A Freeview satellite update (January 2025)

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#3369468 1-May-2025 12:26

I couldn't find anything about LNB adjustments in that thread - but it was definitely worth a read - thanks for the link.

I did find this - https://freeviewnz.tv/support/setup-equipment/satellite-dish-alignment-and-lnb-adjustment/.

So I will need to get up on the roof and twist my LNB around to 8 o'clock, and see if that helps. Just need to wait for this weather to clear!

RunningMan

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#3369572 1-May-2025 15:42

SumnerBoy:

Are there instructions somewhere about how I need to adjust it to match the new K6?

Yes, on the same page as your post. Just scroll up to https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=83&topicid=318137&page_no=6#3367727

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#3369576 1-May-2025 15:46

Yikes, how did I miss that - thank you @RunningMan

Gouda

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#3380596 4-Jun-2025 23:08

Hi all, long time GZ lurker here, thought I'd dust off my account as I saw something interesting while flicking through channels before bed:

I did a quick search around but couldn't really find anything about an HD update being planned. Only TVNZ 2 was 1080i/50, but all other TVNZ channels had HE-AAC audio. Everything else was normal SD.

Anyone know anything? Cheers.

kiwirock

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#3380598 4-Jun-2025 23:54

Thought so. We're having issues with our UHF today and flicked over to satellite. I thought it looked like it has had either a substantially higher bitrate or possibly HD.

My boxes don't give me any info on the codecs in use, so I came here to see what's going on.

TVNZ 1 is looking far better too. I can read the small text and I don't have flash eye-sight.

Rikkitic

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#3380599 5-Jun-2025 00:31

Speaking of issues: I normally watch FTA by streaming but I also have satellite as a backup and for +1. Today I noticed that all channels on the TVNZ mux were no longer working. Other channels like Three are fine. We had some strong wind gusts the other day and I thought maybe the dish or an LNB might have got shifted. I haven't got around to checking it yet. Now I am wondering if something else might be going on. I don't get any picture signal at all but I do get some sound artifacts. I note that the signal and quality values are the same as for the working channels, around 40 and 33 plus or minus 1 or 2. Not sure how to diagnose this as I haven't played with satellite for a very long time and I am getting on in years. If anyone has any ideas I would be glad to hear them.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

kiwirock

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#3380601 5-Jun-2025 03:05

Signal strength comes down to alignment, the LNB and coax loss basically (you probably already know that).

But what I'm getting at, is different brand LNB's can be quite different in this respect as to the signal strength you also get down the coax.

Which is why I try to peak the dish using C/N but ultimately quality and/or bit-error rate more than signal strength that a set top box says on the end of the cable.

Have you read everything on the satellite changes? Depending where you are in the country also depends on signal strength given the temporary satellite with a different footprint than the previous.

Down here in Inver's, my neighbour just had his 65cm upgraded to what I think is an 80 or 85 by Sky. He's obviously had enough of all the changes and degraded signal strength. So I think they're working on a case by case basis of complaints.

We went from about 13.6dB down to around 8.5dB. The LNB skew adjustment has proven to improve this by just over a dB back up to about 9.6.

So when rain fade is likely, it'll drop out here much earlier. If you're more central NZ, you shouldn't have too much of an issue as it falls in to the footprint of the satellite better.

But on Freeview's website they are telling people to adjust their LNB unless you don't have the tools or confidence to do so.

I found on our Sky dish with the dual-throat LNB it could only be rotate so far before the LNB body is stopped by the LNB holder stay by the off-set throat/side. This however, will put the alignment of their backup satellite reception out of whack if you're a Sky customer. It did give me the extra 1.1-1.2 dB of signal strength. Which to me is a lot when it's only 8.5dB to begin with here on a good day now.

But I used a DVB-S2 compatible meter up at the dish to do this, so I can easily put it back if need be or in future when they send a new Optus satellite up. I guess one could mark the LNB and throat holder so as to know where to put it back to later if needed.

