Sky HDTV without a new telly?
 

Does anyone know if there exists an adapter to connect my current hi-res
plasma to the new Sky HDTV box?

At the mo the TV's tuner box has all the connectors on it (SCART, XGA etc)
and I was wondering if I could replace the tuner with a new one with a HDTV
connector?

Am I thinking straight?



Tony

Tony Josephs wrote:
: Does anyone know if there exists an adapter to connect my current hi-res
: plasma to the new Sky HDTV box?

: Am I thinking straight?

Sky are now saying that the first generation of HDTV STBs *WILL* have
component video HD output. Your plasma is pretty much bound to have this
as an input source (on 3 RCA connectors)

Yes it does thank you.

One other question. Will Sky produce a HDTV Sky+ box at the same time?


Cheers


Tony


"Brian McIlwrath" wrote in message
...
Tony Josephs wrote:
: Does anyone know if there exists an adapter to connect my current hi-res
: plasma to the new Sky HDTV box?

: Am I thinking straight?

Sky are now saying that the first generation of HDTV STBs *WILL* have
component video HD output. Your plasma is pretty much bound to have this
as an input source (on 3 RCA connectors)

Tony Josephs wrote:
: Yes it does thank you.

: One other question. Will Sky produce a HDTV Sky+ box at the same time?

AFAIK There will be no choice!!!

The initial Sky HD box *WILL* have "all the functionality of Sky+". Any
basic one MAY come later (but it is also said that Sky would like to move
ALL existing customers to Sky+).

Mike Henry wrote:

: They can "move" me to a HD digibox or a HD digibox with PVR features if
: they like. But they'll never "move" me to paying extra money (or upgrade
: my package to include premium channels I don't want) for the privilege
: of recording.

I think this is true of most people!! However see
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds23613.html
where it does say that Sky are considering the costs of doing it for free!

For the HDTV service (where no basic STB is planned) they would just need
to drop the £10/month charge.

Brian McIlwrath wrote:
Mike Henry wrote:

: They can "move" me to a HD digibox or a HD digibox with PVR features if
: they like. But they'll never "move" me to paying extra money (or upgrade
: my package to include premium channels I don't want) for the privilege
: of recording.

I think this is true of most people!! However see
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds23613.html
where it does say that Sky are considering the costs of doing it for free!

For the HDTV service (where no basic STB is planned) they would just need
to drop the £10/month charge.

I wonder if they are considering making Sky+ free for FTV users though ?


--
Mark
Please replace invalid and invalid with gmx and net to reply.

What is the max resolution of your Plasma/TV?

"Tony Josephs" wrote in message
...
Does anyone know if there exists an adapter to connect my current hi-res
plasma to the new Sky HDTV box?

At the mo the TV's tuner box has all the connectors on it (SCART, XGA etc)
and I was wondering if I could replace the tuner with a new one with a
HDTV connector?

Am I thinking straight?



Tony

Hi Olympus

I have a Philips 3spf9964
http://www.homecinemachoice.com/revi...ps32PF9964.php

The spec is

Screen size: 32in

Connections: Four Scarts (one RGB, one RGB/S-video); component (interlaced
only) and stereo audio input; VGA (up to 1,280 x 1,024, with compression)
and stereo audio input; front panel AV input, headphone output); VGA/stereo
audio output to PDP; RF input; extra VGA input and serial port (for service)
available on PDP

Specifications: 852 x 480 PDP resolution; 400:1 contrast ratio; 100Hz
digital scan; 100-channel TV tuner with auto set-up; fully multistandard;
twin-tuner PIP; 1,200 page Fastext; seven display modes; freeze; three step
zoom; 20W per channel stereo audio with virtual surround; digital natural
motion; DNR; active picture control; 'compass' menu system; Cinema Link;
timer

Dimensions: 435(w) x 105(h) x 330(d)mm (E-box); 964(w) x 512(h) x 89(d)mm
(PDP)

Weight: 4kg (E-box); 30kg (PDP)



Will it work?



Thanks





Tony



"olympus" wrote in message
...
What is the max resolution of your Plasma/TV?

