Finally I decided to go over to the HD side, and why not get a DVR while we are at it. I decided to upgrade my Tata Sky box to a Tata Sky HD Plus set top box. HD signifies High Definition while plus signifies DVR capabilities. On Wisetechie we cover the installation and the basic formalities, head on over to IndianTechBlog for features and usage.
Ordering and Installation : I ordered via the Tata Sky helpline, I paid with my credit card over IVRS, the set top box cost me Rs.3999, 500 rupees less than it would have cost me if I were a new customer. Tata Sky is a move which I consider unfair trade practice has restricted name transfers on Set Top Boxes. That would ensure that people return their set top box to Tata Sky for Rs.300. The engineer who came to install told me that the returned boxes are then used as replacements when someone’s STB goes kaput.
Anyway, 12 hours later I got a call from a Tata Sky engineer wanting to fix an appointment with me. He arrived 30 minutes late for the appointment with a set top box and a dish. He replaced the previous dish because the new STB would need a bigger one. Also since this had a DVR, they would need an additional wire from the Tata Sky dish to our STB.
The carton in all its glory, contains a Set Top Box, Smart Card, HDMI cable, el cheapo batteries, remote and a manual.
Made in Thailand, el cheapo 🙂 , also notice inflated MRP of 4999.
A view of the backside wiring of Tata Sky Plus HD. This has a FAN
Notice the Ethernet ports and the USB ports, they are marked for future use in the manual. If its future use or TATA Sky couldn’t figure out a use , its anybody’s guess !
After the wiring was done, the installation guys switched on the STB and let the box download the new software, a few calls to the Tata Sky helpline and we were all set, receiving HD channels. For HD channels, Tata Sky charges Rs.50 a month extra on top of your normal package. Its definitely steep, especially for only 6-7 HD channels. Star has the most HD offerings and Star World , Star Movies and Star Plus HD do not have advertisements yet.
Picture quality was as expected much crisper for the HD channels and even non-HD channels improved a lot. I am using a Sony Bravia 40 inch LCD with this box and the difference in non-HD channels was very noticeable.
Above is a snap of the HDMI cable given along with the Tata Sky Plus HD Set Top Box, nothing much to write home about, looking to get a replacement from the United States in hopes of even better signal quality. Anyone knows if gold plated ones are worth it ?
A small overview of the Tata Sky Plus HD remote :
Hope you enjoyed this basic overview of the Tata Sky HD Plus Installation and Ordering process. For more information about features and information about usage and hacks, log onto this IndianTechBlog article.
A special mention for the Tata Sky installation team here, they were thoroughly professional and did their job very very well.
Nice Comprehensive Review ! Makes my decision to purchase a Tata Sky HD box simpler.
Thanks for posting this review! Going for HD next month
Tatasky plus has very good setup box because smps (switched mode power supply) in-built in the setupbox, but tatasky plus hd has no smps in-built in the setupbox. Outer smps take space and very odd.
Hello,
The ethernet and USB ports are used for the following
1)USB port: In future if you have a external hard disk which containts photos/videos/songs you can plug it in and use an extension to setup box.this is also some times can be used as an wireless adapter to access internet for any software or firware updates over the internet.
2) Ethernet Cable/RJ-45: Used in conjunction with a telephone line to order movies over the setup box. Also for future you may get some apps on set up box which can be used to stream movies for sample youtube or yupp tv
Can you please let me know if you sony bravia is NTSC or PAL. I am planning to send an NTSC TV to India and figuring out as how it works with DTH in India
Hope that helps
Vinod
I am using a PAL system, but I am pretty sure that new TVs support both NTSC and PAL, you can verify when purchasing. Alternately, email tata sky and ask them if their STB supports NTSC, I couldnt find the option over a general glance.
Hello
Thank you for your reply. The TV I was talking is manufactured and sold in US so it supports only NTSC. I had called couple of DTH providers in India like Videocon/sun direct/Dish tv/Tata Sky/Airtel and to my surprise no one has a concrete answers all they say is one needs to have a PAL button on the TV Remote and I dont have any idea as what it has to do with NTSC format
Thank You
Vinod
Vinod, I will check on my Bravia once and let you know 🙂
I am thinking of some physical hacking. Can I replace the internal 500GB HDD with a 2TB HDD?
Can I make some firmware updates myself, to start the USB & Ethernet?
Uptil date I have been using the USB port to charge my mobile. 🙂
@vinod: I recently sent a sony bravia 46inch HX820 to india and it was NTSC only model. However the Tata SKy HD+ setup box has the capability to transmit both PAL and NTSC color systems. Hence the TV with tata sky hd+ worked perfectly. Hope this helps.
Hi Vinod, Even i have recently brought Sony Google TV from US. As per Tata Sky Helpline, their STB will not support NTSC and i need to have a NTSC to PAL converter. DishTV and Videocon DTH claim to have inbuilt support for NTSC. Though i havent plugged in my TV yet.
(HDMI PAL to NTSC Conv are avai on eBay for arnd 4200/-)
@Asish, can u please tell me if any configuration needs to done in HD+ STB/ or Sont TV for tatasky or it works in its original form. Also which cable u used for connecting… HDMI or Component Video.
Guys,
I RTI recently with the sony google tv and have a tatasky old stb. Not ordered a HD STB today. Will let you know if it works with the NTSC only supported TV.
Please let me know in case you find any other concrete options. I have some posts stating that Videocon DTH and dish tv works with NTSC tv. Also one of my friend is using Airtel dth hd with the same tv in delhi.
Hi Dipak…
I have installed my Sony Google Tv…. tried a couple of experiments with Tata Sky but finally had to buy HDMI PAL to NTSC converter from ebay.in (costed around 3800)
Herez wat all i tested
1. Tata Sky Normal STB connected directly to google tv… no reception 🙁
2. Tata Sky HD+ STB connected to Google TV via HDMI cable…. TV shows “Unsupported Signal Format”
3. HD+ STB -> PAL to NTSC converter -> Google TV …….. it works great..
I feel regular STB -> converter -> Google TV will also work though i did not test.
Our society is upgrading old intercom with some new Fiber optics technology.
They say it will deliver intercom, internet, cable, security video etc all in one fiber optic wire. It will have an ugly box mounted on a wall in every house. :[
I asked the person working on activating wires / connections if we can have DTH and ISP of our choice and he said yes.
Wot I want to ask as im not much aware of this technology is that:
1. Will it make any diff in term of quality of DTH i.e. increase or decrease it?
Will it deliver HD quality from a HD DTH?
2. Should go for stand alone installation?
If any of you have info abt this technology, please let me know.
Thanks
Hi Umair,
Did you manage to get your Tata Sky box work with Google tv remote? If yes then what is the procedure. I got a Tata Sky HD box today and plugged in the HDMI. Note that I do not have a converted but it still did recognize and show the picture. However, when i tred to configure my input device, the remote is not getting paired to Tata Sky frequency even using IR Blaster. First of all there is a requirement to give only US pin code and when i give 00000, it gives me various options like Dish TV, Direc TV etc but the tata sky box does not accept any of the frequencies. How did you manage to control Tata sky frequency with the sony google plus remote ? Please can you share the details. Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Hi Umair,
I recently return from US and bought Sony Google TV. Similar to your case I bought Tata Sky HD STB box which is giving me the same message which your got after the first installation.
Please let me know which PAL NTSC convertor is working and how? If at all possible please share the details of convertor.
Thanks,
Sachin