Just checked my TV, it accepts the new DVB-T2 standard, but by 2021 will it be in the bin by then anyway?
This is one aim of the idea to keep folk upgrading, or having to bolt up yet another box to convert to the new standard..
Nobody can keep up with this, it is all too ridiculous for anyone to understand anymore, never mind the few engineers left in the repair industry they must just put their heads in their hands in despair ;-(
I still have a CRT TV somewhere with an analogue tuner.
In fairness it's not really OFCOM's fault. The problem is that the UK was an early adopter of Digital Broadcasting. As the technology has become more mature further development work has led to more efficient compression and modulation techniques. Unfortunately most of these advances are often not backwards compatible. So the only solution is to have a long phasing in period. TV's and Radios are one of the few items of consumer electronics that tend to have very long working lives, as even when a new model is bought, the old bit of kit ends up being used in another room, workshop, shed or whatever. Folks have not yet become conditioned into replacing their TV or Radio as frequently as say a PC or Mobile Phone. So the rate of innovation can not be as fast whilst there is a lot of old hardware that is still being used. The only solution is to set a changeover date far enough in advance that there is sufficient time for new models to have been phased in.
If you think digital TV is bad enough then try reading up on DAB+ Digital radio in the UK - that will really get you blood boiling !
In my own dealings with them I have been very unimpressed. To me, they seem to add very little real value. My opinion and I accept these are my views. Others are free to disagree with me and often do!
Just checked my TV, it accepts the new DVB-T2 standard, but by 2021 will it be in the bin by then anyway?
ReplyDeleteThis is one aim of the idea to keep folk upgrading, or having to bolt up yet another box to convert to the new standard..
Nobody can keep up with this, it is all too ridiculous for anyone to understand anymore, never mind the few engineers left in the repair industry they must just put their heads in their hands in despair ;-(
I still have a CRT TV somewhere with an analogue tuner.
73 Steve
Hi Roger,
ReplyDeleteIn fairness it's not really OFCOM's fault. The problem is that the UK was an early adopter of Digital Broadcasting. As the technology has become more mature further development work has led to more efficient compression and modulation techniques. Unfortunately most of these advances are often not backwards compatible. So the only solution is to have a long phasing in period. TV's and Radios are one of the few items of consumer electronics that tend to have very long working lives, as even when a new model is bought, the old bit of kit ends up being used in another room, workshop, shed or whatever. Folks have not yet become conditioned into replacing their TV or Radio as frequently as say a PC or Mobile Phone. So the rate of innovation can not be as fast whilst there is a lot of old hardware that is still being used. The only solution is to set a changeover date far enough in advance that there is sufficient time for new models to have been phased in.
If you think digital TV is bad enough then try reading up on DAB+ Digital radio in the UK - that will really get you blood boiling !
Regards,
Martin - G8JNJ
In my own dealings with them I have been very unimpressed. To me, they seem to add very little real value. My opinion and I accept these are my views. Others are free to disagree with me and often do!
ReplyDelete