On Sat, Sep 4, 2010 at 23:19, Glen Farney <[email protected]> wrote:
> SDV is switched digital video, it's been talked about plenty, and you can > find info all around the web and on Tivos website. > Yeah, it has come up on this list a few times. This is a good explanation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switched_video The short version is SDV is a way for cable operators to squeeze more channels, especially HD channels, into the finite bandwidth they have on the cable. Especially areas that are still operating at lower total frequencies - such as maxing out at 650MHz or 750MHz. Areas where the system is newer and operates at 860MHz or 1GHz have more 'raw' channels to use and so don't have as much pressure to use SDV. But there are other factors in play - how many analog channels are still carried (each analog channel displaces roughly 2 digital HD channels or 6-12 digital SD channels), the total number of channels offered, etc. As more channels go HD, and more channels are offered in general, we're seeing more SDV deployed. Deploying SDV can be more cost effective (aka cheaper) than upgrading an entire system's infrastructure to support 1GHz of bandwidth, which is what many older 650/750/860MHz systems would require. It can mean upgrading the head end, replacing any repeaters, switches, signal boosters, etc in the system. Possibly replacing any cable boxes in the field that don't have 1GHz tuners. And even replacing old cables. It all adds up. In the long run it isn't a bad thing, as the newer infrastructure is also better for high speed data services, and can support more VOD services, etc, but it costs a lot and takes time. So many operators will roll out SDV now, and upgrade the network over years as natural service windows come up (HW gets replaced anyway, so replace it with more capable gear over time). > As for the remote, it can be programmed to control power, volume, mute, > input on your TV and audio receiver. This is true back to even the old S1 > boxes. Use the menu on your TiVo to see the instructions regarding the > remote. > Yep. All TiVo remotes can control a TV and/or an AV receiver. They all have pre-programmed code sets that can be used. Some TiVo remotes are also learning remotes and can 'learn' IR codes not already in their pre-loaded memory. The S3, Glo, HD XL, Premier XL, and Slide remotes are learning remotes. All S1/S2 and not XL S3/S4 remotes are not learning remotes. (I believe the backlight is another distinction - if the remote has a backlight, it is a learning remote - if it doesn't have a backlight, it isn't.) The learning feature is restricted to the non-TiVo specific buttons - TV power, volume, input, mute. -- [email protected] / [email protected] Geek, Gweep, Technophile, me. www.GizmoLovers.com / www.MegaZone.org / www.Eyrie-Productions.com Hail Eris Twitter.com/megazone / Facebook.com/megazone / www.LinkedIn.com/in/megazone "A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest men" 432-363-4296 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
