256 replies to this topic

[M'bozo]

Notice ABC & SBS digital along with WIN analogue is off air this morning for sites west of Devonport.

Is this significant?

Guess I'll find out this afternoon when heading back to do what wasn't possible this morning due to lack of some signals.



Edit: Just another pita. However, noticed the effect of Mt Barrow SBS analogue 35 on Table Cape SBS digital 35. Interesting  

Edited by M'bozo, 31 July 2007 - 04:05 PM.

[Electronicman]

M, on Jul 31 2007, 12:03 PM, said:

Edit: Just another pita. However, noticed the effect of Mt Barrow SBS analogue 35 on Table Cape SBS digital 35. Interesting  

Mt Barrow SBS analogue is 29 not 35 and Table Cape SBS digital is 29. When Win digital (35) commences from Table Cape, it could prove detrimental to those receiving analogue from Mt Barrow in this area! But we may never get to know at the rate digital is being rolled out!

Mt Barrow SBS 29 ERP has been lower now for at least 18 months and this has been noticeable down this end of the coast Marc! This 'same channel' is why I avoid using wideband masthead amps for digital reception from Mt Barrow, whereas other installers use them religiously and without this regard!

And as to senator Helen Coonan comments in the Advocate last week (Wed July 25th 2007 - pg 3) about the North West being one of the first regions to have analogue switched off in favor of digital - as Tasmania has been a shining example of how you can get a community to switch for (sic) digital.

What a joke! We haven't got it yet and we still don't look like getting it for some time. Everybody will be getting digital from Barrow and they won't worry about the local translators! (Not quite true - some find it impossible to receive from Barrow! But that being said, I'm still doing at least ten digital installs per week due to the take-up of big screen Digital TV's!). That just goes to show that politicians dribble and are so out of touch!

[alanh]

Zeehan,
Read Get the Best Reception, Regional Tas and read the links, inparticular the TAS link which will give more details.

AlanH

[M'bozo]

Electronicman, on Jul 31 2007, 05:14 PM, said:

Mt Barrow SBS analogue is 29 not 35 and Table Cape SBS digital is 29.

You are right.

I am wrong. So I edit to fix it.

No excuses.

I should stick to areas I'm better acquainted with. Sometimes there is no choice (except saying no) as others are not available or not required.

(That's why the name change to (M')bozo   'cos I are one at times. You can quote me on that.)

btw Table Cape ABC 45 causes problems with Kelcey Tier ABC 45 fringe areas near the water, viz Northdown/Wesley Vale areas.
Guess I'll be back at those when the rest of the Cape digital services fire up to move them over to Round Hill.

[Electronicman]

M, on Jul 31 2007, 09:44 PM, said:

You are right.

I am wrong. So I edit to fix it.

No excuses.

I should stick to areas I'm better acquainted with. Sometimes there is no choice (except saying no) as others are not available or not required.

(That's why the name change to (M')bozo   'cos I are one at times. You can quote me on that.)

Don't be so hard on oneself Marc - I only pointed this out for those not so familiar with same channel interference and are not as experience as your good self in reception of the RF signals!

It seems like you are going to have some problems with Table Cape when the full roll out of the digital channels happen?
Such a strong ERP and protruding so far out into Bass Strait, it'll remain to be seen as to what interference it'll cause to areas to the East! This may be a blessing - viz Turners Beach or it may be a curse! What can we do? :ph34r:

[HillsTas]

Speaking of digital for the NW Coast, I was in Burnie today and saw a whopping big crane up on Round Hill. I eagerly drove up there to interrogate the installers as to when digital would be turned on and lo and behold, the Next G panels were all I found, unfortunately no ACMA techs.

I dont exactly know what else they need to do up there to get digital rolling but they had better get a move on if they are going to have it done by September (so DBA says), as if thet will happen!!!

[M'bozo]

Electronicman, on Aug 1 2007, 02:14 PM, said:

Don't be so hard on oneself

Thanks mate. In a hurry packing to go and do some install work in Adelaide didn't check what I wrote.

Nice to be somewhere with flat terrain (mostly) and ample signal levels.

[Electronicman]

Hills Antennas, on Aug 1 2007, 05:23 PM, said:

Speaking of digital for the NW Coast, I was in Burnie today and saw a whopping big crane up on Round Hill. I eagerly drove up there to interrogate the installers as to when digital would be turned on and lo and behold, the Next G panels were all I found, unfortunately no ACMA techs.

I dont exactly know what else they need to do up there to get digital rolling but they had better get a move on if they are going to have it done by September (so DBA says), as if thet will happen!!!

Just maybe they might have been waiting for this Next G work to be completed on the tower before switching the Digital transmitters on!
The Analogue transmitters were switched off yesterday (so not to fry the techs!) to allow this work to go ahead. So as this is a shared Telstra/ACMA tower digital roll out may have been put on hold till this work was completed. <Crossed fingers and toes, lets hope/pray/do whatever! PLEASE!>.     

I know the new digital antennae were installed at Wynyard and Burnie last September!

Lets hope - but don't hold your breath!! [You may implode!]

