RTENL Website - RTÉ Free-to-Air DTT Receiver Specification

The Cush

Two new documents have recently appeared on the RTENL Broadcast Transmission webpage relating to the specification for RTÉ Free-to-Air DTT Receivers.
NorDig Unified Requirements v2.0 (for Integrated Receiver Decoders for use in cable, satellite, terrestrial and IP-based networks)
Minimum Receiver Requirements for Free-to-Air Digital Terrestrial Television for Radio Telefis Éireann v1.0 (Issue 1 19.12.2008) - Additions and clarifications to NorDig Unified Requirements 2.0 (MPEG4 AVC, HDTV, MHEG5 etc)

Update: Teracom (owner of Boxer TV Access AB Sweden and joint shareholder in Boxer DTT Ltd Ireland) have also published a terrestrial receiver specification document relating to Irish DTT.
Minimum Receiver Requirements for the DTT Network (Sweden, Denmark and Ireland) v2.0(C) (18.8.2008) - Additions and clarifications to the NorDig Unified specification (CA System, MPEG4 AVC HDTV etc)

watty

Notes / Quotes:
To conform to the minimum receiver specification the IRD shall be compliant with the following
standards:
1) NorDig 2.0 Basic Profile @ High Definition Level
2) MHEG-5 UK Profile, version 1.06
3) Additions and clarifications as set out in this document
The only difference in mandatory requirements between a pure FTA IRD and an IRD that can facilitate CA services is the CA System (see chapter 3).


HD reception seems to be mandatory!
All IRDs shall be able to receive and decode MPEG4 AVC (H.264) based SDTV and HDTV services, MHEG5 data services, and DVB subtitling services.

Also:
5.2. Video
The IRD shall support video decoding for;

• MPEG2 video decoding up to Main Profile at Main Level (MP@ML)
• MPEG4 AVC (H.264) video decoding up to High Profile at Level 3 (SDTV).
• MPEG4 AVC (H.264) video decoding up to High Profile at Level 4 (HDTV).

Observe specifically that this means that all IRD shall support MPEG4 SDTV services using High
Profile video encoding tools, MPEG4 AVC (H.264) HP@L3. (This HP@L3 is the common usage for
MPEG4 AVC video encoding of SDTV services within the Swedish DTT network).
The IRD shall support still picture for all MPEG4 AVC profiles.
The viewer shall be able to choose between at least one the following storable display mode preferences:
1. display 16:9 material as full width 16:9 active picture aspect ratio in a 4:3 raster (letterbox).
2. display full height 4:3 aspect ratio picture as a centre cut-out on the transmitted 16:9 aspect ratio
picture.
3. display full height 4:3 aspect ratio picture without centre cut-out (i.e. full frame)
Note: Down-converted HD video shall factory default be displayed as 16:9 letterbox on 4:3 displays, and shall be user-selectable thereafter. (Typically HD production will use less safe area within the video, using 4:3 centre cut-out for the down-converted HD video within the IRD could result in the
viewer missing essential part of the video).


A data port is an option. But HDMI with HDCP and SCART appear to be standard.

Component Video is an option and is limited to SD only (576i), a copy of SCART signal. Only HDMI gives HD signal.
(Page 17)

Over the Air upgrades of Firmware must be supported.
For each new version of system software over-the-air download, the manufacturer shall provide all necessary description documents to the network operator required for the transmission of the new software.

rlogue

What impact would this have on using TV cards in a computer for reception of the FTA services? Would a card capable of using the H.264 codecs therefore work? Presumably DVB-T2 is not in the spec.

watty

Any DVB-t card/USB adaptor will work assuming the software has all the correct bits. VERY few internal cards and no USB adaptors do any HW/Firmware based decoding. Even USB 2.0 wouldn't be fast enough for the raw data.

A basic PC setup with CoreAVC codecs etc will do Audio and Video. For EPG and Interactive you need full MHEG5 support. Full HD support at decent quality needs higher spec CPU, graphics and screen. An AMD64 3700+ with X1600 is fairly rubbish at doing BBC HD via satellite. A newer Dual Core Duo with much better GPU/Graphics card needs slightly more than 50% CPU at peaks, but uses 10% typically. You have to manage the peak CPU usage or you drop frames on movement. Looks terrible.

