Ofcom have only 1 potential taker for 600MHz.


http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/con...tation/summary

So presumably that will be the joint proposal from the BBC, Channel Four and Arqiva then.

Precisely, this: http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/bin...ses/Arqiva.pdf

All going to plan then!

Panic over - move along please.....

Now as long as this passes the Public Value Test from the BBC Trust......

So by December 2013 (possibly October but unlikely), some places should have these extra muxes already (London included presumably). Presumably that means at least one HD service will be available then also.

According to the Arqiva Indicative Proposal, with a target start date of July 2013, both Crystal Palace and Sutton Coldfield would start December 2013, with the likes of Craigkelly, Black Hill and Rowridge following in January 2014

http://www.arqiva.com/corporate/pdf/...20Proposal.pdf

We'll never see it here (Freeview Lite), but as long as the "platform neutral" BBC put the extra HD content on Freesat too that'll be just fine. Not so hopeful about CH4, but who knows?

Cheers,
David.

One can hope. It'd be a bit crappy of Channel 4 to put, say, E4 HD on Freeview but keep it encrypted on satellite (unless they have to in the short term due to contracts).

Can I just emphasize the point that Mossy makes
- so as much support as possible is needed bearing in mind that the DTT emission/ coverage is NOT universal .....
thus the PVT may be marked down in that but it meet the sixth public purpose
.. and the MIA could be interesting bearing in mind one PSB's attitude to HD! and anothers Daughter channels.
(and there may also be some DSAT HD regional is not universal issues as well..)

Given the very low operating power of the new muxes, they're going to be completely pointless having for me.

The only way I'll get them with a decent signal strength is if they're replicated on satellite. It's like pre DSO again.

I'm quite far from Crystal Palace (Guildford) but I could still get the low-powered HD mux pre-DSO, so I'm pretty confident of getting this new mux too.

As you say though, hopefully it'll be on satellite too.

Yes, you can receive them ok, but I found that in the pre DSO days the low power meant the signal could be very easily interrupted by a whole range of things from motorbikes to light switches.

Are you comparing like with like??
The pre-DSO HD (DVB-T2) mux suffered with that??

Note that the NoITA plan appears to be to start works two/three months early (ie. April - before any official award) to bring the first transmitters on-line by October - giving 42% (rather than 15%) coverage by the end of the year.

We didn't have a pre DSO HD mux on Rowridge so I can't comment on that, but all the regular muxes were low power and our signal was prone to disruption very easily.

I've heard DVB-T2 is more robust, but I'm not optimistic the new muxes will work that well for us given the low power they'll be at.

Not only that but I switched to VP at DSO to get the strongest signal on all muxes. I'd have to switch back to HP to get the new muxes which would also mean I get the lower power COM muxes too on Rowridge.

Then surely that NoITA plan is unlikely to be adhered to, seeing as no company is likely to have been so presumptive as to start such works before being awarded the contract.

What contract? Arqiva are suggesting they perform the works required ahead of any licence award. I would think this was based on them believing they would be the only interested party. If there's only one NoITA, Ofcom is highly likely to award the licence to that company (as they said in the consultation document).

By starting earlier, Freeview benefits more, and Arqiva earn more money from carriage contracts (or, perhaps, lose less money) over the term.

It's not *that* crazy, really. The only risk is if Ofcom don't award the licence to anybody, in all other scenarios Arqiva will need to do this work anyway.

Maybe that was the wrong word - whatever it is that Ofcom will be awarding in order for that space to be used - i.e. the award of the licence.


Then to start work in April (i.e now or a few weeks ago seeing as "now" id the last day of that month) would have been a big business risk


But my point was, at the time that the NoITA was submitted, Arqiva would have had no firm knowledge that their proposal would be the only one.


I was not questioning the wisdom of starting early, I was questioning the business risk being taken by committing resources and budget on work which is based upon the assumption that such a licence would be awarded to them (never mind whether the larger of the two broadcasters has received formal approval for their plans)


But whatever, it was simply a passing comment, so I'm not going to wander down that path any further.

From your use of "contract" I thought you might have meant somebody (ie. a different bidder) contracting Arqiva to do the work.


True, and it seems a bit strange to actually state a faster rollout schedule in the NoITA without the caveat that this would only happen if they thought they would win.

So you aren't comparing like with like and the DVB-T2 experience will be different.
200kW vs 50kW vs 25kW is -6dB and -9dB respectively not the greatest of 'difference' in fact.
Interferers from the continent may be an issue more than signal levels per se for the COMs (and even the PSBs)? Perhaps a minor antenna upgrade or second antenna for use on the Hp signals to a separate receiver for them may be a solution?

My signals from Tacolneston will be -10dB (100kW cf 10kW) but it may be enough for me to get a DVB-T2 receiver when they start (unless all the new services appear on freesat, of course).