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HD and Freesat questions and answers

Al posted some very good questions about HD and Freesat.

Al posted some very good questions about HD and Freesat.
published on UK Free TV

Al posted some very good questions about HD and Freesat.

"I know upscalers are not HD, they merely interpolate a SD signal to make it fit a HD screen"

It is very confusing that HD is used to mean several different technologies. High Definition refers to:

  • the resolution the number of picture cells of the screen;
  • the resolution of the encoded pictures;
  • the resolution of the source material;
  • as "HDMI" the digital connector between a set-top box and a display;


There are also a number of associated technologies, which come under the name MPEG4. These are used to encode the pictures, audio and data that you recognise as a TV signal.

Standard Definition (SD) is shorthand to refer to the resolution of PAL-type televisions. Technically this is called MP@ML, Main Profile at Main Level.

"My point was where a programme has been recorded in SD only, then it is still possible to have a HD only transmission service by the use of upscaling those programs to HD format - something I understand Sky do now with some of their content."

This is not necessary. MPEG 4 can work with sources at any of the defined resolutions. As a rule you should always transmit the material in the original format wherever possible. Interpolation before the data compression just results in unnecessary data, or a poor encoding.

"Point is it allows a HD only format channel in the interim between some programs and all programs being recorded in HD. "

This is exactly what you would expect from the history of television. BBC One started as BBC Television in monochrome, 405-line and moved first to 625-line colour and then to MPEG2 digital widescreen. This is true for all UK services.

You would expect the next transformation to be to HD.

"As for the hundreds of channels on Freesat currently, I understood that Sky Freesat and BBC Freesat were different entities."

The Eurobird 1 & Astra 2A/2B/2C/2D at satellites over the equator at 28.2E provide transmission services for the UK.

Broadcasters are quite free to upload any content to these satellites. Each transponder carries a digital stream in MPEG2 format that each has ten or more television channels.

Some of these services are free-to-air, some are encrypted. Anyone is free to point a dish at it and use a suitable decoder to watch the services.

The BBC and ITV channels are unencrypted and numerous. Each BBC and ITV region has to be carried on the satellites, as this is the only way to replicate the local services provided terrestrially.

To add to the confusion there are some services that are what is termed "soft encrypted", which means a card is required to decode them, but no subscription is required.

So, "Freesat From Sky" comprises all the free-to-air services PLUS a number of soft encrypted channels: Channel 4, five, five Life, five US and Sky Three. The Sky service also includes the Sky Electronic Programme Guide.

"The Sky Freesat being Sky's current free to air system and BBC Freesat being a BBC / ITV collaboration producing a new satellite service."

Sky's Digibox set-up is a special version of a satellite receiver. It contains a special Sky subscription card system, the Sky EPG and also a software system called "OpenTV".

The BBC/ITV Freesat service, called just "Freesat", will use all the existing free-to-air satellite broadcasts and provide a non-Sky EPG. There will be no subscription system and it will have the MHEG-5 software, as all Freeview boxes have.

In addition the boxes will be able to decode MPEG4 transmissions, which will allow high-definition services to be carried.

The Freesat boxes will be of various types, from a basic box to a high-end personal video recorder (PVR), like Sky+. Without the monthly fee, however.

"However, if they are the same, then the answer is still yes. If it is the same service then either way its done, those 9 million boxes will have to be changed one way or another."

This is always a dilemma of digital technology. If you make cheap, mass market decoders you have to fix the standard. All the Sky boxes out there are MPEG2, DVB-S.

So, all new HD services and any other SD services encoded with MPEG4 are totally invisible to anyone with an "old" box. So yes, over time, the whole system will move to MPEG4 in HD.

This provides an interesting question. If you have a SD channel, do you use MPEG4 or MEPG2?

"It's far better to set a defined changeover date and switch off the existing Freesat service on that date in favour of a new HD only service than to confuse consumers by having two parallel systems with intermixed programming of ever changing proportions that leaves people unsure about what, when and where to get HD content."

It might be, but it is not just Freesat from Sky people using the current free-to-air transmission, but all those Sky subscribers too. Until they have all got MPEG-4 boxes, you can't move to HD.

"I know you next reply will be what about the consumers who've only just bought a Sky Freesat SD box? Well the answer is: - exactly the same scenario will apply whether the switchover is made by gradual means, someone somewhere will have only just bought an SD Freesat box. "

I understand that the idea is that ALL Freesat boxes will be able to decode MPEG4, even if they output a downscaled version of HD channels on the SCART.

There is going to be many years of people moving from SD to HD satellite reception.

"If Sky wanted to soften the blow, then a simple trade in discount scheme for those who've bought boxes in the last 6 months would suffice I'm sure."

There's not much in this for Sky. Remember that Sky only provide a very few of their channels. They provide the subscription services, but they do not play-out, encode, multiplex, uplink most of the channels.