SD MPEG4 needs about 1/5th the CPU power and bandwidth, thus not an issue generally.

No mention of DVB-T2. But the HD / HDCP / HDMI insistance is interesting. Given the lack of content / number of Irish Channels, doing HD for Ireland is less problematic than UK, 4 main channels vs 11 to 16 main channels. Also five UK analogue terrestrials on UHF compared with 2 to 4 depending on area in Ireland.

6 x BBC
3 x ITV
3 x c4
2 x Five
===
15 FTA

The UK is using MPEG2 for the approx 29 DTT channels. We are using MPEG4, so 30 channels in Ireland leaves space for 30 more SD channels in same space or 6 HD channels. Also we have more spectrum anyway on UHF due for VHF for RTE1&2 and no 5th channel.

rlogue

I use a Athlon Dual Core 4450e processor with 8 GB of Memory. This gives me consistent HD pictures on both BBC & ITV HD, as well as the Astra HD demo channel on 19E. I actually have 16GB in the machine but haven't installed Vista 64-bit to take advantage of it.

I use a Hauppauge DVB-S2 card and have the CI module installed. This allows my Sky card to work in the PC but I rarely use it in the PC as I don't want to keep pulling the card in and out to allow it to update.

I have had good success in streaming SD content from my Dreambox direct to the PC but have had little success in streaming HD content. I tend to record any DVB-S HD content in the Dreambox and FTP the .ts file to the PC which is far more reliable.

Since Vista is really a buggy piece of crap I can't wait for Windows 7. Hopefully then I won't get blue screen crashes every other day...

watty

Upgrade to XP.

Win7 is same version as Vista with cosmetic GUI changes.

Amount of RAM isn't too critical. A cleaned up XP uses < 320M when doing this.

I have one PC with 2x late model DVB-s card and another with 2x early model DVB-s2 cards. Presently BBC HD works on both PCs. Flawless on 2.8GHz core2Duo, ATI 2600pro graphics, ProgDVB, coreAVC codec. XP pro SP3. NEVER blue screens

Zonda999

I dont really understand a lot of this but does these specs allow for a combo freesat/Official Irish Dtt set top box??. Deciding on whether to wait for an official one or to just go for the globalteq one...

watty

The box can have anything EXTRA. It's a minimum.
Freesat is a UK spec.

Combo boxes are not really worth while unless HDD PVRs with dual tuner for sat and DTT.
I'd wait as there is no official service yet.

TVDX

Is this specification for manafacturers to work with to build boxes for the Irish market?.
Does this mean that when boxes are out they will definitely be HD ready?.
So, what would the estimated price ranges be for the boxes?.
Could it be a case of a DTT receiver for the irish market that's HD ready for 60-80 euros or will it be more?.
Any ideas?.

watty

This spec is a minimum for at least 14 countries. Also will work in older spec countries like UK, so they don't have to build specifically for Ireland. (= cheaper).

The boxes will meet all HD spec except DVB-T2, to be used in UK next year. (tests this year).

MPEG4 chipsets are very much replacing MPEG2 chips so the only extra expense on a basic €30 box is the HDMI.

But really you want to aim for HDD based PVR with two tuners as this solves recording issues and gives many other features, rather than a bargain basement box.

It's possible now to have a box that records ALL the channels 24x7 for 2 weeks in rolling fashion so ANY program up to two weeks ago is available. Then you can "save" the program if you want. Never need to worry about programming records or inconvenient schedule times/days.

lawhec

watty wrote: »

This spec is a minimum for at least 14 countries. Also will work in older spec countries like UK, so they don't have to build specifically for Ireland. (= cheaper).

The boxes will meet all HD spec except DVB-T2, to be used in UK next year. (tests this year).

MPEG4 chipsets are very much replacing MPEG2 chips so the only extra expense on a basic €30 box is the HDMI.

But really you want to aim for HDD based PVR with two tuners as this solves recording issues and gives many other features, rather than a bargain basement box.

