Freeview digital only by 2013 (DSO)

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Reply # 435746 5-Feb-2011 20:56
Flippikat: Wonder if there's anywhere in the remaining 13% of coverage that would be worth extending Freeview HD to? Now that I'm back home and using a real computer, I can expand on my previous message. I live in Whakatane and saw the old (now archived) documents on the MED website showing the proposed coverage expansion. One of the listed sites was Whakatane. The Going Digital site doesn't mention Whakatane so I emailed Going Digital and asked about the discrepancy. The response I got back stated that the current information on Going Digital is not final and that firmer plans should be available by the end of next week, explaining "exactly what coverage we will be rolling out to consumers". Now, the bit relevant to your actual statement: The message I received continued on to say that there may be a third stage of expansion, but discussions are still underway. When you consider existing analogue coverage you can see that a lot of the country is being missed by 87%.

Dunnersfella

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Reply # 435749 5-Feb-2011 21:14
bfginger: The average viewer understands next to nothing about television technology and doesn't want to know. The biggest marketing error made by Freeview was the "Freeview\|HD" brand. People don't understand that Freeview\|HD is broadcast terrestrially like analogue and they don't understand that their standard definition televisions can receive Freeview\|HD. All kinds of statements are made like they want "standard" Freeview and even Noel Lemming did an advertisement in AKL encouraging people to buy a satellite receiver for the ASO. I keep seeing people in the Freeview\|HD broadcast area with bigscreen TVs plugged into satellite receivers via RCA cables. Try to tell them they're doing it wrong and they'll just become annoyed or confused. Pretty much any CRT still in service can be adapted to connect to Freeview\|HD. The quality will be much better than analogue so long as it's new enough to have connectors. Many will rush out and buy a new LCD on hire purchase in September 2013 instead when they find their "broken" TV doesn't work. I believe the 'fix' for a lot of people is a PVR like a Panasonic DMR-BW380... it not only gets the user Freeview, it also solves many potential recording headaches with obsolete VCR's / DVD recorders. What's more, unlike a lot of the Freeview STB's on the market, it's actually fairly reliable! Of course they aren't cheap, but unless another company brings in a Freeview capable DVD recorder, the price probably won't drop much.

DjShadow

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Reply # 435760 5-Feb-2011 22:05
Behodar: Flippikat: Wonder if there's anywhere in the remaining 13% of coverage that would be worth extending Freeview HD to? Now that I'm back home and using a real computer, I can expand on my previous message. I live in Whakatane and saw the old (now archived) documents on the MED website showing the proposed coverage expansion. One of the listed sites was Whakatane. The Going Digital site doesn't mention Whakatane so I emailed Going Digital and asked about the discrepancy. The response I got back stated that the current information on Going Digital is not final and that firmer plans should be available by the end of next week, explaining "exactly what coverage we will be rolling out to consumers". Now, the bit relevant to your actual statement: The message I received continued on to say that there may be a third stage of expansion, but discussions are still underway. When you consider existing analogue coverage you can see that a lot of the country is being missed by 87%. Wouldn't it be fair to say tho when comparing current analogue coverage that the bulk of it are repeater stations to cover small communities and not economic to install DVB-T Transmitters?

sbiddle

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Reply # 435794 6-Feb-2011 08:25
Behodar: Flippikat: Wonder if there's anywhere in the remaining 13% of coverage that would be worth extending Freeview HD to? Now that I'm back home and using a real computer, I can expand on my previous message. I live in Whakatane and saw the old (now archived) documents on the MED website showing the proposed coverage expansion. One of the listed sites was Whakatane. The Going Digital site doesn't mention Whakatane so I emailed Going Digital and asked about the discrepancy. The response I got back stated that the current information on Going Digital is not final and that firmer plans should be available by the end of next week, explaining "exactly what coverage we will be rolling out to consumers". Now, the bit relevant to your actual statement: The message I received continued on to say that there may be a third stage of expansion, but discussions are still underway. When you consider existing analogue coverage you can see that a lot of the country is being missed by 87%. DVB-T expansion was never intended to replicate the existing analogue coverage, hence the reason for buth DVB-S / DVB-T networks. There are also deadspots in cities as well - there are plenty of areas in Wellington for example where people can't receive Freeview\|HD, but you also have to factor in the literally 10000's of people in metropolitan areas who now receive crystal clear digital TV who had very poor analogue TV before since it doesn't need to be true line of sight to work. I know a large number of people in Wellington who for the first time can actually get every TV channel (some translators only carried 1,2,3) and get it without significant ghosting or interference. *Need help configuring your Linksys ATA or IP Phones for New Zealand? Check my blog post

freeviewfan

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Reply # 435834 6-Feb-2011 10:43
you know broadcasting on analog cost them like 1mil a year so cuttiing of crappy analog will save them sh!t loads of money

ajw

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Reply # 435837 6-Feb-2011 10:55
freeviewfan: you know broadcasting on analog cost them like 1mil a year so cuttiing of crappy analog will save them sh!t loads of money I note TAB trackside are turning off their analogue UHF transmitters by may this year and once UHF digital has been expanded I can see no reason why Sky cannot switch off Prime on the Analogue network. And with nationwide satellite I can see no reason why Analogue cannot be switched off this year.