"Tony Josephs" wrote in message
...
Does anyone know if there exists an adapter to connect my current hi-res
plasma to the new Sky HDTV box?

At the mo the TV's tuner box has all the connectors on it (SCART, XGA
etc) and I was wondering if I could replace the tuner with a new one with
a HDTV connector?

Am I thinking straight?



Tony

Hi Mike

Yes, they might have seen me coming, but I bought my TV 4-5 years ago, at a
time when HDTV wasn't anywhere near available in the UK. So I bought the
best I could afford and "yes" it was way more than £100 (then).

Does that mean I won't be able to see any stuff in High Definition then?
I'm sure my wife won't allow me to spring for a new big screen TV so soon
.... damn ... :o(


Tony


"Mike Henry" wrote in message
...
In , "Tony Josephs"
wrote:

"Tony Josephs" wrote in message
...
Does anyone know if there exists an adapter to connect my current
hi-res
plasma to the new Sky HDTV box?

"olympus" wrote in message
...
What is the max resolution of your Plasma/TV?

The spec is
[...]
Specifications: 852 x 480 PDP resolution;

Right, thanks. I'm afraid the shop saw you coming. Hope you didn't pay
more than a 100 quid or so for it! The fact is, that TV's 480 lines is
lower than the 625-line PAL resolution we've had in the UK for the last
50 years.

You do realise that it is down-scaling your CURRENT viewing from 625
lines, let alone the idea of scaling down hi-def (1080 lines) in the
future?

The Sky HD site says

"provided your TV has a minimum native resolution of 720 lines and will
support 720p/50 or 1080i/25 you will be able to use the Sky HD STB analogue
component connectors to connect your TV and watch HD programmes"

So just to be clear is a 852 x 480 PDP resolution OK?

cheers


Tony



"Tony Josephs" wrote in message
...
Hi Mike

Yes, they might have seen me coming, but I bought my TV 4-5 years ago, at
a time when HDTV wasn't anywhere near available in the UK. So I bought
the best I could afford and "yes" it was way more than £100 (then).

Does that mean I won't be able to see any stuff in High Definition then?
I'm sure my wife won't allow me to spring for a new big screen TV so soon
... damn ... :o(


Tony


"Mike Henry" wrote in message
...
In , "Tony Josephs"
wrote:

"Tony Josephs" wrote in message
...
Does anyone know if there exists an adapter to connect my current
hi-res
plasma to the new Sky HDTV box?

"olympus" wrote in message
...
What is the max resolution of your Plasma/TV?

The spec is
[...]
Specifications: 852 x 480 PDP resolution;

Right, thanks. I'm afraid the shop saw you coming. Hope you didn't pay
more than a 100 quid or so for it! The fact is, that TV's 480 lines is
lower than the 625-line PAL resolution we've had in the UK for the last
50 years.

You do realise that it is down-scaling your CURRENT viewing from 625
lines, let alone the idea of scaling down hi-def (1080 lines) in the
future?

I don't think it will Tony
the official spec for HD ready is

Requirements for the label “HD ready”




A display device has to cover the following requirements to be awarded the
label “HD ready”:



1.. Display, display engine


1.. The minimum native resolution of the display (e.g. LCD, PDP) or
display engine (e.g. DLP) is 720 physical lines in wide aspect ratio.


2.. Video Interfaces


1.. The display device accepts HD input via:
i. Analog
YPbPr “HD ready” displays support analog YPbPr as a HD input format to allow
full compatibility with today's HD video sources in the market. Support of
the YPbPr signal should be through common industry standard connectors
directly on the HD ready display or through an adaptor easily accessible to
the consumer; and:



2.. DVI or HDMI HD capable inputs accept the following HD video formats:
i.
1280x720 @ 50 and 60Hz progressive (“720p”)

ii.
1920x1080 @ 50 and 60Hz interlaced (“1080i”)



3.. The DVI or HDMI input supports copy protection (HDCP)


The following technical references apply:



DVI: DDWG, “DVI Visual Interface”, rev 1.0, Apr 2, 1999 as further qualified
in EIA861B, “A DTV Profile for Uncompressed High Speed Digital Interfaces”
May 2002, furthermore allowing both DVI-D and DVI-I connectors, requiring
compliance to both 50 and 60Hz profiles, and requiring support for both 720p
and 1080i video formats.