It's possible now to have a box that records ALL the channels 24x7 for 2 weeks in rolling fashion so ANY program up to two weeks ago is available. Then you can "save" the program if you want. Never need to worry about programming records or inconvenient schedule times/days.

The BBC have already tested a DVB-T2 multiplex last year.

Also I'd reckon it will be a while yet before an MPEG-4 DVB-T(2) HD STB gets down to the €30 mark.

artvandulet

If this is 'free to air', how does that affect TV licences?

lawhec

artvandulet wrote: »

If this is 'free to air', how does that affect TV licences?

Nothing at all.

slegs

Standard DVB-T HD MPEG4 set top boxes will be around the 100 eur mark at best for most of 09 and this is before any dual tuner/PVR functionality is added (at least another 100 eur in my opinion)

watty

artvandulet wrote: »

If this is 'free to air', how does that affect TV licences?

Analogue and many satellite channels are Free To Air, i.e. no subscription is needed.

A TV licence is NOT a TV channel subscription, it's a tax on being able to receive TV by any means:
Analogue: Aerial, cable or MMDS (virtually no analogue Satellite left)
Digital: Aerial, cable, MMDS, IPTV, Fibre, Satellite.

YouTube and similar does not count as IPTV.

watty

slegs wrote: »

Standard DVB-T HD MPEG4 set top boxes will be around the 100 eur mark at best for most of 09 and this is before any dual tuner/PVR functionality is added (at least another 100 eur in my opinion)

May be true. I'd suspect somewhat cheaper online (being more optimistic than usual). If someone has spent €850 to €2,000 on a decent HD TV, it's not a lot extra. It will be some years before Analogue is turned off and even by 2010 it's likely only 85% of population will be able to get Digital.

The Pioneers get the arrows in the back. It's not a good idea to rush out too quick, esp. if you can get UK Freeview too as you'd want to wait and get a DVB-T2 HD PVR


The Sony PlayTV add-on for PS3 should give MPEG4, PVR and HD soon. At present it only does MPEG2, but it's powered by the PS3, and can do MPEG4 perfectly when Sony upgrade the PS3 firmware. One to watch as it gives you a BD player too.
If you really lucky there might even be games for it this year!

I'll be surprised if there is any HD content broadcast on Irish DTT this year. I'm sceptical about 2010 too.

TVDX

watty wrote: »

May be true. I'd suspect somewhat cheaper online (being more optimistic than usual). If someone has spent €850 to €2,000 on a decent HD TV, it's not a lot extra. It will be some years before Analogue is turned off and even by 2010 it's likely only 85% of population will be able to get Digital.

The Pioneers get the arrows in the back. It's not a good idea to rush out too quick, esp. if you can get UK Freeview too as you'd want to wait and get a DVB-T2 HD PVR


The Sony PlayTV add-on for PS3 should give MPEG4, PVR and HD soon. At present it only does MPEG2, but it's powered by the PS3, and can do MPEG4 perfectly when Sony upgrade the PS3 firmware. One to watch as it gives you a BD player too.
If you really lucky there might even be games for it this year!

I'll be surprised if there is any HD content broadcast on Irish DTT this year. I'm sceptical about 2010 too.

What do you think of the IPBOX 9000?.

Mark#1

Thanks to OP for posting this, and to those responding - discussion between those of you who can interpret the jargon & understand the technology makes it possible for noobs like me to understand what it means for Irish AV consumers.

Interesting comments on the PS3 . . .


Mark

TVDX

Mark#1 wrote: »

Thanks to OP for posting this, and to those responding - discussion between those of you who can interpret the jargon & understand the technology makes it possible for noobs like me to understand what it means for Irish AV consumers.

Interesting comments on the PS3 . . .


Mark

The discussion of jargon has nothing to do with your inability to understand what it means for Irish AV consumers.
It's your lack of knowledge.
You thanked the OP for posting the initial information, why comment on anything else?.

watty

Be nice TVDX...

His comments were reasonable. Not everyone has an anorak. Leave it up to the Mods to Mod.


