What's the go with free to air satellite stb's?

[rockyysdt]

Just bought a G-MM Z HD Lite stb to pick up free to air on the telly.

Has hdmi output and rf antenna in.

Are there secrets to choosing these boxes?

[rawhod]

We have GMM-Z HD box.

When I bought the box, it included the Gold Package for 1 year. During that year, GMM dropped several channels, the most significant being Eurosport, from the package.

When the package expired, we had only the free-to-air channels plus NatGeo Wild. However, only NatGeo Wild is in HD.

None of the FTA Thai channels are in HD, so I was left with an HD box, an HD TV and one HD channel.

A better buy is either a TV with digital decoder, or, a digital decoder box, and a small digital aerial. to connect to your HD TV. That way, you get all the free Thai TV channels in glorious HD.

[rockyysdt]

Too late.

Maybe when this box has paid for itself a little.

Do I have to do anything to get the gold package operational or does the system automatically load it?

[Mooner]

There are various packages you have to pay for.

Check out their website for details.

[RichCor]

< ... >

Do I have to do anything to get the gold package operational or does the system automatically load it?

Included packages can vary depending on the promotion (usually printed on the cardboard box container).

The box container should include a free subscription code among the contents.

Call the phone number, ID the box, give the code and it will be enabled for the specified period of time.

[rawhod]

Too late.

Maybe when this box has paid for itself a little.

A Digital Terrestrial Box and Arial are hardly going to break the bank...

Box - 320 baht

Arial - 295 baht

Result - Glorious High Definition Picture...compared with GMM-Z disappointing standard definition picture.

[rockyysdt]

Too late.

Maybe when this box has paid for itself a little.

A Digital Terrestrial Box and Arial are hardly going to break the bank...

Box - 320 baht

Arial - 295 baht

Result - Glorious High Definition Picture...compared with GMM-Z disappointing standard definition picture.

Where from and what R H?

At Lotus Tesco you needed to kick in greater than 1,000b just for the box with HDMI output.

We are talking deep country.

All the cheaper models had component out only.

HD no good without HDMI.

[rawhod]

Too late.

Maybe when this box has paid for itself a little.

A Digital Terrestrial Box and Arial are hardly going to break the bank...

Box - 320 baht

Arial - 295 baht

Result - Glorious High Definition Picture...compared with GMM-Z disappointing standard definition picture.

Where from and what R H?

At Lotus Tesco you needed to kick in greater than 1,000b just for the box with HDMI output.

We are talking deep country.

All the cheaper models had component out only.

HD no good without HDMI.

Sorry, you are correct to some degree...

Tesco Lotus have boxes with component out for 3xx baht, however they have a box manufactured by Smart Engineering which has HDMI out for 690 baht.

I have the receipt for the box and antenna showing:-

Smart Strong Black (box) 690 baht

Smart Antenna D7E 350 baht

1040 baht

I just bought the same arial from Big C for my brother in law for 295 baht. So you can do it for under 1000 baht (985 baht)

The box also has the added advantage of arial loop through,and power button, volume and channel buttons on the front, so can be operated without the remote (something not found on the PSI box, for example.

[rockyysdt]

Thanks.

Sorry for the poor photo.

When I buy such equipment I like to use Coax F Connecters wherever possible.

The Samart Black uses an RF antenna input connector and loop, where as the unit I purchased is an F Type termination.

One of the problems with RF is that there is signal loss at each termination, multiplying with each additional join on the line, where as F Connectors and splitters are lossless.

See picture of insitu antenna.

PS: Although they are marketed as such, by definition, no such thing as a digital antenna.

What one looks for in an antenna is its ability to pick up the required frequencies.

[rockyysdt]

Here is the insitu antenna.

Rural environment not suited to the Samart D7.

[rawhod]

I presume satellite receivers use F connectors because the signal strengths are lower than digital terrestrial.

The main point I was making was that with a GMM-Z box, you will receive mainly SD channels, even the free to air Thai channels are in SD.

Only by purchasing their package(s), priced between 299 and 999 baht per month can you get up to 19 HD channels (which includes the 7 Stadium sports channels).

I started by using GMM-Z and saw them as a promising provider, but became disenchanted when they offered too many packages, some with channel duplication and a lack of HD channels. Also, as I mentioned, they dropped channels during the term of my Gold package.

