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2009: Annual BBC RBS tests

anyone know the dates in januray? (December 2008)

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SP
Spencer
noggin posted:
Steve in Pudsey posted:
Do they make use of the reserve facility about a mile from Crystal Palace during these tests? The one that used to only be for ITV and C4 but I believe now also includes BBC services.

Don't believe so - I think that would be tested for different reasons and in a different manner. The RBS tests are there to simulate a catastrophic network failure, which Crystal Palace is separately protected against I believe (due to its proximity to London)

The Croydon facility (if it exists - I've never really bothered to find out!) would be for a major failure at CP - which is separate.


Do you happen to know what's going to happen to the RBS tests as digital switchover continues? As mentioned earlier in the thread, it won't be long before there are significant gaps in the analogue network. Also, will there be a kind of digital equivalent when the whole country is switched to digital... or do digital signals / transmission not work like that?
MA
Markymark
Spencer For Hire posted:
noggin posted:
Steve in Pudsey posted:
Do they make use of the reserve facility about a mile from Crystal Palace during these tests? The one that used to only be for ITV and C4 but I believe now also includes BBC services.

Don't believe so - I think that would be tested for different reasons and in a different manner. The RBS tests are there to simulate a catastrophic network failure, which Crystal Palace is separately protected against I believe (due to its proximity to London)

The Croydon facility (if it exists - I've never really bothered to find out!) would be for a major failure at CP - which is separate.


Do you happen to know what's going to happen to the RBS tests as digital switchover continues? As mentioned earlier in the thread, it won't be long before there are significant gaps in the analogue network. Also, will there be a kind of digital equivalent when the whole country is switched to digital... or do digital signals / transmission not work like that?


I believe many ITV/C4 transmitters simply use Astra 28E feeds for RBS back ups. For the remaining 3 years that analogue has left, I'd have thought that's the best (read cost effective and simple) solution of BBC 1/2 ?

The DTT back up involves multiple encode sites, on a ring system, AFAIK no off air style back up feeds are used.
SP
Steve in Pudsey
noggin posted:
The Croydon facility (if it exists - I've never really bothered to find out!) would be for a major failure at CP - which is separate.


Yeah, I was wondering whether they would bother to test whether stations which take their RBS feed from CP can receive a suitable RBS feed from Croydon.
MA
Markymark
Steve in Pudsey posted:
noggin posted:
The Croydon facility (if it exists - I've never really bothered to find out!) would be for a major failure at CP - which is separate.


Yeah, I was wondering whether they would bother to test whether stations which take their RBS feed from CP can receive a suitable RBS feed from Croydon.


Good question. I think the ITV/4 transmitters at Croydon are only 250kW (6dB down on CP). If the Beeb do have back up at Croydon it's probably a similar ERP. The whole caboodle probably shares the C5 antenna (which is lower aod than CP's as well) .
SG
SiGa
Forgive me if this has been answered before. I believe the Channel Islands receive a digital feed for BBC 1 & 2 analogue. So would this mean the test won't be viewable here?
SP
Steve in Pudsey
I would imagine that that's the case
BH
Blake Hill
I see someone's posted some updated times for tonight's tests on uk.tech.broadcast:
Quote:
BBC1 0300-0400
BBC2 0430-0530

I know the timing is a bit dependant on programme content, so perhaps
the test organisers have had to shift things around at request of the
BBC Editors.


I hear that the people involved in the tests in TV Centre sometimes keep an eye on the running commentary on the threads here and on DS - and while they can't quite understand why anyone would want to stay up to watch, have found the screengrabs and reception reports quite useful in the past.
PC
Paul Clark
Quote:
BBC1 0300-0400
BBC2 0430-0530

That's interesting; typically in the past, the first test has taken place on BBC2, and commenced before 3am as well.

I can understand the changes, though - looks like the tests won't be interrupting the main schedules of either of the channels this year.
MU
mulder
How long is "Death of a Doxy" on BBC2 at 2.50am?

EDIT: Oh, 90 mins apparently.

So, BBC1 closes at 2.20 and BBC2 closes at 3.20. That's annoying, you can't watch all of BBC1's test without missing BBC2's closedown.

Can somebody make an mpg2 recording of BBC2's closedown please?
MA
Markymark
mulder posted:


Can somebody make an mpg2 recording of BBC2's closedown please?


Even within the context of this thread, what on earth will be so unmissable about BBC2's closedown ?!
NW
nwtv2003
Markymark posted:
mulder posted:


Can somebody make an mpg2 recording of BBC2's closedown please?


Even within the context of this thread, what on earth will be so unmissable about BBC2's closedown ?!


Probably the announcement from the C/A, as when this does occur they usually say they are Closing down for such a time,
JV
James Vertigan Founding member
'Pause' symbol now on BBC1 Analogue

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