In that RTENL only runs the network and transmitters and RTE only a bunch of TV & Radio channels and neither has any legal standing to decide specifications of anything for the public I'm not sure how important this is.

It's up to Government, NSAI, EU, BCI and Comreg to decide these things, not RTE or RTENL.

In that respect there seems to have been a lack in the DAB process.

TVDX

TVDX wrote: »

The discussion of jargon has nothing to do with your inability to understand what it means for Irish AV consumers.
It's your lack of knowledge.
You thanked the OP for posting the initial information, why comment on anything else?.

I take that back, I misread and thought the word "impossible" was said so apolgies, my mistake.

More Music

I went into a well known electrical superstore yesterday and was looking at a 40" Sony TV. I asked the sales guy if was compatible with the rollout of Irish DTT.

His response was "DTT being.................(silence) ?

I said similar to Freeview in the UK but using MPEG4. He then said yes when he saw the Freeview sticker on the TV, but of course it was UK Freeview.

He didn't have a clue.

Mark#1

What is it with workers in these shops?

I know a lot about the job I get paid to do. I'm not particularly in love with what I do, but I take pride in doing it well. Ask me a question about what I do and I'll have an answer: I'd be embarrassed not to have an answer - it's my job FFS!

If I worked in a shop selling AV stuff, I'd be mortified if a customer asked me a question I couldn't answer, or at least have some cognisance of what they're asking. And I'd definitely have answer for the next guy that asked. Is it really likely that you're the only person who's asked that seller about DTT? IIRC, a memo went out to TV sellers last year dictating what should or shouldn't be said/told to shoppers - this should have ensured sellers were familiar with DTT. In fact, IIUC, any stickers claiming "digital-ready" were to be removed from products sold here - others may know more?

Anyone selling a TV (from a first-day-on-the-job sales guy to the store manager) in Ireland today, who is not familiar with the term "DTT" should be ashamed.

Even as a noob to AV, I know that I know more about the products I ask about than the typical sales guy in most shops, excepting of course the dedicated hi-fi/AV shops, but those are usually charging immorally higher prices than elsewhere. Worth the extra? To some, maybe.

But personally, I simply can't afford €2200 for a TV. I can afford €1100 though, and my €1100 gets me the same TV if I buy it outside ROI, and I'm not convinced that €1100 (100% more :eek:) per TV is reasonable to ask to cover the expertise offered by expert sellers.

We simply live in a new consumer age, where for the first time in a long time (maybe ever?), ROI consumers in particular can afford, and have access to, stuff we'd only dream about owning before this time.

Anyway, this is OT, and a big digression on my part, and I know I'm a broken record on ROI prices - sorry. Coming back OT, my hope (as mentioned elsewhere) is that PlayTV works with Irish DTT. Between that and a Humax Foxsat HDR320, I'll be well covered.

Of course when a single stand-alone product comes out that can receive both DTT and Freesat in SD and HD, and has the ability to record one DTT or Freesat channel while you're watching a different DTT or Freesat, and has a 7-day EPG that combines the DTT and Freesat channels, I might be interested in that.

TVDX - no prob. I've mis-read posts too. Kudos for apologising rather than deleting.


Mark

bk

watty wrote: »

It's possible now to have a box that records ALL the channels 24x7 for 2 weeks in rolling fashion so ANY program up to two weeks ago is available. Then you can "save" the program if you want. Never need to worry about programming records or inconvenient schedule times/days.

Interesting idea, but I calculate that it would require 1.7 TeraByte for just 4 channels at 3mb/s MPEG4. Possible, but expensive at the moment and people would probably want more channels anyway.

watty

Ah but only the AVERAGE bit rate counts...

About 3M Bytes a second for a whole Transponder @ 64QAM. 500Gbytes = 1 Million seconds. More than 11 days for a whole transponder. 16QAM is about 1/4 the bit rate. Some of the UK Freeview is 16QAM for better coverage.

I saw demo of such a box (1 week recordings then) for freeview nearly 2 years ago.

On TV shops...

About 4 or 5 years ago I went out to buy a large 4:3 CRT TV with true 16:9.
Sony, Mitsubishi/Panasonic, Beko, Phillips and others made them. The Silvercrests (Beko?) still do it.