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#3380644 5-Jun-2025 10:00

So it appears that the TVNZ transponder has switched to H264 Video and HE-AAC Audio to align with their Terrestrial DTV-T. This doesn't match the guidance in the doc for a switch to HEVC for HD broadcasts, but to be honest I'm not surprised as Sky also uses H264 currently for HD.

Here is a VLC info dump for TVNZ1 in HD

And one for TVNZ 2+1 in SD

Channels in HD on TVNZ Transponder

TVNZ 1 (Auckland)
TVNZ 2
Duke

Channels in H.264 SD

TVNZ 1 - other regions
TVNZ 1+1
TVNZ 2+1
Duke +1
Whakaata Maori

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#3380703 5-Jun-2025 11:35

Press release:

Freeview is pleased to announce that high definition (HD) viewing is now available on its free satellite TV service, delivering a much-anticipated upgrade for viewers across Aotearoa.

With HD already available on its terrestrial service (accessed via UHF aerials) and its Streaming TV app, Freeview has now extended high-resolution viewing to Kiwis who tune in with a satellite dish.

This upgrade follows the successful migration to a new satellite, bringing two major improvements:

• Freeview’s satellite TV service was upgraded to DVB-S2, a newer and more efficient transmission standard.
• The move unlocked more satellite capacity, overcoming earlier bandwidth limitations that had restricted HD delivery over satellite.
These technical advances have paved the way for HD on satellite, strengthening Freeview’s commitment to providing free, high-quality television for all Kiwis.

Leon Mead, Freeview GM, says the collaboration between Freeview and broadcasters is key in making HD over satellite a reality. Broadcasters must update how their channels are transmitted to enable HD. TVNZ has led the charge, becoming the first broadcaster to roll out HD channels over Freeview’s satellite service.

“We are delighted with TVNZ’s decision to upgrade their satellite channels to HD, making access to great local content better than ever for the hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who watch free satellite TV.” says Mead.

As of yesterday, viewers can enjoy the following channels in HD:

• TVNZ 2 nationwide
• DUKE nationwide
• TVNZ 1 HD in Northland & Auckland, enhanced picture quality elsewhere with MPEG4.

Warner Bros. Discovery is also planning to move some channels to HD - more details will be shared at a later date.

Viewers can expect more HD channels on Freeview’s satellite TV service, which remains completely subscription-free, staying true to its promise of making live TV accessible to every New Zealander.

Rikkitic

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#3380714 5-Jun-2025 12:03

Sorted.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Apsattv

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#3380717 5-Jun-2025 12:12

OH Dear! pay close attention.

As of yesterday, viewers can enjoy the following channels in HD:
• TVNZ 1 HD in Northland & Auckland, enhanced picture quality elsewhere with MPEG4.

TVNZ clutching on to their regional advertising revenue! if you don't live in the far North and have an official freeview receiver then it looks like you won't be getting the HD feed.

Unless of course you reset the box and set it to Auckland region...

openmedia

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#3380750 5-Jun-2025 15:34

Apsattv:

OH Dear! pay close attention.

As of yesterday, viewers can enjoy the following channels in HD:
• TVNZ 1 HD in Northland & Auckland, enhanced picture quality elsewhere with MPEG4.

TVNZ clutching on to their regional advertising revenue! if you don't live in the far North and have an official freeview receiver then it looks like you won't be getting the HD feed.

Unless of course you reset the box and set it to Auckland region...

TBH I'm not surprised. Their regional advertising is too important. At-least the new H264 regional SD feeds are far better than the old MPEG-2 versions.

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.

Journeyman

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#3380751 5-Jun-2025 15:37

Upgrading the regions to HD won't cost them their regional advertising revenue.

openmedia

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#3380801 5-Jun-2025 16:11

Journeyman:

Upgrading the regions to HD won't cost them their regional advertising revenue.

There isn't sufficient capacity on their transponder for 4 HD feeds of TVNZ 1. Right now they have 3 HD channels (1,2, Duke) plus 7 SD Channels (+1 versions, 3 Regional TVNZ 1 plus Maori).

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.

Apsattv

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#3380803 5-Jun-2025 16:28

Time to dump the Plus 1s, Maori TV most likely to move to HD next

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