NZ's oldest TV receiving digital

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PaulZA

314 posts

Ultimate Geek

#101573 4-May-2012 09:24

Very good video: http://www.goingdigital.co.nz/oldesttelly

Especially the part when it goes on to say, that he used it in NZ, to receive TV from Aussie, before TV was available. How was that possible? Wonder if it would still work now? Probably not,

oxnsox

1923 posts

Uber Geek

#619359 4-May-2012 10:36

In certain weather and atmospheric conditions you get 'ducting'. When this occurs VHF signals travel bizarre distances (for the medium) and it wasn't uncommon for Coasters to set signals out of Oz.

Essentially its the TV signals bouncing their way across the Tasman between the sea surface and an abnormal radio reflective layer in the atmosphere. (Typically VHF signals are not reflected and simply disappear off into space to be picked up by aliens millions of light years away... if they happen to be having a retro Analogue, tele, beer and pizza evening)

jamesweather

49 posts

Geek

#619379 4-May-2012 10:56

It is interesting to see the old tele's being converted to digital, but other than the novelty of it, why would would anyone seriously bother converting an old black-and-white set?

I well remember the days when skip conditions enabled viewing Oz TV stations. Often they interfered with or even blocked out our local TV station when the translator was received off-air from a distant transmitter.

As the analogue stations disappear, it will probably be possible to receive the Aussie stations again during the summer months when weather conditions are ideal, particularly on VHF band one, assuming that they haven't switched off by then.

pageweon

393 posts

Ultimate Geek

#619385 4-May-2012 10:59

i wonder how far our original transmissions have now carried,

from what i remember those rf modulaters werent too cheap .. but still an awesome excercise

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wellygary

8321 posts

Uber Geek

#619424 4-May-2012 11:58

jamesweather: I well remember the days when skip conditions enabled viewing Oz TV stations. Often they interfered with or even blocked out our local TV station when the translator was received off-air from a distant transmitter.

As the analogue stations disappear, it will probably be possible to receive the Aussie stations again during the summer months when weather conditions are ideal, particularly on VHF band one, assuming that they haven't switched off by then.

Australia complete their Digital transition at the End of 2013, at that time all Low Band VHF TV transmissions from OZ will end............ ( which is about the same time as Analog TV dies in NZ)

PaulZA

314 posts

Ultimate Geek

#619619 4-May-2012 15:42

That sounds good. Is it still possible to do so, and what antenna size is needed? Because in some parts of NZ, Waikato, BOP etc, have you seen the size of antennas that they use there, just to get local TV? Surely, if it did work, we won't be able to get it all in NZ, especially in the middle of an urban area.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#619633 4-May-2012 15:57

PaulZA: in some parts of NZ, Waikato, BOP etc, have you seen the size of antennas that they use there, just to get local TV? Surely, if it did work, we won't be able to get it all in NZ, especially in the middle of an urban area.

The Antennae are so large because they use Channel 1 (50.75mhz approx) in the Waikato. Same in Wellington. Freeview is on UHF around 300 - 600mhz hence the small antennae.
Receiving OZ Analogue Channel 0 (around 50mhz) has been quite common since TV started back around 1960 and as has been stated quite often interfeerd with and occasional blocked local signals.. OZ channel 5a (around 140mhz) reception has been rare. UHF is unlikely except on rare occasions particularly with digital signals.
Amateur radio ops can sometimes get Trans-Tasman propogation in the low Ghz but very rarely and with specialised equipment.

sbiddle

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#619635 4-May-2012 16:02

VHF skip is a really common issue, especially in late Summer.

There were a lot of issues in recent years with VHF skip from Australian VHF mobile radios bleeding into NZ Police and Fire ESA band channels because the transmitter output channels in AU are the same as the repeater inputs in NZ.

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pjamieson

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Chorus

#630921 27-May-2012 10:25

I grew up in Hokitika and know Elva, and indeed have seen that TV in her house!

We had an FM Aerial to pick up several of the FM Transmissions from Sugarloaf in Chch. Most years around Xmas time I was able to pick up some Aussie FM transmissions, mostly from the GC (Sea FM, Triple J etc).

I was also able to pick up ABC TV on VHF-L 1 with that FM Aerial!

EDIT: I was also able to pick up some Northland and East Coast FM (KCC FM etc).

old3eyes

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#630976 27-May-2012 12:30

I remember when I wived in Wellington on a hill I could pickup Ozzy channels with a fare amount of snow in November / December..

Regards,

Old3eyes