Digital Switchover:

1
Digital Switchover-
ByMurray Niman G6JYB
2
Digital Switchover

• Digital Switchover is the adoption of DVB -
  Digital Video Broadcasting
• The end of all UHF Analogue Television
• Every ordinary TV and Video Recorder affected.
• Function will be lost unless adapted or replaced
• Replacement Sources maybe any combination of
  Digital Terrestrial, Cable, Satellite, and now
  Broadband (Homechoice)
• Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) is Freeview
  (and TopupTV)
• Prospect of Freesat from BBC/ITV - not Sky!
• UK is over 50 Digital ready - 7 million have
  Sky, 4 million on Freeview ( growing at 40000
  units/wk)
• - see later for Radio Broadcasting

3
Digital Around The World

• We are not alone . . .
• DVB is widespread
• US is ATSC
• UK takeup is a leader
• Berlin already Digital only

4
Why Switch?

• Digital terrestrial transmission allows at least
  four times the number of services available as
  analogue on the same bandwidth
• Current Analogue TV restricts digital terrestrial
  coverage and signal strength 20-25 of
  households are unable to receive digital
  terrestrial. These homes will only be able to get
  digital TV through an aerial when we switch off
  analogue transmissions
• Improved transmission efficiency - services now
  available on DTT will only use two-thirds of the
  spectrum currently used in analogue
• Spectrum can be released for new services such as
  for broadcasting, interactive services or mobile
  communications. Examples DVB-H, but HiDef-TV
  unlikely
• Broadcasters will save on transmission costs (by
  ending the duplication and will not have to pay
  for upgrading the present analogue transmitters
  which would need major investments to keep
  running
• Estimates of net benefits are in the billions of
  pounds, and also coincides with lower cost and
  newer consumer electronics - such as the end of
  the video tape recording
• Its not just a UK thing - we dont wont to be
  left behind.

5
Freeview

• Digital Television via your aerial
• BBC/CrownCastle/BSkyB joint venture, replaced ITV
  Digital.
• Just needs a DTV Adapter or an iDTV and card
  compatibility if you want TopupTV
• Will be the only TV via an aerial after Analogue
  shutdown
• Channels are transmitted in Multiplexes,
  interleaved between existing Analogue TV
• Analogue 5 Channels (A few sub carriers AM, FM,
  PM modulation)
• Freeview 6 Multichannel Multiplexes, with 4-8
  video channels each (1705 subcarriers/COFDM -
  18 or 24 Mb/s)

6
Freeview Video Channels

• Mux-1 (BBC) Mux-2 Mux-A (SDN)
• BBC-1 ITV-1,2,3 five (Ch5)
• BBC-2 ITV-News QVC
• BBC-3/CBBC Ch4 , More-4 Bidup, PriceDrop
• BBC-News24 E4 ? abc1 (plus TopupTV)
• Mux-B (BBC) Mux-C Mux-D
• BBC-4/CBeebies UK History TMF
• BBCi Video(701/2) Sky News The Hits
• BBC Parliament Sky Sports News FTN /
  UKBrightIdeas
• Community Sky Travel Ideal World
• Over 20 radio stations as well
• Ofcom has recently designated Mux 1, 2, Bas
  Public Service Broadcast (PSB) multiplexes
• - So Ch5 may need to move as part of Switchover

7
London TV Transmitter Powers

• Crystal Palace Croydon (Ch5)
• Current Analogue 1MW Peak, Digital 20kW
  (17dB down)
• Digital Channels are within enhanced Aerial
  Group-A
• Raising digital powers further would start to
  interfere with Analogue
• Close Analogue, move Digital to Analogue freqs
  which have international clearance for high
  power
• Digital Powers will be within 6-10dB of current
  Analogue peaks

Analogue Digital
8
UHF Spectrum

• UHF TV has 48 x 8MHz channels
• Band IV 470-598MHz Band V 598-854 MHz - 384
  MHz total bandwidth
• TV is regional , but goal is to free common
  spectrum across the UK
• Plan is to release 14 UHF Channels- 14 x 8 MHz
  112MHz released
• Probably done as per below.
• Upper Channels are adjacent to 2G Mobile Phones -
  3G in future
• Subject to confirmation at Europe Conference

Implications Crystal Palace ITV, BBC1, Ch4 can
be reused for Full power Digital at 100-250kW,
compared to 20kW at present
9
Sudbury
Tx Power, dBW

• Sudbury - Digital Powers are much lower relative
  to Analogue
• Digital Channels are outside Aerial Group-B -
  need Group E for ITV/Ch4
• NB Sudbury-B on UHF Ch-68 can clash with Sky
  Boxes etc
• Digital-Only Sudbury would be much higher power
  and less critical on need for wideband aerials

10
Timetable for TV Switchover

• Planning started years ago. The Digital
  Television Project in DCMS
• Will occur on a phased region by region basis.
  More detail in 2005
• Each TV Region will be given a 2 year warning,
  then phased switch switchover over 6months,
  probably starting with BBC2
• Probable start is 2007 in the Border/Tyne Tees TV
  region
• Government has not officially confirmed the start
  date, but their agents have set the backstop
  deadline !
• Ofcom has issued DRLs - Digital Replacement
  Licences to all broadcasters which oblige them to
  be Digital Only by Dec-31 2012
• SwitchCo being formed by Ofcom along with huge PR
  budget
• In Wales one area has already switched . . .
• Timetable can be subject to politics - General
  Elections etc