The only way that Sky will start swapping out boxes will be if they can make more money. At some point, as with the analogue satellite closedown, it becomes cheaper to force customers to have a new box than waste money on inefficient transmissions.

"All of this gradual rollout rubbish not only confuses consumers by blurring the issues of what programming is available where and when and what equipment is needed (2 parallel types) - this is quite contrary to the claims that it is avoiding confusing consumers."

You are right. Confusion isn't the half of it.

In the US, there has been a very simple transition from analogue, 4:3, SD to digital 16:9 HD. Each SD channel has simply transformed into a HD channel.

Whilst in the UK, we have transformed so slowly that the early start has meant that by the time we achieve terrestrial switchover, the technology will be out of date.

"The current analogue switch over is the slowest and most confusing thing out!! If that's the government's idea of helping consumers they should stick to politics."

To be honest, the government's policy is to not intervene. The satellites are provided by two companies, SES Astra and Eurobird. The uplinking by several UK companies, including BT. The channels by hundreds of broadcasters.

It is policy that the providers can do as they please.

"This current policy is also putting the UK behind the rest of the world."

Not really. Everyone in the EU is in the same kind of boat.

"I believe JVC has already announced that it's to start manufacturing test sets for the next generation of TV's dubbed 4k2K (4096x2160 pixel resolution) and that broadcasting trials of this format will commence in 2011 in Japan."

You can't measure other countries expectations against our current position. Also, other countries are more bothered about consumer choice than government income.

Help with High Definition?
Whenever i watch moving sport especially football I experience much poorer pictu1
In this section
Freeview removes com8 channels 1
20 Freeview HD TV channels to close March/June 2019 in Cornwall2
Channel 4 abandons Freesat HD in TWO DAYS3
Five tips for when you are buying a new TV to watch Freeview or Freesat4
Why do less than one in five people with an HD set watch in HD?5
All five public service channels now free to air!6

Comments
Saturday, 8 January 2011
A
Anthony Johnson
9:47 AM

I live in South East Spain watching Sky Freesat with a 1.45m Dish and a Grundig box that keeps locking out. I have got hold of a Pace box but can't get it to work with my card. Any ideas please?

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Anthony Johnson's 3 posts GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

9:56 AM

Anthony Johnson: I'm not sure what you mean by "can't get it to work with my card". Can you explain?

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
A
Anthony Johnson
10:17 AM

Sorry about that, It works but not with all channels No 4,5, fiver and 5 USA

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Anthony Johnson's 3 posts GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

10:21 AM

Anthony Johnson: OK, you need to do "Method 3" on the What can my do when my Sky Digibox says 'No Signal' or 'Technical fault'? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice page.

Really you need to call Sky and tell them you have changed your Freesat from Sky hardware, but this must be done from a UK landline or UK mobile phone whilst in the UK.

If Sky think you are using the card illegally for one moment they will disable it.

You don't need the card for C4 and FIVE if you do "Method 3".

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
A
Anthony Johnson
11:44 AM

As I am in the UK at the moment I have just rang SKY they tell me the card and the new box must be switched on so that they can send a signal. Can the card and box be switched on in Spain (by my neighbour )to receive the signal or do I have to bring them to the UK.

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Anthony Johnson's 3 posts GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

12:32 PM

Anthony Johnson: The box can be anywhere you get a signal to work, but this does contravene your terms and conditions.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Monday, 7 February 2011
J
John
10:58 PM

question? I have a DVD Camcorder will i still be able to play back these discs on the new HD TV recordes

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John's 1 post EU flag
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

6:25 AM

John: It shouldn't make any difference at all.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Thursday, 10 February 2011
T
Tom Williams
2:21 PM
Oswestry

I have an existing old Sky Pace SD Receiver which is working very well. However I now need to do two things.

1)Get a new Sky HD Box,i.e. a simple Non Recording model which has a HDMI output.

2)Unsuscribe from Sky as they are too expensive,I therefore don't want to buy a receiver from Sky and sign a 12 Month contract but I still want to receive the free to air channels with my existing sky card which I assume will work with a new HD
receiver to provide me with HD and SD FtA channels.
Can anyone confirm that the old card will do this?
If this is the case where would I be able to purchase outright a New HD Sky receiver which has a HDMI output to TV. I have heard that some makes of SKY receivers are somewhat limiting, my 9 year old Pace has worked superbly with only the odd glitch which was easily rectified by wiping the card contacts and or switching it off for a couple of mins to reset itself.
So ideally I'm looking for another Pace, a HD Model. Would they do 3D as well or is it too early for that?
Hope someone can advise
Regards
Tom Williams




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Tom Williams's 3 posts GB flag
Tom's: mapT's Freeview map terrainT's terrain plot wavesT's frequency data T's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

2:40 PM

Tom Williams: Why not just buy a Freesat HD box? No card is required. They start at £80 for a new one Buy Bush Freesat HD Digital Box at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Freeview digital set top boxes.
- only £50 more than the Sky card.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
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