Not a single retail knew what it was till I demonstrated in the shop. A non-HD WS LCD hasn't enough pixels for 4:3 TV. Unlike a LCD/Plasma a WS CRT or a 4:3 CRT can simply change the physical scan amount as if the tube is WS or (4:3 on a WS tube) and give the full resolution. No set box or non-HD, non-CRT LCD/Plasma/Projector can do this.

Places like Computer / gadget / TV /AV places often only pay similar rates to Tesco, so why would the staff know more?

Mark#1

watty wrote: »

Places like Computer / gadget / TV /AV places often only pay similar rates to Tesco, so why would the staff know more?

Fair point I guess.

I worked as a storeman in Harry Moore's on Dawson St in 1987 for the Xmas rush. Before that I had a huge interest in music and was in a band, but had no real interest in hi-fi/AV. But because the store was so busy, I also ended up doing some primitive sales on the floor.

I learned so much in a short time by asking the other staff questions that punters were asking me. I was the lowest paid guy there, but by the time I finished working with them, I knew a vast amount more about hi-fi than when I started.

Maybe it's just me, but IMO, being paid pittence isn't an excuse for not knowing the core aspects of your job or being familiar with what a customer is asking about.

What is a customer to think if you can't answer their query? I bet most customers just accept or believe whatever guff these guys spout. And where does that leave those customers? Buying a 2 year-old amp in the mis-belief that they've just bought the latest and greatest? Buying a TV in the mis-belief that it'll "be fine when that DDT stuff you were asking about rolls out".

I was at a party on new year's eve where the guy (a really sound chap) happened to have the very speakers I plan to buy (QAcoustics) and an Onkyo 606, which he got from Peats. I learned a while back that the QAcoustics that Peats are selling are actually the 1000 range - 2007's range, IIRC - and are nearly double the price of the newer 1000i range from RS. I said nothing to this guy - I'd be sick if I was told that.

Obvioulsly there's a big difference between incompetence and deliberate deceipt. The guy I mentioned didn't know any different - he trusted what the seller told him, as he arguably should: AV/hi-fi is not an area he's knowledgeable in.

In fairness, a 606 + QAcoustics 1000 range is still decent gear, but better could have been had for cheaper, if he'd asked and if he'd been given accurate and honest information, which I suspect someone in Peats could have done, but they didn't, and they got his money: fair game, love & war, etc...

I'm pedantic to the point of annoying people (no, really - I am . . . :rolleyes:), and I need to know what I'm looking at when I take an interest in something, and that usually means learning it for myself, rather than trusting the sellers. Even if I end up choosing what sellers are pushing, at least I've learnt stuff on the way.

IMO, sellers will usually try to sell you what they want to sell you, and not necessarily what you need/want - "no, I don't have the 1.6 Focus Zetec in black (or whatever) that you're looking for, but I do have this lovely 1.4 Fiesta Ghia in blue (or whatever) that I could do you a deal on."


Mark

Mark#1

Do any of the specs listed for PlayTV measure up?

http://uk.playstation.com/media/121581/805257_MASEA_PLAYTV_ENG_V11.pdf

From PlayTV's glossary:

"DVB-T . . ." ". . . is the standard for digital television broadcasting throughout Europe."

Is that right?


Mark

The Cush

Mark#1 wrote: »

Do any of the specs listed for PlayTV measure up?

http://uk.playstation.com/media/121581/805257_MASEA_PLAYTV_ENG_V11.pdf

"DVB-T . . ." ". . . is the standard for digital television broadcasting throughout Europe."

Is that right?
Mark

Yes, but the video may be encoded in MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 depending on country.

The UK will convert 1 multiplex to a newer standard DVB-T2/MPEG-4 for 4 HD channels by the end of the year.

watty

PlayTV won't work on DVB-t2
The gadget itself, like cheap USB tuners or cheap PCI cards doesn't actually do ANY decoding it simply is a tuner head to recieve an entire Multiplex.

