Outrageous VAST/ Aurora opportunism

**Farmsky** · 01-07-10, 07:30 PM

Marketed as an essential accessory for existing Aurora subs moving to VAST.

A simple $3.00, 2 way '' for ... wait for it ... $78.00! That label must be bloody expensive.

Needless to say I won't be shopping there!

I have advised them of my displeasure and am in the process of advising the digital roll-out mob.

Hopefully they'll come to their senses ...

I guess there will be a few out there looking to make a quick buck.

**viewer** · 01-07-10, 08:02 PM

And for $10.00 extra, they can set it to a 11300 lnb as well...sheez

**Keepleft** · 01-07-10, 08:29 PM

Don't mind folk making a profit, but sheesh:-(

Don't tell Joolia, otherwise this industry might be Supaahhh Profit Taxed.

Bloody hell.

**gordon_s1942** · 01-07-10, 08:56 PM

Like the days of 'Gold' anodised antennas when colour was introduced, how many will claim your current Aurora set up is A/Inefficent, B/the wrong cable, C/replace the LNB and heaven knows what else to screw the unsuspecting ??
If thats $78 for a 2-way, what for a 3 or 4 way then??

**bambbbam** · 01-07-10, 08:58 PM

Originally Posted by Farmsky

wait for it ... $78.00! That label must be bloody expensive.

Is it a 'Monster' brand?

**LeroyPatrol** · 01-07-10, 09:12 PM

wow everything on that site is rather expensive!

**kevin1341** · 01-07-10, 10:38 PM

Who knows that name from the good old days.
I do and I remember well.
Nothing has changed.

**Hannible** · 02-07-10, 01:24 PM

Hi All,

This may be a bit off topic, what i fail to understand is this, wouldnt it just be cheaper for the government to upgrade Aurora and then assign Vast within the Aurora package, Aurora does have the free space to do this, then simply use the same aurora card with the vast added on?

cheers
hannible

**efab** · 02-07-10, 03:29 PM

I think some one hit the nail on the head the other day....

if there is a way to make something simple more complex or to stuff up a good thing
then the federal government is the one to contact as they have a proven track record

**gordon_s1942** · 02-07-10, 03:53 PM

Its all to do with money ie Broadcasting Rights and Advertising.
Each little Media Mogul wants to lock this up hence the restrictive exclusive Smart Card locked STB's.
I believe that the broadcasters will restrict your capability to record (Timeshift) some of the programs ad hoc and possibly at a future date, introduce a Payperview service for special events.
Shows like the immensly popular Twilight could blocked from recording for the first run of a new season, if you want to keep it then go buy the DVD.
To obtain a PPV all you would do is ring in, quote the STB card,credit card and its done, same as Austar/Foxtel do now.
Some of this was mentioned in the very early days of the 'FreeView' advertising but because of rather poor handling, it didnt eventuate but this VAST is a whole new Ball Game and the 'Sky is the Limit' PUN intended !!
If this was FREE we would ALL be buying STB's without waiting for authorisations or 'SwitchOff' to occur.

**marty 17** · 02-07-10, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by kevin1341

Who knows that name from the good old days.
I do and I remember well.
Nothing has changed.

I actually sold this guy an item and when he received it by post he said I had not described it correctly and reduced the price he had agreed to pay me.
But I believe every dog (and he is one)has there day.

**nando** · 02-07-10, 05:55 PM

$78!!! hope it comes with a reach around.

**admin** · 02-07-10, 06:06 PM

I think it is likely to go down the road of the government insulation scheme where a lot of people jumped on the band wagon to try and make a lot of money.

There will be people out there trying to rip consumers off for all its worth.

