8 replies to this topic

[tasbloke]

Can anyone in the Bicheno area confirm that this service is definately on-air and operating normally?

My parents have just moved to the area and have perfect analogue (win, abc1, Sthn x) and ABC digital reception but no sign of SBS digital. I know it is a lower power service but would still expect to get some sign of it. They are only 1km from the main tower (the sbs tower comes from the tas ambo's tower just next to the main tower) with line of sight.

Just want to confirm 100% it is on-air before i try and do soem troubleshooting.

Thanks in advance

[nbound]

According to digitalready.gov.au, there is no SBS Digital yet from Bicheno transmitter. All other digital services should be available**. I cant get onto ACMA at the moment (website down?) to confirm this is the case.

IF this is the case you have the following options:

• Wait until closer to the switchover and SBS should arrive (Tas is 1st half 2013)

Or if more adventurous:

• Put up a high gain VHF aerial and attempt Hobart reception.
  
• Get SBS via satellite through VAST (everyone is able to apply for ABC/SBS viewing).

Id just wait it out, but maybe they are huge soccer fans... or something


**Edit: Actually only ABC digital is available the commercial stations just have info up in advance on digitalready

Edited by nbound, 26 February 2012 - 07:22 PM.

[nbound]

Ive been able to find my saved version of ACMAs broadcaster license listing. According to it SBS should be on channel 37 from the ambulance tower, as you suggested in your post. At 300W you should have no problems receiving it from a mere km away. If there is a large variation in altitude, it could be beaming over your specific location. Id suggest they speak to the neighbours, and/or you could contact SBS and make sure the transmitter is actually active.

[M'bozo]

perfect analogue (win, abc1, Sthn x) and ABC digital reception but no sign of SBS digital.

Was there a couple of 3 weeks ago & that's all I could get on my meter. Was just passing through, though, didn't spend much time looking for signals.

It appears SBS is a retransmission service going on these details


Just want to confirm 100% it is on-air before i try and do soem troubleshooting.

Ring the council office to see if:

a) It's installed,

if it is, are there any current issues.

Always assuming, of course, you can find someone that knows what is going on.

[CWulf]

Hi

The ACMA data is licensing data and would indicate that a licence has been issued for the SBS at Bicheno. Just because a licence is issued doesn'y mean that the service has or will be implemented. (Similarly the lack of a licence doesn't meand the digital service isn't operating). Given the MySwitch data doesn't have the service as being on-air, and you can't tune it in in an area where it should be fine, I'd suspect it wasn't implemented.

As M'bozo says, the only way to really know is to contact the licensee (the council) and hope somewhere there knows (again possibly a big ask).

[HillsTas]

The Bicheno transmitter is earmarked as a "Hot Swap" transmitter (as is Swansea). A Hot Swap transmitter is a tower that for some reason or another (lack of infrastructure or power etc...) the analogue signal will cease at the same time the digital signal will start. From info gathered from switchovers on the mainland, and from ACMA, these "hot swaps" are governed by the broadcasters, and usually there is very little warning of when it will happen, usually less than a month! The tender process for the switchover mentions these hot swaps and states that installers must be able to mobilise and install the HAS scheme boxes within a 2 week period from the initial swap date.

The above is more focussed on the commercial broadcasters, and SBS may decide to do something different whenever they feel like it, but history shows that they usually tow the line. This means that you will most likely not get SBS until the HAS scheme starts in the first half of 2013, and there will be little warning, perhaps only a week or two before it starts, and when it does, you can expect the analogue services to be discontinued.

As nbound said, unless your a huge soccer fan, I suggest you wait it out, or perhaps look at VAST (a whole other kettle of fish!!!!)

Cheers

Dave

Edited by HillsTas, 28 February 2012 - 07:41 AM.

[M'bozo]

According to SBS, it's not operational yet.

[clipper]

HillsTas, on 27 February 2012 - 02:23 PM, said:

The tender process for the switchover mentions these hot swaps and states that installers must be able to mobilise and install the HAS scheme boxes within a 2 week period from the initial swap date.

So you're saying that it's hard to dig out any list of proposed "hot-swaps"? Asking the Huon VC what's earmarked for Herringback fire service tower is a likely waste of time?

[HillsTas]

clipper, on 28 February 2012 - 08:45 AM, said:

So you're saying that it's hard to dig out any list of proposed "hot-swaps"? Asking the Huon VC what's earmarked for Herringback fire service tower is a likely waste of time?

Hi Cliff,

Herringback/Nieka is a hot swap tower AFAIK, but no mention on when it will be swapped.

Cheers

Dave