Digital Switchover — By Murray Niman G 6

Digital Switchover: - By Murray Niman G 6 JYB Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 1

Digital Switchover is the adoption of DVB - Digital Video Broadcasting • The end of all UHF Analogue Television • Every ordinary TV and Video Recorder affected. • Function will be lost unless adapted or replaced • Replacement Sources maybe any combination of Digital Terrestrial, Cable, Satellite, and now Broadband (Homechoice) • Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) is Freeview (and Topup. TV) • Prospect of Freesat from BBC/ITV - not Sky! • UK is over 50% Digital ready - 7 million have Sky, 4 million on Freeview ( growing at 40000 units/wk) - see later for Radio Broadcasting Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 2

Digital Around The World • • • We are not alone. . . DVB is widespread US is ATSC UK takeup is a leader Berlin already Digital only Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 3

Why Switch? • Digital terrestrial transmission allows at least four times the number of services available as analogue on the same bandwidth • Current Analogue TV restricts digital terrestrial coverage and signal strength; 20 -25% of households are unable to receive digital terrestrial. These homes will only be able to get digital TV through an aerial when we switch off analogue transmissions • Improved transmission efficiency - services now available on DTT will only use two-thirds of the spectrum currently used in analogue • Spectrum can be released for new services such as for broadcasting, interactive services or mobile communications. Examples: DVB-H, but Hi. Def-TV unlikely • Broadcasters will save on transmission costs (by ending the duplication and will not have to pay for upgrading the present analogue transmitters which would need major investments to keep running • Estimates of net benefits are in the billions of pounds, and also coincides with lower cost and newer consumer electronics - such as the end of the video tape recording • Its not just a UK thing - we don’t wont to be left behind…. Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 4

Freeview • Digital Television via your aerial • BBC/Crown. Castle/BSky. B joint venture, replaced ITV Digital. • Just needs a DTV Adapter or an i. DTV and card compatibility if you want Topup. TV • Will be the only TV via an aerial after Analogue shutdown • Channels are transmitted in Multiplexes, interleaved between existing Analogue TV Analogue: 5 Channels (A few sub carriers AM, FM, PM modulation) Freeview: 6 Multichannel Multiplexes, with 4 -8 video channels each (1705 subcarriers/COFDM - 18 or 24 Mb/s) Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 5

Freeview Video Channels Mux-1 (BBC) BBC-1 BBC-2 BBC-3/CBBC BBC-News 24 Mux-2 ITV-1, 2, 3 ITV-News Ch 4 , More-4 E 4 ? Mux-A (SDN) five (Ch 5) QVC Bidup, Price. Drop abc 1 (plus Topup. TV) Mux-B (BBC) BBC-4/CBeebies BBCi Video(701/2) BBC Parliament Community Mux-C UK History Sky News Sky Sports News Sky Travel Mux-D TMF The Hits FTN / UKBright. Ideas Ideal World Over 20 radio stations as well Ofcom has recently designated Mux 1, 2, B as Public Service Broadcast (PSB) multiplexes - So Ch 5 may need to move as part of Switchover Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 6

London TV Transmitter Powers • • • Crystal Palace & Croydon (Ch 5) Current Analogue = 1 MW Peak, Digital = 20 k. W (17 d. B down) Digital Channels are within enhanced Aerial Group-A Raising digital powers further would start to interfere with Analogue Close Analogue, move Digital to Analogue freqs which have international clearance for high power • Digital Powers will be within 6 -10 d. B of current Analogue peaks Analogue Digital ITV 2 BBC 1 1 Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society BBC 2 CH 4 B D Murray Niman G 6 JYB A CH 5 C Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 7

UHF Spectrum • • UHF TV has 48 x 8 MHz channels Band IV 470 -598 MHz & Band V 598 -854 MHz - 384 MHz total bandwidth TV is regional , but goal is to free common spectrum across the UK Plan is to release 14 UHF Channels: - 14 x 8 MHz = 112 MHz released Probably done as per below. Upper Channels are adjacent to 2 G Mobile Phones - 3 G in future Subject to confirmation at Europe Conference UHF TV Channels: BLUE = Retained for TV RED = Released for Sale GREEN = Radar & Astronomy Implications: Crystal Palace ITV, BBC 1, Ch 4 can be reused for Full power Digital at 100 -250 k. W, compared to 20 k. W at present Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 8

Sudbury Tx Power, d. BW ITV 2 4 1 5 Digital = Orange B 2 A 1 D • • Analogue = Blue C 2 Sudbury - Digital Powers are much lower relative to Analogue Digital Channels are outside Aerial Group-B - need Group E for ITV/Ch 4 NB Sudbury-B on UHF Ch-68 can clash with Sky Boxes etc Digital-Only Sudbury would be much higher power and less critical on need for wideband aerials Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 9

