Why no SABC HD on OpenviewHD??

DeTector

DeTector

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Somerset West, Stellenbosch
Can anyone explain to me why the SABC channels are not available in HD on OpenviewHD but on DSTV they are? I don't watch SABC but after some streaming problems with the DSTV Now app and being a big cricket fan would appreciate the resolution bump up on SABC 3. Also can't pick up SABC HD on DTT in Somerset West as there has been broadcasting problems for months now...
 
I doubt the sabc can afford HD cameras
 
Sinbad said:
I doubt the sabc can afford HD cameras
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Hence my surprise... but even if its in HD.. there's literally ZERO content worth watching on there. It cannot just be sports? Surely DSTV is the go-to for that?
 
ArtyLoop said:
Pray tell, what is worth watching on SABC, in HD? Do you like to see your propaganda in HD?
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Hahaha! It is only a back up for watching cricket. I am having trouble with DSTV Now streaming. SS2 one of the many unavailable channels. It is not my personal account though (dropped DSTV for streaming a couple of years ago) and the DTT option also unavailable to me coz of some Sentech tower waiting for spares in CT for a couple of months already. The broadcast from them in HD actually looking quite good (also unavailable currently on DSTV Now streaming though)
 
I have a 55" TV with digital tuner, have no problems picking up SABC HD in Rondebosch East via DTT..... Cricket looks amazing, and can confirm it is in HD with SABC.. For those who don't have a digital tuner, I saw a few tuners at China Town @ Sable Square last week, for R400 ea..
 
PaulB_ said:
I have a 55" TV with digital tuner, have no problems picking up SABC HD in Rondebosch East via DTT..... Cricket looks amazing, and can confirm it is in HD with SABC.. For those who don't have a digital tuner, I saw a few tuners at China Town @ Sable Square last week, for R400 ea..
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Did you put up an digital aerial? Or is it also communal for an appartment complex? Sentech confirmed to me that the Grabouw SABC broadcasting tower has a fault. You probably use a different broadcasting tower though...
 
the only thing i use my tv card for is the Olympics & the World Cup- so i basically use it once every 2 years.
 
Tector said:
Did you put up an digital aerial? Or is it also communal for an appartment complex? Sentech confirmed to me that the Grabouw SABC broadcasting tower has a fault. You probably use a different broadcasting tower though...
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I wouldn't call mine a "digital" antenna.... It's just a plain old roof antenna, like this one. https://www.ellies.co.za/product/vhf-uhf-wideband-uv-combo-tv-antenna/

I got a couple of years ago, when I still had M-Net Analogue, since then it has served me well, I even went as far as taking it down, and with me when I moved... I have always had it pointed at Constantia, as I have always had a direct line of sight.. Digital works no problem. A question, can you see Tygerberg, or Constantia from your rooftop?

I know of people who stay in Steynsrust, which is so high up, one has no problem seeing both Tygerberg, and Constantia. One doesn't have to depend on the transmitter in Grabouw, personally if I were you, I would rather use the larger transmitters (Constantia/Tygerberg etc) for TV reception, as the smaller ones may be more likely to develop faults.
 
PaulB_ said:
I wouldn't call mine a "digital" antenna.... It's just a plain old roof antenna, like this one. https://www.ellies.co.za/product/vhf-uhf-wideband-uv-combo-tv-antenna/

I got a couple of years ago, when I still had M-Net Analogue, since then it has served me well, I even went as far as taking it down, and with me when I moved... I have always had it pointed at Constantia, as I have always had a direct line of sight.. Digital works no problem. A question, can you see Tygerberg, or Constantia from your rooftop?

I know of people who stay in Steynsrust, which is so high up, one has no problem seeing both Tygerberg, and Constantia. One doesn't have to depend on the transmitter in Grabouw, personally if I were you, I would rather use the larger transmitters (Constantia/Tygerberg etc) for TV reception, as the smaller ones may be more likely to develop faults.
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I have no idea where the towers are located but stay in Somerset West (not located on a hill, at sea level) so think I am kinda dependant on the Grabouw tower from here. I can't believe there is no one else complaining about this faulty tower. It serves Gordon's Bay, Strand and Somerset West and has been down for months. I stayed in Gordon's Bay a couple of months ago still and had perfect reception of the digital ETV channels. SABC was touch and go. Mostly unwatchable. In Somerset West though I have no signal at all with the same TV. I bought an indoor antenna thinking it was the appartment block's aerial maybe and it worked perfectly for 5mins both ETV and SABC although I had to turn it and picked up one at a time only. It never again worked after that so gave up...
 
