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01403 273474
07977 345577
01403 273474
07977 345577
01403 273474
07977 345577
We are delighted to announce Andy Vizor, owner of AVAV Systems, has become as Associate Member of the RDI-LB, The Registered Digital Installer Licensing Body.
The RDI-LB is the only UK official body to register Licensed Digital Installers. RDI-LB members are checked for quality of work, criminal records, must be certified to work at heights, fully insured and become qualified in Digital TV Installations.
Associate RDI-LB member are allowed to use the marks associated with the RDI & full members can use marks such as the ‘Digital Tick’ & ‘Aeri-Al’
Andy said “I am delighted to be accepted into the RDI-LB. This, coupled with our membership of West Sussex Trading Standards ‘Buy With Confidence’ scheme, shows that not only is our work to a high standard, with fair trading policies, but that we so understand the complex technical requirements of Digital TV Installation”
You can check the validity of any one displaying the RDI-LB or Digital Tick logo, on the RDI-LBs web site. You can also report anyone using the logo who is not an member on the same site – Along with a ‘Rogues Gallery’.
Andy Vizor’s Membership # 18267130 can be varified via the RDI-LB web site.
Sky have launched a new 1TB HD receiver. We’ve managed to get our hands on one! We’ve given it a good testing over the last few days and am happy to share our findings.
Well, it’s very black, very glossy and very sleek, almost PS3 like. It’s slimmer than the old box & boy is it quieter – thankfully. Even the Remote Control is a much darker, almost black affair. With the big beast of a Hard Drive, it’s the ideal buddy for the forth coming Sky Video on Demand service.
It is in fact a 1.5TB HDD, 1TB for recordings with half a TB reserved for Sky’s Anytime Service.
Its got all the connections you would expect – HDMI, Optical (thankfully as the HDMI is STILL only V1.1 so does NOT carry 5.1 audio!!!), Phone, Network, RS232, RF in, out & RF2 for Magic Eyes, Analogue Left & Right Phono Audio. It only has one Scart socket – which still supports RGB. We are a bit disappointed by this – as a lot of new TVs have less Scarts, its nice to be able to loop thru & daisy chain kit – Well, not with this new box.
Performance is the most important thing. So how does it measure up. As we’ve already said, its quieter and runs cooler. Its so quiet, all you can (just) hear is the Hard Drive ticking away – but it really is quiet. The EPG also runs quicker – we guess this is down to more memory & faster processors on board. Audio is as you would expect, no issues. Just a shame the HDMI spec wasn’t improved to carry 5.1 audio.
HD Picture is superb, no issues – unless you take into the lower bit rate currently employed on the BBD HD Channel – It such a shame to see MPEG artifacts on HD broadcasts. Side by side comparisons with other HD Sky Boxes, Freesat IDTVs and the Panasonic Blu-Ray Freesat+ Recorders, show this is down to the bit rate & NOT the Sky Box. The Sports coverage on ITV-HD (yes you can manually tune it in) was just stunning with no blocking. Other HD broadcasts fair much better than the BBC HD service.
But we have to report the SD pictures are well short of the mark, compared to other Sky Boxes & Freesat devices, the SD pictures are very poor. Lots of blocking, with visible lines – for example on BBC News, to the point of being annoying. Horizontal Text is well below par. You say “Who Cares? Its an HD box” Well, you might be right, but lets not forget the vast majority of TV still is SD! So its not really acceptable to get sub standard SD product. It really is poor, to the point that whilst watching BBC News, we switched off the Sky Box & went to Freesat!
The version we have is (sadly) manufactured by Amstrad, so other brands may vairy in quality – time will tell.
Overall, a nice product for those who record a lot or like to have the latest model. If your waiting for Sky’s VoD Service, this is the receiver for you. Just remember the poor Standard Definition pictures.
If you would like to join Skys HD service or upgrade your receiver, please give us a call or Contact Us here
Sky today announced that HD receivers will now be given, as standard, free of charge to subscribers taking out the HD Pack offering.
