Greetings reader,
I heard lot of Indian consumers are facing struggle to choose the direct to home in their home. Direct to home provides the mpeg4 quality picture in all channels. It also provides digital system of signal rather than analog system. We can't compare the DTH quality in to local cable tv. The quality is certainly superior than other analog systems.These are all the reasons that we choose the DTH provider rather than cable. Even we choose the DTH ,We have to endure the risks like signals , and their terms and conditions. When we choose a DTH provider, we are obliging their terms and conditions.Some of them think that DTH is cheap. The real fact that it is not. IT is a bit expensive. IF we need a quality picture, we have to ready to lose some money too. We can't download a live tv feed in the picture resolution of 1080*20 pixel. It is the major reason to choose DTH provider.
There are lot of competitors in the Digital service. Among in the Indian Markets. Only four of them could able to earn some reputation.Videocon,Bharathi airtel, TATA SKY, Big tv, and Dish TV are all could able to survive in digital service market. I had through analysis through these operators. so it might be helpful to choose the best, i guess.
Videocon:
Videocon is a lateral entry in the market. but it has latest technology. I request you to download this videocon specification:http://www.videocond2h.com/wsc/hd_digital_set_top_box_with_recording.aspx. It is also introduced 4K technology which promotes four times better than HD. but the real fact is that it fails to satisfy the expectancy of customer quality.
Pros:
-Excellent picture and sound quality, noticeably better than the standard HD box
-Records two channels at once (you can only watch one of those two channels when both are being recorded)
-Records during standby mode
-Allows series recording for shows you watch regularly
-Fast forward and rewind upto 32x
-Rest of the interface is identical to the HD box
-Playback is experience is good. Much better than the comcast dvr I've used in the past, which would stop at the wrong moment 9/10 times while forwarding. In the end, we gave up and got a Tivo dvr. Videocon's playback is almost at par with Tivo.
-Most high technology in setup box and it resolution.
Cons:
-Mind numbingly unintuitive buttons layout remote layout
-DVR heats up pretty fast, although the first few days were the worst, it is hot now, but not as hot as earlier.
-Lots of features, impossible to figure out without manual. Eg. Series recording, editing favorites list.
-Channels keep changing while scrolling through the program guide, instead of waiting for you to select a channel.
-Hidden retail costs. DVR's price is Rs.6490, but retails for Rs.3990. DVR is dysfunctional until you recharge Rs.2500 for "activation". Once activated, you have to wait for 24 hours for recording privileges to be authorized.
I don't know what Videocon is cooking up for it's new dvr box, except that it will support USB recording. But, I think this dvr is worth your money. If you have the patience, and don't need it immediately, you could try waiting for the new DVR that videocon plans to announce soon.
Product support:excellent
Rain survival: very low
customer support:not so good because of only one customer care center
service support:excellent compare with other
Defect:audio is not pleasing, need to surrender box in case if u disconnect
I heard lot of Indian consumers are facing struggle to choose the direct to home in their home. Direct to home provides the mpeg4 quality picture in all channels. It also provides digital system of signal rather than analog system. We can't compare the DTH quality in to local cable tv. The quality is certainly superior than other analog systems.These are all the reasons that we choose the DTH provider rather than cable. Even we choose the DTH ,We have to endure the risks like signals , and their terms and conditions. When we choose a DTH provider, we are obliging their terms and conditions.Some of them think that DTH is cheap. The real fact that it is not. IT is a bit expensive. IF we need a quality picture, we have to ready to lose some money too. We can't download a live tv feed in the picture resolution of 1080*20 pixel. It is the major reason to choose DTH provider.
There are lot of competitors in the Digital service. Among in the Indian Markets. Only four of them could able to earn some reputation.Videocon,Bharathi airtel, TATA SKY, Big tv, and Dish TV are all could able to survive in digital service market. I had through analysis through these operators. so it might be helpful to choose the best, i guess.
Videocon:
Videocon is a lateral entry in the market. but it has latest technology. I request you to download this videocon specification:http://www.videocond2h.com/wsc/hd_digital_set_top_box_with_recording.aspx. It is also introduced 4K technology which promotes four times better than HD. but the real fact is that it fails to satisfy the expectancy of customer quality.
THE INSTALLATION: On 12 April evening I bought a d2h HD box online for Rs.2890 including installation charges and tax. One month's Platinum HD pack of Rs.400+tax and Rs.400 balance is free. Hence, effective cost is(2890-441-400)=Rs.2049. Promptly I got an sms mentioning my customer ID. Next day morning their service engineer called me and two of them came with satellite signal meter and installed the set and showed me the operations. Installation took 20-25 minutes. They were very cooperative and installed everything very neatly and as per my requirement. They gave me their mobile numbers and left. The best part is that none of them asked for any tips or chaipani. That was impressive:-).
PRODUCT, PICTURE, AUDIO: The HD STB is black, glossy, sleek, looks decent, check it out on their website. Within 30 minutes of switching on the STB, it started downloading an update for its software and installed it automatically, program was stopped for 5-6 minutes during that period. Picture on SD channels are decent, not all channels are equally good, but not all channels air the same transmission quality. I mean, transmission quality of Star channels and small regional channels are different, so is the picture. But overall SD channels picture is good and comparable to any other good DTH. Now the HD channels picture.its wow! awesome! mind blowing! jaw dropping! amazing! terrific! I have never seen anything like that before! Ohhhh.I am soooo impressed! Audio quality could have been better, louder, clearer.Its ok, but could have been better. Though it is not creating any problem as long as I keep the TV and STB volume settings on the higher side. But the Audio doesn't have the wow! factor the Picture quality has.
