Cable Forum

Cable Forum (https://www.cableforum.uk/board/index.php)
-   Freesat & Freeview (https://www.cableforum.uk/board/forumdisplay.php?f=109)
-   -   Mod tests. (https://www.cableforum.uk/board/showthread.php?t=33708009)

RichardCoulter 16-08-2019 12:25

Mod tests.
 
'Mod Test' and 'Mod Test 2' have started testing.

Both are configured as HD services. 'Mod Test' points to SID 53797 on TSID 2113 (BT Sport Box Office HD on 11386H); 'Mod Test 2' points to imaginary SID 1234 on TSID 2117 (10890V).

Don't get too excited - these appear to be tests to ensure receivers can cope with a DVB-S2 TP with QPSK, 29.5Mbaud & FEC of 8/9.

Freesat doesn't have any services using this configuration at present.

Paul 16-08-2019 13:46

Re: Mod tests.
 
I'm not going to get excited because I have no idea what you are talking about. :erm:

pip08456 16-08-2019 14:00

Re: Mod tests.
 
I don't think Richard has either.:D

SnoopZ 16-08-2019 14:07

Re: Mod tests.
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by pip08456 (Post 36006236)
I don't think Richard has either.:D

:D

cheekyangus 16-08-2019 14:24

Re: Mod tests.
 
I only recognise a few of the technical terms used. If none of the existing FreeSat services use them, do any of the pay TV services?

Or is this such an unusual configuration it might simply be a technology test by someone?

pip08456 16-08-2019 14:27

Re: Mod tests.
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by cheekyangus (Post 36006238)
I only recognise a few of the technical terms used. If none of the existing FreeSat services use them, do any of the pay TV services?

Or is this such an unusual configuration it might simply be a technology test by someone?

Your guess is as good as Richards.:D

cheekyangus 16-08-2019 14:50

Re: Mod tests.
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by pip08456 (Post 36006239)
Your guess is as good as Richards.:D

I just had a look at another forum and a thread which had a post which presumably Richard saw as he has posted earlier in that thread. My interpretation of the information located there is that it is a technical test and could ultimately lead to more usable space on a transponder, so more services could fit in the same space.

So something that could result in either more services or reduced costs. Or both.

RichardCoulter 16-08-2019 15:00

Re: Mod tests.
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by cheekyangus (Post 36006240)
I just had a look at another forum and a thread which had a post which presumably Richard saw as he has posted earlier in that thread. My interpretation of the information located there is that it is a technical test and could ultimately lead to more usable space on a transponder, so more services could fit in the same space.

So something that could result in either more services or reduced costs. Or both.

Your interpretation is spot on :)

This could potentially see more channels coming onto Freesat as capacity costs reduce because more channels can be squeezed onto one transponder without a degradation in picture quality.

I can't understand why they don't do something similar on Freeview, given the chronic lack of space and the fact that there may be no home for channels on the temporary muxes 7 & 8 that are gradually being closed down to reallocate part of the spectrum for 5G mobile.

cheekyangus 16-08-2019 15:31

Re: Mod tests.
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 36006241)
Your interpretation is spot on :)

This could potentially see more channels coming onto Freesat as capacity costs reduce because more channels can be squeezed onto one transponder without a degradation in picture quality.

I can't understand why they don't do something similar on Freeview, given the chronic lack of space and the fact that there may be no home for channels on the temporary muxes 7 & 8 that are gradually being closed down to reallocate part of the spectrum for 5G mobile.

They do. This is nothing new on either digital satellite or cable or terrestrial. They've been doing this ever since Digital TV was introduced. Just look at the slow creeping up of the number of services on Freeview alone. There's many more services on each multiplex than used to be the maximum. Sure many of these have been lower resolution than the PSB channels, but the space still had to be found, and it happened through continuous improvement of the encoding and related technologies, improvements that still worked within the original specifications so that old legacy equipment still worked.

The main commercial PSB multiplex is a good example. They have kept adding services since Switchover, and at proper SD resolution. In that time I have gradually gained the likes of ITV4, Film4 and Film4+1 on that multiplex alone in a secondary TV room that is serviced by a windowsill aerial from a Relay transmitter.

RichardCoulter 16-08-2019 17:05

Re: Mod tests.
 
I agree with what Ed Vaizey said in 2014 about a move to DVB-T2 and MPEG4 (at least for the PSB channels) along with the closure of the PSB SD channels.

https://www.gov.uk/government/speech...up-summir-2014

This should have been carried out before the clearance of 700 MHz got underway. I think they were afraid of upsetting the electorate as some would need a new STB, but i'd hazard a guess that most people now have a compatible box and the new ones selling today are only about £20.

Channel 4 +1 HD and 4Seven HD (along with other SD channels in DVB-T2) were created (by using the old On/ITV Digital infrastructure) to encourage take up, which seems to have worked.

Stephen 17-08-2019 13:06

Re: Mod tests.
 
Wouldn't this have been better in the coming soon thread, as that's were similar things have been posted in the past?

cheekyangus 17-08-2019 14:12

Re: Mod tests.
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen (Post 36006302)
Wouldn't this have been better in the coming soon thread, as that's were similar things have been posted in the past?

If there was a hint of a specific channel or service, probably. As it stands it's just a technology test and may not come to anything, and if it does it won't necessarily be soon. So for me it's fine in this thread. If the situation develops I'm sure Richard or whoever spots it first will post here or there.

RichardCoulter 17-08-2019 15:29

Re: Mod tests.
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by cheekyangus (Post 36006308)
If there was a hint of a specific channel or service, probably. As it stands it's just a technology test and may not come to anything, and if it does it won't necessarily be soon. So for me it's fine in this thread. If the situation develops I'm sure Richard or whoever spots it first will post here or there.

Yup, that's why I didn't post it in the new channels coming to Freesat thread. At this time they are just testing out the more efficient use of capacity techology.

There's no details of any actual channels launching yet as BT Sport Box Office HD is obviously a pay channel, so is unlikely to come to Freesat.

These tests have only been added to the Freesat internal/test sub-bouquets and it appears that there's a new transponder 117 in the Freesat Network Information Table (and not Sky).

jfman 18-08-2019 10:55

Re: Mod tests.
 
There's no appetite to push Freeview to a fully DVB-T2/MPEG4 system.

The average bitrates in MPEG2 are so low anyway the gains will be marginal. Millions of STBs and secondary sets up and down the country made redundant for no real benefit to anyone. It'd take years to transition and ultimately is there anyone clamouring to use what little space will be vacated?

In 2014 it probably was a good idea. In 2019 it is an idea that came too late. Announced tomorrow it'd have an ambitious target at 2022, realistic at 2025. By then? We will all be streaming, of course. ;)

RichardCoulter 18-08-2019 12:54

Re: Mod tests.
 
I suppose the real savings in capacity would come from the Vaizey idea of making the PSB channels HD only, but the BBC would have to find an affordable way to roll out their regional channels in HD first.


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 06:30.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.