This follows the year end results which show Sky have over 2 million HD subscribers, an increase of over 480,000 on the previous year.
Sky also used the occasion to comfirm this weekend will see the first 3D broadcast – to clubs & pubs – using the exisiting HD service. The football match between Arsenal & Manchester United will be filmed in 3D.
Sky claim their 3D service will work with existing HD boxes, once connected to any new (as yet unrelased) 3DTV.
We are a little confused by this a Sky HD Boxes are fitted with an HMDI V1.1 output. The HDMI Group have only just confirmed the spec for 3D over HDMI connections & this requires a new, faster standard of connection – HDMI V1.4. When we have more details we will post them.
If you would like to join Skys HD service or wish to upgrade your existing Sky receiver please give a call or Contact Us here
Freesat have now released a beta trial verison of the BBC iPlayer service for owners of Sony Freesat TVs.
The TVs need to be connected to Broadband internet , via a router. Once restarted the TV will give access to the iPlayer service, as part of the BBCs ‘Red Button’ MHEG5 system.
The BBC Trust – the governing body of the BBC -has given their provisional approval for the continued development of Project Canvas.
Project Canvas is backed by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 & Five. Talk Talk – the Telecomminication division of the Carphone Warehouse have expressed their desire to join the project.
Project Canvas is the working title of the project, which itself has risen from the ashes of Project Kangaroo. The ‘Brand’ name for the service is still in discussion.
The aim of the project is to make all the ‘on-demand’ content from the partners avaliable under one one roof, all accessed from one set top box, via IPTV – Internet Protocol Television. It is expected that initially only free content will be offered, such as 4oD, BBC iPlayer, ITV Player.
Following the successful beta closed trial, Freesat have released the coding required to enable connectivity to the BBC iPlayer service.
The service is now avaliable on Humax Foxsat HD and PVR receivers. Viewers need to connect their Humax receivers to a Broadband service of at least 1Mbps.
Access to the iPlayer is via the “Red Button” service.
It is expected that the roll out to other Freesat HD receivers and TVs will quickly follow. There is over 450 hours of programming available, which will be updated daily.
ITV have confirmed they are to make their Catch Up service – ITV Player available to Freesat HD customers, alongside the BBCs iPlayer service.
As with the BBCs service it is likely to be accessed via the Red Button Service. The Freesat HD receiver will need to be connected via Broadband to the internet.
The service should launch early in Q1 2010.
Freesat have confirmed the roll out of BBC iPlayer to their HD Boxes.
Humax appear to be the first with Software Updates to prep their receivers ready for launch in early 2010. The update was available from early December 2009.
The service will only be avaliable to Freesat HD viewers, as SD boxes do not have the required network socket.
When launched, the service will be seen under the “Red Button” service. There will be approx 450 hours of content released on launch.
All HD receivers, including Freesat TVs from Sony, Panasonic & LG are planned to support the service along with the Freesat+ BluRay Recorders from Panasonic.
With little fan fair and small “closed door” demo to selected trade insiders and journalists Freeview HD has been launched.
The broadcasts, using the new DVB-T2 standard – are only available from Winter Hill (Granada Region) and Crystal Palace (London) transmitters.
The demo ran on prototype receivers – as no retail boxes are yet being manufactured. It is expected they will be available from Q2 2010.
The initial broadcasts, on the cleared Mux B, are currently broadcasting BBC HD and ITV1 HD. Channel 4 is expected to join before the end of 2010. C5 also have a licence to broadcast on the multiplex, but are unlikely to start broadcasts for the foreseeable future, due to funding restraints.
Sadly, no one can as yet, report on the quality of picture and reliability of reception, as there are no receivers available!
As soon as we receive a working production model, we will test it and post our results here.
National Retune Day is now 10 days away, it will take place on 30th September 2009.
All Freeview Products, TV’s, Set Top Boxes & Freeview+ Recorders will need a full retune to continue receiving all available services.
The changes include moves by Channel 5, ITV 4 & Radio Services.
To book Advance Book our Fixed Price Retuning Service please call or mail us via the Contact Us page.
