worth buying or not? - Techwatch Support Forums: Digital & Satellite TV, FTA, Cable, Computers, Mobile Phones, Apple and General Tech Forums

redoxide · 26-08-07, 09:22 PM

Hi, i have been thinking of dipping my toe into the HD satellite world to actually get the best from my 42" HD ready TV. But to be honest i don't really want to spend a fortune at the moment ( ok its the wife that says i cant

ops:...lol) but i have noticed that you can buy the pace DS810xe receiver now for pretty cheap prices, about 60 - 70 pounds will buy you one now. But reading through the forums this receiver has mixed reviews to say the least. the picture quality seems to get pretty good marks where as usability and compatibility with cams ect gets pretty bad marks. although apparently pace are releasing OTA updates to correct its problems.
Anyhow i suppose what im asking is should i take the risk and dive in and buy one, or curb my impatience and tendency to buy things (like this :

) on impulse and wait a bit longer.
Does any one on here actualy own and use one of these? and if so have you been happy with it, would you recommend it? or would you tell me to run a mile.

i am not looking to use this as my main receiver as i am more than happy with my TM 1500 for that, i would just like to experience HD.
any veiws would be most appreciated.

Thanks , Red.

nanochickin · 26-08-07, 10:27 PM

Its definately a nice looking box

Not sure how much use it would be as i should imagine that it will just upscale the SD stuff and most of the HD stuff is encrypted AFAIK

Mind you though it would definately look nice under the TV

Nano

redoxide · 27-08-07, 12:04 AM

I agree it looks the part

as far as i understand BBC HD is free to air and i believe certain other European HD channels can be accessed with the use of a cam, if you can get the thing to recognise the cam in the first place. which i believe has been a bit of a problem with this receiver hence the OTA updates...lol
im still tempted though

Does anyone have one of these?

garble · 27-08-07, 12:58 AM

Hi.
I've got one of these and a HD TV and think its definitely worth buying. At the moment you can only receive one free HD channel at this satellite position but there are hints about additional HD channels joining the new FreeSat service in 2008, Besides its REALLY nice to be able to see what HD can really do, so you can show it off to your family, friends and impress your wife:-)

This is my first experience of HD picture quality and whilst it hasn't changed my life I continue to be amazed at the detail that it provides; in particular studio based broadcasts, eg: Jules Holland, BBC music concerts etc look really superb. I think buying a Pace for £99 is a good way of enjoying HD until the Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD battle has run its course.

Executive summary: yes its worth it :-)

Cheers
Gareth

If you have any specific questions about the Pace just post-em here

BGonaSTICK · 27-08-07, 04:56 PM

Cool. Welcome to the forum Gareth

A couple of other members have them and accept that they have some problems, especially with CAMs, but that things get better with every new bug-fix release.

For the price you're talking about, they're an absolute steal and worth a punt surely.

madrat · 19-09-07, 11:50 PM

Personally I would give HD a miss for at least another 10 years.

BGonaSTICK · 20-09-07, 12:01 AM

You're missing out.

It's truly stunning to watch the little content there is, but it's getting better in terms of the amount of programming. £100 won't buy you much these days, let's face it.

This time next year we could have the four main PSB's putting out HD on FTA satellite. Stuff waiting for DSO on terrestrial to free up space for DTT HD. We could all be six feet under by then.

Unknown user #1 · 20-09-07, 08:05 AM

I am going to give it a miss too.

Heck, I don't even have HD telly and got no plans to buy one unless my ye olde LG 4:3 fishbowl CRT will give up the ghost.

BGonaSTICK · 20-09-07, 12:26 PM

Stunning though, even on my 17" Sony PC monitor. I'm going to change that up for a 22" or 24" LCD panel - hopefully at Chrimbo.

hybug · 23-09-07, 03:44 PM

I punted for one (the price was just TOOOO tempting

) and the HD reception is excellent on the HD FTA channels and seems to improve SD (bonus).
I have a Diablo light cam and still have problems with recognition >

, it 'sees' the cam in the set up menu but has great difficulty in reading it atm. Pace are promising a new update again in a few weeks which will hopefully cure it, so I'm not ready to give up on it yet.

HTH
Hybug

26-08-07, 09:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
redoxide Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Buckinghamshire Posts: 283 Thanks: 16 Thanked 30 Times in 28 Posts	worth buying or not? Hi, i have been thinking of dipping my toe into the HD satellite world to actually get the best from my 42" HD ready TV. But to be honest i don't really want to spend a fortune at the moment ( ok its the wife that says i cant ops:...lol) but i have noticed that you can buy the pace DS810xe receiver now for pretty cheap prices, about 60 - 70 pounds will buy you one now. But reading through the forums this receiver has mixed reviews to say the least. the picture quality seems to get pretty good marks where as usability and compatibility with cams ect gets pretty bad marks. although apparently pace are releasing OTA updates to correct its problems. Anyhow i suppose what im asking is should i take the risk and dive in and buy one, or curb my impatience and tendency to buy things (like this : ) on impulse and wait a bit longer. Does any one on here actualy own and use one of these? and if so have you been happy with it, would you recommend it? or would you tell me to run a mile. i am not looking to use this as my main receiver as i am more than happy with my TM 1500 for that, i would just like to experience HD. any veiws would be most appreciated. Thanks , Red.

