The big Switch off ?

Donahg

Do you believe all analogue tv will be switched in Ireland on the 31/12/2012 ? I dont know why ireland are going for the same date as the uk when we are years behind with DTT. The Uk have had a public awareness campain about the analogue switch off for ten years.

maygitchell

Donahg wrote: »

Do you believe all analogue tv will be switched in Ireland on the 31/12/2012 ? I dont know why ireland are going for the same date as the uk when we are years behind with DTT.

Years behind? How so?

Donahg

maygitchell wrote: »

Years behind? How so?

Freeview uk launched 2002 saorview launched 2011

maygitchell

Donahg wrote: »

Freeview uk launched 2002 saorview launched 2011

Point taken, but our roll out coverage isnt bad at all, plus Net 2 hd etc etc

Captain Chaos

It's not just the UK, it's the entire EU. The US were ment to a few years ago but they had to delay it to allow more time for people to buy free view boxes. They gave all their citizens tax breaks to put towards them and all.

I personally knew about this switch over 5 years ago because I read up on things, I have been telling people for years this was going to happen and everyone brushed it off until a few months ago and now they all want to know how I knew about this years ago. I was shocked at how late we left it to roll the service out but this is Ireland after all.

Donahg

Captain Chaos wrote: »

It's not just the UK, it's the entire EU. The US were ment to a few years ago but they had to delay it to allow more time for people to buy free view boxes. They gave all their citizens tax breaks to put towards them and all.

I personally knew about this switch over 5 years ago because I read up on things, I have been telling people for years this was going to happen and everyone brushed it off until a few months ago and now they all want to know how I knew about this years ago. I was shocked at how late we left it to roll the service out but this is Ireland after all.

The worst thing is i have heard a number of radio shows the last couple of years that have had so called "tech experts" on giving very misinformed info about the digital switchover, I have head them say things like you will need sky or ntl and you will need a phoneline.

FRIENDO

Many parts of the UK have "digital switch over". It must be nearly two years since I lost Wales analogue signal.
I think by Ireland switching in 2012 will show that we are keeping up with our neighbour.

Johnboy1951

Donahg wrote: »

Do you believe all analogue tv will be switched in Ireland on the 31/12/2012 ?

Yes ...... is there reason to believe otherwise?

I dont know why ireland are going for the same date as the uk when we are years behind with DTT. The Uk have had a public awareness campain about the analogue switch off for ten years.

Sam Russell

It is nearly a year since the first launch of DTT in Ireland, although it has been broadcasting from 3 Rock for over three years. How is this behind our neighbour in the UK. They still have to roll out their transmitters in NI and in the South East of England. At least we are transmitting to over 95% of the population right now.

I would prefer if they had announced last October that Dec 2011 was the analogue switch off. Giving extra time was just another oportunity to the unscupulous TV importers to get rid of obsolete stock onto unsuspecting customers here. Also, the panic will not start until the analogue transmitters are turned off.

Why are RTE still ignoring the change-over? They still are not treating the DTT service as the main service, and the analogue service as a legacy service. Why are they not carrying messages on analogue saying 'This service is due to close shortly!' on every ad break?

The Cush

Donahg wrote: »

Do you believe all analogue tv will be switched in Ireland on the 31/12/2012 ?

October 2012, precise date to be announced shortly - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=74643389#post74643389.

It was first announced by the Minister and BAI about 12 months ago, following the establishment of the Digital Switchoff Steering Group by the Dept of Communications, and has been included in various reports since

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=70917292&postcount=4
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=73896039&postcount=87
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=74415133&postcount=95
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=74609982&postcount=97

Donahg wrote: »

I dont know why ireland are going for the same date as the uk when we are years behind with DTT. The Uk have had a public awareness campain about the analogue switch off for ten years.

The EU has recommended that all analogue TV be switched off by the end of 2012. A Directive will require UHF channels 61-69 be cleared of analogue TV by 1st Jan 2013 for mobile services.

The UK will switchover its 2 final regions after the Olympic Games next year, Tyne Tees in Sept 2012 and NI in Oct/Nov 2012. The dates for NI are also expected to be announced shortly, possibly in conjunction with the announcement of our analogue switchoff dates.

