All posts by Les Nicol
Below are all of Les Nicol's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Bran - Have yo seen this?
Freesat G2: DiSEqC, single cable PVR and more hybrid TV
Alex Lane - Thu, 03/03/2011 - 12:00pm
Freesat's next-generation G2 spec will include DiSEqC, single cable routing and core support for iPlayer-style hybrid TV services.
In the works for more than a year, G2 is set to bring Freesat some features we've been looking forward to for some time.
It's essentially a gathering of new standards which will be supported by the wave of digital TV chipsets expected from manufacturers like ST and Broadcom in the next 12 months.
James Strickland, Freesat's director of product and technology development, explained that G2 is similar to HbbTV, the European standard which combines both broadcast and broadband-delivered TV technology.
'If you see what's going on with HbbTV in Germany, that's a roll-up of all the standards work that's been going on with different bodies.
'G2 is basically a hybrid between HbbTV and the MHEG world we have in the the UK.
'You get the best out of all the international standards that all the manufacturers are working on, rather than rolling out our own.
'We want to encourage in the next generation all the best elements that are already being worked on, to get the best hybrid of broadcast and broadband TV.'
There's no launch date yet for the G2 spec or G2 products, although some - like Samsung's forthcoming Freesat HD box - will be upgradeable via software downloads.
Some manufacturers, like Panasonic, are waiting for the G2 spec to be ready before they launch new Freesat products.
Exact details of what's in G2 only come with some direct questioning at this stage, but we did discover that it will include:
* MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) support, which potentially enables a whole host of advanced media streaming and multiroom features that manufacturers might use.
* Single cable routing as part of the MoCA standard (Multimedia over Coax Alliance). SCR lets a PVR take multiple tuner feeds through a single cable, but so far there have been several competing methods.
* DiSEqC switching, as part of SCR. Only switching,however, there's no DiSEqC 1.2 for motorised sat.
* HTML, Javascript and CSS: internet technologies that should make it a lot easier to add broadband-delivered interactive services.
* DRM for non-subscription channels who want some sort of encryption, via broadband or broadcast.
* Payment mechanisms for broadband services like LoveFilm.
'It will be easier to write apps and easier to launch online services,' adds Strickland. 'The barriers to entry, the time and the cost of launching new services, will be less than they are currently on other platforms and on this platform. It's not just about the receiver, it's about a whole end to end thing.
'The core of the technology is internet-based technology. Use of new presentation environments like HTML, Javascript, and CSS that come from the internet, that now we can apply to STB technology.
'And not for pay-TV but for free-to-air TV, we are making it easier for people to put their content on the platform by promoting certain DRM elements. It can easily be for free-to-air content, free to the user within the platform, but not necessarily pay-TV.
'We are still very cautious about pay-TV and the effect it would have on the platform if we were to allow any pay-TV services on board. It's a watching brief, and they would be complementary service.
'The potential is there for services like LoveFilm to come to the platform and it's not there today. If you had something like LoveFilm, to be able to transfer your account to the main screen from the PC, that would make sense.'
From Wotsat
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Victoria - The LNB on the end of the dish boom arm can be upgraded to provide more capacity and give additional feeds which will allow other cable run(s) to either have you utilize your spare SKY box or another SD Freesat receiver. an FSFS SKY card £25 - Freesat SD receiver from Argos £29.99 To upgrade the dish LNB and single cable in around £30/£40 This would be the most cost effective way given you already have a satellite dish. A rooftop aerial installation would be around £150.
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Vic Poole - Strathearn. The "Freesat" Technisat HDFS is available at £120.00 It does require either an external 2.5 Laptop HDD or High Capacity Pen Drive and records only One channel while watching another as opposed to the Humax and others that record two whilw watching another. However, having both of the aforementioned receivers - the Technisat does everything else accesses iPlayer that the Humax does and also can be networked to a PC.Picture quality is beyond reproach. Has Diseqc also so can bemotorised and although more limited than an FTA box in this respect it is better managed in this respect than the Humax. Certainly worth consideration.
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Brian - Forgot to mention - PVR functionality was an added update which the receiver will do automatically - An extended downloadable manual is accessed from the website that fully covers the PVR setup recording and playback functions.
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Steve - "Freesat" has it's own EPG (Electronic Programming Guide). Normally at "Setup" you would enter your UK postcode so that once the receiver scans it will default to your local ITV/BBC region - (although you can choose to set an alternative ie: any UK postcode). Whichever postcode you opt for all regional BBC/ITV channels are scanned in and therefore are available through pressing the "List" or "Guide" options using the remote.
Dependent on the receiver chosen a non "Freesat" mode is accessible where all available FTA (Free to Air) channels become available including those not listed on the "Freesat" EPG.
Additionally Humax (excepting the 500GB DTR version) and Technisat receivers offer diseqc multisat options.
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Strathern - iPlayer requires broadband internet access. As does ITV Player. You can record Live radio and TV and you can series record - I recorded the hellimed series and currently doing likewise with Mrs Browns Boys. Whilst you can record live radio you can't "re - wind". A catch-up service is available through iPlayer
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Phil Wedgwood - When you cease to subscribe SKY will disable your boxes recording capability. You would need to purchase your own "Freesat" recorder and swap over with you current SKY box.
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LJ - I would check the cabling at the receiver and as sometimes dusting or some other movement may have loosened off your cable input connection. Connection at the LNB dish end may require attention or may have water ingress. Some receivers can go faulty and it would helpful - having checked as above first - by providing the make and model of your receiver would be helpful.
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Tuesday 1 March 2011 8:06PM
Brian - Manhattan to launch HD and HD DTR receivers to compliment their SD entry to "Freesat",