Digital TV debate

The process is already in shables, with Ivy & co not allowing sufficient time for the design, development and manufacturing of the desktop sets.

Also, why all the bells and wistles? Return path etc.
 
Is there a simple answer? Yes and no. One of the requirements government has agreed on is that set-top boxes must be affordable by the public at large; this means that some form of subsidisation is needed. So if set-top boxes are manufactured in South Africa (good for our economy) how does one prevent subsidised set-top boxes being exported at the cost of the tax payer? It obviously needs something that makes it uniquely South African ti make it unusable elsewhere. To this extent the policy proposes to have a control system to prevent STBs from being used outside the borders of South Africa. The policy also states that this would enable the box to be disabled if it were stolen. However to increase export potential the code should be able to be changed. A new challange for hackers!
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The above statement is the biggest load of hogwash I have ever read. A simple rebate system when purchasing a full price locally made settop box would have sufficed. That will also ensure that overseas settop boxes could only compete with local if the price difference is similar to the rebate.

If our local producers of settop boxes were cost-efficient, it may even have created export opportunities for us.

Once again our narrow minded DOC has no clue, and have not even come up with a proper specification. If overseas spec was used nobody would have wasted their time on a well investigated situation
 
It will still suck, SABC is uncapable of delivering enough content worthwhile for even more crap channels, sorry I just dont think that this is the magic cure for local "free"(if u can call it that) tv...get DSTV or just download the programs u want to to watch rather
 
Mauritius recently switched over to digital television. The country’s broadcasting powers decided to go with open market STBs but has learned an expensive lesson – at least for the viewers. The service is erratic and many viewers have little or no television to watch.
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Sounds to me like the Mauritian powers-that-be didn't test their STB's sufficiently, or else their broadcast infrastructure is unreliable. That doesn't necessarily imply that the same thing would happen here.

Personally, if they comply with international standards (DVB-T, MPEG-4) for the standard TV services, I can't imagine why the market would not step up and provide TVs, DVRs, etc that are able to receive those signals.

If the government then decides that they want to provide digital services to the greater population, and choose to design and provide STBs that enable those services, those that want those services can buy the subsidised STB, and the rest of us that already have internet access can simply ignore them. One does hope that the additional services would also be internet-accessible, and not exclusively STB-linked.

So, here's a question: Does anyone have any idea what return channel is being contemplated for these STBs? Obviously, they would be making use of one or more of the DVB-T channels to broadcast data to the individual STBs (targeted by serial no?), but how will the STB connect back to the servers?

Using a modem (like the old DSTV decoders?) requires a Telkom line. But Telkom lines are not that widely spread, and have a monthly cost. Maybe a GSM data channel, by special arrangement with the networks, paid for by the state? But that again requires coverage. I'm pretty sure that the TV broadcast range exceeds the GSM coverage by a fair margin.

What other possibilities can you think of?
 
All this hogwash about the DoC wanting to have the STB's manufactured in SA "for job opportunities and the economy" is pure bullshyte.

1. The DoC wants to control the manufacture of the STB's so that the profits from selling them can go into selected coffers. Importing cheaper STB's won't have that desired effect.

2. By controlling the STB's sales/distribution/subsidies, the DoC, together with Government, can control which population income-segment receives the STB and then use the additional messaging capabilities of the STB to spread political and Government propaganda to the "selected" population. That is also why there is no STB without "cream on the top", a.k.a messaging capability. Middle class & up will either buy a cheaper DStv decoder or a TV with a DTT receiver
 
I think its a good thing they enforcing local production, why support other countries when our own is struggling? Problem is however that i have yet to see a company in SA produce things for greater good, seems the SA way make a profit 1st so good luck with finding a company to produce it and have the desired effect.
 
krycor said:
I think its a good thing they enforcing local production, why support other countries when our own is struggling? Problem is however that i have yet to see a company in SA produce things for greater good, seems the SA way make a profit 1st so good luck with finding a company to produce it and have the desired effect.
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the thing I hate about local productions, apart from the fact that it tends to look cheap it always seems to have this forced in "be good" undertones. And its just too humanitarian. I dont want to get educated on condoms while watching a story. (but okay must admit mnet brought out a couple of good short films) and if u look at Leon Schuster's stuff, it's funny at parts I must admit , but overall it just looks rubish..
 
The whole idea behind manufacturing locally is to provide a platform for one of their comrades to become the latest black diamond driving their flashy sports in sandton. Its just that simple. I'm sure u will be able to import a set top box from China for under R400. That being said. You rather buy a dstv decoder and a cheap sub and get more channels with better content.
 
I just want cheaper bandwidth so that I can buy shows, movies etc online and then download them to my iPod or PC. Hook the iPod up to the TV and let me watch it that way. I know that it is important for a big chunk of our population but the whole digital TV debate has bored me to tears. I use the Internet, play games on my PC and rent DVDs. The idea of broadcast TV is becoming increasingly less NB for me and I would imagine other people as well.
 
The "unscramble encrypted broadcast signals feature" could be used to enforce TV licence compliance
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Now what about the people that have TV that are able to understand the DVB-T signal. They would, in effect, be forced to also by a STB just to be able to decode the signal. That would not be fair.
 
What I want to know is how the signal strength will affect viewing. To all those more distant and rural viewers, surely the picture will just be a corrupted mess of blocks and glitches. At least with analog tv, a snowy, ghosty picture with sound was watchable. My home tv signal in the middle of the suburbs isn't that great already.

Unless they plan to rollout many more transmitters of higher power output, how will DTV be watchable?
 
if you had a tv that can receive digital broadcasts how would you set this up
do you need a new tv aerial? new cabling? new connectors?
 
Gaz{M} said:
What I want to know is how the signal strength will affect viewing. To all those more distant and rural viewers, surely the picture will just be a corrupted mess of blocks and glitches. At least with analog tv, a snowy, ghosty picture with sound was watchable. My home tv signal in the middle of the suburbs isn't that great already.

Unless they plan to rollout many more transmitters of higher power output, how will DTV be watchable?
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digital tv doesnt degrade gracefully like analog..at best there are 3 stages
1) it all works perfect
2) it all works, but amybe a mux or two is missing, and the picture has macroblocking more than it should (less than perfect signal quality)
3) boom, there is nothing but black.

probably, unless you live under a transmitter, initially most people fall into number 2 above. number 3 will be very common though...especially amongst your "distant rural viewers" until such time as analog is switched off and the dvb broadcasting power is boosted. while you run dual illumination (analog and digital at the same time) you have to keep the digital power low, else the analog subscribers (majority) will suffer.
 
BFK said:
if you had a tv that can receive digital broadcasts how would you set this up
do you need a new tv aerial? new cabling? new connectors?
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There are no tv's in SA that can.most likely you would have to change the arial.
 
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Tns said:
There are no tv's in SA that can.most likely you would have to change the arial.
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I think you mean "there are no tv's that you can buy in SA that can".

Originally Posted by BFK
if you had a tv that can receive digital broadcasts how would you set this up
do you need a new tv aerial? new cabling? new connectors?
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Nope, unless it is very old, UHF braai-grid antenna is fine. Just must remove any boosters and other devices you may have. Same cable, same connectors - just plug arial cable into socket that says RF-digital-in.
 
you need a decent ariel or you will get blocking so bunny ears might not work
 
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