HDMI: HDMI Licensing, LLC, “High-Definition Multimedia Interface”, rev.1.1,
May 20, 2004



HDCP: Intel, “High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection System”, rev 1.1,
June 9, 2003



(NB: on DVI HDCP rev 1.0 will apply)



YPbPr: EIA770.3-A, March 2000 check pending on version of this
specification, with the notice that the connectors required may be
available only through an adaptor.

"Tony Josephs" wrote in message
...
Hi Olympus

I have a Philips 3spf9964
http://www.homecinemachoice.com/revi...ps32PF9964.php

The spec is

Screen size: 32in

Connections: Four Scarts (one RGB, one RGB/S-video); component (interlaced
only) and stereo audio input; VGA (up to 1,280 x 1,024, with compression)
and stereo audio input; front panel AV input, headphone output);
VGA/stereo audio output to PDP; RF input; extra VGA input and serial port
(for service) available on PDP

Specifications: 852 x 480 PDP resolution; 400:1 contrast ratio; 100Hz
digital scan; 100-channel TV tuner with auto set-up; fully multistandard;
twin-tuner PIP; 1,200 page Fastext; seven display modes; freeze; three
step zoom; 20W per channel stereo audio with virtual surround; digital
natural motion; DNR; active picture control; 'compass' menu system; Cinema
Link; timer

Dimensions: 435(w) x 105(h) x 330(d)mm (E-box); 964(w) x 512(h) x 89(d)mm
(PDP)

Weight: 4kg (E-box); 30kg (PDP)



Will it work?



Thanks





Tony



"olympus" wrote in message
...
What is the max resolution of your Plasma/TV?

"Tony Josephs" wrote in message
...
Does anyone know if there exists an adapter to connect my current hi-res
plasma to the new Sky HDTV box?

At the mo the TV's tuner box has all the connectors on it (SCART, XGA
etc) and I was wondering if I could replace the tuner with a new one
with a HDTV connector?

Am I thinking straight?



Tony

No, you only have 480 wide, not the required 720
plus that's Progressive and your spec says interlaced only on component

"Tony Josephs" wrote in message
...
The Sky HD site says

"provided your TV has a minimum native resolution of 720 lines and will
support 720p/50 or 1080i/25 you will be able to use the Sky HD STB
analogue component connectors to connect your TV and watch HD programmes"

So just to be clear is a 852 x 480 PDP resolution OK?

cheers


Tony



"Tony Josephs" wrote in message
...
Hi Mike

Yes, they might have seen me coming, but I bought my TV 4-5 years ago, at
a time when HDTV wasn't anywhere near available in the UK. So I bought
the best I could afford and "yes" it was way more than £100 (then).

Does that mean I won't be able to see any stuff in High Definition then?
I'm sure my wife won't allow me to spring for a new big screen TV so soon
... damn ... :o(


Tony


"Mike Henry" wrote in message
...
In , "Tony Josephs"
wrote:

"Tony Josephs" wrote in message
...
Does anyone know if there exists an adapter to connect my current
hi-res
plasma to the new Sky HDTV box?

"olympus" wrote in message
...
What is the max resolution of your Plasma/TV?

The spec is
[...]
Specifications: 852 x 480 PDP resolution;

Right, thanks. I'm afraid the shop saw you coming. Hope you didn't pay
more than a 100 quid or so for it! The fact is, that TV's 480 lines is
lower than the 625-line PAL resolution we've had in the UK for the last
50 years.

You do realise that it is down-scaling your CURRENT viewing from 625
lines, let alone the idea of scaling down hi-def (1080 lines) in the
future?

On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 17:07:05 +0100, Mike Henry
wrote:

Right, thanks. I'm afraid the shop saw you coming. Hope you didn't pay
more than a 100 quid or so for it! The fact is, that TV's 480 lines is
lower than the 625-line PAL resolution we've had in the UK for the last
50 years.

50 years? ISTR that we switched from 405 lines to 625 in the late sixties when
BBC2 started as the third TV channel.