Timetable for TV Switchover • Planning started years ago. ‘The Digital Television Project’ in DCMS • Will occur on a phased region by region basis. More detail in 2005 • Each TV Region will be given a 2 year warning, then phased switchover 6 months, probably starting with BBC 2 • Probable start is 2007 in the Border/Tyne Tees TV region • Government has not officially confirmed the start date, but their agents have set the backstop deadline ! • Ofcom has issued DRLs - Digital Replacement Licences to all broadcasters which oblige them to be Digital Only by Dec-31 2012 • Switch. Co being formed by Ofcom along with huge PR budget • In Wales one area has already switched. . . • Timetable can be subject to politics - General Elections etc Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 10

Wales - The Ferryside Trial • Started Nov-2004 • Local relay for 250 homes converted to digital • Free boxes given to assess how well householders can install use, record • Analogue ends Feb 2005 Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 11

Switchover Detail • Full Freeview is currently on 80 Transmitters at low power • Requirement is for similar 95%+ coverage - compared to the patchy 75% for Freeview at present • Transmitter powers will rise to within 6 or 10 d. B of analogue • Plan is that all 1154 transmitters will carry at least the three Public Service Broadcast (PSB) Muxes 1, 2, B. • Ch 5 will probably be moved from Mux-A to Mux 2 or B • The 80 main transmitters and ~130 relays will have all 6 Muxes • Most relays will only have 3 PSB Muxes • Plans/Benchmarking for boxes, aerials, cable etc done Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 12

Hi Definition TV • Enhanced or Hi-Definition is 720 or 1080 lines: • Freeview Plans are for Standard TV - not Hi-Def. But widescreens are supported • Hi-Def easier by Satellite & Cable as huge Bandwidth needed • BBC has asked for use of released Spectrum for Hi-Def • WARNINGS: • Sky Hi-Def in 2006 will encrypt signal on new interconnects so many new widescreen and flat panel TVs with Scart-only connections may be incompatible - no raw video! • DVD Disks will be superceded by Bluray or HD-DVD soon as well Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 13

Approved Aerials as at 9 -Dec-2004 • Only certain aerials are approved for DTT • Approved Aerials have this Logo from the Confederation of Aerial Industries (CAI) • Beware of the Cowboys ! Gain Standard: 1=Highest 4=Lowest Masterplug Ltd Standard 2 Standard 3 Standard 2 Maxview Aerials ASY 18 W Standard 3 Philex Electronic 27869 R Standard 3 Televès UK Ltd X 43 Ref 8044 DAT 45 Infinito 1126 Standard 2 Standard 3 Triax UK Ltd Unix 52 CDW Standard 2 Vision Antiference Ltd AERO 6 AERO 15 AERO 16 V 10 -LP SUPER V 10 -321 CDW V 10 -481 CDW Standard 4 Standard 3 Standard 2 XG 10 EW Standard 2 Blake UK Ltd DMX 10 A Standard 1 DMX 05 WB Standard 2 DMX 10 WBStandard 2 DML 26 WBStandard 4 SR 10 WB Standard 3 SR 13 WB Standard 3 SR 18 WB Standard 3 VW 5 WB Standard 3 VW 10 WB Standard 2 Fracarro (UK) Ltd BLU 420 F BLU 220+ Delta 500 Delta 800 LP 45 N Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Standard 2 Standard 3 Standard 2 Standard 4 Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 14

Cables & Connections • Only CT 100, 125 and 165 is approved - CAI have a Cable list as well. • Good quality double-screened coaxial cable of a type approved under the CAI cable benchmarking scheme is recommended for the aerial downlead and for all RF connections between equipment within the household. • Inferior cable with poor screening, often referred to as “low loss”, should be avoided as it will almost certainly result in an increased susceptibility to impulse interference. • Unless the level of the signal on a down lead is very high, it is strongly recommended that a replacement cable of an approved type should always be fitted. • Coaxial fly leads should conform to BS EN 60966 -2 -4: 1997. • “F” connections should be crimped type taking care to choose the appropriate “F” connector to match the diameter of the coaxial cable. Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 15

Recording. . . • Ideally Recorders need their own tuner so it can record whilst you watch something else • Trend will be to Disc based recording - either DVD or Hard Drive • Some Freeview boxes feature hard drives like Sky. Plus • Many DVD recorders are Analogue only tuners! • Issue with Programme Delivery Control - PDC is Analogue only • Freeview Recorders can use Programme Guide and Signal Info • Look for full 8 Day EPG support. Many boxes haven’t had their software updated for full EPGs. . . and in the near future this: TV-Anytime Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 16

So, Be Careful. . . • You need to think about digital switchover today as it will happen in the lifetime of any new TV or video recorder that you buy now. • Equipment only qualifies for Logo if it is 2 K/8 K carrier compatible etc - ITV Digital boxes do not qualify - were 2000 carrier only • Modern hardware has a 8000 carrier COFDM receiver (eg for better interference immunity, SFN TV relays) • Use cheap adapters if unsure of software support. • Switch to Digital before you get Switched Off ! Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 17

Radio Switchover - the end of AM & FM ? In the UK Digital Radios Sales outstrip analogue by £value One million DAB radios so far sold in the UK and rising rapidly Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 18

