UPC analog - scrolling text saying not to worry about changeover

Capt'n Midnight

Just noticed this earlier on RTE2

UPC analog - scrolling text about changeover

Just noticed text scrolling across the screen on RTE2 something like

"you will not be affected, if you want to upgrade to digital call this number"

ted1

Why do you still have UPC analogue?

JustAddWater

ted1 wrote: »

Why do you still have UPC analogue?

Maybe because its free with UPC broadband? 2nd tv reception maybe?

What kind of question is that?!

Anyway, if RTE2 is only broadcasting in HD, where will the analog service get its signal ?

Capt'n Midnight

JustAddWater wrote: »

broadband?

got it in one

What kind of question is that?!

I don't watch UK footie
I've given up on discovery
Channel 4 / BBC do much better factual ...
*hugs FTA satellite box*


If you have kids then digital is probably worth it. (electronic creche)

Anyway, if RTE2 is only broadcasting in HD, where will the analog service get its signal ?

when the analog channels break up they do so in a "digital" manner rectangles and lines and stuff
For €500 they could have bought 10 saorview boxes if they timed it right , enough for the 8 channels including two spare boxes. And I'm guessing they have a few modulators lying around.

It's the teletext I'd be wondering about.
None on UTV / BBC
Still on RTE/TG4/C4/TV3/(3e)

Antenna

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

For €500 they could have bought 10 saorview boxes if they timed it right , enough for the 8 channels

Its really 7 TV channels, not 8. Only one or the other of RTE1+1 and RTEJunior is on air at any time, they are timesharing the same bandwidth. If an analog cable service wanted to carry all the Saorview channels you could have a timer function on one terrestrial box at the headend to switch between RTE junior and RTE1+1 at the appropriate times.

BTW do any UPC analogue channels in the cabled areas have NICAM sound nowadays or has that been discontinued?

icdg

JustAddWater wrote: »

Anyway, if RTE2 is only broadcasting in HD, where will the analog service get its signal ?

Several channels on UPC's analogue service have only been available "natively" in digital for years. Sky One, Sky News, Sky Living, and Discovery all fall into this category. UPC was the only platform 3e was ever available in analogue (indeed for some time after its launch, UPC was the only platform 3e was available on full stop).

The latest channel to fall into this category will be BBC Two in about two hours time, when its analogue terrestrial signal is switched off in Northern Ireland.

Just because a channel is only broadcast in digital on other platforms does not mean that UPC cannot broadcast it in analogue.

zg3409

JustAddWater wrote: »

Anyway, if RTE2 is only broadcasting in HD, where will the analog service get its signal ?

UPC get's a special feed of RTE2 without the "RTE2 HD" on screen display. So on analogue the picture does not have the HD logo. This is also the same on Sky RTE2 non HD.

BubbleBalls

Either way, UPC displaying this is confusing. I have had calls from two family members (due to switch to UK free to air within 7 days) saying they do not need to switch, as per the banner appearing on TVs which currently use analogue signal.

Analogue is still live - that's why it is being received - and a lot of people are still using it.

Is the banner suggesting that, by subbing to UPC for main TV, that other TVs do not need to switch?

Is it suggesting that you call a number? Then be advised that €5 per tv will mean you are not effected?

BostonB

Its seeding doubt so the confused, will ring UPC and upgrade to UPC digital with a 12 months contract.

ted1

BubbleBalls wrote: »

Either way, UPC displaying this is confusing. I have had calls from two family members (due to switch to UK free to air within 7 days) saying they do not need to switch, as per the banner appearing on TVs which currently use analogue signal.

Analogue is still live - that's why it is being received - and a lot of people are still using it.

Is the banner suggesting that, by subbing to UPC for main TV, that other TVs do not need to switch?

Is it suggesting that you call a number? Then be advised that €5 per tv will mean you are not effected?

how is it confusing? It is simply telling people they will not be affected. these are UPC customers who are using UPC Analogue, its not on the terrastial feed.

BostonB

People usually don't worry about stuff they are not aware of. But...

Make them aware, by telling them not to worry about something. Usually make people worry about it.

shane.

BostonB wrote: »

People usually don't worry about stuff they are not aware of. But...

Make them aware, by telling them not to worry about something. Usually make people worry about it.

that makes no sense,if their telling you not to worry bout it ......then dont.

Antenna

Antenna wrote: »

BTW do any UPC analogue channels in the cabled areas have NICAM sound nowadays or has that been discontinued?

Most do. I know that Sky One, 3e and E4 do not, but I think the others still do. UPC seem to have their own NICAM encoders.

BostonB

shane. wrote: »

that makes no sense,if their telling you not to worry bout it ......then dont.