Following a joint agreement in Feb 2010 both jurisdictions on this island announced they would coordinate analogue switchoff, public information etc. which will allow transmmitters north and south to use their final channel allocations and powers at ASO and avoid possible cross-border interference problems with analogue/DTT.

The Cush

Sam Russell wrote: »

Why are RTE still ignoring the change-over? They still are not treating the DTT service as the main service, and the analogue service as a legacy service. Why are they not carrying messages on analogue saying 'This service is due to close shortly!' on every ad break?

Analogue switchoff information is the responsibility of the Dept of Communications, RTÉ are responsible for providing information about Saorview as per the Broadcasting Act.

Following last week's announcement by the Dept, the "Going Digital" National Digital Switchover Information Campaign will be starting in a few weeks with further information expected to be announced shortly (ASO dates?).

Sam Russell

The Cush wrote: »

Analogue switchoff information is the responsibility of the Dept of Communications, RTÉ are responsible for providing information about Saorview as per the Broadcasting Act.

RTE are resposible for their own schedule and are responsible for the publicity surrounding it. To date, they have not promoted the radio channels available on DTT. Nor have they promoted RTE News Now, except as an internet service. They have not promoted the RTE Jr TV channel, nor have they used the oportunity proivided by it to use the RTE 2 HD channel to show alternative programmes when RTE 2 is showning RTE Jr programmes.

As I said, they have ignored DTT and its possibilities. Even RTE 2 HD has been a bit player when it could have been pushed, particularly with repect to the rugby world cup.

Why have they lost interest? Is it because Minister (part time) Carey refused them new revenue earning possibilities with the new channels being denied any advertising revenue?

The Cush

Sam Russell wrote: »

RTE are resposible for their own schedule and are responsible for the publicity surrounding it.

Yes, the promotion of Saorview is the responsibility of RTÉ but "messages on analogue saying 'This service is due to close shortly!' on every ad break?" will be part of the ASO information campaign which is being run and paid for by the Dept and will include a media campaign on all channels including RTÉ, TV3 and TG4.

Sam Russell

I am making two different points.

1: RTE are ignoring DTT and its possibilities. I do not understand why this should be so, unless the lack of commercial benefit is the reason.

2: The time for ASO is far too long, and should have been 12 months after they acheived 95% coverage, not two years after. Publicity should have started last October when that target was reached, and should have started earlier with the trade to stop the disgracefull rip-off that occured with the widespread sale of non-peforming TVs. Longer change-over costs more for no benefit. People will still need to spend the cash to get up and running. Earlier information would have helped reduce the rip-off oportunities.

I do not think Tommy and PJ have done anything to inform people - not even Trade Mark recognition.

Dozen Wicked Words

Possibly a stupid question but will the Digital signal be boosted once Analogue is switched off?

I have an adequate signal where I live but will have to split it to 5 TVs once switchover happens. Or is there a straightforward* way to boost/split it?



*Bold because I can only cope with simple tasks!

Tony

Depends on what you deifine as being straightforward . A distribution amplifier is usually used to give the correct level to multiple outlets/points.

dooferoaks wrote: »

Possibly a stupid question but will the Digital signal be boosted once Analogue is switched off?

I have an adequate signal where I live but will have to split it to 5 TVs once switchover happens. Or is there a straightforward* way to boost/split it?



*Bold because I can only cope with simple tasks!

Peter Rhea

dooferoaks wrote: »

Possibly a stupid question but will the Digital signal be boosted once Analogue is switched off?

There will be an improvement in coverage in some areas; mainly those served by the Clermont Carn & Moville transmitters (especially in NI) & also Mt. Leinster which is getting a new mast.

Look for red areas on the coverage map.

The Cush

Sam Russell wrote: »

1: RTE are ignoring DTT and its possibilities. I do not understand why this should be so, unless the lack of commercial benefit is the reason.

I think the answer to that is a €70 million network upgrade bill and reducing revenue.

Sam Russell wrote: »

2: The time for ASO is far too long, and should have been 12 months after they acheived 95% coverage, not two years after.

