Why isn't Freeview HD available on satellite?

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simon14

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# 175489 1-Jul-2015 13:33

We can't get HD Freeview due to our location (down a hill).

Is there a reason why Freeview HD isn't offered over a dish?

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# 1335014 1-Jul-2015 13:45

Simple - Money.

Setting up SD over satellite is cheaper. HD is possible but uses up more satellite bandwidth, more expensive set top boxes etc

Rikkitic

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# 1335093 1-Jul-2015 14:43

Money is the answer. How steep is that hill of yours? At UHF frequencies, signals tend to bounce around and they do bend a little so you don't need strict line of sight. Where we are we are surrounded by hills and since digital tends to be all or nothing we had no reception with the aerial at normal height above the roof but perfect reception just 3 metres higher. It depends on a lot of variables but might be worth a try if you feel like experimenting and really want it badly enough. A hi-gain antenna also helps.

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sbiddle

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# 1335255 1-Jul-2015 18:19

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It's not just about money.

Freeview is now over 8 years old, with decisions about the technology it should use being made before it even launched. Some of these decisions were technical and forced on Freeview (such as transponder space available on D1), while some such as STB capabilities did factor in financial inputs.

DVB-S2 was in it's infancy in 2007 with very few STB options available. Opting for S2 would have meant replacing every STB that was already in use before Freeview launched. Some tough decisions were also made about the DVB-T platform as well where the decision was made to launch with DVB-T and H.264 which meant there was very limited STB options available, but this was the best decision going forward.

simon14

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# 1335270 1-Jul-2015 18:53

Rikkitic: Money is the answer. How steep is that hill of yours? At UHF frequencies, signals tend to bounce around and they do bend a little so you don't need strict line of sight. Where we are we are surrounded by hills and since digital tends to be all or nothing we had no reception with the aerial at normal height above the roof but perfect reception just 3 metres higher. It depends on a lot of variables but might be worth a try if you feel like experimenting and really want it badly enough. A hi-gain antenna also helps.

I live in Hillcrest on the North Shore. We've tried install UHF aerials but just can't get a good signal. Neighbors have the same issues.

Fibre coming in 2 years so will wait for that and get Vodafone TV :)

gregmcc

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# 1335271 1-Jul-2015 19:01

The problem is that sky has the lease on a good portion of the transponder on the satellite, with the available space left and the number of channels freeview want to offer there just isn't the bandwidth for HD channels.

simon14

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# 1335282 1-Jul-2015 19:07

Its a shame because if they did offer HD over Sat, then they wouldn't need to bother with two different connection types. Everything could be provided to a dish and the consumer can decide whether they buy an SD or HD decoder.

Maybe one day it will change? Let's put our own dish out into orbit?? Can't Rocket Lab do it on the cheap?? :)

gregmcc

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# 1335301 1-Jul-2015 19:34

simon14: Its a shame because if they did offer HD over Sat, then they wouldn't need to bother with two different connection types. Everything could be provided to a dish and the consumer can decide whether they buy an SD or HD decoder.

Maybe one day it will change? Let's put our own dish out into orbit?? Can't Rocket Lab do it on the cheap?? :)

Good idea, just need $100 million launch your own and either ask everyone who has a satellite dish to point their dish a different way or get the current satellite out of the way, back to reality it's not going to happen, freeview satellite was really just a stop gap until the analogue-T system got turned off and people moved to DVB-T

simon14

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# 1335304 1-Jul-2015 19:38

DVB-T isnt avialable everywhere whereas satellite basically is.

Will they be phasing out sat delivery of freeview over time?

Jase2985

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# 1335310 1-Jul-2015 19:48

simon14:
Rikkitic: Money is the answer. How steep is that hill of yours? At UHF frequencies, signals tend to bounce around and they do bend a little so you don't need strict line of sight. Where we are we are surrounded by hills and since digital tends to be all or nothing we had no reception with the aerial at normal height above the roof but perfect reception just 3 metres higher. It depends on a lot of variables but might be worth a try if you feel like experimenting and really want it badly enough. A hi-gain antenna also helps.

I live in Hillcrest on the North Shore. We've tried install UHF aerials but just can't get a good signal. Neighbors have the same issues.

Fibre coming in 2 years so will wait for that and get Vodafone TV :)

have you tried a phased array aerial? they are a lot better for weaker signal areas

also try this site
http://www.matchmaster.net.nz/

joshhill96

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# 1335315 1-Jul-2015 19:53

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gregmcc: The problem is that sky has the lease on a good portion of the transponder on the satellite, with the available space left and the number of channels freeview want to offer there just isn't the bandwidth for HD channels.