**pc9** · 02-07-10, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by gordon_s1942

Its all to do with money ie Broadcasting Rights and Advertising.
Each little Media Mogul wants to lock this up hence the restrictive exclusive Smart Card locked STB's.
I believe that the broadcasters will restrict your capability to record (Timeshift) some of the programs ad hoc and possibly at a future date, introduce a Payperview service for special events.
Shows like the immensly popular Twilight could blocked from recording for the first run of a new season, if you want to keep it then go buy the DVD.
To obtain a PPV all you would do is ring in, quote the STB card,credit card and its done, same as Austar/Foxtel do now.
Some of this was mentioned in the very early days of the 'FreeView' advertising but because of rather poor handling, it didnt eventuate but this VAST is a whole new Ball Game and the 'Sky is the Limit' PUN intended !!
If this was FREE we would ALL be buying STB's without waiting for authorisations or 'SwitchOff' to occur.

Maybe I'm having another little of those paranoid moments but I notice a lot of suppliers such as Kristal, Satplus etc gearing up for VAST (with decoder stocks) as though access will be provided in the very near future to current Aurora subscribers across the northern and southern zones. I can't imagine that there will be massive numbers of digital blackspot and/or Aurora authorised services in the Sunraysia area to justify such optimism. Perhaps the dealers know more than the rest of us, but if we are to go by the mandated digital switchover times for the remotes, then the rest of us are looking at 1 July 2013 before we are able to receive the new VAST service. Can anyone shed some further light on this please.

**viewer** · 02-07-10, 06:23 PM

HI,

There is hope that Aurora users will be able to swap to VAST, however there has been no specific announcement made yet.

You must remember, it is a phased roll towards 2013. This is the timeline

This site mentions this only on the FAQ's area

The Aurora service will continue until switchover in 2013. The VAST service will operate side by side. It is expected that Aurora viewers will make the switch to digital by purchasing a VAST set top box (STB). In most instances, a new dish or cabling will not be required.

**Farmsky** · 02-07-10, 06:35 PM

We're getting a bit off topic.

However, there is an of sorts, but from the (Southern Cross led) consortium, ... which I find a little odd. But then it's their advertising market.

When is the new service going to be available?

Viewers in Mildura/Sunraysia are now able to watch the programs, however please be aware that the new service will be in test mode until the Digital Switch Over date of 30 June 2010.

Existing Remote Area viewers who currently watch Southern Cross and Imparja via satellite will be able to convert to this new service later in the year following the Mildura/Sunraysia switchover.

We will have more information on this site soon.

**gordon_s1942** · 02-07-10, 08:14 PM

If you read that from Mysat , I read it as you will be able to have ABC/SBS IMMEDIATELY on connection as you can now with Aurora but not the commercial channels.
BUT, is that ALL ABC/SBS OZ wide or zoned?

Putting it bluntly, if you already have Aurora now irrespective of where you are, why buy another STB just yet to see almost the same service, ie ABC/SBS ?
Ok, it may give you the HD, 1,2,&3 of each BUT to see C7/Impaja (East) GWN/WIN (west) you still need your old Aurora stb untill your area is officialy switched off.
Your warranty will run out before you get the use from the STB.

**Farmsky** · 02-07-10, 08:48 PM

If you do manage to get hold of the UEC VAST 4121 Decoder, it comes with the card pre-activated for ABC and SBS.

Almost certainly ... it's all time zones ... ah la Aurora.

And I can see no reason why 'later this year' for existing Aurora subs won't happen.

My guess is that 'later this year' is more to do with the very limited UEC STB supply ATM. I'm still not certain that any are actually supplied yet???

**dryfry** · 02-07-10, 11:48 PM

That is a bit steep . I've used an antsig brand splitter from bunnings to good effect. Only ten bucks a pop cheaper than those ones but same job.
As for VAST boxes not being available , It makes for a very strong case to have card only VAST subs available.
There is a good range of DVBS2 boxes already on the market here.

**Hannible** · 03-07-10, 01:09 AM

Originally Posted by efab

I think some one hit the nail on the head the other day....

if there is a way to make something simple more complex or to stuff up a good thing
then the federal government is the one to contact as they have a proven track record

Somewhere in here, i did see the following quote;

"We are from the government, and we are here to help"

My answer - yeah right.

cheers
hannible