--
Nigel Barker
Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur

On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 17:07:05 +0100, Mike Henry
wrote:

Right, thanks. I'm afraid the shop saw you coming. Hope you didn't pay
more than a 100 quid or so for it! The fact is, that TV's 480 lines is
lower than the 625-line PAL resolution we've had in the UK for the last
50 years.

You do realise that it is down-scaling your CURRENT viewing from 625
lines, let alone the idea of scaling down hi-def (1080 lines) in the
future?

On a point of pedantry it's 576 lines not 625, though the point's
still valid...

Charlie

--
Remove NO-SPOO-PLEASE from my email address to reply
Please send no unsolicited email or foodstuffs

Unless you go to Currys/Dixons where just about every WS plasma set is
labeled "HD Ready" regardless. :-)

Last time I was in my local Currys there out of 6 plasmas labeled "HD Ready"
only one actually met the required specs.

--

Simon.

"olympus" wrote in message
...
I don't think it will Tony
the official spec for HD ready is

Requirements for the label "HD ready"




A display device has to cover the following requirements to be awarded the
label "HD ready":



1.. Display, display engine


1.. The minimum native resolution of the display (e.g. LCD, PDP) or
display engine (e.g. DLP) is 720 physical lines in wide aspect ratio.


2.. Video Interfaces


1.. The display device accepts HD input via:
i.
Analog
YPbPr "HD ready" displays support analog YPbPr as a HD input format to
allow
full compatibility with today's HD video sources in the market. Support of
the YPbPr signal should be through common industry standard connectors
directly on the HD ready display or through an adaptor easily accessible
to
the consumer; and:



2.. DVI or HDMI HD capable inputs accept the following HD video
formats:
i.
1280x720 @ 50 and 60Hz progressive ("720p")

ii.
1920x1080 @ 50 and 60Hz interlaced ("1080i")



3.. The DVI or HDMI input supports copy protection (HDCP)


The following technical references apply:



DVI: DDWG, "DVI Visual Interface", rev 1.0, Apr 2, 1999 as further
qualified
in EIA861B, "A DTV Profile for Uncompressed High Speed Digital Interfaces"
May 2002, furthermore allowing both DVI-D and DVI-I connectors, requiring
compliance to both 50 and 60Hz profiles, and requiring support for both
720p
and 1080i video formats.



HDMI: HDMI Licensing, LLC, "High-Definition Multimedia Interface",
rev.1.1,
May 20, 2004



HDCP: Intel, "High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection System", rev 1.1,
June 9, 2003



(NB: on DVI HDCP rev 1.0 will apply)



YPbPr: EIA770.3-A, March 2000 check pending on version of this
specification, with the notice that the connectors required may be
available only through an adaptor.

"Tony Josephs" wrote in message
...
Hi Olympus

I have a Philips 3spf9964

http://www.homecinemachoice.com/revi...ps32PF9964.php

The spec is

Screen size: 32in

Connections: Four Scarts (one RGB, one RGB/S-video); component
(interlaced
only) and stereo audio input; VGA (up to 1,280 x 1,024, with
compression)
and stereo audio input; front panel AV input, headphone output);
VGA/stereo audio output to PDP; RF input; extra VGA input and serial
port
(for service) available on PDP

Specifications: 852 x 480 PDP resolution; 400:1 contrast ratio; 100Hz
digital scan; 100-channel TV tuner with auto set-up; fully
multistandard;
twin-tuner PIP; 1,200 page Fastext; seven display modes; freeze; three
step zoom; 20W per channel stereo audio with virtual surround; digital
natural motion; DNR; active picture control; 'compass' menu system;
Cinema
Link; timer

Dimensions: 435(w) x 105(h) x 330(d)mm (E-box); 964(w) x 512(h) x
89(d)mm
(PDP)

Weight: 4kg (E-box); 30kg (PDP)



Will it work?



Thanks





Tony



"olympus" wrote in message
...
What is the max resolution of your Plasma/TV?

"Tony Josephs" wrote in message
...
Does anyone know if there exists an adapter to connect my current
hi-res
plasma to the new Sky HDTV box?

