MultiChoice has again hit back to stay ahead in the Pay-TV game by announcing it latest HD-PVR decoder today just ahead of the World Cup that will be broadcasted in HD.
The new HD-PVR decoder, called the HD-PVR 2P, will allow customers to view one channel and record another at the same time. It also boasts the same 500 GB HDD the previous models has, ensuring for up to 50 hours of HD recording.
The HD-PVR 2P will for now not support Video On Demand, or the ability to block record series. These capabilities will however be added later this year via a over the air software upgrade.
Good news for those that has been wanting to get their hands on DSTV’s HD offerings but couldn’t due to the high price of the decoders, the HD-PVR 2P will retail for R1999, a thousand rand cheaper than the other models currently on the market.
This is a good move by MultiChoice but I still think we need a more lower-end HD decoder on the market, specially for those that live in complex apartments and only have the availability of one DSTV feed to them. Still I welcome this HD decoder and it’s evident that the competition from TopTV is causing DSTV to drop prices.
“I still think we need a more lower-end HD decoder on the market, specially for those that live in complex apartments and only have the availability of one DSTV feed to them.” – I guess you meant “lower definition PVR decoder” instead of “lower-end HD decoder”.
Actually I mean what I said, there shouldn’t be need to for a PVR to only be SD. You can use any DSTV HD PVR on a SD TV, and that is why I think there is no more SD PVRs being produced by MultiChoice. I just want a non PVR HD decoder, because as soon as your start having PVR functionality you need 2 feeds from the dish, but if you only have viewing capabilities you need only the one feed.
Still at least R600 too expensive.
Monochoice should focus on providing a better selection of user selectable packages and some new (proper) HD channels.
I have recently moved into a house that has a dish, twin LNB and twin cable. I want to install Xtra View with the new HD PVR 2P. I have a 81cm LCD HD Ready TV in one room and an old tube TV (coax) in the bedroom. What will be my options and total installation /setup cost? Can I get away with just one unit. Do I just need one HD PVR 2P and Standard Decoder each? Can I install this myself (I am technical).
Thanks.
Hi Overberg, the HD-PVR cant do dual view so your best bet will be to go with extra view.
I am not 100% sure of the setup, what I do know is that you will require coax from the pvr to your other decoder for the extra view capabilites and you will need 4 feeds to your pvr and 1 feed to your other decoder from the dish. If you have only the 2 feed you can buy a splitter for extra feeds.
Cost involved? Unfortunately I do not know.
Overberg,
They PVR 2P only requires two lnb feeds, thus you don’t need a splitter and as far as I know the second decoder does not need a seperate lnb feed if connected in extra-view mode. The P2 has a installation guide which any person who considers themselves technical should be able to follow to do the extra view installation correctly.
If you already have a coax cable to the second room I’d advise you to go for the HD PVR P2 and a standard decoder this will cost about R2500 including a cable here and there that might be reuiqerd.
Thanks.
I got sorted. Used the twin LNB and a splitter. It works well with Xtra view.
Thanks again.
Hi Gerhard
I tried pairing this 2P with my old SD PVR. The technical manual on the DSTV forum indicate that the two RFouts should be linked – this does not work and the CallCentre now tells me that the RFIn (HD) should connect to RFOut (SD) … ? Any advice ?
Thanks
HI All,
Derick, same issue im having bud. Just bought the 2P yesterday, and trying to get it connected to my SD PVR. As indicated earlier on, the new HD PVR has only to input, as opposed to the older HD with 4. Thus a two to four splitter works fine for the 2 LNB’s coming in. 2 to the HD PVR 2P, and the other 2 to the old SD PVR. THEN, you need a DC Pass crossover / splitter or an SLX Splitter for the heartbeat betweent he 2 decovers. If you do not connect the Heartbeat and the 2, Multichoice bills you for two seperate prescriptions. Also, be aware that even if you have the old SD PVR, your Smartcard also needs to be compatible to get Extraview working. I’m taking both my old SD PVR and Smartcard to M-Choice tomorrow to get it sorted. Also to find out about the whole heartbeat RF in/out query. 2 different people from the callcentre provided conflicting messaes as tohow this needs to be setup. Once im back from their offices, I will post an update.
Wish me luck:-)
Hi all
Success ! I chucked out the DC-pass splitters and got myself a straight T-piece. I connected the SD PVR and HD PVR 2P between the 2 RF-outs and used a DC block on the HD side. From the 3rd leg of the T-piece I took it to an active SLX splitter and voila – everything working. Heartbeat, distribution to 6 other TVs as well as TV-Link (eye) for remote controls.