11
Wales - The Ferryside Trial

• Started Nov-2004
• Local relay for 250 homes converted to digital
• Free boxes given to assess how well householders
  can install use, record
• Analogue endsFeb 2005

12
Switchover Detail

• Full Freeview is currently on 80 Transmitters at
  low power
• Requirement is for similar 95 coverage -
  compared to the patchy 75 for Freeview at
  present
• Transmitter powers will rise to within 6 or 10dB
  of analogue
• Plan is that all 1154 transmitters will carry at
  least the three Public Service Broadcast (PSB)
  Muxes 1, 2, B.
• Ch5 will probably be moved from Mux-A to Mux 2 or
  B
• The 80 main transmitters and 130 relays will
  have all 6 Muxes
• Most relays will only have 3 PSB Muxes
• Plans/Benchmarking for boxes, aerials, cable etc
  done

13
Hi Definition TV

• Enhanced or Hi-Definition is 720 or 1080 lines-
• Freeview Plans are for Standard TV - not Hi-Def.
  But widescreens are supported
• Hi-Def easier by Satellite Cable as huge
  Bandwidth needed
• BBC has asked for use of released Spectrum for
  Hi-Def
• WARNINGS
• Sky Hi-Def in 2006 will encrypt signal on new
  interconnects so many new widescreen and flat
  panel TVs with Scart-only connections may be
  incompatible - no raw video!
• DVD Disks will be superceded by Bluray or HD-DVD
  soon as well

14
Approved Aerials as at 9-Dec-2004

• Only certain aerials are approved for DTT
• Approved Aerials have this Logo from the
  Confederation of Aerial Industries (CAI)
• Beware of the Cowboys !
• Gain Standard 1Highest 4Lowest

• Antiference Ltd XG10EW Standard 2
• Blake UK Ltd DMX10A Standard 1 DMX05WB Standard
  2
• DMX10WB Standard 2
• DML26WB Standard 4
• SR10WB Standard 3
• SR13WB Standard 3
• SR18WB Standard 3
• VW5WB Standard 3
• VW10WB Standard 2
• Fracarro (UK) Ltd BLU420F Standard 2
• BLU220 Standard 3
• Delta 500 Standard 3
• Delta 800 Standard 2
• LP45N Standard 4

Masterplug Ltd AERO6 Standard 2 AERO15 Standar
d 3 AERO16 Standard 2 Maxview
Aerials ASY18W Standard 3 Philex
Electronic 27869R Standard 3 Televès UK
Ltd X43 Ref 8044 Standard 2 DAT45 Standard
2 Infinito 1126 Standard 3 Triax UK
Ltd Unix 52 CDW Standard 2 Vision V10-LP
SUPER Standard 4 V10-321 CDW Standard
3 V10-481 CDW Standard 2
15
Cables Connections

• Only CT100, 125 and 165 is approved - CAI have a
  Cable list as well.
• Good quality double-screened coaxial cable of a
  type approved under the CAI cable benchmarking
  scheme is recommended for the aerial downlead and
  for all RF connections between equipment within
  the household.
• Inferior cable with poor screening, often
  referred to as low loss, should be avoided as
  it will almost certainly result in an increased
  susceptibility to impulse interference.
• Unless the level of the signal on a down lead is
  very high, it is strongly recommended that a
  replacement cable of an approved type should
  always be fitted.
• Coaxial fly leads should conform to BS EN
  60966-2-41997.
• F connections should be crimped type taking
  care to choose the appropriate F connector to
  match the diameter of the coaxial cable.

16
Recording . . .

• Ideally Recorders need their own tuner so it can
  record whilst you watch something else
• Trend will be to Disc based recording - either
  DVD or Hard Drive
• Some Freeview boxes feature hard drives like
  SkyPlus
• Many DVD recorders are Analogue only tuners!
• Issue with Programme Delivery Control - PDC is
  Analogue only
• Freeview Recorders can use Programme Guide and
  Signal Info
• Look for full 8 Day EPG support. Many boxes
  havent had their software updated for full EPGs
  . . .
• . . . and in the near future this

17
So, Be Careful . . .

• You need to think about digital switchover today
  as it will happen in the lifetime of any new TV
  or video recorder that you buy now.
• Equipment only qualifies for Logo if it is 2K/8K
  carrier compatible etc- ITV Digital boxes do not
  qualify - were 2000 carrier only
• Modern hardware has a 8000 carrier COFDM receiver
  (eg for better interference immunity, SFN TV
  relays)
• Use cheap adapters if unsure of software support.
• Switch to Digital before you get Switched Off !

