Help please on info to purchase sd tsb

[Helmut Dobelste]

Any help from you experts on the panel is greatly appreciated.
I intend to purchase a SD top set box.
Our Tv is analogue 9x3 rear projection,LG with teletext the VCR is Akai.
The reception is good on all chanels except ch 31,my aerial is in the roof. the sockets on the TV are S-Video and 9 coloured sockets.
Is it possible to adjust the picture to have perfect circles at all times? (zoom)
Is it possible to have a playback feature or even picture pause ?
What about internet upgrade ?
Multi-channel ? Angle viewing ?
Program guide with picture on screen ?
Extra sockets for future DVD ? Should I have Teletext again ?
Sterio sound ? Sub titles ?
Should I worry about CPU , Memory , Reception (Mhz). Signal level .etc.etc.
Which make can you recomend! Is it ok to buy from e-bay ?
Thank you very much for your help .
Helmut Dobelstein Perth WA.

[mddawson]

Is it possible to adjust the picture to have perfect circles at all times?
ANS: Digital STBs have 16:9 mode (widescreen) and 4:3 mode. In 16:9 mode a 4:3 program will be displayed pillarboxed (black bars on the L & R of a central image). 4:3 mode removes those bars which is useful when recording.

Is it possible to have a playback feature or even picture pause ?
ANS: Playback is possible on models fitted with a hard drive (HDD) recorder. I believe Topfield currently make the best model with this feature. My cheap STB does not have this but does have a "hold" button to freeze an image on screen. Of course the program still continues while this frozen image is on screen.

What about internet upgrade ?
ANS: Most STBs have an RS232 port for upgrades. This means your computer needs a serial port to output the upgrade and you will require a null modem cable to connect to the STB. It is a pity that USB connections on STBs are not common.

Multi-channel ? Angle viewing ?
ANS: SBS are running 4 channels. A regular SD channel with exactly the same programing as analogue, a HD channel which is just the SD channel up-converted to HD, an international news channel (SD) and an electronic program guide (EPG).

Others stations run 1 to 5 channels of SD and HD depending on your location. During the rugby world cup, 7 ran 3 different channels during the games: (1) Regular broadcast with commentary. (2) Same picture without commentary + boosted stadium audio. (3) 1/4 sized picture surrounded by game and series stats.

I understand that channel 9 in Sydney was playing with interactive features during NRL broadcasts but the rest of Australia misses out on this. Also most STBs were not compatible with the interactive features.

Program guide with picture on screen ?
ANS: It depends on where you live but generally the EPG is not being utilised by most stations.

Extra sockets for future DVD ? Should I have Teletext again ?
ANS: DVD??? Most have teletext but like analogue it is only on channel 7. I have also found that the teletext in my TV opperates a lot better than that in the STB. Of course this could vary depending on what brand your STB and TV are.

Sterio sound ? Sub titles ?
ANS: Stereo sound is available. Many STBs have a digital audio out so you can plug them into a home theatre system. Subtitles are available as per analogue TV.

Should I worry about CPU , Memory , Reception (Mhz). Signal level .etc.etc.
ANS: I believe most of the problems with STBs arise from the units software rather than the hardware.

Which make can you recomend! Is it ok to buy from e-bay ?
ANS: Topfield is probably the pick of the bunch at the moment for SD models. Toshiba and Panasonic for HD models. I have never bought from e-bay but if I did I still think I would buy an STB from a local store to ensure it is suitable for Australia.

Hope this helps but I am sure that some people will disagree with some of what I have written.

[STB]

As well as the Topfield box being recommended, I can recommend the Strong SRT 5300 and the PVR (Harddrive model) SRT 5390. The menu system of the Strong box is a little weird, but like most things you get used to it. The translated user manual is useless, but the box is technically very good.

[FreakyAye]

also, look for an stb which has an aspect ration switch button on the remote. This makes switching from 16:9 to 4:3 much easier without going into the menu system.

[flyinyereye]

"FreakyAye" <FreakyAye.18loqb@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
news:FreakyAye.18loqb@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>
> also, look for an stb which has an aspect ration switch button on the
> remote. This makes switching from 16:9 to 4:3 much easier without going
> into the menu system.

....although that's not necessary if you have a widescreen set.

[flyinyereye]

"FreakyAye" <FreakyAye.18loqb@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
news:FreakyAye.18loqb@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>
> also, look for an stb which has an aspect ration switch button on the
> remote. This makes switching from 16:9 to 4:3 much easier without going
> into the menu system.

....although that's not necessary if you have a widescreen set.

[mddawson]

"FreakyAye" <FreakyAye.18loqb@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
news:FreakyAye.18loqb@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>
> also, look for an stb which has an aspect ration switch button on the
> remote. This makes switching from 16:9 to 4:3 much easier without going
> into the menu system.

....although that's not necessary if you have a widescreen set.

It is if you want to record however. I prefer to record 4:3 programs without the pillar boxing.

[STB]

It is if you want to record however. I prefer to record 4:3 programs without the pillar boxing.

Not sure about other brands, but with the Strong 5390 PVR it doesn't matter what the aspect ratio setting is set to. It doesn't affect the recording. The ratio can be changed prior to playback of the recorded material.

[flyinyereye]

"STB" <STB.18nddm@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
news:STB.18nddm@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>
> mddawson Wrote:
> > It is if you want to record however. I prefer to record 4:3 programs
> > without the pillar boxing.
>
> Not sure about other brands, but with the Strong 5390 PVR it doesn't
> matter what the aspect ratio setting is set to. It doesn't affect the
> recording. The ratio can be changed prior to playback of the recorded
> material.

mddawsen is probably talking about recording on one of those old-fashioned
VCR thingos.

[mddawson]

"STB" <STB.18nddm@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
news:STB.18nddm@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>
> mddawson Wrote:
> > It is if you want to record however. I prefer to record 4:3 programs
> > without the pillar boxing.
>
> Not sure about other brands, but with the Strong 5390 PVR it doesn't
> matter what the aspect ratio setting is set to. It doesn't affect the
> recording. The ratio can be changed prior to playback of the recorded
> material.

mddawsen is probably talking about recording on one of those old-fashioned
VCR thingos.

And a DVD recorder