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Originally Posted by jj20x
True, but I don't think he was really concerned about possible launches, more about what additional FTA services cable has. SDR enthusiasts are generally more interested in unusual services they can use than rather than basic tv services they can't use. He did point out that a local tv channel was "present" and encrypted. It isn't available on Tivo, so presumably this is only made available at specific local hubs and not to all properties served by the regional headend. Perhaps a little over-restrictive for a channel available to everyone over the internet.
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There's no such thing as FTA - Free to air on cable. As said, its a closed system which is why we don't get all the Freeview channels as separate deals have to be done for them to appear on cable. You used to be able to plug a tv straight into the cable socket and get some channels without a box as they were FTA, but as far as I know now all channels are encrypted, Local channels differ from area to area.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jj20x
Indeed, locally Tivo claims there are 52 transport streams. Ok, there's 45 transport streams carrying national channels (TSids 1-45) and 3 carrying regional services (TSids 101, 102 & 104), 4 used to deliver VOD and a further 4 carrying frequency tests. That's 56 in total, presumably Tivo ignores the frequency tests.
I'd be interested to see confirmation of what is actually testing with actual video/audio streams present in the transport streams in mediaboy's area. If the "tests" are just service descriptions picked up by scanning for cable channels on a basic tv with a cable tuner, they aren't necessarily real tests. I would say that a service description not linked to an actual service doesn't qualify as a test, although it could still be an indication of a service "coming soon".
You raise a point about services testing in certain areas. I thought that NGTV was supposed to bring a uniform delivery across the network. I don't see why different versions of the national transport streams (1-45) would be made available in different regions. All of these "tests" are on those transport streams.
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Last time I checked, there was still only 48 transport streams in my area. But with the broadband upgrades, VM are no doubt increasing this especially if you are seeing 52. 8-12 streams/channels will be used for downstream broadband and 2-4 for upstream. As you say, the others are VOD services and the rest are tv.
There are different versions of some channels especially the main BBC/ITV ones for local news and regional versions too.
The service information table SI, is just that, a table, a list. All those hidden channels are not tv channels but red button services, links to vod services, pvr & information for the stbs etc.
The only people who can see genuine channel tests now are VM staff with modified stbs that unblock the signals.