What happened to TV1's AC3?

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openmedia

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#161116 31-Aug-2008 23:21

singingbird: But hold on minute, doesnt freeview have 5 freqs on the uhf band for transmission, so why dont they just fire up the two more channels and split the channel load across those, the loss of ac3 is sucky, it would be nice if they would do some kind of ac 3 on ch two.

The other two frequencies are for expansion after the analogue switch off.

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old3eyes

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#161141 1-Sep-2008 08:13

openmedia:
singingbird: But hold on minute, doesnt freeview have 5 freqs on the uhf band for transmission, so why dont they just fire up the two more channels and split the channel load across those, the loss of ac3 is sucky, it would be nice if they would do some kind of ac 3 on ch two.

The other two frequencies are for expansion after the analogue switch off.

You mean that they are going to sit there doing nothing for the next 5 years +??

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Old3eyes

openmedia

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#161153 1-Sep-2008 09:05

old3eyes:
openmedia:
singingbird: But hold on minute, doesnt freeview have 5 freqs on the uhf band for transmission, so why dont they just fire up the two more channels and split the channel load across those, the loss of ac3 is sucky, it would be nice if they would do some kind of ac 3 on ch two.

The other two frequencies are for expansion after the analogue switch off.

You mean that they are going to sit there doing nothing for the next 5 years +??

The equipment isn't in place to use them, plus in some areas they can't be used until after the analogue switch off anyway.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

lchiu7

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#161373 1-Sep-2008 19:36

openmedia:

In OZ they have 5 multiplexes, one per broadcaster, with one 10 Mbit MPEG2 HD channel per multiplex. Hence the poorer video quality on AU HD.

I just got back from Oz. The only HD I was able to watch was in a Telstra technology store. I saws Discovery HD and some SFL game. But of course neither was OTA, they were both on Foxtel and I must admit, Discovery HD looked very good wihle the AFL game not so good.

It seems that NZ has gone into HD in a half-hearted manner. If they seriously want Freeview to compete with Sky then they need to do better than they are now. Luckily we have TV3 blazing the trail and having the better programmes to boot.

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Quidam

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#161654 2-Sep-2008 18:45

I agree loosing AC3 is not fun -but it appears to me that many programs are encoded as Dolby Pro Logic ie. Matrixed Multi Channel. As long as you set your amp up, most of the time I'm getting all speakers firing. For me that means Dolby Pro Logic 2x. I find the AAC sound (set up this way) quite acceptable.

slightly off-topic, I have to say the different sound levels between AC3 and AAC is a bit annoying. For me the AAC feed is always louder -quite significantly so.

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petes117

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#161718 3-Sep-2008 00:06

Quidam: I agree loosing AC3 is not fun -but it appears to me that many programs are encoded as Dolby Pro Logic ie. Matrixed Multi Channel. As long as you set your amp up, most of the time I'm getting all speakers firing. For me that means Dolby Pro Logic 2x. I find the AAC sound (set up this way) quite acceptable.

slightly off-topic, I have to say the different sound levels between AC3 and AAC is a bit annoying. For me the AAC feed is always louder -quite significantly so.

Yeah having a good set of speakers definately helps. Mine are set to Dolby Pro Logic by default when I turn it on so I think all my sound comes out with that. If I switch to stereo mode on the amp I think it sounds better for sound from a stereo source. But thats just me!
I can honestly hear a big difference between AAC and AC3 though.

Go into the AC3 filter properties in and turn up the master gain about 2-3dB. That should balance things out ;)

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1gkar

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#162797 7-Sep-2008 15:32

Further to the interesting debate on the Freeview channels, as I understand it, the TV networks are required to begin broadcasting on a certain number of channels by a certain date after the original Freeview contracts were signed. Maybe this is how TVNZ get around the issue, by having the Sports Extra channel continually boradcast a static image when no programmes are being aired.

I believe TV3 are supposed to be using full, uniterrupted Bathhurst coverage (as much as they can, as I think the Aussie network shuts down their cameras during their ad breaks) as this extra channel's first broadcast. But maybe others with more knowledge on the subject can clarify.

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old3eyes

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#162817 7-Sep-2008 16:22

1gkar:
I believe TV3 are supposed to be using full, uniterrupted Bathhurst coverage (as much as they can, as I think the Aussie network shuts down their cameras during their ad breaks) as this extra channel's first broadcast. But maybe others with more knowledge on the subject can clarify.

But will it be in HD??

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Old3eyes

openmedia

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#162822 7-Sep-2008 16:26

Currently Mediaworks are using under half the capacity of their DTT multiplex, so they do have enough room for another HD channel should they choose to launch one.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

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