mikelday

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Reply # 435934 6-Feb-2011 17:36
ajw: I can see no reason why Analogue cannot be switched off this year. Because some people are not ready for the change over because of the cost involved. eg a sky subscription or to have satellite feeview installed is $500 unless you do it yourself, also in places like Taranaki we are not due to be switched over to digital just yet (hopefully one day).

mentalinc

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Reply # 435960 6-Feb-2011 18:47
ajw: old3eyes: Unfortunately the Luddites in the community will complain and argue that analog should be left on for years to come as there will be someone out there with an old analog set. Same will happen next year when Telecom announces a switch off date for CDMA.. I'm surprised anyone in GZ would be advocating leaving the analog TV system running past 2013.. And expect a free STB, UHF aerial, or sat dish installed at no cost. Umm NO, TV is not a requirement to live. If you can't afford to buy what you need then you dont need tv. If you put $10 away each week by the time ASO arrives you will have around $1200 which will buy you a decent 50" HD ready tv with freeview (based on pricess TODAY, so likely to get something better). I also agree than anyting that is currently analog only should no longer be stocked by stores as come mid - lat next year they will start selling them at amazing prices to un suspecting victims. If you need it then the store can back order it for you. Also some sort of analog device disposal should be setup to prevent people dumping their old TVs etc so they can be recycled etc. CPU: Intel 3770k\| RAM: F3-2400C10D-16GTX G.Skill Trident X \|MB: Gigabyte Z77X-UD5H-WB \| GFX: GV-N660OC-2GD gv-n660oc-2gd GeForce GTX 660 \| Monitor: Dell 2007wfp \| TV capture: Hauppauge WinTV HVR-900 & Nova-S-Plus Software: Windows 8 Pro dvbviewer v4.9.6.20

ajw

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Reply # 435968 6-Feb-2011 19:11
mentalinc: ajw: old3eyes: Unfortunately the Luddites in the community will complain and argue that analog should be left on for years to come as there will be someone out there with an old analog set. Same will happen next year when Telecom announces a switch off date for CDMA.. I'm surprised anyone in GZ would be advocating leaving the analog TV system running past 2013.. And expect a free STB, UHF aerial, or sat dish installed at no cost. Umm NO, TV is not a requirement to live. If you can't afford to buy what you need then you dont need tv. If you put $10 away each week by the time ASO arrives you will have around $1200 which will buy you a decent 50" HD ready tv with freeview (based on pricess TODAY, so likely to get something better). I also agree than anyting that is currently analog only should no longer be stocked by stores as come mid - lat next year they will start selling them at amazing prices to un suspecting victims. If you need it then the store can back order it for you. Also some sort of analog device disposal should be setup to prevent people dumping their old TVs etc so they can be recycled etc. It cost you money to buy a outside aerial or rabbit ears. If you want TV you have to buy the equpment and by the way if you are happy with free to air TV you do not need a Sky subscription, do not believe the sales spiel from Sky.

sbiddle

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Reply # 435970 6-Feb-2011 19:13
mikelday: ajw: I can see no reason why Analogue cannot be switched off this year. Because some people are not ready for the change over because of the cost involved. eg a sky subscription or to have satellite feeview installed is $500 unless you do it yourself, also in places like Taranaki we are not due to be switched over to digital just yet (hopefully one day). Anybody who pays $500 for a basic Optus D1 install compete with STB is being seriously ripped off. There are plenty of people around who will do this for somewhere in the $300 - $400 range. TV aerials also don't have an infinite life and you readlly need to be factoring in replacing one every 20 - 25 years tops anyway (maybe every 5 years if you live in a harsh environment), so having to pay for a dish install would just be part of that life cycle. *Need help configuring your Linksys ATA or IP Phones for New Zealand? Check my blog post

bfginger

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Reply # 435991 6-Feb-2011 19:32
mentalinc: Also some sort of analog device disposal should be setup to prevent people dumping their old TVs etc so they can be recycled etc. http://www.goingdigital.co.nz/what-you-ll-need/recycling-old-equipment.html I think somebody short of money would be better off spending $150 - $200 on a Freeview\|HD receiver for their analogue TV than buying a new plasma though :) But usually they're short of money because they keep buying things like a new plasma on hire purchase.

