Thread: Tata Sky (not Tatasky+) black STB with component out

There is a thread on saveondish website which talks about new Tata Sky digicomp (not SKy+) with component output. This is a big plus point for LCD TV owners.

Can anyone confirm the availability of this STB in Mumbai. An electronics salesman told me that they have started offering these STB's, but I could not locate them in any shop / store. Helpline is as usual useless.

I am attaching the pics.

MPEG4 BACK SIDE.JPG

Tata Sky MPEG4.JPG

Yes I too have heard of the new Tata Sky with MPEG4 digicomp but unaware whether it is out for sale. It will be very beneficial for LCD TV owners.

It is my impression that TataSky will soon go into MPEG4 transmission. This STB may be the one offered to subscribers from then on. They may ask the existing subscribers to exchange the old STB for a new one and they may offer various discounts on the exchange price.

And yes - component out means that it will be possible to go up to 1080i - so this will be a boon to LCD/Plasma TV owners.

Originally Posted by just4kix

It is my impression that TataSky will soon go into MPEG4 transmission. This STB may be the one offered to subscribers from then on.

Does this mean MPEG4 by Tata Sky is not yet released

No. TataSky is still on MPEG2.

Please note however ....

Component out has nothing to do with MPEG4. MPEG4 is not necessary for component or HDMI out. MPEG4 is a just compression technology.

Originally Posted by just4kix

It is my impression that TataSky will soon go into MPEG4 transmission. This STB may be the one offered to subscribers from then on.

Agreed. I guess Tatas must be busy racking their brains to find out a way to "smoothly" introduce MPEG4 transmission. I foresee following problems :

a) It will be an uphill task for Tata to replace millions of MPEG2 STB's they have sold till date .So there will be a transition phase in which MPEG2 STB's will be progressively withdrawn & replaced by newer MPEG-4 STB's.
It means that current MPEG2 transmission cannot be stopped abruptly and both transmissions will have to kept alive by Tata during this "transition" period.

Originally Posted by just4kix

They may ask the existing subscribers to exchange the old STB for a new one and they may offer various discounts on the exchange price.

b) My anticipation is that MPEG-4 STB's mostly would be replaced free of cost in lieu of existing mpeg2 STB. If MPEG2 is completely withdrawn by Tata, it means existing STB's will have to be necessarily replaced. If they start charging for newer STB, it will almost amount to a form of "extortion". Users will be forced to upgrade to newer STB (just because Tata can stream more channels !) for a marginal improvement in picture quality.

It remains to be seen how all this mess will be handled by Tatas.

I am also wondering if the current STB's can start decoding MPEG-4 signals just by a firmware upgrade over the air ????

Current Tata Sky with MPEG 2 has done very well in clarity of picture. There was a demand for MPEG 4 in relation to its compression technology. Does it matter? Tata sky covers good amount of channels overall

As I said so many times MPEG2 or MPEG4 will make no difference to clarity. But because MPEG4 can compress the picture much more while keeping the clarity/quality intact, it is a preferable mode of transmission. The providers will be able to show HD content (in future) within the same bandwidth.

Originally Posted by just4kix

As I said so many times MPEG2 or MPEG4 will make no difference to clarity. But because MPEG4 can compress the picture much more while keeping the clarity/quality intact, it is a preferable mode of transmission. The providers will be able to show HD content (in future) within the same bandwidth.

If there is no difference in clarity then the preferred mode of transmission i.e. MPEG4 need not be out in a hassle to confuse current customers.

Originally Posted by Vasundra

If there is no difference in clarity then the preferred mode of transmission i.e. MPEG4 need not be out in a hassle to confuse current customers.

Vasundra, I think you have not understood the implications as yet.

Slowly but surely HD will arrive in India. HD will consume at least 6 times the bandwidth. The SD transmission right now is 480i - in pixel terms this is 640x480. HD will be 1080i (not p) and it will be 1440x1080 (4:3) or 1980x1080.

So DTH providers will require more transponders and more bandwidth on the satellites. This means more money. But by using MPEG4 compression, they will be able to squeeze more content in the current avalable bandwidth. Hence they will move to MPEG4 sooner or later. BigTV, Sun DTH and (probably) Videocon are already on MPEG4.

DishTV and TataSky will have to gear up soon. The cost of (free) replacement of STBs will be much less than paying for the transponders and extra bandwidth. Also STB replacement will be a one time cost whereas transmission cost are perpetual.

Originally Posted by just4kix

The cost of (free) replacement of STBs will be much less than paying for the transponders and extra bandwidth. Also STB replacement will be a one time cost whereas transmission cost are perpetual.

Agreed. Further, every year at least 5 - 10 new channels are added which means additional burden on bandwidth. DTH operators are trying hard to strike a good balance between the three variables : no. of channels, quality i.e. resolution of broadcast & bandwidth cost for profitability. The first two have been increasing steadily & will continue to do so.
Therefore, the only option left is to implement better compression technology.

Members ... any info so far on the availability of above STB ?

Originally Posted by just4kix

The cost of (free) replacement of STBs will be much less than paying for the transponders and extra bandwidth. Also STB replacement will be a one time cost whereas transmission cost are perpetual.

Agreed on that but we will have to wait and watch what step is taken next:001_unsure: