No money -
This is a reuse of old pre-DSO transmitter hardware - must be written off before the end of 2018.
It is a reuse of old hardware but there is still room to tweak power levels after the service is up and running, it is fairly normal to make adjustments after a service goes live. I'm not saying they will be increased to the same power level as existing services. Fitting 2 national multiplexes onto just 6 frequencies will not be easy, increasing the power levels too much will just make co-channel interference more of a problem.
As for being written off before the end of 2018, the 2018 termination date is just a line in the sand. If 700MHz clearance happens at an early stage, then the new services will have to go at the end of 2018 to make room to relocate COM4, 5 &6. If 700MHz clearance isn't required or happens later, these services could potentially be extended
Do understand - this is a message from the broadcasters and Ofcom to the backward looking (part of the) public about phasing out DVB-T beginning in 2014.
If DVB-T is not phased out - rather soon - DTT will not survive much longer than this decade. DTT must adapt to the newer technologies to stay competetive.
Indeed, it's to stimulate demand for DVB-T2 equipment prior to any forced relocation of COM4-6 onto the 600MHz band, which would have to use DVB-T2 and regional SFNs to match existing coverage.
In Germany their three COM muxes are not available at several/many main TX sites and one COM mux (RTL) is being closed.
Lars
The problem in Germany is even more tricky than here because of the regional nature of broadcasting. Germany has always had a strong, popular FTA satellite service and DTT there simply isn't as popular as it is in the UK. With RTL's changing priorities, it's hardly surprising that they no longer wish to invest in DTT.
Could it be a boom time for aerial installers in some areas in the next few years as consumers are obliged to replace their aerials - if they're not intending to be wholly dependent on cable, satellite or internet for their future TV needs?! :rolleyes:
I've already seen comments from aerial installers suggesting that they see it as an opportunity to get customers to buy new aerials. Obviously, to receive services from an alternative transmitter where their main transmitter won't be carrying the new services.
Let the buyer beware, these multiplexes won't be around for more than a few years!
Germany had a very strong cable TV culture in the west ... And it lasted well into the digital age....
Whilst the easiet way to cover the East / all on reunification was satellite ....
ATT was never very strong and DTT evn less .. So muxes are optimised for mobile / resilient reception...
The Netherlands likewise is cabled ..
Terrestrial broadcasting is the one that has most variation in the world ... As various governments interfere.... And do things politically ....
Left alone in other means the vast majority if the world uses DVB. ...
But they should be looking for wide band as this wil become more Likely to be needed after the 700 MHz reallocation.
But yes remember that the muxes are temporary.
And when the temporary muxes go, one or more of the exsting 5 SD muxes will change to HD. That's the entire point of these temporary muxes, to provide a bridge while people get DVB-T2 equipment.
And when the temporary muxes go, one or more of the exsting 5 SD muxes will change to HD. That's the entire point of these temporary muxes, to provide a bridge while people get DVB-T2 equipment.
Be in no doubt, if 700MHz is cleared all 3 COM muxes will have to operate as DVB-T2 or have severely reduced coverage. The revised frequency plans allow for only the PSB DVB-T muxes to continue as DVB-T.
OK, so what on earth is the reference to Croydon BBC1 on channel 31 and Croydon BBC2 on channel 37 about in Appendix A of this document?
Look at the first column - "site". Those two ex-analog Croydon txs are coming up to Winter Hill. This added complication (and an antenna rotation) will be why Winter Hill isn't coming on line quite as quickly as Crystal Palace which can reuse spare txs that are already onsite.
Not wideband (you don't want to pick up 4g mobile), you need a new Group T aerial.
When did new aerial groups get created? And is it possible to buy one? I probably need a new aerial, but I've been waiting until it is possible to by a wideband that only covers UHF channels 21 to 60. Last time I looked these didn't exist.
Yep that's the new group T. I think these are only just starting to appear. For years we were told to go wideband but now everyone should have group T. If your one of the many with an old type wideband your at much higher risk of picking up 4g.
Yep that's the new group T. I think these are only just starting to appear. For years we were told to go wideband but now everyone should have group T. If your one of the many with an old type wideband your at much higher risk of picking up 4g.
Unless these aerials actually have filters I don't see how they are going to be particularly effective at rejecting 4G unless they drop off significantly well before channel 60.
Yep that's the new group T. I think these are only just starting to appear. For years we were told to go wideband but now everyone should have group T. If your one of the many with an old type wideband your at much higher risk of picking up 4g.
It was quite right to recommend wideband aerials when many areas had multiplexes scattered across the full UHF range. Clearly that became a problem when the 800MHz range was cleared, now those aerials will have no protection against 4G signals in that range.
Unfortunately, history will repeat itself if the 700MHz range is cleared. The new, post DSO, full band aerials will have no protection from 4G/5G signals in the 700MHz range.
Freeview Lite viewers are not completely stuffed - they get the delights of CBBC & BBC Three in HD (at the expense of BBC Red Button HD.
I wonder if the BBC researched this decision thoroughly enough. Not wanting to generalise too much, but would there not be a higher chance that people living 'in the sticks' who rely on Freeview Lite would be more likely to be BBC Four than BBC Three viewers?
Be in no doubt, if 700MHz is cleared all 3 COM muxes will have to operate as DVB-T2 or have severely reduced coverage. The revised frequency plans allow for only the PSB DVB-T muxes to continue as DVB-T.
