Freeview|HD coverage to be expanded!

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CYaBro

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#71107 4-Nov-2010 23:28

Woohoo! We are going to get it up here in Whangarei after all.
They are looking to expand to 87% of NZ and the analogue switch off has been brought forward to 2013 :-)

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

marmel

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#400474 5-Nov-2010 08:51

Does anyone know how the transmitters work?

I live in Gore and we receive current analogue TV from the hedgehope transmitter. Now I think this covers Invercargill as well.

Invercargill is listed as being included in the Freeview upgrade, will it cover Gore as well.

I'm not sure if they mount directional transmitters on the towers or is it a 360 degree type setup?

Deev8

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#400900 5-Nov-2010 17:58

The signal will normally radiate 360 degrees around the transmitter, subject to obstructions. So if you can currently get good analogue UHF reception from a transmitter that is schueduled for a Freeview|HD upgrade, then there is a very good chance that you will receive a good Freeview|HD signal from it after that upgrade.

Jaxson

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#401550 8-Nov-2010 09:38

CYaBro: They are looking to expand to 87% of NZ and the analogue switch off has been brought forward to 2013 :-)

Do you have a link for this new info please?

sbiddle

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#401571 8-Nov-2010 10:21

I'm not sure if there is any new info, I certainly haven't heard anything in the last few days.

The 87% population expansion plans have been on the cards since the initial Freeview rollout with transmitter sites and frequency plans already done.

The Ministry of Culture and Heritage issued an RFI in ~June for the 87% rollout, with the goal of having this done before the RWC next year.

garvani

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#401572 8-Nov-2010 10:23

Link was posted a month or so ago in another thread, but cant find it now. Im sour because Marlborough wasnt included but nelson was, ughhh.. Does not bode well for us marlbarians.

Rollux

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#401629 8-Nov-2010 12:15

garvani: Link was posted a month or so ago in another thread, but cant find it now. Im sour because Marlborough wasnt included but nelson was, ughhh.. Does not bode well for us marlbarians.

I reckon they switch the analogue feed for Prime and Trackside off for marlborough (Kaukau site in Wgtn)and use the transmitter for DVB-T.

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Behodar

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#401649 8-Nov-2010 12:56

garvani: Link was posted a month or so ago in another thread, but cant find it now. Im sour because Marlborough wasnt included but nelson was, ughhh.. Does not bode well for us marlbarians.

I've seen conflicting information too. There's a document on the RSM site (I think that's where I saw it) listing Mt Edgecumbe (near Whakatane) as a new site, whereas the information passed around a month or so ago lacked that site.

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CYaBro

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#401666 8-Nov-2010 13:25

Jaxson:
CYaBro: They are looking to expand to 87% of NZ and the analogue switch off has been brought forward to 2013 :-)

Do you have a link for this new info please?

The only place I've seen the info is on the official Freeview site:
http://www.freeviewnz.tv/all_about_freeview/page/digital_switch_over

Not sure how long that's been there and all my emails to Freeview, since they started, have always said that there were no plans to expand it beyond the initial 75% coverage.
That has obviously changed in the last month or two since I last made contact with them.

I assume that they would have the extra coverage areas up and running by the time the analogue signals are switched off otherwise there might be some very annoyed people having to get the satellite service installed and then the HD service after that.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

wellygary

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#401667 8-Nov-2010 13:30

CYaBro:
Not sure how long that's been there and all my emails to Freeview, since they started, have always said that there were no plans to expand it beyond the initial 75% coverage.
That has obviously changed in the last month or two since I last made contact with them.

I assume that they would have the extra coverage areas up and running by the time the analogue signals are switched off otherwise there might be some very annoyed people having to get the satellite service installed and then the HD service after that.

My spies tell me the Freeview HD extension will be complete by the time of the RWC 2011

It probably went up just after this announcement by the Broadcasting Minister, on September 16

http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/switchover+digital+television+2013
Will the digital terrestrial television (DTT) network be extended?
Currently 75% of the population is able to receive DTT coverage.

The Government is in discussion with the broadcasting industry about extending DTT. Indicatively, we expect the following areas to be covered by the extension: Invercargill, Timaru, Nelson, Wairarapa, Gisborne, Wanganui, Taranaki, Taupo, Rotorua and Whangarei.

ockel

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#401671 8-Nov-2010 13:36

garvani: Link was posted a month or so ago in another thread, but cant find it now. Im sour because Marlborough wasnt included but nelson was, ughhh.. Does not bode well for us marlbarians.

It was a discussion on the DSO announcment.

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=83&topicid=68181

The Government announced the expansion of the DTT footprint in mid September. And while people could be annoyed with Freeview its not their fault. Freeview has no control over the DTT broadcast footprint. Freeview is a marketing organisation. The broadcasters have been adament that it is not economic for them to extend DTT beyond the 75% and that it was a matter for the Goverment to address with additional funding to Kordia.
And thats essentially what has been announced.

http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/switchover+digital+television+2013

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Jaxson

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#401676 8-Nov-2010 13:46

wellygary: The Government is in discussion with the broadcasting industry about extending DTT. Indicatively, we expect the following areas to be covered by the extension: Invercargill, Timaru, Nelson, Wairarapa, Gisborne, Wanganui, Taranaki, Taupo, Rotorua and Whangarei.

I guess it's worth noting that not all terrain is going to be suited to terrestrial transmission/delivery either.

Whangnaui for example has low areas down in the crack which bends along following the river, and then a lot of people living up on the hills either side of the river. Prime reception has traditionally been shaky in a lot of areas, so I wonder how much better a digital UHF signal would be in that location. If it requires a lot of small infill repeaters etc then the satellite service suddenly looks quite economical.

Is any one getting DVB-T in Whanganui reliably?
I presume it's still off Wharite over at the gorge behind Ashurst?

Behodar

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#401678 8-Nov-2010 13:47

Behodar: I've seen conflicting information too. There's a document on the RSM site (I think that's where I saw it) listing Mt Edgecumbe (near Whakatane) as a new site, whereas the information passed around a month or so ago lacked that site.

I've found the link that I was referring to: http://www.rsm.govt.nz/cms/policy-and-planning/current-projects/archive/broadcasting-archive/digital-television-2007-frequency-plan. Mt Edgecumbe is listed as Putauaki.

Edit: This PDF from last year is more up to date.