Officially the transition period is 18 months from the official Saorview launch in May to ASO in Oct 2012 and 12 months from the start of the National Digital Switchover Information Campaign this Oct.

Neither the network nor the money were fully in place when the Operational Readiness Test (as RTÉ refer to it) started in Oct 2010. Only 24 of the 51 sites were live at this time with the last sites going live in the week leading up to the official launch in May.

Sam Russell wrote: »

Publicity should have started last October when that target was reached, and should have started earlier with the trade to stop the disgracefull rip-off that occured with the widespread sale of non-peforming TVs. Longer change-over costs more for no benefit. People will still need to spend the cash to get up and running. Earlier information would have helped reduce the rip-off oportunities.

I do not think Tommy and PJ have done anything to inform people - not even Trade Mark recognition.

I'd blame the Dept of Communications when in Jul 2008 they announced MPEG-4 as the video encoding standard but put no regulation or similar in place regarding the sale of non compliant equipment eventhough a minimum spec was in place since Feb 2008.

The Tommy and PJ ads aren't very informative, the same ads have been running since Mar if I remember correctly, 2 months before the official launch in May. The focus since launch should have been on the equipment, aerials, coverage, website and now door-to-door scams.

The Cush

dooferoaks wrote: »

Possibly a stupid question but will the Digital signal be boosted once Analogue is switched off?

According to people in the trade who post here and who attended the RTÉNL Saorview trade events prior to its launch all transmitters away from NI overspill are runnng at full power with the remaining increasing to full power at ASO in 12 months time.

Sam Russell

The Cush wrote: »

I think the answer to that is a €70 million network upgrade bill and reducing revenue.



Officially the transition period is 18 months from the official Saorview launch in May to ASO in Oct 2012 and 12 months from the start of the National Digital Switchover Information Campaign this Oct.

Neither the network nor the money were fully in place when the Operational Readiness Test (as RTÉ refer to it) started in Oct 2010. Only 24 of the 51 sites were live at this time with the last sites going live in the week leading up to the official launch in May.



I'd blame the Dept of Communications when in Jul 2008 they announced MPEG-4 as the video encoding standard but put no regulation or similar in place regarding the sale of non compliant equipment eventhough a minimum spec was in place since Feb 2008.

The Tommy and PJ ads aren't very informative, the same ads have been running since Mar if I remember correctly, 2 months before the official launch in May. The focus since launch should have been on the equipment, aerials, coverage, website and now door-to-door scams.

Whoever gets the blame, there is plenty of blame to go round. The lack of any information from anyone - RTENL, RTE, the Dept, The BAI - all conspired to keep everything secret as much as possible. Even now, no date for ASO, no date for HD on RTE 2 HD, no date for series link, no information on MHEG 5 enhancements, no indication on RTE 2 HD of native HD content, no outline plan of the extras to be gained from DTT, etc. etc.

Not a story of great achievement for anyone involved. In fact, a series of disappointments, each new disappointment greater than the preceding one.

The Cush

Sam Russell wrote: »

Even now, no date for ASO, no date for HD on RTE 2 HD, no date for series link, no information on MHEG 5 enhancements, no indication on RTE 2 HD of native HD content, no outline plan of the extras to be gained from DTT, etc. etc.

We'll know the ASO date soon possibly prior to the campaign launch in a couple of weeks. Compare this with NI, 13 years after DTT launched in the UK they still don't have an ASO date.

The rest is down to the broadcasters RTÉ, TV3 and TG4 and their finances.

Sam Russell

The Cush wrote: »

We'll know the ASO date soon possibly prior to the campaign launch in a couple of weeks. Compare this with NI, 13 years after DTT launched in the UK they still don't have an ASO date.

The rest is down to the broadcasters RTÉ, TV3 and TG4 and their finances.

They could have announced the ASO date this time last year or even two years ago. Is it a surprise, or is it dependant on some factor we do not know yet?

Also, they are messing with Mux 2, which is not needed for now. Could they not share their plans with us? Is this the Dept, BAI, RTE NL or RTE? Or all of them? Is it beyond them to share information?

It costs nothing to have items on magazine programmes like Today with PK, or the Mooney show, or various TV programmes. Cost is not an issue, just an excuse.