SKY HDTV Service

WellyJ

Does anyone know if sky are gonna enforce the use of HDMI connections for HDTV or will a DVI connection be fine.

Im thinking of buying a nice LCD tv but want to make sure it will be compatible with Sky's service whenever they bring it in.

pH

DVI and HDMI are interchangeable - the video pins are the same, HDMI has added audio, so you can convert from HDMI to DVI (and viceversa) with an adapter. If Sky has HDMI and you have a device with DVI and no audio (say a projector) then you can plug sky into it with just a simple adapter.

HDCP is the copy protection system, and it can be carried over either. It is looking like Sky will insist on HDCP to connect over DVI/HDMI.

If your LCD TV has only DVI then you will need to route the audio to the TV somehow, and the TV must allow a DVI picture and sound from another source (If you want to use the TV speakers). For sky the LCD tv will probably need to be HDCP compliant.

watty

Also unless it _really_ has at least 1920 horizontal pixels, 1080 vertical pixels and 16:9 shape it may show HDTV if it claims HD Ready, but won't really be HDTV, just like a Camera phone can only show 1/4 resolution of VGA, even though it can view a VGA (640 x480) image.

Also unless you are sitting aboyt 3 ft away a 28" is a waste for HDTV. At typical living room size you need at least 48" WS to appreaciate HDTV. (Though 36" in a small room would be OK).

watty

There is a list of what FTA HDTV you can get in Ireland on Web.. forget where.
None on 28.2E, but some on 19.2E and 13E.
A €80 or less Skystar1 in a very good 1.8GHz PC or an average 2.4GHz PC can do HDTV with ProgDVB (free).

Sky will charge.

Main initial market in Europe is Pay TV and PPV for Pubs, Clubs, Theaters, Cinema.

It's a long way off and early adopters will be hit with "poor" overpriced gear, exception is hi-end DLP and LCD UXVGA / Video projectors.

bounty

cant wait for hdtv

i got a few 1080i episodes and the quality is amazing, video streaming at 20Mbps :eek: thats 4 times the data rate of dvd

Sparky

i was watching a bbc hdtv test on 28.2 there 2 weeks ago, amazing picture, they were showing the insides off the bbc, same nature programme and a drama.

im not sure if its still testing at the moment as i have moved my pc.

bounty

so when is rte doing hdtv?

Sparky

bounty wrote:

so when is rte doing hdtv?

id say 2025.

Tony

Sky HD are also involved with the Robbie Williams concert which is being beamed from Germany to the ambassador in Dublin and many other places.