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BBC HD to switch to DVB-S2 on 6th June 2011

The BBC will switch to the higher-capacity modern modulation scheme for the BBC HD and BBC One HD channels on satellite.

The BBC will switch to the higher-capacity modern modulation sc
published on UK Free TV

The high definition (HD) television channels on satellite require a lot more bandwidth (number of bits per second) than the standard definition (SD) ones, as you might expect.

However the additional capacity required is reduced in two ways. First the MPEG-4 compression system is used (rather than MPEG-2) and generally the DVB-S2 modulation system increases the bandwidth of each satellite transponder.

Generally speaking, around nine SD television channels can be carried on a transponder in DVB-S mode, and four HD channels on one in DVB-S2 mode.

For historical reasons, the BBC's Astra 2D transponder 50 has been providing BBC One HD and BBC HD (and also ITV1 HD Merdian South) in the DVB-S mode, and this has used all the capacity on the transponder, because of the lower bitrate.

The changes

One 6th June 2011, the BBC will switch the transponder to DVB-S2. If you watch using Sky+HD, Virgin Media or Freeview HD you will not have to do anything.

If you use a branded Freesat box (or TV set), you may need to put it into stand-by mode for 30 seconds on 6th June. If that doesn't work, perform a 'first time installation'.

Update: Some Panasonic Freesat boxes are unable to deal with the change - see comments below

If you are using a unbranded Freesat box, you may find that you also have to do a 'first time installation' to get the channels back.

Some older satellite equipment will not support DVB-S2. If you can't watch Channel 4 HD, then you will no longer be able to watch the BBC HD channels.

Sky HD, Freesat HD EPG issues

Currently BBC One HD cannot automatically replace BBC One in the Sky EPG at position 101, because there are 15 regional versions of BBC One, and only a single BBC One HD 'stream' on the satellite.

BBC Two carries four regions for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. For a BBC TWO HD to appear in the Sky EPG at position 102, the BBC would need to provide four versions of BBC TWO HD.

All the other BBC channels are national, and have no regional components. BBC Three timeshares with CBBC, BBC FOUR timeshares with CBeebies, plus there is BBC News, BBC Parliament and BBC Alba.

The extra capacity found by moving to DVB-S2 could allow the BBC to provide BBC Three, BBC Four, CBeebies and CBBC channel in HD, and these could be provided in the "usual" EPG slots for Sky HD and Freesat HD users, which would put them on the lower numbered channels nearer the top of the guide.

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Comments
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

1:59 PM

Alan: I'd just pay £20 for a new Freeview box and save yourself the grief - such as DION VSTBAW09 - Freeview Digital TV Receiver Remote 1xScart WHITE | Power Direct Online Electrical Superstore .

You are only technically protected by the law when you make a purchase, the laws does not apply when you were provided something for free.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
D
David
sentiment_satisfiedGold

2:30 PM

Are prices of HD boxes resonable yet, any of the £20/35 ones still around that were being sold off.

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David's 306 posts GB flag
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
D
David
sentiment_satisfiedGold

9:32 AM

Thanks Brian.
Do we kmow if it will work the BBCiplayer and The itvIplayer and all known changes that are upcoming to the transmission specs. been caught out twice now want to avoid the third.

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David's 306 posts GB flag
A
Alan
12:15 PM

Briantist. It wasn't a Freeview box, It was the FreeSat HDPlus setup costing me £275. But it will not record the BBC HD channels. £275 is too much for me to pay for a HD recorder that will not record the BBC HD channels.

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Alan's 13 posts GB flag
M
Mike Dimmick
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

2:31 PM

Alan: Time to try the small claims court, I think. They're still a supplier acting in sales to the public.

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Mike Dimmick's 2,486 posts GB flag
A
Alan
2:41 PM

Mike, I think your right. Alan.

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Alan's 13 posts GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

3:28 PM

Alan: I'm sorry, I misunderstood, if that is the case contact Consumer Direct - Consumer Direct contacts : Directgov - Directories - they offer a free service, which saves having to go to court.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 30 October 2012
S
SteveD
1:39 AM
Alton

I have a Panasonic TV which was sold as being HD ready, but I don't think I'm receiving any HD broadcasts. My area (GU34) has apparently already switched to Digital. I have not changed my external rooftop antenna - is this the problem?

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SteveD's 3 posts GB flag
SteveD's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
S
SteveD
2:01 AM
Alton

Also, I don't see channels 101, 102 etc. 101 returns "Invalid Channel" and then the next channel is 170.

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SteveD's 3 posts GB flag
SteveD's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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