Updated software now available for the SD PVR decoder
Posted by on Sunday, September 27, 2009
Under: DSTV
MultiChoice announced that updated software for the SD PVR decoder is now available for
download.
This new software has stability improvements, but also includes the following changes :
• Full widescreen support
• African Language Soundtrack support
• A change in the default UHF Frequency (from 46 to 63)
• Increase in the number of configurable networks (from 6 to 18)
• Changes to XtraView settings
How will I know if my decoder has the latest software?
• From any video channel, press MENU to go to the Decoder Menu.
• Select Information Central
• Check the “L number” on line 2.
• L23 is the software for the IS7 SD PVR (@ 17 September 2009)
• L12 is the software for the W4 SD PVR (@ 17 September 2009)
How do I download the software?
• From any video channel, press MENU to go to the Decoder Menu
• Select Advanced Options
• Select DSD Upgrade and follow the on-screen instructions. Please do not interrupt the download and wait for normal video & audio to resume. The download should take approximately 30 minutes.
Will my decoder automatically upgrade to the new software?
Although we will “push” the software to your decoder later this month / early October, we cannot guarantee that your decoder will receive it. As a precaution, we recommend that all customers check that their decoders have received the latest software.
What is the impact of the software download?
Video & audio will be unavailable for approximately 30 minutes while the software is downloaded. Please do not interrupt the download and wait for normal video & audio to resume. The downloading of new software does not impact previous settings stored on the decoder (including PG PIN code or reminders).
More on the widescreen feature
MultiChoice broadcasts content in both 4:3 and 16:9 (widescreen) format, however the content may not be best suited to your TV (ie. you may have either a 4:3 or 16:9 TV). Widescreen support allows you to choose the option which best suits your viewing environment. To access the widescreen settings :
• press MENU,
• select Advanced Option,
• select TV Installation,
• enter 9949,
• select Aspect Ratio and follow the on-screen instructions.
First set the ratio of the TV on which you view DStv, ie. either 4:3 (for a normal TV) or 16:9 (for a widescreen TV). Once you have selected the aspect ratio of the TV, select how you would like the opposing content to be displayed.
• If you set the TV Set Aspect Ratio to 4:3, you can select to view 16:9 content as either "Cropped (Partial Picture)" or "Letterbox (Full Picture)".
• If you set the TV Aspect Ratio to 16:9, you can select to view 4:3 content as either "Stretched (Full Picture)" or "Pillarbox (Full Picture)".
While watching TV, you can press SHIFT + TV GUIDE to switch between the four widescreen viewing options.
This will change the viewing on your current channel to the next Aspect Ratio setting. Pressing SHIFT + TV GUIDE again will change to the next setting. You can continue this until you have viewed the 4 options available.
More on the African Language Soundtrack support feature which has been added
At the moment, if Zulu is available as one of the Soundtrack options, however the soundtrack pop-up does not indicate this clearly and you need to select the various options (one by one), listen to the audio and then only confirm your choice.
This change ensures that when one of the four African languages is available as a selectable soundtrack, it is clearly indicated on the soundtrack pop-up.
The picture on my TV screen looks funny (people are too wide / heads are cut off / there is a black band above and below / there is a black band on either side).
It may be that the aspect ratio settings on your decoder are incorrect.
While watching TV, you can press SHIFT + TV GUIDE to switch between the four available widescreen viewing options.
This will change the viewing on your current channel to the next Aspect Ratio setting. Pressing SHIFT + TV GUIDE again will change to the next setting. You can continue this until you have viewed the 4 options available.
This new software has stability improvements, but also includes the following changes :
• Full widescreen support
• African Language Soundtrack support
• A change in the default UHF Frequency (from 46 to 63)
• Increase in the number of configurable networks (from 6 to 18)
• Changes to XtraView settings
How will I know if my decoder has the latest software?
• From any video channel, press MENU to go to the Decoder Menu.
• Select Information Central
• Check the “L number” on line 2.
• L23 is the software for the IS7 SD PVR (@ 17 September 2009)
• L12 is the software for the W4 SD PVR (@ 17 September 2009)
How do I download the software?
• From any video channel, press MENU to go to the Decoder Menu
• Select Advanced Options
• Select DSD Upgrade and follow the on-screen instructions. Please do not interrupt the download and wait for normal video & audio to resume. The download should take approximately 30 minutes.
Will my decoder automatically upgrade to the new software?
Although we will “push” the software to your decoder later this month / early October, we cannot guarantee that your decoder will receive it. As a precaution, we recommend that all customers check that their decoders have received the latest software.
What is the impact of the software download?
Video & audio will be unavailable for approximately 30 minutes while the software is downloaded. Please do not interrupt the download and wait for normal video & audio to resume. The downloading of new software does not impact previous settings stored on the decoder (including PG PIN code or reminders).
More on the widescreen feature
MultiChoice broadcasts content in both 4:3 and 16:9 (widescreen) format, however the content may not be best suited to your TV (ie. you may have either a 4:3 or 16:9 TV). Widescreen support allows you to choose the option which best suits your viewing environment. To access the widescreen settings :
• press MENU,
• select Advanced Option,
• select TV Installation,
• enter 9949,
• select Aspect Ratio and follow the on-screen instructions.
First set the ratio of the TV on which you view DStv, ie. either 4:3 (for a normal TV) or 16:9 (for a widescreen TV). Once you have selected the aspect ratio of the TV, select how you would like the opposing content to be displayed.
• If you set the TV Set Aspect Ratio to 4:3, you can select to view 16:9 content as either "Cropped (Partial Picture)" or "Letterbox (Full Picture)".
• If you set the TV Aspect Ratio to 16:9, you can select to view 4:3 content as either "Stretched (Full Picture)" or "Pillarbox (Full Picture)".
While watching TV, you can press SHIFT + TV GUIDE to switch between the four widescreen viewing options.
This will change the viewing on your current channel to the next Aspect Ratio setting. Pressing SHIFT + TV GUIDE again will change to the next setting. You can continue this until you have viewed the 4 options available.
More on the African Language Soundtrack support feature which has been added
At the moment, if Zulu is available as one of the Soundtrack options, however the soundtrack pop-up does not indicate this clearly and you need to select the various options (one by one), listen to the audio and then only confirm your choice.
This change ensures that when one of the four African languages is available as a selectable soundtrack, it is clearly indicated on the soundtrack pop-up.
The picture on my TV screen looks funny (people are too wide / heads are cut off / there is a black band above and below / there is a black band on either side).
It may be that the aspect ratio settings on your decoder are incorrect.
While watching TV, you can press SHIFT + TV GUIDE to switch between the four available widescreen viewing options.
This will change the viewing on your current channel to the next Aspect Ratio setting. Pressing SHIFT + TV GUIDE again will change to the next setting. You can continue this until you have viewed the 4 options available.
In : DSTV