescreen as a selling point. Lets not forget Skys focus is on the millions out there who are potential customers. Not us.
Answers:
Well people who own 4:3 can sod off ;-) they can view widescreen program on TV. So why should we suffer pan and scan movies for people who use 4:3 TV.
I hope Sky will manage to get La Liga football in widescreen for new season as that would make me really happy.
Answers:
Originally posted by Cable Monkey
It isn't a generalisation. It was actually the official response of Sky to the question of widescreen programming when questions were asked back in the days when Ondigital were pushing widescreen as a selling point. Lets not forget Skys focus is on the millions out there who are potential customers. Not us.
to some extent it must be a generalisation now.... 3 years+ ago definitely I'd agree. since then, the top "consumer" items all year and at xmas have been either a DVD player or widescreen TV..
loads have been sold and will be sold over the next 3-5 years (assuming a 5-7 year life on a TV).
so the percentages must be changing, especially in houses that already have satellite and/or dvd players.
Ondigital is long gone (thankfully).
and if widescreen isn't important, then why have Sky switched the Premiership to widescreen for the last season or so?
I see that as progress and expect there will be more widescreen channels very soon.. Sky 1 was rumoured, as was Sky MovieMax.
I'm very hopefully for some changes (good ones) in the next year or so.
Answers:
as someone that has only just got a ws tv i must confess that i prefered to watched films in ws mode on my old 4:3 tv!
Answers:
MartinC
can't disagree with you on the time element of the discussion regarding the second point of my original post. However, regardless of what we think of Ondigital, they were pushing the introduction of widescreen for broadcast viewing, as well as integrated TV's. Sky and Cable aren't because there are few integrated sattelite/tv's, and no Cable capable tv's. And all of this still leaves the fact that Sky have to pay extra for the priviledge of showing widescreen films, and until they can pass that cost on to you, the rumoured enhancements won't happen. You don't get owt for nowt these days! ;)
Answers:
Betcha Sky will introduce a set of W/S channels that cost more.
Answers:
I would prefer to see 5 widescreen movies channels in whole than 12 pan and scan movies channels and 1 widescreen.
Quality not quantity ;-)
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