Is the Digital TV switch-on imminent?

[Jan]

Um once again, digital TV has been broadcast in SA for at least 2 years now. WTF are these people smoking?

The test broadcasts have been DVB-T, but last year the DoC switched us to the DVB-T2 standard. According to the DoC, switch on of the DVB-T2 signal is set for sometime "around September."

So if the CT DVB-T2 switch-on does start happening from tomorrow, that's a pretty big deal.

 

[Base122]

I have explained it a few times already. The RF output on a DStv decoder is in the same range as terrestrial. I give up.

Just so frustrating when people aren't on the same wavelength...

 

[Tns]

i cant wait till the go all digital. i wont be getting a stb. with no analogue signal i don't have to pay no license fee anymore

 

[JerryMungo]

i cant wait till the go all digital. i wont be getting a stb. with no analogue signal i don't have to pay no license fee anymore

Really?

Back to the DVB thingy - I have a media player with DVB-T support, does that mean that I can use it for non multichoice TV? It has PVR functions but I haven't been using it since it doesn't tune analog and I don't want to waste time feeding analog via another set top box to the unit.

 

[Jan]

Just so frustrating when people aren't on the same wavelength...

Ja, cross-talk can be so maddening :twisted:

 

[Easter Bunny]

i don't think anyone should worry, because this "new" digital tv is never going to happen in SA.

 

[Wyzak]

After a jostling of standards and deadlines, Sentech was given until March 2012 to cover 60% of South Africa’s population for DTT using the DVB-T2 standard.

In a statement issued by the Department of Communications (DoC) recently, Sentech said that they have hit this target.

The DoC said in the same statement that it is committed to switching on the digital signal “around September 2012”.

Erm what?! You can't have hit the target of March if they are committed to switching it on in Sept.

 

[BLIXEMPIE]

http://mybroadband.co.za/news/wp-co...-Team-Rosey-Sekese-Dina-Pule-Themba-Phiri.jpg

Look at all those happy faces...

 

[Jan]

Back to the DVB thingy - I have a media player with DVB-T support, does that mean that I can use it for non multichoice TV? It has PVR functions but I haven't been using it since it doesn't tune analog and I don't want to waste time feeding analog via another set top box to the unit.

Nope, DVB-T tuners won't work with our DVB-T2 broadcasts, AFAIK.

 

[JerryMungo]

Nope, DVB-T tuners won't work with our DVB-T2 broadcasts, AFAIK.

I see... so tomorrow will actually be DVB-T2. Ok, I guess it's OK. It's not like there's much worth recording on free to air anyhow.

 

[Tns]

also have a dvb-t recorder now useless since t2 is being used.

 

[JerryMungo]

also have a dvb-t recorder now useless since t2 is being used.

At R20ish per month I would just get monochoice decoder and dish anyhow (if all you want is free to air). Seems a waste to buy a set top box that you can never use for anything else.

 

[zamicro]

Nope, DVB-T tuners won't work with our DVB-T2 broadcasts, AFAIK.

I am not so sure. I had a DVB-T usb dongle that used to work, and then stopped. After getting newer software, it worked again, until the switch off somewhere around the end of last year. So perhaps only new software needed?

 

[chrisc]

Mine is working already!

I can get: Godslot 1, 2 and 3; The Word I, II and III; the 10 Commandments, Debbie does Dallas, Slip it in on Sunday, Shirley Valentine visits Las Vegas; James Blond the gay spy; Achmat visits his Uncle and a peek at the 16 new SABC channels. A special documentary on how magnets on your fuel line can save you 80% of your petrol bill. Fantastic stuff!

Bad news for DSTV and Top TV

 

[Captain Beer]

So can anyone with a terrestrial antenna in CT confirm that the transmitters were actually switched on today? Anyone had to retune their decoders yet?

 

[Azbubu]

My decoder just scanning.

 

[IdlePhaedrus]

Anyone found this elusive DVB-T2 signal in Cape Town yet?

 

[JerryMungo]

My decoder just scanning.

? What decoder would that be?

 

[IdlePhaedrus]

I have a Sammy telly with DVB-T built in - strange thing, when tuned in, I see the following channels

Would love to know what I'm supposed to see vs what I actually see. My signal strength is 80-85% without doing anything to my aerial.

I get those too, using bunny ears, but they are a DVB-T signal, not a DVB-T2 signal, and they are on channel 28 not channel 50. I also don't get any video or audio on those channels, though my signal strength is 88% and signal quality is 100%.

I am using one of these which I got in the UK for 35GBP at Maplin.

 

[IdlePhaedrus]

@IdlePhaedrus - my understanding is that DVB-T has been switched off and they switched on DVB-T2 on Tuesday.

Prior to Tuesday I didnt get any of these channels, I checked the last time in about March if I could receive any signal and at that stage it was zero...

My decoder says all those channels are on DVB-T and from what I have read so far they are the old Multichoice test channels using the DVB-T standard, though I could be completely wrong on this count. Do you get a picture and / or sound track on any of them?

Further, from what I have read, in Cape Town, all the new DVB-T2 programs from Sentech will be broadcast on channel 50, the ones you mentioned are on channel 28.

More investigations required, but thanks for responding.