This is very interseting to note! I also wonder if at that point they will also try and squeeze all BBC channels plus ITV, C4 and C5 in SD onto one MUX PSB 1 then upgrade PSB 2 to DVB-T2 too! In this senario we will only have 1 DVB-T1 MUX left ! and it will only carry the essentual PSB channels! This would give 2 PSB T2 MUXs to carry all PSB channels that are on the 1 PSB 1 DVB-T1 MUX, with the com MUXs carrying everything else!
Unless these aerials actually have filters I don't see how they are going to be particularly effective at rejecting 4G unless they drop off significantly well before channel 60.
Freeview Lite viewers are not completely stuffed - they get the delights of CBBC & BBC Three in HD (at the expense of BBC Red Button HD.
I wonder if the BBC researched this decision thoroughly enough. Not wanting to generalise too much, but would there not be a higher chance that people living 'in the sticks' who rely on Freeview Lite would be more likely to be BBC Four than BBC Three viewers?
remember the extra HD MUXs will only be on 30 transmitters anyway, so people on the other 50 main transmitters will also loose out! how do the demographics work then, re your comment on freeview lite viewers being BBC 4 viewers rather than BBC 3 viewers?
Also with new freeview HD kit being online conectable, people can in future use the connected red button for a HD red button service if not on the new MUXs. I would imagine that the SD red button is going to remain for now.
Comments
It is a reuse of old hardware but there is still room to tweak power levels after the service is up and running, it is fairly normal to make adjustments after a service goes live. I'm not saying they will be increased to the same power level as existing services. Fitting 2 national multiplexes onto just 6 frequencies will not be easy, increasing the power levels too much will just make co-channel interference more of a problem.
As for being written off before the end of 2018, the 2018 termination date is just a line in the sand. If 700MHz clearance happens at an early stage, then the new services will have to go at the end of 2018 to make room to relocate COM4, 5 &6. If 700MHz clearance isn't required or happens later, these services could potentially be extended
Indeed, it's to stimulate demand for DVB-T2 equipment prior to any forced relocation of COM4-6 onto the 600MHz band, which would have to use DVB-T2 and regional SFNs to match existing coverage.
The problem in Germany is even more tricky than here because of the regional nature of broadcasting. Germany has always had a strong, popular FTA satellite service and DTT there simply isn't as popular as it is in the UK. With RTL's changing priorities, it's hardly surprising that they no longer wish to invest in DTT.
I've already seen comments from aerial installers suggesting that they see it as an opportunity to get customers to buy new aerials. Obviously, to receive services from an alternative transmitter where their main transmitter won't be carrying the new services.
Let the buyer beware, these multiplexes won't be around for more than a few years!
Whilst the easiet way to cover the East / all on reunification was satellite ....
ATT was never very strong and DTT evn less .. So muxes are optimised for mobile / resilient reception...
The Netherlands likewise is cabled ..
Terrestrial broadcasting is the one that has most variation in the world ... As various governments interfere.... And do things politically ....
Left alone in other means the vast majority if the world uses DVB. ...
But they should be looking for wide band as this wil become more Likely to be needed after the 700 MHz reallocation.
But yes remember that the muxes are temporary.
And when the temporary muxes go, one or more of the exsting 5 SD muxes will change to HD. That's the entire point of these temporary muxes, to provide a bridge while people get DVB-T2 equipment.
Be in no doubt, if 700MHz is cleared all 3 COM muxes will have to operate as DVB-T2 or have severely reduced coverage. The revised frequency plans allow for only the PSB DVB-T muxes to continue as DVB-T.
It will be Crystal Palace according to Ofcom documents.
and the ones at black hill come from rumster forest and stockland hill
IE. the physical item of equipment which performs the RF amplification.
Look at the first column - "site". Those two ex-analog Croydon txs are coming up to Winter Hill. This added complication (and an antenna rotation) will be why Winter Hill isn't coming on line quite as quickly as Crystal Palace which can reuse spare txs that are already onsite.
Not wideband (you don't want to pick up 4g mobile), you need a new Group T aerial.
When did new aerial groups get created? And is it possible to buy one? I probably need a new aerial, but I've been waiting until it is possible to by a wideband that only covers UHF channels 21 to 60. Last time I looked these didn't exist.
It was quite right to recommend wideband aerials when many areas had multiplexes scattered across the full UHF range. Clearly that became a problem when the 800MHz range was cleared, now those aerials will have no protection against 4G signals in that range.
Unfortunately, history will repeat itself if the 700MHz range is cleared. The new, post DSO, full band aerials will have no protection from 4G/5G signals in the 700MHz range.
Might be the fruit of a campaign given the disparate availability.
I wonder if the BBC researched this decision thoroughly enough. Not wanting to generalise too much, but would there not be a higher chance that people living 'in the sticks' who rely on Freeview Lite would be more likely to be BBC Four than BBC Three viewers?
This is very interseting to note! I also wonder if at that point they will also try and squeeze all BBC channels plus ITV, C4 and C5 in SD onto one MUX PSB 1 then upgrade PSB 2 to DVB-T2 too! In this senario we will only have 1 DVB-T1 MUX left ! and it will only carry the essentual PSB channels! This would give 2 PSB T2 MUXs to carry all PSB channels that are on the 1 PSB 1 DVB-T1 MUX, with the com MUXs carrying everything else!
Take a look at these aerials from Triax.
http://www.triax.co.uk/upload/aerialsjuly13.pdf
Lars
remember the extra HD MUXs will only be on 30 transmitters anyway, so people on the other 50 main transmitters will also loose out! how do the demographics work then, re your comment on freeview lite viewers being BBC 4 viewers rather than BBC 3 viewers?
Also with new freeview HD kit being online conectable, people can in future use the connected red button for a HD red button service if not on the new MUXs. I would imagine that the SD red button is going to remain for now.