FTA HDTV Tests?

Ronan|Raven

Been out of the loop for so long and slowly getting it all back again is there any FTA HD transmissions running at the moment? I tried the supposed BBC HD test but no signal from it so I assume it is down? EURO1080 have gone encrypted since I last checked.

mjsmyth

Howya,

Here is a list of FTA and non FTA HD Channels available:

http://en.kingofsat.net/hdtv.php


MJ

L1011

Seems to be no FTA MPEG2 HDTV left - BBC HD is MPEG4, nearly everyone else is using DVB-S2.

watty

The BBC is likely to use DVB-S2 sooner rather than later. There won't be any more MPEG2 HD.

Even the ordinary definition will start migrating to MPEG4 in a year or two.

trap4

I'm thinking of getting a new LCD TV but wonder if I even need it to be HD Readt. I bought one of the Lidl satellite kits 18 months ago and am quite happy with it.

So, doesn anyone know what the expected timeframe on FTA HD channels is, lets say for English language channels on Astra 2? If its going to be a matter of 2 or 3 years before there's any reasonable number of HD channels to choose from then I'll just go for a cheaper SD LCD.

L1011

Only the one FTA on Astra 2 now, and at most two in the short term - the current BBC one + ITV's one they have on cable.

watty

Ironically SD LCD only give really good pictures from a native computer resolution (Try different resolutions on a LCD on a PC to see what I mean).

Most of the HD Ready LCDs are either too small or not high enough native resolution for BBC HDTV!

BUT
They are excellent for ordinary resolution TV.

Avoid Plasmas that are only 480 line. There are a lot about it is US/Japan SD resolution, EVEN if HD Ready and displays HDTV. Ordinary European SD is commonly

544 x 576
704 x 576
Or
720 x 576.

Note that if the screen 16:9 shape it needs higher resolution to show 704 x 576 4:3 properly.
544 x 576 @ 4:3 and 720 x 576 @ 16:9 are similar visual resolutions on same height of screen