18
Radio Switchover- the end of AM FM ?In the
UK Digital Radios Sales outstrip analogue by
valueOne million DAB radios so far sold in the
UK and rising rapidly
19
Digital Radio

• The UK is a leader in deploying Eureka-147-
• - Digital Audio Broadcasting - DAB

20
DAB in Chelmsford Area

• Coverage improved significantly in 2004
• Good aerials can also pick up London Kent
  giving 50 stations
• Current Multiplexes are 11B 218MHz to
  12D229MHz
• National Multiplexes dont need retuning - they
  are Single Frequency Networks - SFNs

• Proposed new frequency blocks are 10A 209MHz
  to 11A217MHz

21
Buying DAB

• Considerable choice in shops and prices are
  dropping
• Check DAB specs for frequency band coverage
• Is it all Band III or just UK only
• Does it support L-Band (not crucial)
• Can its firmware be updated (Some have USB ports)
• Future EPG and Graphics may need software updates
• Integration with MP3 players, mobile phones
• Pause/Record/Playback live radio now featuring

22
DAB Spectrum

• DAB Coverage currently 85 but has gaps esp. for
  regional services
• DAB currently uses 7 Blocks (11B-12D) in Band-III
  
• Ofcom Consultation on 15-Dec-2004 to displace PMR
  to release 4 or 5 additional blocks 10A to 11A
  - will pressure other VHF/UHF allocations
• Deadline for responses is 7-Mar-2005
• L-Band also available for DAB but not in use in
  the UK
• BBC Submission requested extra space for quality
  not quantity
• BBC suggest to start preparation for a Switchover
  Review in 2008
• Need to review status of Long Wave for National
  Emergencies
• NB Issue with DAB L-Band vs Worldspace
• Worldspace 1467-1492 MHz
• DAB L-Band 1452-1490 MHz

23
ANY QUESTIONS ? Ofcom Review after the break
24
TLAs - Three Letter Acronyms

• TLAs-
• PSB - Public Service Broadcasting
• DTT - Digital Terrestrial Television
• DRLs - Digital Replacement Licences
• SFN - Single Frequency Network - BBC/National
  DAB is a SFN
• DVB-T, DVB-H - Digital Video Broadcasting
• DAB-S, DAB-T - Digital Audio Broadcasting
  (Satellite, Terrestrial)
• SFR - Spectrum Framework Review
• ACC - Adaptive Cruise Control, - uses SRR and LRR
• SRR/LRR - Short /Long Range Car Radar on 79 or
  24GHz
• UWB - Ultra Wideband
• SDR - Software Defined Radio
• BPL - Broadband over Power Lines - USA
• PLT - Power Line Telecoms - UK

25
Threats to Amateur Radio

• Most attention so far on Broadband over
  Powerlines
• BPL - Broadband over Power Lines - USA
• PLT - Power Line Telecoms - UK
• Data can be Voice, Internet TV
• In use by Southern Electric
• Raises noise floors etc over most of HF bands
• Now a whole new set of threats is on us now. . .
• Ofcom - no amateurs, purely commercial,
  attracted by 1m/MHz

26
Ofcom Spectrum Framework Review

• Spectrum Framework Review (Deadline Feb-15)
• Advocates total disregard of all international
  rules in the interest of national flexibility
• Suggest that 60 of all spectrum is tradable
• Is in favour of Software/Cognitive Radio that
  could potentially operate on top of amateurs
  without warning
• Proposes to withdraw from CB, Amateur, Maritime
  licensing
• Proposes to simplify access to entrants - barely
  after new licence structure is in place
• Has caught RSGB totally off guard, with a weaker
  structure
• All amateurs and clubs are urged to reply
• Original Documents on www.ofcom.org.uk
• Easier to download from www.essexrepeatergroup.org
  .uk

27
Ofcom Car Radar Review

• 77GHz already used for Adaptive Cruise Control -
  ACC
• New Consultation in Dec-2004 on 79GHz and 24 GHz
  bands for Car Short Range Radar - in Primary
  Amateur Bands
• For Parking, Pedestrian/Crash Avoidance, Lane
  Control, Platooning etc
• Ofcom did not check their own docs and stated
  that no one used these bands at all!
• - correction now issued!
• BUT DEADLINE IS JAN-14!

28
Backup Slides
29
References

• Ofcom www.ofcom.org.uk
• Digital Television Project www.digitaltelevision.
  gov.uk
• Freeview www.freeview.co.uk
• BBC Digital www.bbc.co.uk/digital/
• Digital Television Group (DTG) www.dtg.org.uk
  (Better for Postcode searches than Freeview)
• Confederation of Aerial Industries (CAI)
  www.cai.org.uk
• TV Anytime www.tv-anytime.org
• Digital Spy www.digitalspy.co.uk (Terrestrial
  Section)
• Newsgroups uk.tech.digital-tv,
  uk.tech.broadcast, alt.radio.digital

30
TV Transmitter Frequencies/Powers

• Note-1 Power levels not directly comparable, but
  Frequencies can be an issue
• Note-2 Some parts of Essex can also receive
  Bluebell Hill in Kent

TV Aerial Groups- A 21-37 Red B 35-53 Yellow
C/D 48-68 Green E 35-68 Brown K 21-48 Grey W
21-68 Black