[opendtv] Re: Teletext assists aerial strength test

How would you correlate the difference in analog power versus digital power
in the U.S.?  (There's a different ethos that informs the U.K. rollout.)

How would you factor in that not all stations are necessarily at full analog
power, nor full digital power?

Unless I'm missing something, analog teletext is broadcast on analog
stations, and not digital.  Just because digital is intended to replicate
analog doesn't mean that it does in any situation, and we can't start from
the position that it does.

This does sound like a rather clever way to avoid costs on the part of the
BBC and consumers, but I don't see it being very useful in the U.S. where
each station owns their own transmitters.

But, I thought nobody would ever need an antenna in the U.K? 

Be kind of fun to see the points that require antennae (and which were
projected to need antennae) plotted in relationship to signal levels and tx
points.

John 

-----Mensaje original-----
De: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] En
nombre de Manfredi, Albert E
Enviado el: Friday, May 25, 2007 3:08 PM
Para: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Asunto: [opendtv] Teletext assists aerial strength test

We need something like that here. A real-world test, which consumers
could do on their own, to have a clue whether they are ready for Feb
2009.

Bert

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http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?class=countries&subclass=0&id=2452

Teletext assists aerial strength test

Analogue teletext is being used to determine whether homes will need new
aerials after digital switchover. According to the BBC, around 10% of
domestic aerials will need attention in order to receive digital
transmissions. The difficulty has been developing a reliable way of
letting viewers know they will need a new aerial.

As the BBC Innovation and Research's 2007 review explains, a test
pattern was designed which became less apparent as signal quality fell.
But while that technique showed the correct trend, "there was too much
spread on individual results to give a reliable indication".

Instead, BBC engineers working within the Digital Reception Prediction
Group at Digital UK, the industry-funded body charged with coordinating
digital switchover, came up with a test pattern using analogue teletext.

The test pattern, broadcast on page 284 on BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1 and
Channel 4 and S4C, provides a more accurate and objective result. "Tests
have been successsful, with errors starting to show just at the point
where an aerial installation ought to be checked," says the annual
review.

A Digital UK spokesman told Lovelace Consulting that the teletext
innovation is being used in Whitehaven to determine aerial strength
ahead of the area's switchover-the UK's first-on October 17.

"We've produced a leaflet on how to test aerials, explaining the
teletext page and also providing a reference 'snowy' picture for people
to compare their reception to (if it's as or more snowy, they will
probably need a new aerial)," said the spokesman.

"The other method explained in the leaflet is to hire a Handheld Aerial
Checker from local retailers which you take home and plug in to test."

Lovelace Consulting 25.05.2007
 
 
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