The actual PS3 selects the appropriate data streams (demux, MP2 audio for radio, MP2 Audio, teletext, dvb text and video MPEG4/MPEG2) and records them " as is" or passes them to its decoders to display them.

Currently the PS3 firmware doesn't do the MPEG4 decoding of Transport Stream Data, so it only works on channels/countries that are MPEG2 only. The PS3 is well able to do even HD MPEG4, never mind regular TV as MPEG4. We await a PS3 firmware update. Till then the PlayTV will only do TV sound and DVB-t Radio here.

In UK it works with existing system but not the newer HD system in UK which uses DVB-t2 and MPEG4. A firmware update can't make it do DVB-t2 as that is a Hardware feature of the tuner. If we get HD DTT next year or when ever, it will likely be DVB-t (not DVB-t2) MPEG4 and thus probably work if by then the MPEG4 upgrade for ordinary Irish, Estonian, NZ etc tv has arrived.

watty

watty wrote: »

A basic PC setup with CoreAVC codecs etc will do Audio and Video. For EPG and Interactive you need full MHEG5 support. Full HD support at decent quality needs higher spec CPU, graphics and screen. An AMD64 3700+ with X1600 is fairly rubbish at doing BBC HD via satellite. A newer Dual Core Duo with much better GPU/Graphics card needs slightly more than 50% CPU at peaks, but uses 10% typically. You have to manage the peak CPU usage or you drop frames on movement. Looks terrible.

I've found that with an Nvidia GeForce 8 or higher, using the Cyberlink H.264 codecs with hardware acceleration dramatically reduces the CPU usage. During the HD trials I had a perfect HD picture being rendered on the PC with only 8% CPU usage because the codec offloaded the decompression to the video card. I'm not aware of any other codec than can utilise the DxVA facilities.

Mark#1

watty wrote: »

PlayTV won't work on DVB-t2
The gadget itself, like cheap USB tuners or cheap PCI cards doesn't actually do ANY decoding it simply is a tuner head to recieve an entire Multiplex.

The actual PS3 selects the appropriate data streams (demux, MP2 audio for radio, MP2 Audio, teletext, dvb text and video MPEG4/MPEG2) and records them " as is" or passes them to its decoders to display them.

Currently the PS3 firmware doesn't do the MPEG4 decoding of Transport Stream Data, so it only works on channels/countries that are MPEG2 only. The PS3 is well able to do even HD MPEG4, never mind regular TV as MPEG4. We await a PS3 firmware update. Till then the PlayTV will only do TV sound and DVB-t Radio here.

In UK it works with existing system but not the newer HD system in UK which uses DVB-t2 and MPEG4. A firmware update can't make it do DVB-t2 as that is a Hardware feature of the tuner. If we get HD DTT next year or when ever, it will likely be DVB-t (not DVB-t2) MPEG4 and thus probably work if by then the MPEG4 upgrade for ordinary Irish, Estonian, NZ etc tv has arrived.

Probably the most informative post I've read yet on PlayTV/Ireland/MPEG4. Thanks.

Is there a list anywhere of what countries use MPEG4/MPEG2?

I'd be interested to see how many countries use MPEG4 - that could be some sort of guage as to what market there is for PlayTV, possibly hinting at how important Sony might see PlayTV as being, or am I being naiive/blinded by hope?

No-one in any Sony Centre I've contacted to date, nor any independant retailer, nor SCEE's Irish contact, nor SCEE's UK contact seem to know much, either about PS3/PlayTV's current incompatibility with MPEG4 or any future compatibility via upgrade.

A guy in SCEE UK told me yesterday that they're aware there is "a problem with PlayTV in Ireland", but they're "not sure of the details". Aparrently, they never even know till a couple of days ahead that an update is due, or what the upgrades are going to bring.

But someone must know! There's a Sony team working on the next upgrade right now - the content of that upgrade (and probably upgrades further out again) is being developed/decided right now. That's how these things work, isn't it - forward planning? If punters knew that a soon-to-be-implemented PS3 upgrade would give MPG4 compatibility to PS3/PlayTV, they'd be buying it.

