Digital interface - whats it for?

[the whistler]

Just to start another Sky HD rumour .....

On the back of the sky+ box there is a plate which according to the manual 'covers a general purpose interface - for future plug in modules'

As far as I know there has never been anything to plug into this. Could it be just remotely possible that Skys plans were/are to develop a HD module to plug into the standard sky+ box?

Think about it. Whats the differerence between sky+ and sky+HD? A decoder chip, a hdmi socket and the software. Maybe a plug in module is all that may be required to upgrade to HD.

Ok its just a wild theory, but what else could the interface be for?

Clutching at straws.

Why on earth would Sky want us to have an easy and cheap option of upgrading existing equipment to HD when they can make it as difficult and expensive as possible?

[the whistler]

Who mentioned 'cheap' ? This is sky we are talking about

The 'upgrade' would also probably involve a higher capacity hard disc. So it could be a relativly expensive upgrade

Originally Posted by the whistler

Who mentioned 'cheap' ? This is sky we are talking about

The 'upgrade' would also probably involve a higher capacity hard disc. So it could be a relativly expensive upgrade

Ok then "cheaper" than a new box. No point in doing that.

What they could do is let you keep the old Sky+ outer casing and provide you with entirely new contents to allow HD, including new board, hard drive, rear connections, slot in card, software upgrade tc.

[Starburst]

Originally Posted by the whistler

Ok its just a wild theory, but what else could the interface be for?

The interface was there when SKY D launched in 1998, I don't think SKY were thinking about HD back then

There were rumours of a PACE developed DD5.1 capable module, rumours of a possible route to an external CAM and interface for a more advanced keyboard/joypad.

All amounted to nothing

[Knyght_byte]

cant see a reason why you couldnt buy a box (im talking once the initial HD box thing is launched and sold in sufficient quantity) that allows you to watch HD channels, and record them on to the original Sky+ box's hard drive.....

just for arguments sake say the HD box comes out at £400, but once initial sales are done they drop it to £300.....they could sell this add on box for £180 so people can at least watch HD and just use their current + box for recording......i'm sure a lot of people will otherwise just wait for Sky to drop the price for the HD box very low......so for sky this would be a bonus as they would sell these decoder boxes, then people are bound to think, 'wait a minute, i'm not managing to record much on this' and buy a HD box anyhow...heh

[Fusewire]

The interface was there when SKY D launched in 1998, I don't think SKY were thinking about HD back then

Don't forget though that what it was intended for and what it could be capable of are two different things.

[the whistler]

If its a digital interface, then it should theoretically be able to communicate with any add on that is connected to it as long as both ends use the same protocols.

[quote=that allows you to watch HD channels, and record them on to the original Sky+ box's hard drive.....
[/QUOTE]

I am sure you will get a lot of HD content on a "standard" Sky+ box.

Note "standard" as in 40gig.

Even the 160 is pretty small.

Well infact, even 300 is tiny.

[a3nige]

Not having sky+ i can't help, but why not take the cover off and see what is there?

Originally Posted by a3nige

Not having sky+ i can't help, but why not take the cover off and see what is there?

Standard 40 gig
160 is erm 160gig
and apparently HD is something like 300

But my point being, even with 300gig you will not get a lot of HD content stored.

[a3nige]

Sorry nanookles, I meant the cover 'covering'

"On the back of the sky+ box there is a plate which according to the manual covers a general purpose interface - for future plug in modules"

[wyrdness]

It's for an interface card that connects the set top box to a PC. These are used when writing software to run on the box, such as interactive applications. You need special firmware in the box and a very expensive software development kit too.

[BruceH]

Correct.
It is/was used during interactive application development.
The application could be streamed to the box through the card interface, removing the need for a broadcast rig, or broadcast simulation rig.

From memory these cards used to burn out a lot !!