RED BUTTON: how does it work (technical)

Madget · 08-12-2008, 16:14

I have this silly argument with my sister... she thinks our dish sends out a signal to the Beeb if we want to watch a concert with the red button feature

I think it's the BBC that airs the same show over and over again (stores it in our digibox) and that is why we have to wait a couple of minutes to see the start of a concert.
Am I right (my sis has to be soooo wrong anyway)
Could anybody explain (in plain English) how this works...
I think its wonderful to watch concerts on demand with the red button on our remote, but how come they know that I just pressed a certain succession of keys and that I want to watch the (a) programme right now?

Cheers
Madge
-=-

Willie Wontie · 08-12-2008, 16:22

Multiple streams are output on certain channels (i.e. the BBC are sending multiple things to everybody). Pressing the red button allows you to select an alternative stream. Same with Sky News, Sky Sports, anything else that is interactive. Just like selecting BBC2 allows you to watch that - but doesn't stop BBC1 outputting multiple streams.

chrisjr · 08-12-2008, 16:49

The red button simply re-directs you to another channel that is playing the concert or whatever in a loop.

It is in very simple terms no different to you selecting the channel number to watch BBC2 instead of BBC1 for example. Except the channel you are being switched to is normally hidden so you cannot dial it up directly.

On Freeview however the same system uses channels 301 and 302 which most boxes do let you dial up directly without needing to use the red button.

But however you get into it it is just a channel like any other. You don't send anything to the BBC and they don't send anything to you.

And of course with the extra capacity on satellite it is possible to have multiple channels all playing the same thing but starting at different times. So one channel may start at the top of the hour, a second at 15 mins past, a third at 30 and a fourth at 45. If the red button system is clever enough it could direct you to the channel playing the loop with the nearest start time.

So for example if you press the button at 12:39 say it will select the channel with the loop starting at 45 minutes past the hour. So you have to wait 6 minutes to get round to the start.

TheAmazingDanny · 08-12-2008, 21:11

I believe running channels behind the red button mitigates the need for a channel licence which is why it is popular, apparently, among other cost-saving reasons.

Madget · 12-12-2008, 11:34

Thank you very much for the clear answers! You guys stopped a silly argument, cheers for that!

Madge
-=-

08-12-2008, 16:14	#1
Madget Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 19	RED BUTTON: how does it work (technical) I have this silly argument with my sister... she thinks our dish sends out a signal to the Beeb if we want to watch a concert with the red button feature I think it's the BBC that airs the same show over and over again (stores it in our digibox) and that is why we have to wait a couple of minutes to see the start of a concert. Am I right (my sis has to be soooo wrong anyway) Could anybody explain (in plain English) how this works... I think its wonderful to watch concerts on demand with the red button on our remote, but how come they know that I just pressed a certain succession of keys and that I want to watch the (a) programme right now? Cheers Madge -=-

08-12-2008, 16:49	#3
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	The red button simply re-directs you to another channel that is playing the concert or whatever in a loop. It is in very simple terms no different to you selecting the channel number to watch BBC2 instead of BBC1 for example. Except the channel you are being switched to is normally hidden so you cannot dial it up directly. On Freeview however the same system uses channels 301 and 302 which most boxes do let you dial up directly without needing to use the red button. But however you get into it it is just a channel like any other. You don't send anything to the BBC and they don't send anything to you. And of course with the extra capacity on satellite it is possible to have multiple channels all playing the same thing but starting at different times. So one channel may start at the top of the hour, a second at 15 mins past, a third at 30 and a fourth at 45. If the red button system is clever enough it could direct you to the channel playing the loop with the nearest start time. So for example if you press the button at 12:39 say it will select the channel with the loop starting at 45 minutes past the hour. So you have to wait 6 minutes to get round to the start. Last edited by chrisjr : 08-12-2008 at 16:54. Reason: More

12-12-2008, 11:34	#5
Madget Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 19	Cheers! Thank you very much for the clear answers! You guys stopped a silly argument, cheers for that! Madge -=-

08-12-2008, 16:22	#2
Willie Wontie Inactive Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,847	Multiple streams are output on certain channels (i.e. the BBC are sending multiple things to everybody). Pressing the red button allows you to select an alternative stream. Same with Sky News, Sky Sports, anything else that is interactive. Just like selecting BBC2 allows you to watch that - but doesn't stop BBC1 outputting multiple streams.

08-12-2008, 21:11	#4
TheAmazingDanny Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 1,476	I believe running channels behind the red button mitigates the need for a channel licence which is why it is popular, apparently, among other cost-saving reasons.

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RED BUTTON: how does it work (technical)