All TVNZ and TV3 need to do is unlock their HD feeds and get DVBS2 receivers to collect the channels like they do for Four Plus 1, Edge TV and Prime. Just a matter of SKY and Freeview negotiating with broadcasters to do this.

There is no need to launch new HD versions of TV One, TV2 and TV3 on the Korida Transponders.

Currently working with Freeview NZ and Owner of Tech Plus Services Limited
Former Consultant at Spark New Zealand Trading Limited, DISH TV Technologies.

gregmcc

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# 1335316 1-Jul-2015 19:57

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joshhill96:
gregmcc: The problem is that sky has the lease on a good portion of the transponder on the satellite, with the available space left and the number of channels freeview want to offer there just isn't the bandwidth for HD channels.

All TVNZ and TV3 need to do is unlock their HD feeds and get DVBS2 receivers to collect the channels like they do for Four Plus 1, Edge TV and Prime. Just a matter of SKY and Freeview negotiating with broadcasters to do this.

Problem is why would sky help out their competition? It's to sky's advantage to keep their customers locked to their platform no matter what channel, unscramble the FTA channels and there is no reason to stay with sky

sbiddle

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# 1335333 1-Jul-2015 20:16

simon14: Its a shame because if they did offer HD over Sat, then they wouldn't need to bother with two different connection types. Everything could be provided to a dish and the consumer can decide whether they buy an SD or HD decoder.

Maybe one day it will change? Let's put our own dish out into orbit?? Can't Rocket Lab do it on the cheap?? :)

Satellite isn't available everywhere either - while it does offer pretty much 100% coverage there are still plenty of people that due to their exact location and obstacles such as buildings and trees who can't get a satellite connection. It's ultimate goal is infill in areas where there is no DVB-T, not as a primary platform.

Why should everybody be forced to buy a decoder? The goal should be IDTV, and the global market for DVB-S based IDTV is very small.

simon14

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# 1335336 1-Jul-2015 20:20

sbiddle:
simon14: Its a shame because if they did offer HD over Sat, then they wouldn't need to bother with two different connection types. Everything could be provided to a dish and the consumer can decide whether they buy an SD or HD decoder.

Maybe one day it will change? Let's put our own dish out into orbit?? Can't Rocket Lab do it on the cheap?? :)

Satellite isn't available everywhere either - while it does offer pretty much 100% coverage there are still plenty of people that due to their exact location and obstacles such as buildings and trees who can't get a satellite connection. It's ultimate goal is infill in areas where there is no DVB-T, not as a primary platform.

Why should everybody be forced to buy a decoder? The goal should be IDTV, and the global market for DVB-S based IDTV is very small.

Ultimately it should all be done over the internet... fibre is the future :)

Then those out of fibre coverage can go off DVB-T,

CYaBro

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# 1335339 1-Jul-2015 20:29

simon14:
sbiddle:
simon14: Its a shame because if they did offer HD over Sat, then they wouldn't need to bother with two different connection types. Everything could be provided to a dish and the consumer can decide whether they buy an SD or HD decoder.

Maybe one day it will change? Let's put our own dish out into orbit?? Can't Rocket Lab do it on the cheap?? :)

Satellite isn't available everywhere either - while it does offer pretty much 100% coverage there are still plenty of people that due to their exact location and obstacles such as buildings and trees who can't get a satellite connection. It's ultimate goal is infill in areas where there is no DVB-T, not as a primary platform.

Why should everybody be forced to buy a decoder? The goal should be IDTV, and the global market for DVB-S based IDTV is very small.

Ultimately it should all be done over the internet... fibre is the future :)

Then those out of fibre coverage can go off DVB-T,

And those with no fibre and no DVB-T coverage??!!

sbiddle

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# 1335344 1-Jul-2015 20:34

simon14:
sbiddle:
simon14: Its a shame because if they did offer HD over Sat, then they wouldn't need to bother with two different connection types. Everything could be provided to a dish and the consumer can decide whether they buy an SD or HD decoder.

Maybe one day it will change? Let's put our own dish out into orbit?? Can't Rocket Lab do it on the cheap?? :)

Satellite isn't available everywhere either - while it does offer pretty much 100% coverage there are still plenty of people that due to their exact location and obstacles such as buildings and trees who can't get a satellite connection. It's ultimate goal is infill in areas where there is no DVB-T, not as a primary platform.

Why should everybody be forced to buy a decoder? The goal should be IDTV, and the global market for DVB-S based IDTV is very small.

Ultimately it should all be done over the internet... fibre is the future :)

Then those out of fibre coverage can go off DVB-T,

It's easy to do over fibre - RFoF is supported on the UFB network and would simply require swapping out the ONT for an RF capable one.

The decision was made at the time to not deploy RFoF however, as many saw it as a dead end solution with the move away from linear DVB based broadcasting.

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