Draco HDTV Setup Box (Front)
Draco Indoor Antenna (Rear) Connection to Draco stb
Draco Indoor Antenna (Front)
Just point this indoor antenna to open field from your window and hopefully you can receive free to air HD5. You will be able to view the signal quality on your TV screen by pressing "menu" twice on your Draco remote control.
Below is a sample from of HD content from HD5. Took them at night without flash.
Do note that Draco HDTV stb can only receive HD5 and other standard channel like CNA, Channel 8, TV mobile (No Channel U). So consider if its worthwhile to get Draco stb just for this HD5 Channel. There are also other brand of HDTV stb in the market which you want to look at. Personally its unbearable to watch any standard channel on my HD LCD TV after having HD5.
Well if the price of a blu-ray is that of a DVD would you buy it then? The answer should be YES for those who love to see HD content on their LCD TV. What I am going to explain is the source and means of getting these cheap Blu-Ray from Amazon US. With the help of a fellow blogger who had ordered some disc earlier, we shall show you how the purchasing can be so easy and cheap. You dont even have to step out of your house or meet someone to collect the disc. I will update the timeline and sequence as my friend gets her disc.
My friend got a Singpost US Vpost account so we are going to use that for delivery from USA Vpost to his house. What it does is whatever you ordered from Amazon, simply put the shipping address to your US Vpost Address. US Vpost will send the disc to your house in Singapore and you pay for US Vpost service. Currently they charge a one-off S$13.24 & S$9.16 per kilogram. Make sure your shipping from Amazon to US Vpost is free by selecting Super Free Saver. Super saver is available for purchase above US$25. US Vpost currently have a UOB 12% promotion off shipping charges that is why he is using that method. Alternatively you can get Amazaon to send directly to your address at US$4.99 (one-off) & US$3.99 per disc. Registration for Amazon and US Vpost is free.
Take note that as of 18 March 2008, Vpost will charge one-off $13.24 and $9.16 per kg for "Others" category which Blu-Ray falls under.
https://www.vpost.com.sg/vpostusa05/intro2.html
For more details on Vpost service, pls refer to below link.
https://www.vpost.com.sg/login.html
Breakdown of the cost
Exchange rate = 1.42
Weight of 8 Blu-ray disc = 1kg
Total cost of 8 Blu-Ray disc = USD$130.26 or S$185.34
Amazon shipping cost to US Vpost= Free (more then US$25)
US Vpost Shipping cost to Singapore before 18 March 2008= ( 8 X 5.09 ) + 8.14 = S$ 48.86
US Vpost Shipping cost to Singapore after 18 March 2008 = ( 1 kg X 9.16) + 13.24 = S$ 22.4
(US Vpost will alert you when they receive from Amazon. You pay online to Vpost)
Take note that as of 18 March 2008, Vpost will charge one-off $13.24 and $9.16 per kg for "Others" category which Blu-Ray falls under.
1) UOB Promotion for US Vpost (Valid til end April 2008)
12% off shipping cost = 12% X $22.4 = S$2.68
Total Shipping charges = S$31.56 - S$3.78 = S$19.71
2) Vpost $15 off promotion for US Vpost (Valid til end March 2008)
Total shipping chargers = $48.86 - $15 = $33.86
You can only have one promotion code for each delivery. For my case I will pick the UOB promotion since shipping cost less then $40. Also promotion expiry soon.
So if you spilt the shipping charges to the 8 disc, you get S$2.46 for each disc purchased. Take example Kungfu Hustle, your disc cost US$14.95 or S$20.93 plus the $2.46 shipping charges and total is just $ 23.3. Thats a savings of more then $20 if purchased in Singapore.
We will track the status of the purchase and delivery below. Will keep you updated as we get the exact price charged and delivery date.
Order Status
Purchase Blu Ray : 15 Mar 2008
Processing Amazon/waiting carrier pickup : 20 Mar 2008 (5 days)
Departure from Amazon Phoenix : 21 Mar 2008
Estimated date of receipt at US Vpost : 29 Mar 2008 (9 days)
Arrival at US Vpost Portland : 26 Mar 2008 (6 days)
Super Saver Shipping: Take an additional 3 to 5 business days to ship out from fulfillment center(s). Transit time for Super Saver Shipping orders is 5 to 9 business days after shipping.
Vpost processing : 28 Mar 2008 (2 days)
Payment : 28 March 2008 (Delivery in 5-8 days)
Package received : 23 X 31 X 8 cm & 1 kg.
Vpost Calculator shipping charge: $22.4
Vpost actually charged me $48.86 initially which is the per disc charging rate. Reason given is I submitted my invoice before 18 March 2008 where the weight charging rate kicks in. $26 is the differences between the 2 shipping rate which I am trying to get them to change to the new rate for mine. The picture is much clearer now what charges are expected and days to delivery.
Managed to make them change the charging to weight instead so my shipping charge is now $22.24 including the UOB 12% discount will be $19.57.
Receive of package from Speedpost today 3 April 2008 at 12pm. 6 days from date of Vpost payment.
Amazon Box
All BR Disc sealed
The box can at least put in another 4 Blue-Ray Disc. It doesnt really matter as it goes by weight for Vpost.
The credit card charge for the 8 Blu-Ray disc is $185.34 which is using the exchange rate of 1.42. Total number of days from purchase from Amazon to receiving it is 19 days.
Now its time to sit back and enjoy. In the meantime I am on the look out for bargains and probably will make another purchase mid April before the UOB Vpost 12% discount is over.
2nd Order from Amazon
I have made another order from Amazon on 14 April 2008. This time I order 9 titles 7 single disc and 2 titles with 5 & 4 disc. I am using the same Amazon free shipping to US Vpost. This time Amazon ship by 2 package.
1) 0.5kg Package received on 8 May 2008.
18.0X 26.0X 6.0 cm Box contain 1 title - Blade Runner
Bluray Disc wrap in plastic2) 1.1kg package 24.0X 31.0X 9.0 cm. Received 13 May 2008.
BR wrap in plastic
Total cost of the 2 package is 27.90 excluding UOB 12% discount which is extended til 30 Jun 2008. Although Amazon sent by 2 package it is still cheaper then amazon direct shipping. So far no problem with Vpost except they will process your first box received with the invoice. When they receive the second box they will ask for another invoice. As Vpost dont open the boxes they receive, they cant really match the items in the box with the items on the invoice. So you need to tell them that. I get a 1 day response by calling Vpost Singapore. Just dial 1605 and press "4".
The G25 Steering wheel with clutch control like those used in Formula One. If you look at the underside of the wheel, this is where all the cable from the pedal, gearshift, USB & Power cable are connected to.
The Gearshift has two option of control. 6 Gear manual transmission or 2 way transmission(Up and down to shift gear).
The pedal setup has a accelerator, brake and clutch options. Only some game will support this function.
The Steering Wheel does sound impressive but the headache would be to find something to mount it. If you cash rich then you can look at Playseat www.playseat.com which cost in the range of USD$249 for the seat, steering wheel and pedal mount. Dont forget to add the $180+ freight cost thru Vpost if you really interested to send this to Singapore.
For me, I just make used of my old IKEA side table which cost less then $100 to mount my G25 Steering Wheel. Not fanciful but its practically stable and portable.