Digital Radio The UK is a leader in deploying Eureka-147: - Digital Audio Broadcasting - DAB Radio Switchover may also include some limited use of DRM Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society RDS, Popular in Cars, is NOT Digital Radio merely Enhanced Analogue FM Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 19

DAB in Chelmsford Area • Coverage improved significantly in 2004 • Good aerials can also pick up London & Kent giving 50+ stations • Current Multiplexes are 11 B: 218 MHz to 12 D: 229 MHz • National Multiplexes don’t need retuning - they are Single Frequency Networks - SFNs • Proposed new frequency blocks are Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society 10 A: 209 MHz to 11 A: 217 MHz Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 20

Buying DAB • Considerable choice in shops and prices are dropping • Check DAB specs for frequency band coverage • Is it all Band III or just UK only • Does it support L-Band (not crucial) • Can its firmware be updated (Some have USB ports) • Future EPG and Graphics may need software updates • Integration with MP 3 players, mobile phones • Pause/Record/Playback live radio now featuring Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 21

DAB Spectrum • DAB Coverage currently 85% but has gaps esp. for regional services • DAB currently uses 7 Blocks (11 B-12 D) in Band-III • Ofcom Consultation on 15 -Dec-2004 to displace PMR to release 4 or 5 additional blocks: 10 A to 11 A - will pressure other VHF/UHF allocations • Deadline for responses is 7 -Mar-2005 • L-Band also available for DAB but not in use in the UK • BBC Submission requested extra space for quality not quantity • BBC suggest to start preparation for a Switchover Review in 2008 • Need to review status of Long Wave for National Emergencies • NB Issue with DAB L-Band vs Worldspace – Worldspace: 1467 -1492 MHz – DAB L-Band: 1452 -1490 MHz Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 22

ANY QUESTIONS ? Ofcom Review after the break Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 23

TLAs - Three Letter Acronyms • • TLAs: PSB - Public Service Broadcasting DTT - Digital Terrestrial Television DRLs - Digital Replacement Licences SFN - Single Frequency Network - BBC/National DAB is a SFN DVB-T, DVB-H - Digital Video Broadcasting DAB-S, DAB-T - Digital Audio Broadcasting (Satellite, Terrestrial) • • SFR - Spectrum Framework Review ACC - Adaptive Cruise Control, - uses SRR and LRR SRR/LRR - Short /Long Range Car Radar on 79 or 24 GHz UWB - Ultra Wideband SDR - Software Defined Radio BPL - Broadband over Power Lines - USA PLT - Power Line Telecoms - UK Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 24

Threats to Amateur Radio • Most attention so far on Broadband over Powerlines • BPL - Broadband over Power Lines - USA • PLT - Power Line Telecoms - UK • Data can be Voice, Internet TV • In use by Southern Electric • Raises noise floors etc over most of HF bands • Now a whole new set of threats is on us now. . . • Ofcom - no amateurs, purely commercial, attracted by £ 1 m/MHz Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 25

Ofcom Spectrum Framework Review • Spectrum Framework Review (Deadline Feb-15) • Advocates total disregard of all international rules in the interest of national flexibility • Suggest that 60% of all spectrum is tradable • Is in favour of Software/Cognitive Radio that could potentially operate on top of amateurs without warning • Proposes to withdraw from CB, Amateur, Maritime licensing • Proposes to simplify access to entrants - barely after new licence structure is in place • Has caught RSGB totally off guard, with a weaker structure • All amateurs and clubs are urged to reply • Original Documents on www. ofcom. org. uk • Easier to download from www. essexrepeatergroup. org. uk Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 26

Ofcom Car Radar Review • 77 GHz already used for Adaptive Cruise Control - ACC • New Consultation in Dec-2004 on 79 GHz and 24 GHz bands for Car Short Range Radar - in Primary Amateur Bands • For Parking, Pedestrian/Crash Avoidance, Lane Control, Platooning etc • Ofcom did not check their own docs and stated that no one used these bands at all! • - correction now issued! • BUT DEADLINE IS JAN-14! Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 27

Backup Slides Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 28

References • Ofcom: www. ofcom. org. uk • Digital Television Project: www. digitaltelevision. gov. uk • Freeview: www. freeview. co. uk • BBC Digital: www. bbc. co. uk/digital/ • Digital Television Group (DTG): www. dtg. org. uk (Better for Postcode searches than Freeview) • • Confederation of Aerial Industries (CAI): www. cai. org. uk TV Anytime: www. tv-anytime. org Digital Spy: www. digitalspy. co. uk (Terrestrial Section) Newsgroups: uk. tech. digital-tv, uk. tech. broadcast, alt. radio. digital Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 29

TV Transmitter Frequencies/Powers • Note-1: Power levels not directly comparable, but Frequencies can be an issue • Note-2: Some parts of Essex can also receive Bluebell Hill in Kent TV Aerial Groups: A: 21 -37 Red B: 35 -53 Yellow C/D: 48 -68 Green E: 35 -68 Brown K: 21 -48 Grey W: 21 -68 Black Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Murray Niman G 6 JYB Switchover Talk v 1. 1, Jan-2005 30