[HillsTas]

Oh but wouldn't that be lovely!!!

[chriswoo]

When going digital, broudcasters have to install new Antenna's on the mast?

I just assumed the mutiplexed the signal through there existing Analouge antenna...

And are the NEXT G panel anttenna's on towers the longer ones or CDMA?

Chris.

[Electronicman]

chriswoo, on Aug 2 2007, 08:39 PM, said:

When going digital, broudcasters have to install new Antenna's on the mast?

I just assumed the mutiplexed the signal through there existing Analouge antenna...

And are the NEXT G panel anttenna's on towers the longer ones or CDMA?

Chris.

The antenna is how the broadcasters obtain their ERP (effective radiated power) and in which direction. This is stipulated by the ACMA in the draft proposals. ERP can and is different for analogue and digital transmissions. Cranes were at Round Hill and Table Cape last September and I heard reports they were also at Ulverstone

Can't answer the Next G antenna question - although I was a long time Telstra employee, Next G and CDMA was not invented when I graciously departed the company (with a smile a mile wide!)

[chriswoo]

Quote

The antenna is how the broadcasters obtain their ERP (effective radiated power) and in which direction. This is stipulated by the ACMA in the draft proposals. ERP can and is different for analogue and digital transmissions. Cranes were at Round Hill and Table Cape last September and I heard reports they were also at Ulverstone

I understand that but thought they actually used the same antenna's.

BUT as you say if the footprint of Digi Vs analouge is different then there has to be two antenna's.

Is the Digi antenna much different looking than the analouge? Our WIN tower in Hobart doesnt seem to have two antenna systems BUT i am guessing that the footprint for both was hoping to be the same.

Quote

with a smile a mile wide!

And being Telstra, a pocket full of redundancy buldge... good on you!

[lizclinton]

It, s my understanding and please correct me if I’m wrong, is that the antenna on Win’s tower at Mt Wellington is in fact two systems. While it may look like just one system it is split into half for digital and the other half channel 6 analogue with each half having around 10db of gain. I'm not sure about the antenna situation on Goverment Hills ( A band 5 translator service) the antenna system there did not seem to change to the naked eye before digital services started a couple of years ago.

[chriswoo]

Oh Ok, I was expecting to see a new antenna system on the WIN tower, but have never really look at the tower that hard...heck i haven't been up the big hill for ages..

I think Government Hills has five UHF "Panel" style antennas.

I think it used to have four prior to TDT and i only assumed WIN, ABC, SBS, and SCX use their panels for a digital and Analogue mixed signal output and TDT has its own. It could however be (and i am guessing here) that 4 are still pure analouge and the fifth is a pure digital antenna carrying all the digital channels, some what like the system that must be in place on the WIN tower....I mean SCX/WIN and TDT are all from that site, i can't see them installing 3 antenna's if they can get away with sharing one..

Please someone out there might be able to enlighten us more...

[Electronicman]

It just depends on the ERP pattern required for good coverage - some may be the same as analogue so Mt wellington and Government Hills may not have needed new/additional antennae. This would be the same for many translator sites. Lilleah was a good one to look at, as it requires a fairly even ERP for 359 degrees around the transmitter but a 40,000 watt 1 degree lobe is required in the direction of King Island. This will be achieved by the antenna design to 'skip' the TV signals onto the island!

The antenna should look the same for both analogue and digital but again depends on the ERP required. Marcj likened it to a condom on top of the tower at Kelsey Tier

[dave.b]

Hi all, new to dtv forum.

Can anyone give any update on when Burnie/Wynyard will get all the stations ?

Just brought a 40" bravia x and analog is not the best.

Can anyone tell me why this topic doesnt show up in the Regional Tasmania Viewers Forum,is it archived ?


Edit, ok so it now shows up in the topic so it must be archived,makes it hard to find anything if thats the case in these slower moving topics.

Edited by dave.b, 08 October 2007 - 05:49 PM.

[alanh]

dave.b,
Read Get the Best Reception, Regional Tas and read the links. Download the Tas link.

The only other suggestion is to watch DBA or contact the stations themselves. So for the moment you are will have to continue with ABC & SBS

AlanH

[M'bozo]

dave.b,

If you tell us exactly where you are, like a township/suburb/street name, I'm sure some local installer will be able to advise on the chances of Mt Barrow reception which is probably your only option at the moment.

Marc.

[Electronicman]

dave.b

You and the entire population from Ulverstone to Rocky Cape are waiting.

The latest word from those who are supposed to know, is about November (which BTW is only three weeks away ) but they (TV stations) did not say which year! We can only wait and speculate!

If you can pick up the Digital transmission from Mt Barrow, (which 85-90% of the population of Burnie/Wynyard can) this could be a quicker/better option!

PM (private message) me and I can come to your address and do a site survey to give you a better idea on digital reception from Mt Barrow!

(You'll need 10 post before you are able to do a PM go to Red Text Thread to up your post count.)

Welcome aboard!

Edited by Electronicman, 08 October 2007 - 08:14 PM.