If you have a reasonable internet connection there "in deep country", I would suggest trying "iLikeHD". They have just upgraded their servers (and price), but for 550 baht/month, I get all the UK channels plus all the sports channels (about 150 in total). The Thai FTA channels come free, in HD.

Having recently bought a 55" Smart TV, HD channels are more important. Poor SD channels just offend my aesthetic sensitivities...

[rockyysdt]

You have a nice set up.

Would be a pleasure to watch your home theatre.

This situation is for a budget TV application (no internet).

I wish I had consulted you before buying GMM-Z.

My experience of such devices was quite alien to me with no knowledge of the options.

Lotus Tesco steered me to the purchase as a minimum with HDMI (in their store) before posters brought me up to speed.

Which is the best FTA box offering HD and HDMI?

[rawhod]

First of all, I have two links for you...

http://www.lyngsat.com/hd/Thaicom-5.html

http://www.lyngsat.com/hd/Thaicom-6.html

They are from the lyngsat site, very useful if you have an interest in satellite broadcasting.

They show the HD channels transmitted from the Thaicom 5 & 6 satellites.

If you look at the light green channels (transponders), HD clear, they are free to air...not many

Then look at the darker green transponders, HD encrypted...those are non-FTA

(the legend is at the bottom of the listing)

That gives you an idea of what you can (or can't) get FTA.

Those that are DVB-S MPEG-4 HD Biss, are not heavily encrypted

Those with Irdeto, Videoguard etc. are heavily encryted (videoguard is the one that Sky use in the UK and has so far not been hacked as far as I'm aware)

So when you ask which is the best FTA, HD Box...you can see for yourself that there is none.

PS. mine is still fairly budget. I just do a lot of research and find the best equipment that will give me what I want, for the best price

[RichCor]

< ... >

One of the problems with RF is that there is signal loss at each termination, multiplying with each additional join on the line, where as F Connectors and splitters are lossless.

The statement about F-Connectors and splitters isn't exactly true.

While a MALE F-Connector utilizes the center-wire of the coax cable itself as the connector (leading to zero-loss), FEMALE F-Connectors don't have that advantage so an insertion loss (<0.05 typical and 0.2 dB maximum) over a very wide bandwidth with a minimum of variations will be present.

NEW RG6 has a loss of about 6 db per 100 ft

A Splitter by design will halve the signal (-3 dB), that along with FEMALE F-Connectors design will create a total 3.5 dB insertion loss.

But, yes, use of F-Connectors is a better strategy for higher signal integrity.

[lopburi3]

GMMZ C-Band normal commercial TV stations are broadcast free of charge in HD on channels from 306 up (as of 10 minutes ago test - without any premium subscription). They are also broadcast in SD on several other channels.

The Gold package cost per year would be about 210 per month on yearly basis and most people would just pay for a new box/package for 2,049 as below (making it even less). http://www.lazada.co.th/gmm-z-hd-combo-white-gold-package-365-403518.html

[rockyysdt]

GMMZ C-Band normal commercial TV stations are broadcast free of charge in HD on channels from 306 up (as of 10 minutes ago test - without any premium subscription). They are also broadcast in SD on several other channels.

The Gold package cost per year would be about 210 per month on yearly basis and most people would just pay for a new box/package for 2,049 as below (making it even less). http://www.lazada.co.th/gmm-z-hd-combo-white-gold-package-365-403518.html

Do the HD channels 306 & up automatically tune on the GMMZ C?

[lopburi3]

Yes - using old white HD GMM box went through software update and flash updates and turned all the normal stations - those that are pay are tuned but with payment required notice if you go to them - but most of the 306 up stations that are HD do not require payment.

[rockyysdt]

Yes - using old white HD GMM box went through software update and flash updates and turned all the normal stations - those that are pay are tuned but with payment required notice if you go to them - but most of the 306 up stations that are HD do not require payment.

My new box was first tuned five days ago.

I didn't try to scan 306 and up during my limited test.

Too focused on getting any reception at all, and wall mounting the TV.

Are they parallel (same content) to the SD channels but just HD?

[lopburi3]

Normally they have same content but believe Ch03 often has different programs. On the white HD it always tunes all stations for update of software but only takes a couple of minutes to do so - seems they change something every week or so - but often does not retune unless you turn box off and then back on so if channels go missing a good idea to let it reprogram.