26-08-07, 10:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
nanochickin Retired Mod & Sat Guru Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wolverhampton Posts: 3,825 Thanks: 46 Thanked 338 Times in 270 Posts	Re: worth buying or not? Its definately a nice looking box Not sure how much use it would be as i should imagine that it will just upscale the SD stuff and most of the HD stuff is encrypted AFAIK Mind you though it would definately look nice under the TV Nano __________________ Sanity is nothing more than an excuse to be boring

27-08-07, 12:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
redoxide Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Buckinghamshire Posts: 283 Thanks: 16 Thanked 30 Times in 28 Posts	Re: worth buying or not? I agree it looks the part as far as i understand BBC HD is free to air and i believe certain other European HD channels can be accessed with the use of a cam, if you can get the thing to recognise the cam in the first place. which i believe has been a bit of a problem with this receiver hence the OTA updates...lol im still tempted though Does anyone have one of these?

27-08-07, 12:58 AM	#4 (permalink)
garble Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: worth buying or not? Hi. I've got one of these and a HD TV and think its definitely worth buying. At the moment you can only receive one free HD channel at this satellite position but there are hints about additional HD channels joining the new FreeSat service in 2008, Besides its REALLY nice to be able to see what HD can really do, so you can show it off to your family, friends and impress your wife:-) This is my first experience of HD picture quality and whilst it hasn't changed my life I continue to be amazed at the detail that it provides; in particular studio based broadcasts, eg: Jules Holland, BBC music concerts etc look really superb. I think buying a Pace for £99 is a good way of enjoying HD until the Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD battle has run its course. Executive summary: yes its worth it :-) Cheers Gareth If you have any specific questions about the Pace just post-em here

27-08-07, 04:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
BGonaSTICK Dodgy Geezer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brighton Posts: 9,718 Thanks: 3 Thanked 166 Times in 60 Posts	Re: worth buying or not? Cool. Welcome to the forum Gareth A couple of other members have them and accept that they have some problems, especially with CAMs, but that things get better with every new bug-fix release. For the price you're talking about, they're an absolute steal and worth a punt surely. __________________ Dreambox 7000, Skystar2 PCI, Skystar USB, Fibo 90cm on Moteck SG2100, Triax TD110 multi-LNB. Sky + ART cards. 45.0°E - 58.0°W

19-09-07, 11:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
madrat Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 2,232 Thanks: 11 Thanked 83 Times in 72 Posts	Re: worth buying or not? Personally I would give HD a miss for at least another 10 years. __________________ *VIRGIN, STOP SENDING ME JUNK MAIL.*

20-09-07, 12:01 AM	#7 (permalink)
BGonaSTICK Dodgy Geezer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brighton Posts: 9,718 Thanks: 3 Thanked 166 Times in 60 Posts	Re: worth buying or not? You're missing out. It's truly stunning to watch the little content there is, but it's getting better in terms of the amount of programming. £100 won't buy you much these days, let's face it. This time next year we could have the four main PSB's putting out HD on FTA satellite. Stuff waiting for DSO on terrestrial to free up space for DTT HD. We could all be six feet under by then. __________________ Dreambox 7000, Skystar2 PCI, Skystar USB, Fibo 90cm on Moteck SG2100, Triax TD110 multi-LNB. Sky + ART cards. 45.0°E - 58.0°W

20-09-07, 08:05 AM	#8 (permalink)
Unknown user #1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 536 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: worth buying or not? I am going to give it a miss too. Heck, I don't even have HD telly and got no plans to buy one unless my ye olde LG 4:3 fishbowl CRT will give up the ghost.

20-09-07, 12:26 PM	#9 (permalink)
BGonaSTICK Dodgy Geezer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brighton Posts: 9,718 Thanks: 3 Thanked 166 Times in 60 Posts	Re: worth buying or not? Stunning though, even on my 17" Sony PC monitor. I'm going to change that up for a 22" or 24" LCD panel - hopefully at Chrimbo. __________________ Dreambox 7000, Skystar2 PCI, Skystar USB, Fibo 90cm on Moteck SG2100, Triax TD110 multi-LNB. Sky + ART cards. 45.0°E - 58.0°W

23-09-07, 03:44 PM	#10 (permalink)
hybug Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: worth buying or not? I punted for one (the price was just TOOOO tempting ) and the HD reception is excellent on the HD FTA channels and seems to improve SD (bonus). I have a Diablo light cam and still have problems with recognition >, it 'sees' the cam in the set up menu but has great difficulty in reading it atm. Pace are promising a new update again in a few weeks which will hopefully cure it, so I'm not ready to give up on it yet. HTH Hybug