I don't thing logic and sense apply when paranoia is the issue.

cfriel2002

Anyone find the UPC analog signal deteriorating over the past number of months ? UTV / RTE 1 / BBC2 / CH4 all near unwatchable at this stage, rang customer services and the agent effectively admitted the signal was being tuned down..

highdef

cfriel2002 wrote: »

Anyone find the UPC analog signal deteriorating over the past number of months ? UTV / RTE 1 / BBC2 / CH4 all near unwatchable at this stage, rang customer services and the agent effectively admitted the signal was being tuned down..

When you say "effectively admitted", does that mean that this is what you were actually told or are you slightly changing what you were told? Just wondering, that's all.

BostonB

TBH I think the analog signal degraded quite a fews years back. Also when they make changes in your area or on your road, it may effect the signal level to your house. It won't effect Digital TV that much, but will effect your TV and some channels more than others. They had to adjust the resistance in the box feeding my house a few times to correct this for different problems. It also effected the broadband a bit too.

I recent switched from a CRT to a LED and (for us) the LED gives the effect of improving the analog picture quality, (on some channels) I'm guessing due to how it up scales the picture. I only stayed with the analog as I didn't want a new 12 month contract and hadn't decided to go to FTA/Saorview or digital with UPC/Sky.

cfriel2002

When rang through and quizzed the agent on phone said it was because the analog signal being switched off, told him the switch off related to terrestrial transmission not cable operators got a fuzzy answer. Signal had been clear upto 6 months ago. They strung the cable along the facias of houses along the road over a year ago so digging up activity shouldn't be a cause.

BostonB

A physical issue with the line is the same regardless its in the ground or on the facia.

STB

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Just noticed text scrolling across the screen on RTE2 something like

"you will not be affected, if you want to upgrade to digital call this number"

Mixed messages. "Not affected" followed by "upgrade to digital". Ha!

Fear.

Of course subscription companies for years thought they owned the rights to the word "digital". Hey if it mugs a few people into switching their subs, no harm done right ?:rolleyes:

ted1

STB wrote: »

Mixed messages. "Not affected" followed by "upgrade to digital". Ha!

Fear.

Of course subscription companies for years thought they owned the rights to the word "digital". Hey if it mugs a few people into switching their subs, no harm done right ?:rolleyes:

Digital is cheaper than Analogue

BostonB

But switching means a 12 month contract. Also if you can't go chasing them to fix your Analogue if your only paying for digitial.

Capt'n Midnight

BostonB wrote: »

I recent switched from a CRT to a LED and (for us) the LED gives the effect of improving the analog picture quality, (on some channels) I'm guessing due to how it up scales the picture. I only stayed with the analog as I didn't want a new 12 month contract and hadn't decided to go to FTA/Saorview or digital with UPC/Sky.

I've swapped the telly recently , again signal seems better
not sure if UPC or telly or could have been removing the sky box RF or changing cables

Don't forget that a few channels that are encrypted on ASTRA 2 (SKY) are Free to Air on ASTRA1 or Hotbird - you can get all with one dish, 3 LNB's and a DiSEqC switch.

BostonB

I'm not inspired by the lack of quality, bugs, ease of use, or lack of integration between FTA/Saorview combo box'es. I really don't want two boxes and two remotes to add the rest of crud connected to the TV these days. I end up being the only one who can use it. I think the next 3~6 months will bring much better combo options for FTA/Saorview.

That said the one of cost, is very appealing rather than paying a sub.

STB

ted1 wrote: »

Digital is cheaper than Analogue

You knew what I meant Ted, don't pretend.

Digital Switchover and its use as a current buzz word has nothing to do with upgrading your UPC box although I can see where the confusion might arise should any company try to cause same through scrolling messages on the back of a quite prolific switchover campaign by Irelands terrestrial ASO campaign.

Nothing is cheaper than free.

Technocentral

Connected analogue last week on a tv in bedroom for the first time and it was poor, particularly on bbc 2 and ch4 which were unwatchable, I then connected an old philips dvr to it and used the tuner on that and the picture quality was considerably better making ch4 and bbc2 of equal quality to the other improved ones, so presumably the tuner on the device has quite a lot to do do with picture quality on analogue devices.

Technocentral

Technocentral wrote: »

Connected analogue last week on a tv in bedroom for the first time and it was poor, particularly on bbc 2 and ch4 which were unwatchable, I then connected an old philips dvr to it and used the tuner on that and the picture quality was considerably better making ch4 and bbc2 of equal quality to the other improved ones, so presumably the tuner on the device has quite a lot to do do with picture quality on analogue devices.

Yes. BBC 2 experiences co-channel interference with the DAB mux from Three Rock, while Channel 4 is affected by Saorview from Three Rock. If there's any leakage into the cable at all then they'll interfere.

BostonB

its the same cable though?

I found passing the signal through a Sony DVR got a better picture on analog too. I assume it was boosting the signal? That said changed the TV recently to an LG and it does even better. I think it might be how it up scales the signal/picture.

