STB Vs DTH

Lask week I bought Set Top Box (STB) and for that I collected some infomations about STB and Direct To Home (DTH, something similar to a mini Dish antenna). I like to share this with you.

STB Info :

Set Top Box (including Remote Control) - Rs 3532 (Rs 2940 + 20% tax). Size is same as our Dell Mouse Pad.

Sim Card - Rs 400 (Refundable). This is the one that you have to change if you want to add a specific channel or if you don't want a channel anymore.

Monthly Pay - Rs 100 for Free channels (Pay this to your cable operator) + Pay channels cost (There will be a chart which has the channel list and it's corresponding cost. You have to pay this to the SCV office or to your cable operator who in turn will pay the amount to SCV office. Visit http://www.sunnt.com/cas.htm)

Number of channels : 89 Free channels + Desired Pay channels + 12 Radio channels.

You can see all the channels in digital clarity and feel it practically. Raj TV won't come under STB. For that they are providing us a separate cable. You have to connect it to your TV. You can't see Raj TV with digital clarity.

Cons:
1. Surely it will become obsolete within 1 year. I purchased this as we have lot of cricket coming in the next 6 month like Ashes, SA tour of Aus, Lot of ODI, Ind tour of Pak.
2. If you are in a rented house don't go for STB. If you shift your house from KK Nagar (comes under SCV) to Besant Nagar (Comes under Hathway) STB of SCV won't work in Besant Nagar.

Main Channels and thier cost

ESPN + Star = Rs 35 (This Price is applicable only on annual Subscription)
Tensports = Rs 16 per month
Cartoon = Rs 22 per month
Sony Set max = Rs 14 per month
Star Movie = Rs 20 per month
HBO = Rs 20 per month
AXN = Rs 14 per month

DTH Info :

Main equipment + Sim card + Remote Control - Rs 3998 for 70 channel package (It has some Free channels as well as some Pay channels) or Rs 4998 for 130 channels package (It has some Free channels as well as Pay channels). For the first year, we can see all Pay channels for free.

From the 2nd year, we have to pay Rs 125 (per month) for 3998 for 70 channels package if we want to see the Pay channels or we don't need to pay anything, if we are contented to see Free channels alone. We have to pay Rs 250 (per month) for 4998 for 130 channels package if we want to see the Pay channels or we don't need to pay anything, if we are contented to see Free channels alone.

We have to go to the coresponding office to pay the monthly bill (just like our electricity bill) and pay manually within 3rd of every month otherwise we won't be able to see Pay channel after 7th of every month.

Cons :
1. Problem in DTH is that we don't have a dealer in all areas. We have to go to Kodampakkam dealer (Sekar Emporium) or Guindy dealer.
2. Yet to become popular.

If you are in a mobile job or if you shift house frequently, DTH is the best.