Comments on: Sky+ HD: is it worth the money?

By: Gary

Gary — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 06:25:33 +0000

Oh, I’d forgotten about storage capacity. You can fill a Sky+HD box in about ten seconds, which makes the hard disk connector on the back even more annoying (as far as I can tell, you can’t just plug in an external drive).

I don’t think any current PC TV tuner cards work with it either, which is a shame: I’ve got a media pc sitting here with a terabyte of storage, which is probably enough for about 3 HD movies :)

> Even worse, it seems like only a fraction of what is broadcast on the ‘HD’ channels is actually true HD. Much of it is SD, or slightly better than SD, or half-arsed HD at best.

Absolutely. Which makes the storage space thing even more annoying – you’re taking up HD space for what turns out to be an SD picture. Aaaaagh.

By: guru24

guru24 — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:33:40 +0000

I recently got hooked up with Sky+ HD after many years with a great twin tuner Freeview PVR. As I’m used to the benefits of hard disk video recorders – which you cannot live without – the + element of the Sky system has no novelty value and turns out to be remarkably poor compared to my old PVR .

HD, however, looks fantastic on my Panasonic plasma. The difference is smack in the face night and day. HD is badly needed; viewing SD on any big flat screen is an awful experience unless you have a very large room and view your TV from a distance.

What is disappointing about Sky HD, as Gary mentioned, is that if you are a tight-wad and don’t get the sports and movies extras, the standard set of HD channels is quite disappointing. Even worse, it seems like only a fraction of what is broadcast on the ‘HD’ channels is actually true HD. Much of it is SD, or slightly better than SD, or half-arsed HD at best.

Conclusion:
- Sky+ UI and menu system is piss poor; they need to do a decent job of the new one.
- Storage capacity on the Sky+ boxes is still too small: even with the recent 320GB boxes, you get less than half that for your own recordings.
- True HD is fantastic when you can find it, but the lack of full HD content on the HD channels is grossly misleading.

By: Gary

Gary — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:25:21 +0000

I’ve only encountered that a few times so far, but then I don’t watch a lot of TV.

By: mupwangle

mupwangle — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:21:03 +0000

The resizing to 4:3 of non-HD programs on HD channels bugs me.

By: Gary

Gary — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:52:30 +0000

Yeah, I think it’s at its best with docs and sport. A lot of it depends on the source, too, so if it’s crap it’s crap in HD.

By: rutty

rutty — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:58:11 +0000

We have the documentary channels on our Sky HD package and you can really see the difference there, and we’ve only got a 32″ 720p telly.

‘Normal’ programmes don’t tend to look that impressive until you get up close but nature/science programmes and sport do look much, much better. It’s worth it, for me.

By: mupwangle

mupwangle — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:13:16 +0000

>>will the tuner be able to receive in HD or will that mean yet another set to box?

Unless you have a very unusual one – a new box will be required.

By: clmac

clmac — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:04:54 +0000

Here’s a daft question though. If have a 1080p HD TV with DVB-T built in, when they start broadcasting HD programmes over the terrestrial signal, will the tuner be able to receive in HD or will that mean yet another set to box?

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:53:46 +0000

I’d do two things: one, have a look at it in somebody’s front room and see if the quality’s worth the extra money; and two, have a really long look at the HD channel schedules. No point paying for it if there’s nothing you’ll be watching.

By: clmac

clmac — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:35:56 +0000

I’ve been thinking about upgrading since I got my new telly, so any advise is useful. I don’t think Sky are being very friar charging an extra subscription fee just for HD, I know they do this with Sky+ but an extra 10 quid for a few more channels that I probably wont watch on top and is it really necessary for the +one channels

By: Gary

Gary — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:47:46 +0000

I’m on a 37″ 1080, and I can actually see the difference from across the room. But I sit nearer my telly than you do :) I’d heard August for the EPG too.

By: mupwangle

mupwangle — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:21:29 +0000

I’ve got sky HD (and used to have Virgin HD) and I’m still finding it hard to see a difference on a 42″ 720p plasma from across the room. Close up, there is a huge difference, but where mine is – not so much.

SciFi (soon to become SyFy for no apparent reason) is HD and Living HD is launching soon. As far as BBC HD is concerned – I won’t watch it. I’d rather watch in SD with no logo than have the picture spoilt by the BBCHD logo in the corner.

The new EPG on the Samsung and Amstrad boxes has been delayed. Rumour has it that either they’ve found too many glitches on the Thomson and Pace boxes or the current version is unstable on these boxes. Current estimates are for the end of august.