TV around the world

Just thought Id create a thread for people to discuss TV around the world (including the USA, but not exclusive to it).

Topics:

• What standards are being used
• Digital Switchovers
• Federal Broadcating Authorities (FCC equivalents)
• TV reception predictors (TVFool equivalents)
• Broadcasters, Networks, Channels, and Content
• Terrestrial and Satellite
• TV History
• Emerging Technologies and Trials (3DTV, New compression standards, etc)
• Antennas
• And anything else relevant you may wish to add

Obviously Ill be able to supply a wealth of information on whats happening here in Australia, and to a lesser extent New Zealand, and the UK. I mainly joined these forums because its my trade and my hobby, but also to learn about things which don't exist here (like OTA rotors as they arent required). I welcome my Yankee friends, Canucks, and whoever else frequents these forums to ask anything or add anything they would like to know, or share.

Note: This particulat thread is not the place to ask how to fix your reception or get more channels. Start a thread and we can help

Mods: Feel free to move this particular thread elsewhere if you feel this location is incorrect.



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To get the ball rolling;
As ATSC is a terrestrial/cable only standard, I assume US/Canadian satellites broadcast DVB-S/S2, is this the case and if not what is used?

ATSC (8VSB) is for over the air only. There is a cable version that nobody uses (16VSB); everything here is QAM. Satellite uses the standard DVB-S/S2 for the most part with exceptions for DirecTV using DSS and some oddball stuff used for feeding the receiving end. One of the Canadian direct satellite services may use Digicipher II, but I don't know for sure.

- Trip

Originally Posted by Trip

One of the Canadian direct satellite services may use Digicipher II, but I don't know for sure.

Shaw.

Learn About Our Technology - About Us - Shaw Direct

So what/how many networks are available on FTA terrestrial in the US? Does it differ much by location?


(If anyone wants to ask anything feel free to just post, no need to wait for a discussion to finish)

Pretty much anywhere you go, you get the major networks. ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CW, plus public broadcaster PBS, and FOX-owned programming service My Network TV. The ION network also has pretty extensive coverage. Then there are all the various subchannel networks that popped up following the transition to digital which are spotty. Me-TV, Antenna TV, RTV, Live Well, Bounce TV, etc. There's a whole ton of them.

If you live in an area with a high Spanish-speaking population, you are almost certain to find a local Univision affiliate, and quite possibly also Univision-owned Telefutura, NBC-owned Telemundo, Estrella TV, Azteca America, and coming soon, FOX-owned MundoFOX. And, again, there are also minor networks floating around like MEGA TV.

- Trip

In most areas of Australia we have 5 networks:

• Seven Network (or an affiliate)
• Nine Network (or an affiliate)
• Network Ten (or an affiliate)
• ABC [Australian Broadcasting Corporation] (government owned and taxpayer supported)
• SBS [Special Broadcasting Service] (government owned and partially ad supported)

The three commercial networks were all "imaginatively" named after the original VHF channel they occupied and still do in the larger capital cities. The larger capitals also have a "community" station that is commercial, but is restricted in ad time and what kind of material it screens (ie. needs to screen a fair bit of material relating to the city its in.)

Outside the capital cities the three commercial networks are provided by affiliate broadcasters. These broadcasters for the most part just relay the capital city channel (with local advertising and news).

If you live in a remote area, you may only have a subset of these networks, or even just the ABC available terrestrially. Though the full range of channels is available via free-to-view satellite (though encrypted).

Each broadcaster is required by law to maintain a HD multichannel in addition to their primary channel, with a quota of HD content (though this stipulation ends after the switchover). They also run another 1-3 SD multichannels. These multichannels are again relayed from the capital networks with local advertising.

All areas therefore have access to at least 16 digital TV channels. My location has 18 (the standard 16 with the addition of two 24hr shopping channels - Woo! ).

Content is a mix of American, British, and Australian, with smaller amounts of Canadian and NZ programmes. In roughly the order written.

Analog began getting switched off in 2010, and finishes in the capital cities at the end of 2013. (My area switched off analog about a fortnight ago). Though digital broadcasts started rolling out at the beginning of 2001.

Do you guys have these over there? Just wondering why I hadnt seen one recommended. They go pretty damn well. The gain is underquoted on that site though (They may have it mixed up with the smaller model - even follow the link to check it 12.5(!?) - oops LOL). Most other sources list it as 12.5-15dB gain, in my experience those figures are definately correct.

Originally Posted by nbound-au

Do you guys have these over there? Just wondering why I hadnt seen one recommended. They go pretty damn well. The gain is underquoted on that site though (They may have it mixed up with the smaller model - even follow the link to check it 12.5(!?) - oops LOL). Most other sources list it as 12.5-15dB gain, in my experience those figures are definately correct.

You know, I think I saw something like that recently, but now I can't find it. Looks too simple! They definitely mixed up the two antennas. "16 element Phased Array" -- Elements 8. "8 element Phased Array" -- Elements 16.

The gain figures look good, but would that hold true for higher frequencies? It states Channels 6-12 (VHF 175 - 230 Mhz). Wouldn't be too useful here, if that's the limitation.

Rick

You can buy a "gain lifter" which attaches to the rear and provides more gain on lower channels. We dont use <6 for digital though, only analog.

nbound-au,

I found a similar antenna in an early 1950's Popular Mechanics Magazine ad! I can't recall ever seeing one in person.

Jim

Yeah its a very old design, Ive certainly replaced a few recently that would have been ~20-30yrs old, and it was by no means a new design even then,

nbound-au,

If you happen to have mechanical details about that design, I'd be game to fabricate and test one here. I must admit, I can't see it being a 'wide-band' antenna.

Jim

I dont unfortunately. It isnt wideband, and the gain lifters just add a larger reflector behind the existing to increase gain on lower frequencies, and by the time they reach Australian Ch0, they used to have to gang them to get the required gain (still takes up less space than a Ch0 yagi ).

If anyone has a local stations in the range covered by these and is adventurous, might be worth a shot. Like any other array, (CM4221 for example), they'll pick up things off the rear if close enough.

Ive noticed advice for (US) tenants on here stating you can by law put up your own temporary antenna (not fixed). Seems so strange to me, here landlords are required to have at least one working FTA television outlet in their properties, and if the antenna system fails, its upto them to pay for repairs.

In multiple dwelling buildings, the antenna system is usually an MATV system and not separate antennas for each dwelling, and may be handled by the body corporate or strata body, nevertheless it is still upto the landlord to pay the bill (or split with other landlords/owner-occupiers if major damage).

Interrogation session #784474.5

What bitrates do american TV stations run at? (average and max). Is 8VSB the only modulation available for OTA signals? (We have QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM). Whats the maximum number of subchannels that can be carried (either legally or by bitrate limitations)? You seem to only have one or two subchannels per station. Here, we have at least two extra subchannels on pretty much every station, and usually 3, and thats with the main channel being HD (usually 1080i).

Whats the maximum number of subchannels that can be carried (either legally or by bitrate limitations)?

I believe the current winner of "most subchannels in the USA" is KAXT-ca, Santa Clara California. 20 channels.
This thread may be of interest:

Quite possibly, the most subchannels of any station?

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Vertically polarised VHF goodness

Thought some of you guys might enjoy this monster.

PU16F &ndash; Laceys.tv | TV antennas for the trade

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/013..._1024x1024.jpg

Thankfully we dont use rotors!


Watch out dishtentacle, this thing has real ones eminating from the phasing box