Cheers …
Geez thats quite a setup Derick, I actually went out yesterday to try and find out if you can use the 2P decoder with just 1 feed for watching but nobody in the stores could give me an answer.
Gerhard – when talking about 1 feed, do you mean single lnb? if so – i got my 2p to work with a single LNB – just bought a 1 into 2 splitter (R60), and split the single to 2 feeds for the 2P – works like a charm, except when trying to watch one and record another when they are on different polarities.
Hi Liv
Yea talking about 1 LNB, I actually found this nice tutorial on MyADSL http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?236859-HD-PVR-2-P-single-lnb-installation
But like you said, you are stuck with only being able to do channels on same polarity.
Hi cam someone please help me,
I have currently got the old SD PVR. I want to upgrade to HD. The crux of my wuestion revolves around the fact that I need 2 channels.
So if I buy the older expensive HD decoder i get 2 channels right? (any use in combining it with old PVR)
If i buy the new one and combine it with my old PVR will I get 2?
MK thats correct, new PVR + old SD PVR = 2 channels.
@Gerhard – won’t MK get to watch 3, and record 2 with 2P + SDPVR?
Yes guys – I have the SD & 2P combination (see above) and can watch 3 and record 2 at the same time (with Xtraview activated).
Oops, but you need a dual LNB – I used a 2:4 splitter for that purpose.
Greetings from Beaufort West,
I have a standard decoder mod 990. The rf output goes to a splitter so I can view in two seperate positions the same channel.
I want to upgrade to the new HD PVR 2P. I have a Sony HD tv. How can I view the new decoder on the 2 tv’s Can I use the same arangement?
Chers
split the signal coming from the dish so you have 2 inputs into the 2P. send the RF out to the 2nd TV, and then use HDMI out from the 2P to your Sony HDTV.
You can change channels from the 2nd tv using either a remote blaster, or a TV Link Eye.
Greetings from Beaufort West,
It is me again. Yesterday I wanted to end with cheers. Small typing error.
The installer was at my house this morning. Installed a new lnb with 2 feeds down to the new decoder. HDMI cable into Sony tv and a feed to 2nd tv. Both tv’s shows same picture.
Everything works fine, except he said the model 990 decoder cannot be made to work with the new decoder.
Question. The signal from each lead from the new lmb is one standard signal and the other one the HD signal?
If it is so surely the standard signal lead can be cut into and taken to the 990 decoder? or am I wrong?
Never heard of a remote blaster or TV link eye.
More info please.
Hi Cilliers, there is no HD or SD signal feeds. you can use any of the feeds for the 990, problem is if you use it on 2 decoders at once you will only be able to view channels on the same polarity.
The work done yesterday is as follows.
From the rf out HDPVR 2P the lead goes to a splitter one lead goes to tv2 the other to the Sony. The HDMI cable goes from the decoder to the Sony as well. Sound like belt and breetches to me? Any comment!
Liv answer seems the likely one to me. Need more infor wrt the remote blaster or tv link eye.
Thanks for all the help, much appreciated.
Cilliers
Hi,
Why does a HDMI cable have so many cores? The other cable supplied has only 3 cores. 2 for audio 1 for video. Are these 3 cables the same in construction?
What are the other cores of the HDMI cable used for?
Thanks,
Cilliers
How much is a new HD decoder in uganda shillings
Hi Ronald, that should be round about 601750 UGX at current exchange rate.
Hi guys,
I am experiencing the following.
The HD PVR 2 P that was installed locks on a channel and will not budge. This happened 4 days after installation. Phoned the installer who said “pull out the 12v supply lead and wait a minute and then replace the supply” Which I did and it works.
Only after a week the same thing happenend. Did the same procedure and it unlocked. A few days later it happened again.
Surely this is not good to pull out the supply everytime. I do not think the decoder was designed to do this! Any comments on this.
The question that I have is this. The decoder supplies 2 tv’s. One via the HDMI cable the other via the rf out connection.
The rf connection goes to tv 2. I found that tv2 has a low volume and you must really turn up the volume of the tv.
Is there some sort of adjustment or setting that I missed.
Cheers, Cilliers
My PVR also locks sometimes when I want to exit channel 415. That is a software error. Nothing you can do about it. Multichoice must upgrade the software. I normally just press the RESET button to get out it.
Thanks for your reply. Seems I am not the only one with a decoder that locks on a channel.
What comments do you have wrt the volume of the 2nd tv?
hmmm, seem like this is maybe the BEST place to get an answer to my “most probably going to be thought of as very stupid” question.
I want to get DSTV, i dont have a dish or a decoder. I see the PVR decoders are selling at Makro for R1900. Can I get the “normal” DSTV dish and installation special that people have for R649, get them to install the dish and everything and then just plug the PVR decoder into that? Or do I need a special dish? Or alternatively, do I need special installation?