Technocentral

Karsini wrote: »

Yes. BBC 2 experiences co-channel interference with the DAB mux from Three Rock, while Channel 4 is affected by Saorview from Three Rock. If there's any leakage into the cable at all then they'll interfere.

Not a cable issue, a tuner quality issue in the device.

Technocentral

BostonB wrote: »

its the same cable though?

I found passing the signal through a Sony DVR got a better picture on analog too. I assume it was boosting the signal? That said changed the TV recently to an LG and it does even better. I think it might be how it up scales the signal/picture.

In my case it wasn't scaling, the ch4 pic was full of white noise like in the old days through a rabbits ears, attached are ch4 pics with tv tuner then dvr tuner:

BostonB

I think CH4 used to be at the end of the band. So it suffers more from a poor signal. Ditto BBC2. I dunno if thats still true.

Hence when I went through a DVR the signal was better. UPC came out and adjusted the signal a few times.

Antenna

In 2007 'DMC' posted this frequency list for analogue cable TV in Dublin in
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055044544

Channel 		Frequency notes 
The Discovery Channel 	48 MHz   phased out, moved to UHF
Channel 4 		56 MHz   phased out, moved to UHF
E4 			64 MHz   phased out, moved to UHF
RTE2 			176 MHz
TV3 			184 MHz
RTE 1 			192 MHz
UTV 			200 MHz
TG4 			208 MHz
BBC 1 			216 MHz
BBC 2 			224 MHz
Sky One 		232 MHz
Setanta Sports 		248 MHz
Channel 6 		256 MHz  I assume now 3e
Nickelodeon/Paramount 	264 MHz
MTV 			272 MHz
Sky News 		280 MHz
LivingTV 		408 MHz
E4 			471 MHz   (UHF Ch21)
Channel 4 		543 MHz   (UHF Ch30)
The Discovery Channel 	575 MHz   (UHF Ch34)

To what extent has it changed (apart from the notes) ?

Antenna

Antenna wrote: »

To what extent has it changed (apart from the notes) ?

I don't think it has changed at all. Some channels don't have NICAM anymore, such as Sky One, but as far as I know the frequencies are all the same.

zg3409

One thing that has changed is that Saorview is now Broadcasting on CH30 from 3Rock over Dublin city.

Normally cable channels avoid the same frequency as broadcasts. In theory their cable systems are closed and should neither service should affect the other. In practice old cables leak signals in and send signals out.

So Channel 4 may have become a lot weaker lately.

In theory UPC should move it to say 29 but then they would get hundreds of calls from previously happy people. They would also probably need to issue a letter before hand causing confusion and more calls.

In areas in Dublin without Broadband the old "phased out" may still apply.

zg3409

zg3409 wrote: »

One thing that has changed is that Saorview is now Broadcasting on CH30 from 3Rock over Dublin city.

Normally cable channels avoid the same frequency as broadcasts. In theory their cable systems are closed and should neither service should affect the other. In practice old cables leak signals in and send signals out.

So Channel 4 may have become a lot weaker lately.

In theory UPC should move it to say 29 but then they would get hundreds of calls from previously happy people. They would also probably need to issue a letter before hand causing confusion and more calls.

In areas in Dublin without Broadband the old "phased out" may still apply.

Yes, I have seen Channel 4 being affected on some analogue sets.

BostonB

I thought the analog signal had improved of late. My own signal has been effected a lot by local changes, and a engineer has always been able to improve it by changing things locally.

Antenna

zg3409 wrote: »

One thing that has changed is that Saorview is now Broadcasting on CH30 from 3Rock over Dublin city.

Normally cable channels avoid the same frequency as broadcasts. In theory their cable systems are closed and should neither service should affect the other. In practice old cables leak signals in and send signals out.

So Channel 4 may have become a lot weaker lately.

In theory UPC should move it to say 29 but then they would get hundreds of calls from previously happy people. They would also probably need to issue a letter before hand causing confusion and more calls.

Well they could duplicate Channel 4 on two RF channels, the current Ch 30 and something else. A retune banner could appear on screen for a few minutes every hour. Give a few months notice before 30 gets switched off, that's plenty of time to retune.

If they can't move (and I don't see why not) ..

They could do a swap with another channel putting the least popular channel on ch30 ?

Capt'n Midnight

Antenna wrote: »

Well they could duplicate Channel 4 on two RF channels, the current Ch 30 and something else. A retune banner could appear on screen for a few minutes every hour. Give a few months notice before 30 gets switched off, that's plenty of time to retune.

If they can't move (and I don't see why not) ..

They could do a swap with another channel putting the least popular channel on ch30 ?

I can't remember when we ever got good Channel 4 over the last 15-20 years and that was before they were trying to get people weaned off the analogue ie. they had less channels and lots more spare bandwidth.

As for swapping channels - remember National Geographic or Eurosport ?