injuised

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Reply # 436047 6-Feb-2011 21:32
sbiddle: mikelday: ajw: I can see no reason why Analogue cannot be switched off this year. Because some people are not ready for the change over because of the cost involved. eg a sky subscription or to have satellite feeview installed is $500 unless you do it yourself, also in places like Taranaki we are not due to be switched over to digital just yet (hopefully one day). Anybody who pays $500 for a basic Optus D1 install compete with STB is being seriously ripped off. There are plenty of people around who will do this for somewhere in the $300 - $400 range. TV aerials also don't have an infinite life and you readlly need to be factoring in replacing one every 20 - 25 years tops anyway (maybe every 5 years if you live in a harsh environment), so having to pay for a dish install would just be part of that life cycle. If i done installs for $300 id be broke, I use what i consider the best gear available and im after customer satisfaction and ive built up a good reutation on this, I could do installs for $300 and keep on charging for going back and tuning in their STBs evey time a new channel arrives, But ive opted to go the other way and use good freeview approved gear which is available now and put a 2 year warranty on all materials an workmanship. Im the one that ends up fixing these $300 installs by replacing cheap LNBs and rusty dishes and STBs that fry. Do it once do it right, $500 is cheap tv over 10 years...

mikelday

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Reply # 436087 6-Feb-2011 23:47
sbiddle: mikelday: ajw: I can see no reason why Analogue cannot be switched off this year. Because some people are not ready for the change over because of the cost involved. eg a sky subscription or to have satellite feeview installed is $500 unless you do it yourself, also in places like Taranaki we are not due to be switched over to digital just yet (hopefully one day). Anybody who pays $500 for a basic Optus D1 install compete with STB is being seriously ripped off. There are plenty of people around who will do this for somewhere in the $300 - $400 range. TV aerials also don't have an infinite life and you readlly need to be factoring in replacing one every 20 - 25 years tops anyway (maybe every 5 years if you live in a harsh environment), so having to pay for a dish install would just be part of that life cycle. It was a mates parents who payed $489 for a freeview DVB-S install from a guy here in taranaki 6 months ago. with a ORTON STB not to sure on the quality or not but its a copy of a STRONG STB. I have sky so dont have to worry about the DSO but if i didnt have sky and was going to get freeview i would buy the equipment and do it myself. I know installers have to make a living but if you have a cheaper price say $20 less than another installer and you do a good job and got recommended to others wouldn't you get more customers in the long run? Just a thought

ajw

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Reply # 436112 7-Feb-2011 08:10
injuised: sbiddle: mikelday: ajw: I can see no reason why Analogue cannot be switched off this year. Because some people are not ready for the change over because of the cost involved. eg a sky subscription or to have satellite feeview installed is $500 unless you do it yourself, also in places like Taranaki we are not due to be switched over to digital just yet (hopefully one day). Anybody who pays $500 for a basic Optus D1 install compete with STB is being seriously ripped off. There are plenty of people around who will do this for somewhere in the $300 - $400 range. TV aerials also don't have an infinite life and you readlly need to be factoring in replacing one every 20 - 25 years tops anyway (maybe every 5 years if you live in a harsh environment), so having to pay for a dish install would just be part of that life cycle. If i done installs for $300 id be broke, I use what i consider the best gear available and im after customer satisfaction and ive built up a good reutation on this, I could do installs for $300 and keep on charging for going back and tuning in their STBs evey time a new channel arrives, But ive opted to go the other way and use good freeview approved gear which is available now and put a 2 year warranty on all materials an workmanship. Im the one that ends up fixing these $300 installs by replacing cheap LNBs and rusty dishes and STBs that fry. Do it once do it right, $500 is cheap tv over 10 years... I note Sky subcontractors are only paid $150 per install. Note this is only the labour component and not the parts and out of this they pay for all their fixed overheads.

illicit

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Reply # 436251 7-Feb-2011 12:48
injuised: If i done installs for $300 id be broke, I use what i consider the best gear available and im after customer satisfaction and ive built up a good reutation on this, I could do installs for $300 and keep on charging for going back and tuning in their STBs evey time a new channel arrives, But ive opted to go the other way and use good freeview approved gear which is available now and put a 2 year warranty on all materials an workmanship. Im the one that ends up fixing these $300 installs by replacing cheap LNBs and rusty dishes and STBs that fry. Do it once do it right, $500 is cheap tv over 10 years... I agree, decent equipment and installation is the only way to go. Do it once, do it right. - I hide all cables where possible (not tacking it down the outside wall and drilling through) - Dish placement is where it will be least visible - I use quality LNBs, Dish's, and mounts. - Only approved Freeview receivers are used (automatically updates new channels, proper TV guide and will work with upcoming interactive Freeview features etc) The approximate retail on a Satellite Freeview receiver is around $150, Dish kits $200, 20m Cable $40, Connectors, $10 There is $400 just for parts. How is this supposed to be done for $300-$400?

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