Hi Loren, you will need a special installation as the PVR requires a dual LNB, where with the “normal” special I believe they only install a single LNB. You can always try your luck and ask the installer for the dual LNB.
I changed from the DSD1130 decoder to the HD PVR 2P with Plasma HD ready in the lounge and a LCD full HD in the bedroom the plasma is connected via HDMI cable from PVR and the LCD linked via normal coxial cable (RF IN) The problem is the picture quality on LCD TV after the installer installed PVR 2P. The TV displays a lot of stripes and dots with an annoying noise which was not there before. What could be the problem as installer says everything is connected properly or I must buy a remote blaster (R400) for connection via RCA cable.The distance between room and lounge is 15m (how much will this cable cost?)
Or alternatively buy a HDMI cable with splitter which is very expensive.
Any ideas/solutions to enchance the picture quality on LCD with low cost? As really do not see the purpose of watching TV with poor picture quality that cost me a arm and a leg.
On 17 August I tried to find an answer to my 2nd tv volume problem. No reaponse yet.
Can anyone help?
Cheers.
Cilliers
When will we have a decoder with 2 channels to view???
there is a different brand called Strong, model SRT 4896. Just google using SRT 4896
Hi
If i get a hd ready tv and a hd pvr decoder, will my picture be in full hd when watching dstv channels.
Thanks
Only if you subscribe to the HD channels, DSTV currently offer 4 HD channels nl. MNET HD, SSHD1, SSHD2, Discovery HD and MMHD. Also note that it is not full HD but HD Ready.
There is an HD PVR on sale at Game for R2999 and one at Makro for R1799, but the one at Game says 1 view 2 record and the one at Makro says 1 view 1 record – are they the same machine (perhaps a typing error) or are they different machines?
Hi Kate, they are 2 different models. The one for R1799 is the lastest PVR the HDPVR 2P and supports 1 view and 1 record at the same time, I would recommend this one or even 2 in extraview mode if you want to watch more than one channel at the same time.
I’ve just bought a hd pvr 2p decoder. I had extraview before ith 2 1110 decoders. I replaced the 1 1110 decoder with the hd decoder. I installed a 2 x 4 Satellite multiswitch with a twin lnb in on the multiswitch and 2 channels to the hd and 1 channel to the 1110 decoder. The heartbeat is connected from the 1110 rf out to the hd rf in. The problem I have is that with this configuration some of my channels is missing. When the dual lnb is directly connected to the hd all channels is working. Can you give me some advice what the problem can be?
I just bought a HD PVR 2P and want to connect to my current normal 1110 decoder and so have two tv sets working. I bought as well a twin LNB – the ‘black unicable quad 40 mm’ It has got three plugs, one golden and two silver . Just how to connect from Lnb to 2p and to 1110? Please help
I stay in a complex and last year I bought a decoder from guys that I was reffered to by the body corporate. i got charged R750 for the cable that connects from my decoder to the dish that belongs to the complex. I ended up paying R1550 for everything but now I keep asking people how much the cable as Im moving to a new complex where I still need to get the my own cable connected to the central dish in the complex. Was the pricing right? Somehow I feel the guys robbed me.
Hey Teeee
Yes they robbed you blind, I live in a complex and the cable was already there for me to use. I just plugged in my decoder and was up and running. I think they are just ripping you off here, once the cable is there they dont need to lay it again every time someone new moves in.
Is there any way that I can watch 2 channels at the same time without paying for ExtraView?
Hi please help we using know n dual dstv but im looking for a standerd pvr or anything you suggest looking for 3 channels
Hi Cecile, unfortunately you do not get a decoder that will allow you to watch 3 channels at a time.
What you can do is get a PVR (old model with 2 viewing channels) and then just get extraview with a normal DStv decoder.
Hi guys. I have a dual-view decoder with a dual lnb (the model before the pvr came on the market) I have the decoder downstairs where my parents live, using 1 channel for each level. I use a tv-link to change my channel from upstairs .. no problem. I do however have a weakened signal with the long run +- 30 mts co-ax. I have also installed an AV cable (was supposed to be a screened cable, but did not have at the time, so I just used an ordinary 6 core alarm cable for the test).This works fine since I have absolutely not a speck of interferance – having taken care not to install AV cable anywhere near any power lines. This installation has worked perfect for about 2 years. Yesterday my decoder has suddelly started playing up by saying SIGNAL LOST. check connections, if not due to poor weather conditions…. Tried resetting system. this works for about half hour at a time then again loses signal. Upon checking my decoder, I found that both AV and Co-ax outputs on TV2 channel are dead. Lnb tests ok. My question ?? Is this a poor installation, causing damage to my decoder, or is the decoder simply playing up? ….. any advice ..ANYONE Cheers Deon.
