How to future-proof your set-top box

Hyderabad: When HD television sets first came in 2010, many ‘experts’ said: “Nobody is going to spend all that extra money, just for a better picture!” They were wrong.

And on Friday,  television took a leap forward when Tata Sky unveiled plans to launch 4K or ultra-high definition (UHD) set-top boxes (STBs) early in 2015 — and to drive home the message, they used a 4K STB and a Sony HD TV to show live, the France-Germany Fifa match. A day earlier, Videocon d2h promised 4K services ‘soon’.

4K Ultra HD resolution gives a picture of 3840 pixels × 2160 lines — much more than HD. Having seen the same video in both formats, side by side, I can vouch for the image clarity and detail.

Many of the STBs are fuelled with silicon from Broadcom, a world leader in chips for STBs. Their solutions are already found under the hoods of many STB brands sold in India and in addition to creating single-chip solutions for UHD boxes, they are also helping multiple broadcasters transmit Fifa matches in full 4K — a first for a major global sporting event.

Now, there are over 100 million Indian homes with a cable TV connection, 20 million of them digital, in addition to another 56 million with satellite dishes fueled by digital set top boxes. To reach this huge market, Broadcom has created a ready-to-use design and is even throwing in the software free to encourage Indian makers of STBs.

Made-in-India STBs will soon be competing with imported models. For example, Simmtronics claim their first product will come with a WiFi router that will turn your TV into a smart TV on which you can also browse the Internet.