There are a lot of countries using MPEG4, aren't there? And times are tight... Punters will surely want the cheapest options for achieving what they want? I know €70 is okay with me for a device that allows me to pause & record Irish TV, and not pay a subscription.

AFAIK, the following are correct. Can anyone add or correct?

MPEG2
UK
France SD

MPEG4
Ireland
France HD
NZ
Oz
Estonia
Poland


Mark

The Cush

Mark#1 wrote: »

Is there a list anywhere of what countries use MPEG4/MPEG2?

...

AFAIK, the following are correct. Can anyone add or correct?

MPEG2
UK
France SD

MPEG4
Ireland
France HD
NZ
Oz
Estonia
Poland

See a previous post here for a list of MPEG4 countries.
Also another list on DigiTAG.

lawhec

Mark#1 wrote: »

AFAIK, the following are correct. Can anyone add or correct?

MPEG2
UK
France SD

MPEG4
Ireland
France HD
NZ
Oz
Estonia
Poland


Mark

Australia is still currently MPEG2 for SD and HD channels. Some talk about MPEG4 services, but no formal moves yet. DTT setup plan from the start has been different to that in Europe & more like the USA, incumbent broadcaster given a (temporary) frequency to transmit a multiplex which contains at the minimum a SD simulcast of the analogue channel and a HD channel that is also normally a simulcast but may at times show different programming. Commercial broadcasters were barred from "multicasting" or setting up new, different/specialist channels on their multiplex but this bar was lifted on 1st Janurary. The main terrestrial broadcasters, both commercial and public, are pooling their resources together to start a free-to-air branded service to complement/compete against the Pay-TV providers called... you guessed it - Freeview! The logo they're using looks frightfully familiar as well...

http://www.freeview.com.au

The public networks, ABC and SBS, have been permitted to do limited multicasting before 1st Janurary this year. ABC have had ABC2, a second spin-off channel that is a bit more experimental than the core ABC1 (known simply as ABC TV until last year) channel. My experience is that for those with just DTT, ABC2 is quite a popular channel but is less so with those who have Pay-TV packages from Foxtel or Austar. SBS, the multicultural broadcaster, have their World News Channel. This is basically a near 24-hour version (doesn't broadcast in the wee hours) of the rolling rebroadcasting of news bullitens from around the world in languages other than English that takes up the morning & early afternoon of the main SBS channel. I'm sure it is useful for recently immigrated families from Asia & mainland Europe, as well as those who speak a language other than English in the home. However as these broadcasts are not subtitled in English (SBS say that once this was done, their usefulness would be nil which is a little bit odd considering then that the news bulliten itself might already be out of date depending on world events) they're of little use to those that only speak English, though this has not stopped me having a curious glance.

Hmmm, maybe all of that should be on a different topic, but I felt it was worth telling!

Anyway, any country which has already switched off their analogue TV broadcasts are currently MPEG2. This would include Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden (though there are moves to go MPEG4 in the future), Luxembourg, the Netherlands & Flemish Belgium. You can then add to this list countries still broadcasting analogue TV, the UK, France (FTA television), Spain, Italy & Denmark (again moves are planned to convert to MPEG4 in the near future).

STB

The simple reality of it is that there is no in between. There never ever will be "SD" Mpeg4 boxes on the market, anyhow.. Technology has long moved on.

Mark the ONLY country to us with the very same spec is the kiwis (and including the MHEG5 middleware). The nearest in terms of available products without the middleware is France.

Boxes will not be specifically made for the Irish market. HD DTT boxes are already down below €100 thanks to countries like France, Croatia, Poland and Sweden. Ireland is too small to bring the price down any further. Our best hope is that someone has the sense to source a cheap OEM and brand it (like say Power City for example).

An example of the boxes popular in France

The Techwood RTHD-500B is available for €100.

The Sagem ITD-81HD is around the €90. It was €51 last month on special.

The Netbox Netgem 7600 is about €140.

Of course you'll get any of these second hand for about half the price on the french ebay. Use TNT HD as a search term. I am not allowed any more DTT boxes in the house .

Still the combo boxes are the best value. An Mvision for €189 the most freely available.