Starchoice programs

Members may also load their own funds onto the card for additional or higher value purchases. Fees and charges apply, refer to the PDS for details. Though there is no ATM or cash withdrawal facility on the card, cardholders are able to spend the available balance on the card using eftpos terminals across Australia.

To apply for a Starchoice Card please see one of our trained reception staff, who will help you sign up and activate the card. As of , Star Choice had over , subscribers.

Star Choice broadcasts on Ku band from two communications satellites, Anik F1 at The system requires an elliptical antenna of at least 45x60cm in size with a special LNB pair built as one unit to accommodate the narrow 3. The satellite tv receiver uses the Motorola proprietary Digicipher II system which has so far been virtually free of the problems with pirate decryption that have plagued other providers such as rival Bell ExpressVu.

The standard 18" DBS antennas used by other providers are not compatible with this system as the signals differ in both frequency and polarization, due to StarChoice being relayed via FSS satellites, Anik F1 and F2 in this case. Its ultra compact size makes it ideally suited for your second or third TVs in your home. More about Motorola dsr It includes both optical digital outputs and RCA outputs to connect to your home stereo system for sound quality to match the crisp picture you get from our satellites.

It perfects the home-theatre experience. All you need is an elliptical dish, and an HD-ready TV. The new DVR HD also features a GB hard drive and dual tuners that let you pause, play, rewind and record live TV in both high and standard definitions, while watching another program. More about Motorola dvr It is Dolby "Pro Logic" capable which is a simulated surround sound, not a true derived surround sound.

A Star Choice technician has admitted to me that they have been having some problem with this. It apparently takes 20 - 45 minutes to completely download enough data to update the menu for the next 7 days. I have also frequently noticed that the information in the channel menu is completely wrong. Star Choice will tell you that they just print what the networks tell them they will be airing, but even basic stuff like standard news is often wrongly labeled.

If you just receive the basic package of services, this can take you about 10 minutes after you determine which channels to tune out probably about another 30 - 60 minutes. If Star Choice has to reset your receiver for any reason, you've got to do this all over again.

I think this is a major oversight in the design of the Star Choice system. If you program to record a show while you're not there, not only do you have to program your VCR, but also the satellite receiver. I feel this is deceptive advertising when Star Choice so heavily advertises Dolby 5. In theory that should be true, because the MPEG2 signal used for satellite TV supposedly has the capability of delivering up to lines of horizontal resolution, whereas standard analogue via TV tuners has a limit of lines of horizontal resolution.

Additionally digital satellite uses a very highly compressed MPEG2 signal which is lossy looses quality because of it's compression compared with uncompressed video.

Because satellite companies have hundreds of channels to compress into MPEG2 streams in real-time, they use cheap less than top of the line quality MPEG2 compressors, because really good ones cost so much.

The MPEG2 compressors used on Hollywood movies give a far better quality picture than the cheap compressors the satellite company uses. Unfortunately, even on pay per view movies, the satellite company doesn't use the high quality MPEG2 stream from a DVD, they recompress the movie with their poorer quality compressors which adds artifacts to the picture.

The average consumer might not know the difference, but an astute viewer with a keen eye can easily see the lower resolution of a Hollywood movie over satellite, compared to the same movie from a DVD. In some regards digital satellite is actually worse because it introduces pixelized artifacts that aren't there on analogue cable TV.

They measure it this way because the average consumer has no way of translating that to resolution, but as a video producer I know that each MHz of bandwidth translates into about 80 lines of "horizontal resolution".

This was confirmed early one morning when a television station put up a resolution test patternSee photo. You may notice a subtle improvement in picture quality with satellite over cable, but don't count on much of an improvement. There is a solution. If you purchased the Navigo receiver, it can be fitted with an optional UHF remote control that will work from anywhere in your home. BTW, Star Choice advertises that "high definition" is up to 9 times higher resolution than "standard definition" which has no basis in fact.

So, in fact, "high definition" via satellite currently only has the potential of delivering about 4 times the resolution of "standard definition" TV not 9 times. I consider that a gross exaggeration of the facts. I have repeatedly pointed this advertising flaw out to several people at Star Choice, but they refuse to change their false advertising. As proof to the engineers at Star Choice, I point them to the web site of MotorolaExternal link that makes their high definition receivers, where it clearly says "HDTV pictures have twice the color resolution and roughly six times the sharpness of SD images.

Still Star Choice doesn't care to change their wrong advertising. Where can I find a list of channels offered by StarChoice? A list of channels is available on the StarChoice website. Information about StarChoice's HD linup is available on their website.

What channel packages are available from StarChoice? Details about StarChoice Programming packages are available on their website. What is the difference between the types of dishes StarChoice uses? Round Dish: Some of the older StarChoice systems shipped with a round dish. These dish are only capable of receiving signals from one satellite. Elliptical Dish: Most of StarChoice customers are using the newer elliptical dish that are able to receive signals from both of StarChoice's satellites.

An elliptical dish is necessary if you want to receive billingual or High Definition Programming. What is the difference between a stacked and unstacked LNBF? The signals sent from StarChoice's satellites are polarized either vertically or horizontally. An unstacked LNBF can only receive signals from one polarity at a time. This restricts its ability to support multiple receivers. A stacked LNBF overcomes this limitation by sending both sets of signals down the same cable in different frequency ranges.

Single-unstacked LNBF: Typically fould on older StarChoice systems on round dishes , and can only accomodate a single receiver and receive signals from a single satellite.

Single-stacked LNBF: Also found on older StarChoice systems on round dishes , are capable of supporting multiple receivers and receive signals form a single satellite. Some receivers do not support this LNBF because of limitations in frequency range. They are capable of receiving both Vertical and Horizontal signals simultaneously from two satellites.

When equipped with a multiswitch, can support multiple receivers.