Tector said:
I have no idea where the towers are located but stay in Somerset West (not located on a hill, at sea level) so think I am kinda dependant on the Grabouw tower from here. I can't believe there is no one else complaining about this faulty tower. It serves Gordon's Bay, Strand and Somerset West and has been down for months. I stayed in Gordon's Bay a couple of months ago still and had perfect reception of the digital ETV channels. SABC was touch and go. Mostly unwatchable. In Somerset West though I have no signal at all with the same TV. I bought an indoor antenna thinking it was the appartment block's aerial maybe and it worked perfectly for 5mins both ETV and SABC although I had to turn it and picked up one at a time only. It never again worked after that so gave up...
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The SABC, and E-TV bouquets are on different frequencies, where I stay, SABC channels are all on 610MHZ, and the e-TV channels are all 706mhz, so the E-TV signal was probably the stronger one in Gordon's Bay, was this with a roof antenna?

It sounds to me, as if in Gordon's Bay, the digital signal may have been received by two different transmitters.

Are you sure you have the polarity set correctly on your aerial?

Some antennas ie Constantia, have to be like this
X
X
X
X

Whereas others ie Tygerberg are like this
X X X X

Have you ever considered getting an amplifier
then trying the roof antenna again?

Something like this?
https://www.justelectronics.co.za/ellies-setback-tv-signal-booster/

It may resolve your signal issues.
 
Tector said:
I have no idea where the towers are located but stay in Somerset West (not located on a hill, at sea level) so think I am kinda dependant on the Grabouw tower from here. I can't believe there is no one else complaining about this faulty tower. It serves Gordon's Bay, Strand and Somerset West and has been down for months. I stayed in Gordon's Bay a couple of months ago still and had perfect reception of the digital ETV channels. SABC was touch and go. Mostly unwatchable. In Somerset West though I have no signal at all with the same TV. I bought an indoor antenna thinking it was the appartment block's aerial maybe and it worked perfectly for 5mins both ETV and SABC although I had to turn it and picked up one at a time only. It never again worked after that so gave up...
Click to expand...

You would be better off trying for Constantiaberg and even Tygerberg than behind you on the mountains for the Grabouw gap filler. Look up the frequencies on the Sentech website. If you can't get them there I think I still have a list somewhere.
 
ArtyLoop said:
Pray tell, what is worth watching on SABC, in HD? Do you like to see your propaganda in HD?
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Plenty to watch. You should try it sometime. Almost as many repeats as on DStv, and same old stuff, just in a delayed timewarp and for free. And just as many adverts as well. In fact between e-tv and the SABC channels except for sport, it is not all that different from the stuff on DStv.
You can always ignore the news if you are worried about the propaganda. In fact, most times, the news on the SABC is better than that on e-tv.
 
PaulB_ said:
I wouldn't call mine a "digital" antenna.... It's just a plain old roof antenna, like this one. https://www.ellies.co.za/product/vhf-uhf-wideband-uv-combo-tv-antenna/

I got a couple of years ago, when I still had M-Net Analogue, since then it has served me well, I even went as far as taking it down, and with me when I moved... I have always had it pointed at Constantia, as I have always had a direct line of sight.. Digital works no problem. A question, can you see Tygerberg, or Constantia from your rooftop?

I know of people who stay in Steynsrust, which is so high up, one has no problem seeing both Tygerberg, and Constantia. One doesn't have to depend on the transmitter in Grabouw, personally if I were you, I would rather use the larger transmitters (Constantia/Tygerberg etc) for TV reception, as the smaller ones may be more likely to develop faults.
Click to expand...

No need for a "special" antenna at all. Just make sure the existing UHF antenna is a wideband one. Set back amps are only required in exceptional cases. It is far more important to get the polarisation correct and make sure the antenna alignment is accurate.
 
Tector said:
Can anyone explain to me why the SABC channels are not available in HD on OpenviewHD but on DSTV they are? I don't watch SABC but after some streaming problems with the DSTV Now app and being a big cricket fan would appreciate the resolution bump up on SABC 3. Also can't pick up SABC HD on DTT in Somerset West as there has been broadcasting problems for months now...
Click to expand...
No one answered you directly about why no SABC HD on open view?
Simple, Open view have no obligation to deliver SABC HD, so all you get is the SD channels. They are at the moment far more focussed on their own services.
 
PaulB_ said:
The SABC, and E-TV bouquets are on different frequencies, where I stay, SABC channels are all on 610MHZ, and the e-TV channels are all 706mhz, so the E-TV signal was probably the stronger one in Gordon's Bay, was this with a roof antenna?

It sounds to me, as if in Gordon's Bay, the digital signal may have been received by two different transmitters.

Are you sure you have the polarity set correctly on your aerial?

Some antennas ie Constantia, have to be like this
X
X
X
X

Whereas others ie Tygerberg are like this
X X X X

Have you ever considered getting an amplifier
then trying the roof antenna again?

Something like this?
https://www.justelectronics.co.za/ellies-setback-tv-signal-booster/

It may resolve your signal issues.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply. I dunno because my previous place and my new place are both estates with appartments plenty. Both use a communal satelite dish and terrestrial aerial. Satelite works great. Terrestrial aerial not so much. I did get myself an signal amplifier from ellies with about 30db gain. Added this between the wall point and tv, also tried it between the indoor antenna and tv (might have blown it because it did work great upon first connection, maybe just look for a stronger one?)
 
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