11 replies to this topic

[Smacca]

We all know about the new radio services starting on VAST soon, as well as NITV. But thanks to husky61 at Austech for breaking this one;

Rural Health Channel will be officially launching in all VAST zones this Monday. It's already active on Ch 600, but only showing a loop until launch day.

Will Westlink still be needed after Aurora goes? It is seperately funded, but mostly shows health related content. Maybe the WA government has helped fund RHC?

Edited by Smacca, 17 May 2012 - 11:16 PM.

[alanh]

SMACCA, http://www.rdl.wa.go...es/default.aspx makes no mention of Aurora anywhere not even the receiver. They only mention the UEC model number. They also state that they can switch off free to air transmissions. They hire Optus C1 just like all other broadcasters. There is nothing to stop Westlink to continue as they are after the end of next year. There is nothing to stop Optus leaving one DVB-S modulator feeding one transponder and containing private contracts such as Westlink, Optus Business channel. All DVB-S2 receivers can also receive DVB-S signals. So they can leave all ABC audio/SBS audio on the same DVB-S modulator used above. All that is required is to make the encryption seeds common between the DVB-S2 receivers and the existing DVB-S receivers. The advantage of the above system is that existing receivers used for schools and resource centres for Westlink and many radio transmitter sites remain unchanged. It is really up to Optus and their customers how they organise which signals are fed into each DVB-S2 and DVB-S modulators prior to uplinking.

Optus C1 satellite will still be in orbit and transponders work only as frequency changing amplifiers. Since Aurora is a DVB-S/MPEG-2 commercial TV service it has nothing to do with Westlink, radio signals, and Coles and Woolworths store radio.


Alanh

Edited by alanh, 18 May 2012 - 01:28 AM.

[DrP]

No no no.  C1 will not be able to be used.  C1 will soon be moved out of its current position to the scrap yard orbit or perhaps de-orbited into the ocean.  We know this because satellites only work for 7 years.  alanh has told us this and we know that alanh is an expert in these matters.  The proof of the accuracy of his advice is that it was issued well into C1's flight and did not rely on mis-interpretation of old data from the A series days.

The only real question that needs to be asked is when are all the services on C1 scheduled to be moved off in prepartion for the retirement of C1.  Perhaps alanh, being an industry insider, would be kind enough to shed some light on this as he surely has access to the schedule.

Edited by DrP, 18 May 2012 - 05:48 AM.

[nbound]

alanh, on 18 May 2012 - 01:24 AM, said:

SMACCA, http://www.rdl.wa.go...es/default.aspx makes no mention of Aurora anywhere not even the receiver. They only mention the UEC model number. They also state that they can switch off free to air transmissions. They hire Optus C1 just like all other broadcasters. There is nothing to stop Westlink to continue as they are after the end of next year. There is nothing to stop Optus leaving one DVB-S modulator feeding one transponder and containing private contracts such as Westlink, Optus Business channel. All DVB-S2 receivers can also receive DVB-S signals. So they can leave all ABC audio/SBS audio on the same DVB-S modulator used above. All that is required is to make the encryption seeds common between the DVB-S2 receivers and the existing DVB-S receivers. The advantage of the above system is that existing receivers used for schools and resource centres for Westlink and many radio transmitter sites remain unchanged. It is really up to Optus and their customers how they organise which signals are fed into each DVB-S2 and DVB-S modulators prior to uplinking.

Smacca was suggesting that Westlink may not be needed from a content based perspective. (ie. both services have similar content.). Noone is arguing that individual services may or may not continue after the Aurora service is shut down.

[Smacca]

alanh, on 18 May 2012 - 01:24 AM, said:

SMACCA, http://www.rdl.wa.go...es/default.aspx makes no mention of Aurora anywhere not even the receiver. They only mention the UEC model number.

So does that mean, from your warped viewpoint on everything, that Westlink mustn't exist on Aurora?

alanh, on 18 May 2012 - 01:24 AM, said:

They also state that they can switch off free to air transmissions. They hire Optus C1 just like all other broadcasters. There is nothing to stop Westlink to continue as they are after the end of next year. There is nothing to stop Optus leaving one DVB-S modulator feeding one transponder and containing private contracts such as Westlink, Optus Business channel.

Well, that's why I asked the question. They might stay, they might go, they might not have any programming to sustain funding and move everything to RHC. You have no idea at this stage, and nor do I.

alanh, on 18 May 2012 - 01:24 AM, said:

So they can leave all ABC audio/SBS audio on the same DVB-S modulator used above.

Speculation and highly unlikely. I reckon they will launch new ABC radio services on the VAST platform, and keep the existing ones on Aurora (DVB-S) running until switch-off.

alanh, on 18 May 2012 - 01:24 AM, said:

All that is required is to make the encryption seeds common between the DVB-S2 receivers and the existing DVB-S receivers. The advantage of the above system is that existing receivers used for schools and resource centres for Westlink and many radio transmitter sites remain unchanged. It is really up to Optus and their customers how they organise which signals are fed into each DVB-S2 and DVB-S modulators prior to uplinking.

Well, the schools and telecentres now need VAST to watch RHC, so they'd be mad leaving Westlink as the only DVB-S service for the few people that won't have a VAST box. Even if they simulcrypt it, what advantage would that have?

Leave the radio talk for a dedicated thread, please.

alanh, on 18 May 2012 - 01:24 AM, said:

Optus C1 satellite will still be in orbit

Lol..

alanh, on 18 May 2012 - 01:24 AM, said:

Since Aurora is a DVB-S/MPEG-2 commercial TV service it has nothing to do with Westlink, radio signals, and Coles and Woolworths store radio.

