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Thread: VAST Viewer Access Satellite Television - The new remote/ backspot satellite service

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    Senior Member Farmsky's Avatar
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    Default VAST Viewer Access Satellite Television - The new remote/ backspot satellite service

    This thread is to discuss VAST, the new remote direct-to-home digital satellite service

    -----------------------

    VAST is similar to Optus Aurora, but with more channels, high definition and wide-screen formats.

    It offers the same number of channels a TV viewer in the city would get. Like Aurora, it is Irdeto encrypted and at this time only one supplier (UEC) is authorised to supply the Set Top Box (STB) to decrypt the services.

    Only the VAST card and a paired UEC Set Top Box may be purchased at this time.

    Card only sales are not available.

    The VAST commercial television service is run by a Joint Venture between Southern Cross Television (Owned by Macquarie Media) and Imparja TV. They provide satellite transmission of the channels terrestrially broadcast by the 3 commercial networks.

    The VAST card and STB comes pre-activated for ABC & SBS. For remote and blackspot viewers, the commercial stations will be activated by the JV in a time and manner yet to be determined.

    The VAST service is now available for complying Mildura residents.

    Information about VAST can be found on the consortium website . It provides an online registration form to activate eligible subscribers cards. At this time only the Mildura VAST activation area is identified on a crude .

    The VAST UEC STB and card may be purchased from a number of satellite shops, which you can find by "". Supplies at this time are very limited and delays are anticipated for early adopters.

    The Digital Switchover Taskforce specification for the VAST STB is available .

    The UEC Owner Manual for the UEC DSD 4121 is available .

    The VAST service is available from Optus C1. There are currently two Transponders (TP) active.

    They are 12567 MHz and 12447 MHz, using DVB-S2:
    • 30000 kS/s symbol rate
    • Vertical polarity
    • 3/5 FEC
    • 8PSK modulation
    • Pilot on

    More Transponder info .

    There will no doubt be many issues and frustrations as the service rolls out to existing Aurora subscribers.

    Discuss them here.

    PS Mods might like to create a new Forum for VAST?
    Last edited by Farmsky; 04-07-10 at 09:08 PM.

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    Senior Member Farmsky's Avatar
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    woops
    Last edited by Farmsky; 05-07-10 at 01:17 PM. Reason: double post

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    Senior Member Farmsky's Avatar
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    Default Card only?

    Being somewhat cynical ... I suspect the Digital Taskforce was 'assisted' in 'specing' the 'product' by none other than ... UEC.

    As the initial sole supplier it makes sound economic sense. You must buy a card AND a UEC decoder for each TV point. It is simply designed (I fear), to prevent the use of alternative STB's. It's clearly a market restrictive move, handing UEC a huge market on a silver platter, no doubt dragged across the line by a fear campaign; 'look at the mess Aurora is in'.

    There can be no VAST 'free for all', as the 'Aurora mess' is a legacy of the Irdeto 1 encryption system, as members here would know. Irdeto 1 encryption is still broadcast on Aurora for legacy cards. Irdeto 1 was '' many years back and with the use of a relatively cheap smartcard, a cheap card burner, valid Irdeto 1 card details and a bit of nouse, PAYTV (and Aurora) cards could be emulated. The PayTV sector responded and in due course upgraded their card systems to later versions or in the case of Foxtel . Aurora with a limited budget, did not. This is the reason 'Gold' (Irdeto 1) cards still work on Aurora. A gold card with valid Irdeto 1 card details, opens all Aurora channels. As the owner of a valid Aurora Irdeto 1 card ...

    It will of course vanish with the turn down of Aurora in 2013.

    VAST uses Irdeto card version 5 encryption, and while I'm not saying that technology may not exist to circumvent encryption, it will never be commonplace, easy or cheap.

    If PayTV provider can offer a boutique 'Irdeto 5 'card only service' for a bunch of satellite enthusiasts ... why not VAST!

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    Default UEC DSD 4121 specifications

    It is a very great shame that the only choice for VAST customers ATM is a severely crippled and crude UEC tin box.

    Here are a couple of excerpts from the UEC 4121 VAST decoder .



    What UEC call Legal Matters. Viewer posted earlier.



    And here is the 'generous' UEC Warranty.



    We're about to replace 1,000's of Aurora decoders in remote locations.

    I'd like real choice for decoder supply.

    ------------------------------

    I for one will be hanging off and will NOT be an early adopter ... this time.

    I certainly don't need another 100% crippled and crappy box like the UEC DSD910. The remote was the only half good bit.

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    Those legal details tell it all along with the operational details.
    You will see what they want you to see and when !!
    In many ways we are where Radio was 100 years ago with single station locked receivers being sold and a licence required for each station to receive them.
    Authorities saying 'They (amatuers) wont broadcast further than the house up the street'.
    Within 10 years they had encompassed the world with Shortwave.
    Regretably this legislation is already in place and it will be the devils own job amending it but then, Laws get amended all the time so its not impossible.
    I stand unequivicably behind everything I say , I just dont ever remember saying it !!

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