[opendtv] Re: Math of oversampling
- From: Bob Miller <bob@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2005 21:51:40 -0400
Same here. Wish I could understand what is being discussed more. Wish I
had something to add.
Can't help but thinking though that such discussion will find that
"sweet spot" I am looking for where the best resolution for the money or
bit rate meets the needs of the most viewers and delivers the most
content at the least cost.
Sounds like it is somewhere between 480P and 576P at the moment.
I am just going to keep on listening.
Spent yesterday at the Rayburn building watching and participating as
the House Commerce Committee works to come up with their bill. As usual
very educational. I think I scored at least a couple of points for the
other side. The basis of the discussion revolved around the
demonstration of an 8-VSB solid state tuner/demodulator/MPEG2
receiver/converter, only S Video and composite out. Will sell for $50 or
$40, price kept changed on the spot even as I tried to pin it down and
should retail for $65 by Christmas if a hard deadline was passed by July
or so.
Questions pertaining to this conversation that I did not know while
there. What is the IP royalty cost today for MPEG2, 8-VSB, Dolby and
anything else that would be involved in such a receiver? They were
saying total today of $4 and that was included in the $40 or $50. They
did not necessarily know because the entity demonstrating would not be
paying.
Also if the price of this board was say $50 in quantity of a million
what would be the rest of the markup for the company putting it in an
STB or TV set and how would they do that for all of $15. That was what
was being quoted to the Congresscritters, $15 for a total of $65 in a
quantity buy of a million. I would of thought that the royalty cost
alone were in the over $10 range with LG asking $6 for 8-VSB alone. And
the markup for the OEM who after all has a bit of metal bending,
electrical, shipping, packaging, selling and marketing cost would be
more than $15 total wouldn't it?
They kept bringing up the cost of DVDs which is a good point but what
does anybody think?
But all the above is moot if the thing doesn't work. We are supposed to
get one of these to test now too. That will make five receivers we are
waiting on. Three 5th gen LG, one 5th gen ATI with a special RF front
end (also same front end for one LG) and the one with the solid state
tuner mentioned above.
One other question. I had always been told that you take a hit with a
solid state tuner. That you pay in performance. Since this is a new
solid state front end and the front end now seems to be the problem
wouldn't this be a step back?
We will see. Those demonstrating this unit said that it had worked
faithfully in five cities so far. One of them was not New York however.
I had the impression that low price was the main deal here. This unit
was not designed to be the best though that was what had lured me to DC.
This unit is supposed to be that low cost insert to satisfy the mandate,
the cheapest thing you can find. The thing whose proven existence will
bring Dingell and Markey into the 2006 camp. But every Congressional
critter there was lapping up the hype and believing everything they
heard about this receiver verbatim. They want to bad. But they do not
want to test, set receiver standards or talk to anyone who cautions that
there are concerns and opportunities.
They only are concerned about, and quickly will agree, that this is all
about short term political expediency.
I think they are underestimating the Senate and its Commerce Committee
Chairman's political sense myself.
Would be nice however if it also worked, the receiver that is. My mind
is open till we test. And as usual I was wearing two hats, I wanted a
cheap 8-VSB receiver that works plug and play right now, I wanted a
quick solution to the DTV transition impasse and a hard date for the
transition so that other spectrum can be used with COFDM which is
perfect for our plans and I wanted Congress to switch to COFDM and MPEG4
now because that is so obviously the right thing to do for the public.
Bob Miller
John Golitsis wrote:
>Couldn't agree with you more, Craig. Even though I often can't begin
>to understand what I'm reading, I do find it terribly fascinating,
>and I'm sure I do end up absorbing some of it. I've learned so much
>over the years and I thank you all for that!
>
>
>On 29-Apr-05, at 5:51 AM, Craig Birkmaier wrote:
>
>
>
>>It is at times like this that I take a bit of pride in the fact that
>>the OpenDTV list keeps going, and going, and going. The discussions
>>of the past few days have been first rate - I hope everyone is
>>learning as much as I have.
>>
>>
>>
>
>
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