Difference between Austar & Foxtel

[Rod F]

Can anyone tell me if there is a differnce in picture quality between Foxtel cable, Foxtel Satellite and Austar Satellite. Are they all transmitted at the same bitrates.

I know that the bitrate can vary from channel to channel and even at different times of the day.

I spend 50% of my time between Melbourne and Vic country and as I can afford only one service, I am trying to figure out where to get pay TV. I may have a choice between all three services.

Is it possible to receive foxtel satellite in the country areas (presumably Foxtel don't what you to do this) if you move their box and plug it in to another dish.

Thanks,

Rod F

[Ext User(billijgoat)]

"Rod F" <Rod.F.1zyotp@no-mx.phorums.com.au> wrote in message
news:Rod.F.1zyotp@no-mx.phorums.com.au...
>
> Can anyone tell me if there is a differnce in picture quality between
> Foxtel cable, Foxtel Satellite and Austar Satellite. Are they all
> transmitted at the same bitrates.
>
> I know that the bitrate can vary from channel to channel and even at
> different times of the day.
>
> I spend 50% of my time between Melbourne and Vic country and as I can
> afford only one service, I am trying to figure out where to get pay TV.
> I may have a choice between all three services.
>
> Is it possible to receive foxtel satellite in the country areas
> (presumably Foxtel don't what you to do this) if you move their box and
> plug it in to another dish.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Rod F
>
>
> --
> Rod F


I'd go for Austar, that way you can buy a second decoder and you'd only have
to carry the card around.
I don't think foxtel uses irdetoII, if you went foxtel you'd have to lug the
decoder around.

I have no probs using my austar card in the nokia 9500 at my sisters place
in Melbourne.

Austar digital is pretty well the same as Foxtel digital channel wise.

[Ext User(Justin)]

"Rod F" <Rod.F.1zyotp@no-mx.phorums.com.au> wrote in message
news:Rod.F.1zyotp@no-mx.phorums.com.au...
>
> Can anyone tell me if there is a differnce in picture quality between
> Foxtel cable, Foxtel Satellite and Austar Satellite. Are they all
> transmitted at the same bitrates.

They are all exactly the same feed (& quality), just split off at different
points. Austar & Foxtel via satellite are the same feed with 2 different
encryption systems. All 3 (including cable) are at exacly the same bit rate.

The difference comes from the STU that they supply. Foxtel cable pretty
much assures you of getting a DC420NF. Fox satellite is a lottery - they
often supply a software updated STU (DSD/DSN 700/720) from the old satellite
service (which was actually digital & not analogue - analogue was only ever
on cable), but you can get a DS420NF or a DSD1000 (both reasonably good, but
the 420 seems to be preferred). Austar is a bit the same way, although most
reports don't mention any new STU's. The older STU's mostly don't offer
component video (& their s-video is worse than s-video on the newer STU's -
my experience anyway). Menus are slower too.

> Is it possible to receive foxtel satellite in the country areas
> (presumably Foxtel don't what you to do this) if you move their box and
> plug it in to another dish.

Yes. With Foxtel you can't just take the card with you & use it in another
STU - you have to take the whole STU (not too much trouble if you get a
DS420NF). With Austar, they use a common encryption system (irdeto), so you
can use the card in an irdeto capable STU. With cable, you're pretty much
stuck in 1 spot (at least you need access to cable & be on the same
transport stream).

[Ext User(fred)]

"Justin" <justinnospam@nospamlogicalfusion.com.au> wrote in message
news:439f413f$0$25855$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.a u...
> "Rod F" <Rod.F.1zyotp@no-mx.phorums.com.au> wrote in message
> Yes. With Foxtel you can't just take the card with you & use it in another
> STU - you have to take the whole STU (not too much trouble if you get a
> DS420NF). With Austar, they use a common encryption system (irdeto), so
> you can use the card in an irdeto capable STU. With cable, you're pretty
> much stuck in 1 spot (at least you need access to cable & be on the same
> transport stream).
>

re cable & foxtel (digital) : What area does a transport stream cover - a
state, a city, a suburb ?

TIA.

[Ext User(Justin)]

"fred" <fred@bigpond.net.au> wrote in message
news:PyMnf.20134$ea6.16407@news-server.bigpond.net.au...

>
> re cable & foxtel (digital) : What area does a transport stream cover -
> a state, a city, a suburb ?
>

Hi Fred,

Not even sure that it's the transport stream that makes the difference
(pretty sure, but I don't think anyone's ever confirmed it), but it's at
least a suburb & likely to be a group of near-by suburbs. I don't think
anyone's ever "tried" beyond that sort of distance. I suppose we could get
everyone to list what their stream & suburb is work it out from the near by
suburbs. Mine is 00d7 (under the signal test menu) & I'm in Earlwood in
Sydney.

[Rod F]

Thank you to everyone that replied to my query. It gave me answers to the most important questions. However, it did raise some other questions that I would like to know the answers too.

If I carried an Austar card to another STB, I would need to purchase this STB. The Austar STB seems very limited compared to the Foxtel offering.

Foxtel appears to have
- a component out as well as composite video.(SCART)
- optical audio (if the signal is identical from Austar & Foxtel, except for encryption , Does this mean a third party STB with optical out will be able to produce 5.1 audio
- the ability to change channels without manual intervention (the planner), for recording different channels at different times, like a VCR or DVD recorder
- the ability to record a one channel and watch another (IQ)

Is there a STB on the market that can decode Austar signals and perform some or all of the above.


Rod F

[Ext User(bosustow)]

> Is there a STB on the market that can decode Austar signals and perform
> some
>
>
> Rod F
>
>
> --
> Rod F

Topfield PVR 5000

[Ext User(billijgoat)]

"Rod F" <Rod.F.204o3z@no-mx.phorums.com.au> wrote in message
news:Rod.F.204o3z@no-mx.phorums.com.au...
>
> Thank you to everyone that replied to my query. It gave me answers to
> the most important questions. However, it did raise some other
> questions that I would like to know the answers too.
>
> If I carried an Austar card to another STB, I would need to purchase
> this STB. The Austar STB seems very limited compared to the Foxtel
> offering.
>
> Foxtel appears to have
> - a component out as well as composite video.(SCART)
> - optical audio (if the signal is identical from Austar & Foxtel,
> except for encryption , Does this mean a third party STB with
> optical out will be able to produce 5.1 audio
> - the ability to change channels without manual intervention (the
> planner), for recording different channels at different times, like a
> VCR or DVD recorder
> - the ability to record a one channel and watch another (IQ)
>
> Is there a STB on the market that can decode Austar signals and perform
> some or all of the above.
>
>
> Rod F


These look ok, of course it depends on how much you are willing to spend.

http://www.satworld.com.au/shopexd.asp?id=382



>
>
> --
> Rod F

[Ext User(MJT)]

Justin wrote:

> reasonably good, but the 420 seems to be preferred). Austar is a bit the
> same way, although most reports don't mention any new STU's. The older
> STU's mostly don't offer component video (& their s-video is worse than
> s-video on the newer STU's - my experience anyway). Menus are slower too.

How can you tell this? Isn't s-video supposed to be a standard, and
therefore there should be no change in quality?

As for the slower menus, try slow as, and treacle-like inertia. We have
two decoders. One we've had since 1999, the other since probably May or
so. The second one is painful. It also has only composite video output
and L/R audio via the standard A/V RCA jacks. The original decoder has
s-video and it seems to be OK. Also has two sets of audio outputs. I've
used its multiple connections to go to two separate components.

I can only hope that Austar's upcoming PVR is a much better product,
insofar as speed and menu/EPG navigation goes.



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