Tata Sky Upgraded From MP2 to MP4 Broadcast?

My TS HD STB suddenly switched to SD from HD. I clicked on the User Settings and noted that the 'TV Type' button had changed itself to 'SD' from 'HD'. I tried to change it back to 'HD' but it refused to budge. The HD channels though available on the HD STB, were all in SD! I've been watching Tata Sky HD on my 42in Panasonic HDTV since the last one year though I had been using TS SD before that since the last many years.

I contacted the service center, Chennai for this problem and I came to know that Tata Sky have changed from MPEG2 to the MPEG4 format. I don't know whether this was the reason for my problem. The engineer said he would be sending a mechanic to check it out - probably some adjustments required in the HD STB. (I tried everything but nothing seemed to work!)

But where reception is concerned, I don't find any difference in this changeover to the MP4 format. Do any of you guys notice any improvement?

Now I have to wait for a couple of days for a mechanic to come and sort out my HD problem. I wonder if this was due to the changeover? Anyone having the same problem?

Cheers!
Mike.

Let me clarify you buddy. Compression technologies are MPEG2 and MPEG4 . MPEG-2 digital compression technology, transmitting using INSAT 4A at 83.0°E.Until Satellite is changed, Compression Technology remains the same. Either Call Centre guy have misguided you or you would have misunderstood him. Regarding the error of your STB, it may be some technical fault or software up gradation would have happened. So, let engineer visit and rectify the error.

@ TopicTata Sky uses MPEG-4 DVBS2 for HD channels and MPEG-2 Compression for SD channels.

Until Satellite is changed, Compression Technology remains the same. Either Call Centre guy have misguided you or you would have misunderstood him. Regarding the error of your STB, it may be some technical fault or software up gradation would have happened.

So, let engineer visit and rectify the error.

satellite has nothing to do with compression, it just uplinks and then downlinks whatever bits its owner sends. It is up to the decoder present in ur STB to understand whether the incoming stream is a mpeg 2 or mpeg 4 or even a mp3 stream.
TS broadcasts HD channels on Mpeg 4-AVC codec hence HD STBs know how to decode both mpeg4 HD as well as mpeg 2 SD channels. But older SD STBs only have mpeg2 decs hence the problem.

Ohh Man, wt the crap I have mentioned 😀Inspite of typing Decoder, I mistyped Satellite . :Smoking:

But where reception is concerned, I don't find any difference in this changeover to the MP4 format. Do any of you guys notice any improvement?



MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 are simply compression formats. There is no difference in the quality of the picture or the sound. It is just that MPEG-4 compresses more than MPEG-2. So assuming the transponder capacity is fixed, moving from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 frees up some space - which you can use to add more channels. But the quality of the transmission remains just about the same.

Thanks guys! I guess I'll have to wait for the TS engineer to sort out my STB problem. I hope I don't have to wait till the darn cows come home!!Cheers! Mike

Just came to know that TS had done Software Update Yesterday. So all that things happening may be bcoz of it. Why don't you try to reset your STB. May be that cud sort out the Issue.

Just came to know that TS had done Software Update Yesterday. So all that things happening may be bcoz of it. Why don't you try to reset your STB. May be that cud sort out the Issue.
Thanks IM, but that's made no difference! In 'System Settings' > 'CA Module', it shows 'CAM' as disabled. What's the status on your HD STB? :001_rolleyes:

Thanks!
Cheers!
Mike.

Thanks IM, but that's made no difference! In 'System Settings' > 'CA Module', it shows 'CAM' as disabled. What's the status on your HD STB? :001_rolleyes:


what is the link with CAM?

Same issue here. Note : I am using TS+ HD.U can do this thing. Organiser = User Settings = TV Type = SD , select 16: 9 and Stretch.Also Note; I am connecting via Component Cable on my 32 inch HD ready Panansonic, Component is detecting the resolution of only 576i and not 720p es earlier in my HD STB.

Same issue here. Note : I am using TS+ HD.
U can do this thing. Organiser = User Settings = TV Type = SD , select 16: 9 and Stretch.

Also Note; I am connecting via Component Cable on my 32 inch HD ready Panansonic, Component is detecting the resolution of only 576i and not 720p es earlier in my HD STB.
I tried the component cable too (RGB) on my Panasonic 42in plasma TV. Got the same results! The 'TV Type' refuses to budge from 'SD' to 'HD'. However, I am able to view true HD channels with good clarity.

How is it that you aren't getting 720p and 1080p on your STB? Mine is showing all even with a component input! But I can't make out the difference in clarity between 576p and 1080p. Looks just the same!

But I've noticed that after that change to MPEG4 from MPG2, the quality seems to have deteriorated. Earlier, even the SD channels were extremely clear and were almost at par with HD clarity. But now the quality sucks, with small squares appearing all of a sudden and also blurriness.

WTF? All was going well but it seems the new software they installed after changing to MPEG4 has screwed things up royally! I guess we'll have to live with this poor quality till the cows come home!

Cheers!
Mike.

I have a Component Connection from Tata Sky HD to my TV and it always supported 1080i. However, from about one week back it started showing 576i on my TV. In the TSHD user settings >> picture settings - it showed SD only - no matter what I do, it did not change to HD. But on HD settings it showed 1080i.I called up TS and the engineer came within 10 minutes of lodging the complaint. The engineer clearly said that they have STOPPED supporting HD on Component - I must move to HDMI.

So have they completely moved from mpeg2 to mpeg4 ? What about the STBs that doesn't support it? Does this mean we have a chance of getting ESPN HD now, instead of waiting for a satellite launch?

So have they completely moved from mpeg2 to mpeg4 ? What about the STBs that doesn't support it? Does this mean we have a chance of getting ESPN HD now, instead of waiting for a satellite launch?

I have both mpeg2 and mpeg4 STB, I asked a dealer to buy Mpeg2 box he said he will take it for 100Bucks. When i asked Tata Sky people they told if i return mpeg2 and take mpeg4 it will cost me 1000 and i will get 100 as balance. Anyways sounds the way.. So decided to keep aside and Will return if they offer something good.