HD : Is it better to watch an HD news channel in the event of an imminent nuclear attack?

[RichardCoulter]

There's a thread in another forum about the online BBC News being delayed by two minutes. Someone said that it didn't really matter, but another made a tongue in cheek remark that it would do if the 4 minute warning was given out!

The delay was said to be down to how the internet works and it was pointed out that satellite transmissions are slightly delayed too because of the time it takes for the signal to get into space and back again.

This made me wonder if Virgin Media TV has a lesser delay on the line fed HD channels because the satellites up and downlink times are cut out of the distribution chain. Conversely the delay is probably longer for SD channels as these are fed by satellite.

So, if a nuclear attack looks imminent, would Virgin Media customers be advised to tune into an HD news channel to get their full 4 minutes worth!!!

[Stephen]

Listen to the radio? Live and no delay.

Am sure if something like that happened it would interrupt on every single main channel.

[spiderplant]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

This made me wonder if Virgin Media TV has a lesser delay on the line fed HD channels because the satellites up and downlink times are cut out of the distribution chain.

Probably. It's easy enough to find out. Just flick between HD and SD versions of a channel and see which is ahead.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by spiderplant

Probably. It's easy enough to find out. Just flick between HD and SD versions of a channel and see which is ahead.

But by the time it's changed channel and tuned into it, the delay will probably have passed!

People with two similar type boxes could try it out, but these aren't likely to be in the same room.

Now if only I knew someone with access to a number of boxes next to each other where, say, BBC News SD and BBC News HD could be tuned in next to each other

[Mad Max]

Boooooooooooooooooom..................

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Stephen

Listen to the radio? Live and no delay.

Am sure if something like that happened it would interrupt on every single main channel.

It would depend upon how you were listening to the radio. Satellite, online and DAB all have inherent delays, along with all digital platforms as they encode the signal.

I suppose the best would be good old fashioned analogue radio.

All hypothetical of course, I doubt that many of us would be taking off our inner doors and making a den under the dining room table as the Government recommend if this was ever announced

It would be covered at least by BBC1, ITV & Radio 4 as the 2010 Broadcasting Act allows the Government to take over these frequencies.

In such an event, they would broadcast for one hour after the attack informing people what had happened and giving advice upon what to do.

Thereafter, this message would be repeated once an hour, with any updates, to try and conserve the remaining power that people still had, which is why no entertainment would be provided either.

They have now stated that Digital Switch Over has lessened the effectiveness of all the above!!!

[johnathome]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

All hypothetical of course, I doubt that many of us would be taking off our inner doors and making a den under the dining room table as the Government recommend if this was ever announced

LOL, it'd take me longer than 4 mins to find the screwdriver!

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

There's a thread in another forum about the online BBC News being delayed by two minutes. Someone said that it didn't really matter, but another made a tongue in cheek remark that it would do if the 4 minute warning was given out!

The delay was said to be down to how the internet works and it was pointed out that satellite transmissions are slightly delayed too because of the time it takes for the signal to get into space and back again.

This made me wonder if Virgin Media TV has a lesser delay on the line fed HD channels because the satellites up and downlink times are cut out of the distribution chain. Conversely the delay is probably longer for SD channels as these are fed by satellite.

So, if a nuclear attack looks imminent, would Virgin Media customers be advised to tune into an HD news channel to get their full 4 minutes worth!!!

Seriously, though. How many of us are watching TV 24/7? Surely, this is a non story?

If nuclear warneads are heading towards us, even with 4 minutes, or 4 hours notice, what the hell can we do?

Drawing up a will? Who would you leave your estate to if we are all going to be annihalated?

Back to normality, please.

[pip08456]

So, you've got 4mins to live and you're worrying about the definition of the channel????

Originally Posted by pip08456

So, you've got 4mins to live and you're worrying about the definition of the channel????

Pretty much what I was thinking ... someone has odd priorities

[RichardCoulter]

No, it's a light hearted look at how to get your full 4 minutes. The point being that the HD signals are (probably) received first on VM boxes on the HD channels.

---------- Post added at 06:32 ---------- Previous post was at 06:23 ----------

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Seriously, though. How many of us are watching TV 24/7? Surely, this is a non story?

If nuclear warneads are heading towards us, even with 4 minutes, or 4 hours notice, what the hell can we do?

Drawing up a will? Who would you leave your estate to if we are all going to be annihalated?

Back to normality, please.

In reality, I think that people would be panicking, praying or hugging their loved ones as nothing else will matter to them.

I even suspect that many of the people designated to carry out various tasks in this eventuality would abandon their posts to try and be with their loved ones as the time comes.

Apparently, this is what CNN will play if an impending end of the world is confirmed:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3JnfAr_YSxs

Some of the comments are quite funny

---------- Post added at 06:34 ---------- Previous post was at 06:32 ----------

Originally Posted by johnathome

LOL, it'd take me longer than 4 mins to find the screwdriver!

LMAO at this!!!

[Sirius]

If the bombs are on there way all you can do is stick your head between your legs and kiss your arse goodbye

[heero_yuy]

I would think the first warning we'll get is all the TV and Radio stations go off air simultaneously quickly followed by all electrical power as EMPs take out everything electrical that isn't hardened including all mobile phones.

That's assuming you haven't already gone into orbit with most of your surroundings or been fried to a crisp.

Funnily enough we had a power cut a few days ago and the first thing I checked was to put the radio on battery and see if R4 was still on the air. Maybe it's having lived through an era when a nuclear exchange was a very real threat.

[Mad Max]

Just make sure you change your underpants, don't want someone to find you with skid marks all over them after the bomb hits.........

[muppetman11]

And the award for most pointless thread goes to.........