HDTV in the UK

[AndrewT]

Thanks Kram & Nigel,
for widening my digital options by two times.

[dnsey]

I live on the edge of a wood, and there's no line of sight for satellite reception

[ash_dac]

Hi,

What are you going to watch in HDtv in the UK?

In my opinion there isn't much on tv worth watching (except for sport).

Thanks ITV for killing UK tv !

Though I read that the World cup is to be broadcast in HDtv. My thinking is that HDtv is the last gasp for the television. I'd love the bbc to start podcasting tv programmes as I really enjoy the radio shows. Allows me to bypass the crud.

Well the UK government expect tv's to be around for another 10 years!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/h...whitepaper.pdf

Hang on what do I do with my tv when we switch over....

[Nigel Goodwin]

Originally posted by ash_dac

Hang on what do I do with my tv when we switch over....

When analogue ends you either buy a new TV, or a set top box to convert your old TV, not to mention you have to do this for EVERY TV and VCR in your house!.

[rfbrw]

Originally posted by ash_dac
Hang on what do I do with my tv when we switch over....

Do what everyone else does. Dump it by a railway line.

[fmak]

Originally posted by dnsey
I live on the edge of a wood, and there's no line of sight for satellite reception

Put the serail on a tree top!

[AndrewT]

Hi,
I have been watching Freeview using stb for a couple of years now.
I hate digital, but they switched off the analogue transmission.

Last year I bought a couple of newer stb, picture quality and sound quality were no better. Speed of operation is much better.
A good digital picture is OK on a CRT. Digital artefacts, dropouts, freezing, pixelating, two half pictures and blank screen are the same problem as before.
My sight has deteriorated but when a slow pan across human face has different parts of the face holding steady and other parts moving then it all catches up in the next frame and some other visual feature accelerates or decelerates changing the face shape.
My brain tells me this is not what we should be seeing.

Up to date.
I have bought two HD stb and one HD HDD recorder.
Speed of operation is still good.
All the digital artefacts are still there, although maybe not quite so often. When the weather does not suit signal, the picture is almost unwatchable and the sound drops out or "chirps" loudly as it stops. Unfortunately, I have had to return 3 of the 4 HD receivers due to faults.

Now the better news.
HD programming definitely shows as better quality picture on old widescreen CRTs. 28" and 36" show a clearer more detailed picture when displaying the HD program.
I don't know how these CRT versions of HD picture compares to a "real HD TV" But I am pleased with picture quality.

What can be done about the digital artefacts. Last night when it was raining and fairly windy, the film I was watching became so bad I gave up and went to bed.

[richie00boy]

Sounds like you need a better aerial, try a log periodic - specifically the Log40 in the link below - which is more resistant to interference. I recommend getting their recommended cable and rewiring too.

Online TV FM DAB Aerial sales

[Kram]

I have bought from that shop before and the information on the site is really good.

Have a look on ebay for belden double screened coaxial cable. I bought a role of 250m that was cheaper than most places sell the 100m roles for.

Also have a look at mast head amplifiers, I can only get a good signal on 2 properties using a mast head amp, oh and make sure its a variable gain one as well, too much boost can be worse than none at all.

Good luck.

[AndrewT]

The aerial installation was specifically put in to suit the Digital change over.
The mast head amp is very close to the aerial. the al foil and copper screen is a low loss type well suite to ch68 and beyond. The 1in 4out distribution box that also powers the amp must give some loss of signal level.
The stb reports good quality and good levels.

I don't think it is the receiving end giving the digital artifacts.

I think it is the transmission system chosen that is the cause of the problem.
I further think that the improved picture quality that comes with the HD programming shows that the standard DVB signal could not and does not match that available through analogue. Analogue was a more robust transmission system that simply degraded picture quality rather than freeze and no picture.

I also wonder why the ultra low population density areas were switched over upto 4 years ahead of the densely populated conurbations.
I'll suggest it was to reduce complaint levels giving the authorities 4extra years to try to design out the problems.