At the mo the TV's tuner box has all the connectors on it (SCART, XGA
etc) and I was wondering if I could replace the tuner with a new one
with a HDTV connector?

Am I thinking straight?



Tony

On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 14:03:48 +0100, Mike Henry
wrote:

In , Brian McIlwrath
wrote:

Tony Josephs wrote:
: Yes it does thank you.

: One other question. Will Sky produce a HDTV Sky+ box at the same time?

AFAIK There will be no choice!!!

The initial Sky HD box *WILL* have "all the functionality of Sky+". Any
basic one MAY come later (but it is also said that Sky would like to move
ALL existing customers to Sky+).

They can "move" me to a HD digibox or a HD digibox with PVR features if
they like. But they'll never "move" me to paying extra money (or upgrade
my package to include premium channels I don't want) for the privilege
of recording.

Excuse my ignorance here, but whats the difference between a Sky HD
box and a SKY+ box ??

"spam" wrote in message
...
Excuse my ignorance here, but whats the difference between a Sky HD
box and a SKY+ box ??

In this thread people are using HD = High Definition (as in high resolution)
, not Hard Disk.

The Sky Box for the forthcoming Sky HDTV service will use a Hard Disk, as
with Sky+, but will also output High Definition pictures.

Loz

On Mon, 29 Aug 2005 21:12:48 +0000 (UTC), "loz"
wrote:


"spam" wrote in message
.. .
Excuse my ignorance here, but whats the difference between a Sky HD
box and a SKY+ box ??

In this thread people are using HD = High Definition (as in high resolution)
, not Hard Disk.

The Sky Box for the forthcoming Sky HDTV service will use a Hard Disk, as
with Sky+, but will also output High Definition pictures.

Loz


Aha, I see, thanks for clearing that up....

On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 11:53:28 +0000 (UTC), "Tony Josephs"
wrote:

Does anyone know if there exists an adapter to connect my current hi-res
plasma to the new Sky HDTV box?

At the mo the TV's tuner box has all the connectors on it (SCART, XGA etc)
and I was wondering if I could replace the tuner with a new one with a HDTV
connector?

Am I thinking straight?

Tony, regardless of your TV's specs (I'll let the techies sort that one
out), you won't be able to view HD content from a Sky HD box, because none
of the ports on your TV will support HDCP (High Definition Copy Protection)
which is a mandatory requirement of any tv that wants to receive HD content
from Sky.

--

Regards

John [Essex, UK]
Remove the obvious spamtrap to reply

On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 17:48:56 +0100, JC
johncalias-newsgroupsATyahooD0TcoD0Tuk wrote:

Tony, regardless of your TV's specs (I'll let the techies sort that one
out), you won't be able to view HD content from a Sky HD box, because none
of the ports on your TV will support HDCP (High Definition Copy Protection)
which is a mandatory requirement of any tv that wants to receive HD content
from Sky.

The Sky HD site says otherwise.

"Provided your TV has a minimum native resolution of 720 lines and
will support 720p/50 or 1080i/25 you will be able to use the Sky HD
set top box analogue component connectors to connect to your TV and
watch HD programmes. ... These component video connectors have been
added to our initial set top boxes because we are aware that there are
some customers who have already bought HD resolution TVs that don't
have HDMI or DVI connectors. You can use the initial HD boxes'
analogue component connectors to watch all the HD channels in Sky's HD
service. But to be safe we are recommending that if you are thinking
about upgrading your TV, you are best to buy one with an "HD Ready"
label. In any event, Sky's subsequent HD boxes may not support
analogue component connectors."

JC johncalias-newsgroupsATyahooD0TcoD0Tuk wrote:

: Tony, regardless of your TV's specs (I'll let the techies sort that one
: out), you won't be able to view HD content from a Sky HD box, because none
: of the ports on your TV will support HDCP (High Definition Copy Protection)
: which is a mandatory requirement of any tv that wants to receive HD content
: from Sky.

No! That *WAS* Sky's original position *BUT* now they are saying that
(probably only for the initial HDTV Digibox) the HD output will normally
be available via component video as well. Broadcasters *will* have the
option of downgrading the component output if they wish to but Sky
themselves have said that they will not do this for their own channels.