[dave.b]

Electronicman, on Oct 8 2007, 09:11 PM, said:

dave.b



If you can pick up the Digital transmission from Mt Barrow, (which 85-90% of the population of Burnie/Wynyard can) this could be a quicker/better option!

PM (private message) me and I can come to your address and do a site survey to give you a better idea on digital reception from Mt Barrow!



Welcome aboard!

Thanks Electronicman,



I have spun the ariel around a few times and not picked up anything better or a hint of it.
I have ok analog atm and wouldnt care to spend money on new antenas or boosters when (Fingers Crossed) it will be here soon.

If you think it worth while doing a survey with this info i will send you a pm.

Edit: In the somerset area below cemetry,think its a dead zone for mt Barrow

Edited by dave.b, 08 October 2007 - 08:44 PM.

[Shanks]

-->

Thanks Electronicman,
I have spun the ariel around a few times and not picked up anything better or a hint of it.
I have ok analog atm and wouldnt care to spend money on new antenas or boosters when (Fingers Crossed) it will be here soon.

If you think it worth while doing a survey with this info i will send you a pm.

Edit: In the somerset area below cemetry,think its a dead zone for mt Barrow[/quote]

Hi

I live in Upper Burnie and have my antenna pointing towards Round Hill. I get all ABC and SBS digital channels and (on good days?) TDT - although this is far from reliable. I've basically given up on believing statements about when we'll get the full complement of digital channels!!

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[Electronicman]

Shanks

You WILL get all ABC and SBS digital services from Round Hill/Table Cape/Penguin/Ulverstone/Smithton and Lileah. These are up and running now and have been for nearly 12 months! They are also vertically polarised (antenna elements pointing to the sky and ground) so no change in antenna polarity is necessary.

In Upper Burnie, with your antenna pointing at Round Hill, it is also in the general direction of Mount Barrow BUT it incorrectly polarised for Mount Barrow. This is why your reception of TDT is far from reliable.

I have installed/re-polarised many antenna in the Upper Burnie area and received a very reliable digital reception on ALL 5 digital channels (ABC; SBS; WIN: SC and TDT). I know from experience that this is possible.   But I have also seen some cruddy antenna cabling which impairs digital reception!

And for those DBA members interested - I did a digital install today at Edgecombe Beach (near Port Latta) and all channels from Mt Barrow came in strong and error free (albeit using a masthead amp!). This is my most westerly digital reception install. I ran out of time to perform a site survey at Stanely, just for interest sake.

[chriswoo]

One for the North West coast installers, where do most people in that Port Latta, Stanley, Smithton area get their TV/Radio transmissions from?? Mt. Barrow i would have thought would be a little hit and miss that far across the coast.

Cheers,
Chriswoo

PS: I haven't been that far west in a while so if the answer is obvious i apologize.

[ando9185]

I hear on top of the Nut you can recieve Mt Barrow quite easily (may even be full line of sight).

Also, our TAFE teacher in Launceston used to enjoy telling us about the guy who for years was providing a relay of TNT9 to viewers around the Stanley area, he was picking up the off air signal and then using his own equipment rebroadcasting on 8 I think. Apparently TNT9 knew and didn't seem to mind (meant they didn't have to worry about coverage to the area!), however the ABA put a stop to it when they found out. This was of course quite a few years ago and was to stop the problems during summer of fading and mixing between TNT9 and Channel 9 Melbourne.

[Electronicman]

chriswoo, on Oct 10 2007, 09:08 PM, said:

One for the North West coast installers, where do most people in that Port Latta, Stanley, Smithton area get their TV/Radio transmissions from?? Mt. Barrow i would have thought would be a little hit and miss that far across the coast.

Cheers,
Chriswoo

PS: I haven't been that far west in a while so if the answer is obvious i apologize.

Chriswoo

Two transmitters in the far north west - Tier Hill at Smithton, which basically covers the Smithton township and out to Montagu westward and Irishtown to the south.

Lileah is the main transmitter in the area (10kW as I recall) and that covers from the Sisters Hills in the east to Woolnorth and Marrawah on the West Coast. Channels VHF6 - SC; VHF8 - ABC; UHF50 - WIN and UHF53 - SBS. As to be expected, the VHF channels are quite strong over the entire area but the UHF are a very hit and miss affair. The ACMA had a rethink on the DCP for Lileah and made them entirely VHF! The latest DCP I have seen has SC on 7; ABC is on 9; SBS is on 9A; WIN on 10 and TDT on 12. Could be sweet, or could be major co-channel problems - it'll remain to be seen!

As to radio, 7BU has an FM translator on Tier Hill, Sea FM from Table Cape has good coverage around the area, (it only faded once on me today near Edith Creek) and I think JJJ is a self help translator on Tier Hill run by the Council (matter of fact - I think it was your good self who pointed that out on an earlier post! )

You are correct with what you say about Mt Barrow, it is very hit and miss but there are a few places receiving DTV from there, namely Rocky Cape, Detention River, Edgecombe Beach and Cowrie Point. No doubt it would be quite probable from Stanley - I wish I had more time to try today. I am back that way next week, so I'll try if I get a chance!