OTHER FEATURES: Some reviews said that the Program Guide(EPG) is slow in Videocon. But I found it to be fast. May be they have upgraded the software or hardware. The EPG shows you all program list, and can search if there is any repeat show of any particular program. There are 4 favourite lists of 20 channels each, probably highest among all DTH players. Remote has 4 dedicated buttons to access the 4 favourite lists, same buttons also work as function keys. The onscreen logo of Videocon d2h is small and transparent, and doesn't creat any viewing problem.
Further, All channels are nicely grouped into several categories like Hindi movies, English movies, Hindi general, Hindi news, English news, music, kids, Bengali, Marathi, Telegu, etc. and categories are shown in Menu option under Mosaic(PIP). This option is very nice, shows you 12 PIPs with picture, audio, and program name, and this option can be accessed with a single button on remote.
STB start up time is roughly 30 seconds, sometimes less, and channel change time is 3 seconds, both are decent. HDMI cable, remote, batteries are provided with the box. 12 meter cable is also free, after that, Rs.12 per meter need to be paid for installation. d2h service charges are also reasonable under Lifetime Warranty that they are offering.
d2h has multi-room connection facility for your 2nd. 3rd, or 4th TV. Monthly charges are very low for 2nd, 3rd, or 4th connection. They will change the LNBF and two cables will come out of the same dish. Though you have to pay in full for the box, same amount as for a new connection. I consider the initial cost could have been lowered, as though they are giving another box, but the dish is the same. Hence, there should be some discounts as dish cost is saved. One more information, if you have a 3D TV, then Videocon d2h HD box is 3D ready. Videocon is the only 3D ready DTH HD box available in India as of now.
Pros:
-Excellent picture and sound quality, noticeably better than the standard HD box
-Records two channels at once (you can only watch one of those two channels when both are being recorded)
-Records during standby mode
-Allows series recording for shows you watch regularly
-Fast forward and rewind upto 32x
-Rest of the interface is identical to the HD box
-Playback is experience is good. Much better than the comcast dvr I've used in the past, which would stop at the wrong moment 9/10 times while forwarding. In the end, we gave up and got a Tivo dvr. Videocon's playback is almost at par with Tivo.
-Most high technology in setup box and it resolution.
Cons:
-Mind numbingly unintuitive buttons layout remote layout
-DVR heats up pretty fast, although the first few days were the worst, it is hot now, but not as hot as earlier.
-Lots of features, impossible to figure out without manual. Eg. Series recording, editing favorites list.
-Channels keep changing while scrolling through the program guide, instead of waiting for you to select a channel.
-Hidden retail costs. DVR's price is Rs.6490, but retails for Rs.3990. DVR is dysfunctional until you recharge Rs.2500 for "activation". Once activated, you have to wait for 24 hours for recording privileges to be authorized.
I don't know what Videocon is cooking up for it's new dvr box, except that it will support USB recording. But, I think this dvr is worth your money. If you have the patience, and don't need it immediately, you could try waiting for the new DVR that videocon plans to announce soon.
- As I have mentioned above in detail, Audio Quality needs some improvement even in HD Channels.
- HD channels are not included in Mosaic(PIP) list. That should be included.
- Mosaic(PIP) menu has a background music playing when you access it, that is irritating for me. There should be an option to set the background music off.
- Remote has good features, but remote buttons feels rubbery, buttons could have been softer & more responsive with better tactile feedback. Remote sensor is powerful enough, but buttons need improvement. Remote could have been slimmer also.
5. Presently there is only one base pack for HD customers, Platinum HD pack.no other options available.
- This issue has been corrected by Videocon.hence, edited.
7. There was some confusion about warranty period. Product brochure says it is for 1 year, Sales Executive said it was for 5 years, and the company website promises a Lifetime Warranty! Now, under Lifetime Warranty Videocon charges for both service and spare parts after 6 months to 1 year period, then how come that be a Lifetime Warranty? Though the charges are reasonable, may be justified also, but then advertising Lifetime Warranty and then charging the customer is definitely unfair. Videocon should remove such misleading claims from their website.
- Point No.3 of Customer Agreement Form has 3 options for Purchase Type: Rental, Outright Sale, & Hire Purchase. Videocon guys always mark it as'Rental'. That means, one is supposed to return the hardware if he/she discontinues the service. But I fail to understand why! A) Customers are paying in full for the hardware Rs.2890(Rs.1890 for hardware+Rs.1000 for installation). B) The Videocon d2h website's online purchase page says'Buy Online', not'Rent Online'! How can the Purchase Type be Rental and not Outright Sale? C) Further, if the customer is not the owner of the hardware, then how can they charge the customer for service & spare parts under Lifetime Warranty? I understand that if one discontinues the service, then the hardware is of no use as it is locked to Videocon service. But even then, if the customer is paying for the hardware, then the customer should have the right to retain the hardware in case of discontinuation of service. I mailed to the customer care, they didn't reply in mail, but called me and told me over phone that they will take back the STB and Dish set only if I discontinue the service within one year, even though I have paid for the product. I hope Videocon d2h will do something about the cons that I have mentioned above.
FINAL VERDICT: Every product has its pros & cons. Considering all aspect I must say that so far I am satisfied with the product & service and Videocon d2h is highly recommended for DTH buyers in India looking for quality product and good pricing. It's a good buy. I will give it 8.5 out of 10. Check 86brands.com for good offers on DTH.
Product support:excellent
Rain survival: very low
customer support:not so good because of only one customer care center
service support:excellent compare with other
Defect:audio is not pleasing, need to surrender box in case if u disconnect
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