[rawhod]

Yes - using old white HD GMM box went through software update and flash updates and turned all the normal stations - those that are pay are tuned but with payment required notice if you go to them - but most of the 306 up stations that are HD do not require payment.

I have just checked my GMM-Z HD Box (white). It has done the latest update, so I checked for HD channels.

You are correct, many of the channels 306 up are free to air (as are many channels 001 up), however they are not HD.

The only free HD channels are 168 Thairath and 313 Nat Geo Wild.

Other channels do state HD on the EPG but are certainly not being transmitting in HD

As far as I can tell, there is no way to receive the Thai channels 3, 5, 7, 9 etc. in High Definition with a GMM-Z box.

[worgeordie]

With ilikeHD on your pc you are able to view free Thai tv,

or pay monthly and you can view many English channels,

just stream from PC to your tv via HDMI cable.they have

the best selection of English,French,German channels

available in Thailand.

regards Worgeordie

[lopburi3]

Yes - using old white HD GMM box went through software update and flash updates and turned all the normal stations - those that are pay are tuned but with payment required notice if you go to them - but most of the 306 up stations that are HD do not require payment.

I have just checked my GMM-Z HD Box (white). It has done the latest update, so I checked for HD channels.

You are correct, many of the channels 306 up are free to air (as are many channels 001 up), however they are not HD.

The only free HD channels are 168 Thairath and 313 Nat Geo Wild.

Other channels do state HD on the EPG but are certainly not being transmitting in HD

As far as I can tell, there is no way to receive the Thai channels 3, 5, 7, 9 etc. in High Definition with a GMM-Z box.

These are indeed listed as HD on the EPG and these are not the normal SD transponder channels. In case of Thairath it is also available on Channel 313 from HD transponder. Transponder for 3 of the channels is not listed on Langsat but on Facebook as below:

Nazmul Karim Dish Network

May 19 ·

Thaicom.5@ 78.5E

3911 V 14650

2TV5 HD1

ONE HD

7 HD

((edit - lopburi3))

[rawhod]

Just thought, I am using Ku Band, are you using C Band?

[lopburi3]

Have no way to compare as do not have digital TV source to compare with so have no idea if they are actually airing HD quality at any given time. And my eyes have always been very happy to view normal PAL broadcasts after growing up in an NTSC country.

I am using C-band antenna - believe I mentioned that earlier. That might indeed make a difference.

[rawhod]

You do, of course, have have a digital HD source to compare with...you have channel 313, Nat Geo Wild which is available on GMM-Z in HD free.

Check the picture quality of 313 with the quality of Thai Ch 3. You should see the difference (unless you are still using an old steam driven TV set... )

The picture quality does becomes more significant the larger the screen you have.

[lopburi3]

Nat Wild is 438 on my system. And wife watches that most of the time - and I see no difference in quality on the 3xx local channels - but as said do not consider myself an expert (everything looks great to me after having cataracts removed).

[rawhod]

Nat Wild is 438 on my system. And wife watches that most of the time - and I see no difference in quality on the 3xx local channels - but as said do not consider myself an expert (everything looks great to me after having cataracts removed).

Sorry to hear that..

I'm sure any degree of clarity of vision is a blessing...

[rockyysdt]

Over here have the GMM-Z black box.

Using a satellite dish antenna.

Are the HD channels also being transmitted in HD via satellite?

Does the black box (not white) make any difference?

[RichCor]

Over here have the GMM-Z black box.

Using a satellite dish antenna.

Are the HD channels also being transmitted in HD via satellite?

Does the black box (not white) make any difference?

LyngSat shows most all HD Channels on ThaiCom 5/6 are uplinked as 'encrypted'.

Only Thai PBS, Thairath TV, PSI Channel, Workpoint 1 and Mono 29 are viewable by all DVB-S2 sat receivers.

Usually this means that originating program providers (ie: Channel 3, 5, 7, 8) are not uplinking HD content FTA, just SD versions

--and--

the individual Satellite Service Providers (ie: PSI, CTH, GMMz, TRUE, IPM, etc) are separately uplinking their own 'encrypted version' of the HD content for use only with their branded boxes (and optional subscription packages).

[lopburi3]

Over here have the GMM-Z black box.

Using a satellite dish antenna.

Are the HD channels also being transmitted in HD via satellite?

Does the black box (not white) make any difference?

Which black box? The original system boxs had no HD capability but they have a new HD Lite version that does (and it is also black).