It’s been more than a year now since the introduction of Airtel Digital TV’s High Definition (HD) receivers in the market. IndianDTH Blog is delighted to publish our exclusive review of Airtel HD receivers and its performance. We would like to enlighten all the readers that this article is neither a comparison of any DTH nor we try to degrade any of the DTH services currently in the market. Here we are simply trying to expose the experience while using this particular DTH with the pure intention to improve the quality of service provided by all the DTH products including Airtel as well as to serve this note as a guide for the new customers. Many of the comments are compiled here based on the comments and compliments from our forum members in the recent past as well as based on the review inputs from Indian DTH Forum experts.

Airtel Receiver & Remote:- Airtel is currently having two kinds of HD receivers in the market, i.e. KaonMedia and Huwei. We have noticed based on the inputs from our forum members, that Huwei receivers perform well compare to KaonMedia, however IndianDTH Blog do not accede with this argument. The KaonMedia Receiver looks sleeky with a stylish full black color. The smart card and cam slot is fully inside the receiver which gives a better look for the receiver. There are ports available for HDMI Cable, Component out, 2 USB ports, 1 Ethernet Port and 1 coaxial out. Airtel DTH HD receivers comes with a Universal remote which is an added advantage.

Receiver (STB) Program/Software:- The software and menus provided by Airtel DTH is really awesome with its advanced menus. Although, it may difficult for a beginner the remote gives you various options and an advanced user would love it to play with. Functions such as “Genre-Search, Program-Search, Weather and sports gadgets, Program Reminders etc. are some exceptional plus points in ADTV. At the same time we have noticed some minor bugs in the existing software such as ‘popping up of program bar’. Some users have also commented automatic booting of stb’s. We hope Airtel may look into these concerns and fix these bugs in their next over-the-air (OTA) software updates.

Picture Quality:- Airtel is maintaining a very good Picture Quality for both High Definition (HD) and Standard Definition (SD) channels. However some comments have also noted that some SD channels are compressed below average bit-rate and visible on a ‘32’inch or bigger LCD, Plasma or LED Televisions. Airtel may have to review this area of concern as we IndianDTH blog believe this particular concern can be resolved by improving the compression rate and maintaining a standard rate for all SD channels. Airtel DTH is currently providing a total of ‘11’ True HD channels on their bouquet, and all the HD channels are found to be excellent in their picture clarity. IndianDTH forum have seen various positive comments in this regard and would like to applaud ADTV for its efforts in maintaining the excellent quality particularly in HD channels.

Audio Quality:- As noted earlier, ADTV is maintaining an excellent audio quality for all their channels. The stunning quality of 5.1 audio output will give an added effect on all the programs viewed though Airtel HD receiver. However, while we publish this review we have seen some audio issues in the recently introduced HD channels such as UTV Stars HD and Colors HD having low audio quality compare to the other channels. We believe ADTV will fix these issues at the earliest as these channels are recently launched or introduced in ADTV platform.

Channel Offerings:- Airtel DTH is currently offering a total of ‘262” channels in its platform which is the second highest in the industry. Being a younger player in Indian DTH market, Airtel have maintained its momentum by introducing various popular channels in all genres and languages. One of the major advantages in Airtel DTH is its focus in all the local language. Be it north, east, west or south you will find most of the popular channels from all Languages and this has played a vital role for Airtel to clasp their market all over India.

Airtel is also keen in introducing new HD channels in its bouquet. ADTV is currently offering Eleven (11) True HD channels out of the available Twenty Three (23) HD channels currently having downlink permission in India. Airtel DTH currently in Third position in providing the highest number of HD channels, next to Dish TV and Videocon D2H. However, one of the bad impression in this aspect for ADTV is the lack of Sports HD channels in their bouquet. IndianDTH blog hope ADTV will sort out this concern at the earliest as this has been a long pending concern for Airtel DTH.

Channel Packs, Chhota packs and Add-ons:- Airtel is offering a diversified categories of channels packs making it easier for the customer to choose for their favorite channels. Sports Economy, Two/Three Language packs, South Economy are some of the examples. Based on TRAI regulations, Airtel DTH has also introduced the A-la-Carte pack in their bouquet, where customer can choose their channels at a minimum of Rs.150/- monthly rate. ADTV has recently introduced All-Round pack costs Rs.550/- per month where all the channels (excluding SuperHitz Channel and VOD services) will be added to your pack. This also include any new addition of channels for the next 12 months. The add-ons provided by Airtel are comparatively low-cost. Airtel also offers free preview of channels for 1 to 2 weeks of its introduction. Airtel’s also offers Four video on demand (VOD) channels caters block buster movies from all the languages. Customers can subscribe to it for a full day view of it, at a minimal rate.

Online Self Care Portal :- Airtel provides the self-care portal for its users which is an added advantage for ADTV customers. Customers get the freedom to subscribe to channels, subscribe to VOD programs, online recharge and to review their daily burn rate etc. through their online portal.

Customer Relation/Service:- We have seen various comments pertain to poor customer relation of AirtelDTH. Various comments were seen on poor handling of customer complaints, and ADTV must shed light to improve the customer care services.

Channel Line-up and Order:- This has been one of the cons from ADTV that a particular genre or language of channels are scattered around and you have to remember a particular channel number to tune to it. Also, Airtel should have atleast made some effort to segregate and arrange particular channel categories and line them up in a proper way.

This exclusive reviews was written by Mr.AB from Indian DTH Forum

Fore more comments and reviews visit our Forum: Airtel Digital TV HD Receiver Review and Picture

Pictures of all the 11 True HD Channels available on Airtel Digital TV