Can I be able to install and pick a signal outside SA on HD PVR 2P that I bought in SA and its written SA only? How can I get to connect to IS7
i want to know if there is a hd decoder that can play 2 channels at the same time? i stil have the dual decoder and would like to switch to hd. please let me know.
thanks
Hi Leon, unfortunately not, you can however buy 2 hdpvr 2p decoders and link them with extraview, this way you will be have 2 viewing and 2 recording environments and you only pay the access fee for one decoder.
I WANT A SETUP where I have 3 independant viewing environments (3 different dstv channels on 3 tvs )
Is it possible to combine a hd pvr p2 with
2 standard dstv decoders ( old models- 1110/31)
to get what I want????
HD PVR 2 + SDPVR ( apparently used to allow you 3 independant viewing environments) but since SD PVR not available will 2 standard decoders – in place of it- be able to do the the job.
Hi Debbie, unfortunately you won’t be able to get 3 independent viewing environments with a 2p and 1110/31. The only way you can obtain 3 independent viewing environments is to buy a secondhand SDPVR and combine it with a 2p.
I have a twin LNB with xtraview using two 1110 decoders. I have just purchased the hd pvr 2p. I want to use one of the old 1110 for another room also on xtraview, is that possible? and what is needed to do that? Thanks.
Hi Anele, you can only have the HD PVR 2P and one 1110 in extraview, for this setup you will need to have in addition to the twin lnb a 2×4 multiswitch because the pvr uses 2 feeds on its own and you will need another feed for the 1110.
Hi
I have a dual view pvr decoder and now wnat to buy a HD PVR decoder.
What do I need to do to ‘link’ the 2 decoders so that I can still use the Dual View PVR in the cottage and the HD PVR in the house?
Help!!!!! Please
Hi Phil, if you are referring to the old hd pvr model, yes it is extra view capable, if you are however referring to the dual view decoder, they are not extra view capable. For more information on extra view decoders see http://care.dstv.com/main.aspx?ID=1742
was it the rigt thing to bay a hdpvr2p. or did i just trow my money away?
Luzette, I think the HD PVR 2P is a great device, and at the current price its definitely worth it.
hi there i did install myself a sd pvr extraview with hd pvr and my heatbeat cable is about 20m long sometime the secondary decoder is waiting for communication from the primary can you tell again all the setting? pls
Hi Jonas, you will have to phone the DStv call centre for the setting for your specific scenario, alternatively you can visit the extra view section in the DStv forum http://forum.dstv.com/forumdisplay.php?f=16
Is dstv on demand available on the new HD-PWR 2p
Hi francois, yes it is.
hi Gerhard,
i have 2 hd pvr 2p decoders. one in the main house and the other in the cottage. the one going to the cottage is the extraview connection. problem is, i cant seem to record anything and it doesnt have the dtsv on demand option… any ideas y?
thnx
Hi Mikhail, perhaps phone the multichoice call centre and ask them if pvr functionality is enabled on the second pvr.
after i posted my previous post, i took the decoder from the cottage to the main house to update cause the signal quality was only 60% in the cottage. so i updated, it now has dstv on demand under the tvguide option. still doesnt record tho. still cant see anythin under DOD. i’ll call MC laterz to confirm if the extraview is setup for pvr. i thought it just works straight off the bat as there shouldnt b an additional charge… im not sure
There is no extra charge for the second pvr, you only pay the R65 once for all your decoders and extraview, they still need to activate it though.
I need some advice on a basic setup. Will it indeed be possible to replace a standard dstv decoder with a HD PVR 2P and get the recording option. The TV is non HD – so basically only wants to view now and record for later on at least one channel. Will this work with the current cabling? Thanks
My sister just bought a HD PVR last week, am sure it is a 2P as it was about R1400. She also bought the HD Ready Plasma TV 51 inch.
The decoder purchase did not come with dish and lnb, now she knows she needs 90cm dish but what if the installer has the normal 60cm.
Her requirement is that she want to see two different channels on two tv’s and have recording functionality on either one or both, what can she do?
Hi guys – advice needed. I have extra view already, looking to upgrade to HD 2p PVR. Thing is I have an external HD recorder, and want to know if you can record stuff from your HD 2p directly onto your external HD recorder, for editing purposes etc. Like recording the Rugby WC games onto the HD 2p PVR, then moving them onto the external HD recorder for editing, then onto a disc for Final storage, yeah a lot of work, but fans will do anything hey.