When I want to activate ABC and SBS on my Aurora card, I don't call ABC and SBS. I call Optus Aurora as they are the ones controlling access to the services. You're basing your assumptions on the mere fact that Aurora isn't mentioned, but Optus C1 is. This isn't concrete evidence that they're not part of Aurora. It's like finding a piece of paper that says "GWN is on satellite!" - it doesn't disprove the fact that it's on Aurora.

Anyway Alan, back to topic. I suppose you believe RHC isn't part of VAST, too?

[GoForMoe]

How does the broadcast licensing work for a channel like that - do we have an idea of the access regime for new VAST services? Would someone with only ABC/SBS enabled get a channel like this (and for that matter the regional news channels?)

Could we see some of the FTA satellite channels coming under the VAST EPG (or other method of channel number allocation) in the future, things like the Christian Channel, Expo and Al Jazeera. Or perhaps use the access regime for pay channels like Setanta outside of Foxtel or other subscription services?

[Smacca]

GoForMoe, on 18 May 2012 - 09:01 PM, said:

How does the broadcast licensing work for a channel like that - do we have an idea of the access regime for new VAST services? Would someone with only ABC/SBS enabled get a channel like this (and for that matter the regional news channels?)

I reckon it won't be any different to how it is now with the health programming on BTV 1 and 2. Those channels unlock with any Aurora card entitled to ABC and SBS as a minimum. Westlink is unlocked only with an Aurora WA entitlement. So if Westlink was to be upgraded to 16:9 and added to the VAST bouquet, I'd imagine only the VAST WA entitlement will unlock it.

Westlink is also home to ICTV, the predecessor to NITV. So they do have some obligations to meet.

GoForMoe, on 18 May 2012 - 09:01 PM, said:

Could we see some of the FTA satellite channels coming under the VAST EPG (or other method of channel number allocation) in the future, things like the Christian Channel, Expo and Al Jazeera.

It could happen, but they would need to pay some sort of fee to integrate their EPG with VAST, as it works in a similar way to Foxtel and Austar (single EPG channel feeds 7-day data to the box, rather than each service feeding 7-day data to the box). Would they bother?

GoForMoe, on 18 May 2012 - 09:01 PM, said:

Or perhaps use the access regime for pay channels like Setanta outside of Foxtel or other subscription services?

That would be interesting. Out of all the subscription services, I can see Setanta fronting up the cost to be on VAST. Would they then be able to issue out VAST boxes to new subscribers?

[alanh]

You lot don't get it.
A satellite system consists of an uplink station which consists of DVB-S2 and DVB-S modulators which can multiplex many data streams upto the channel bandwidth limit.There is multiple modulators on different frequencies all followed by high powered amplifiers and a dish antenna.  Prior to modulation all signals are encrypted by Optus so that they can treat each data stream as an independent signal and switch on an off at the customers' and their wish. These signals are received at the satellite at around 14 GHz and all signals are converted down to around 12 GHz, there is no other signal processing. The signals are amplified and radiated over the footprint.

At the receiver end there is only the following receivers available DVB-S which uses MPEG-2 for video compression and MPEG-1 level 2 for sound. The newer receivers are DVB-S2/S and will also decompress MPEG-4 video and AAC sound. All receivers contain a decrypter which re-orders the encrypted signals back to their original sequence. For the decrypter to work, they use a pair of numbers one burnt into the receiver's integrated circuits (which identifies the receiver) and a number derived from the card. There are also encryption systems which do not require a card at all, but transmit the "card number" around once a month, and they change the number each time.

http://www.pace.com/...-box/satellite/ shows what is currently available to satellite broadcasters. They cannot be used on VAST signals because the Optus specification for receivers requires the burnt in serial number mentioned above to be supplied to Optus so that they can use the correct seed.

In our case Optus owns the satellites and sells a data rate to the customers such as Foxtel, Regional Broadcasters Australia, the DBCDE (for the Government TV and radio stations and for commercial TV stations for the following networks Imparja, GWN7, WINWA, TENWest, Southern Cross Broadcasting) and other private purchasers such as the Coles, Woolworths.

Optus has been using Aurora as a trade name for all their satellite products. VAST is the name used by Regional Broadcasters Australia.

Optus sell their capacity for non video/audio applications such as the Defence Department, relaying phone channels etc.

AlanH

[GoForMoe]

Smacca, on 19 May 2012 - 03:21 AM, said:

It could happen, but they would need to pay some sort of fee to integrate their EPG with VAST, as it works in a similar way to Foxtel and Austar (single EPG channel feeds 7-day data to the box, rather than each service feeding 7-day data to the box). Would they bother?

Once analogue is totally off the VAST audience would probably be able to justify that sort of spend, likewise I think it would help make the service less dependent on the Government support it currently gets.

[DrP]

Oh dear.  It looks like the forum expert has been googling CA systems.  This should be entertaining as the thread deteriorates towards irrelevance.

[Smacca]

alanh, on 19 May 2012 - 01:53 PM, said:

You lot don't get it.
[...]
Optus has been using Aurora as a trade name for all their satellite products.

We don't get it? We've been trying to tell you that Aurora comprises of all these services.

You're such an idiot for thinking we are ALL wrong. Lol!

[Smacca]

GoForMoe, on 19 May 2012 - 02:05 PM, said:

Once analogue is totally off the VAST audience would probably be able to justify that sort of spend, likewise I think it would help make the service less dependent on the Government support it currently gets.

True. It does seem VAST is slowly becoming the only platform for any type of service other than subscription (on Optus C1/D3 at least).

DrP, on 19 May 2012 - 02:09 PM, said:

Oh dear.  It looks like the forum expert has been googling CA systems.  This should be entertaining as the thread deteriorates towards irrelevance.

I like how he makes out Pace is the only set-top box on the market.

If Alan just got someone to proof read his sh!t, he would probably be quite helpful.