SP
The nature of the tests means it's analogue only.
(i.e. all transmitters lose their BBC1 or 2 analogue feed, apart from Crystal Palace, the idea is to get a picture back to all main transmitters by rebroadcasting from Crystal Palace to nearby transmitters, then from them to transmitters further away, etc, until the whole country has a TV picture again.)
In the past the tests have been broadcast on digital platforms, despite not being of much relevance.
Just to add to your description of what happens, I believe Crystal Palace loses its main feed too and goes to its standby. The daisy chain effect you mention is simply a convenient way to test the whole lot in one go, but the system is intended as a contingency for one main transmitter losing its feed and being able to rebroadcast a neighbouring transmitter.
Adam posted:
Richard Blanks posted:
Will these tests be seen on digital or is it an analogue only affair?
The nature of the tests means it's analogue only.
(i.e. all transmitters lose their BBC1 or 2 analogue feed, apart from Crystal Palace, the idea is to get a picture back to all main transmitters by rebroadcasting from Crystal Palace to nearby transmitters, then from them to transmitters further away, etc, until the whole country has a TV picture again.)
In the past the tests have been broadcast on digital platforms, despite not being of much relevance.
Just to add to your description of what happens, I believe Crystal Palace loses its main feed too and goes to its standby. The daisy chain effect you mention is simply a convenient way to test the whole lot in one go, but the system is intended as a contingency for one main transmitter losing its feed and being able to rebroadcast a neighbouring transmitter.
PE
Just to be an annoying pedant, is that 05:00 on the eighth, in layman's parlance, i.e. on Sunday morning; or 29:00 on the eighth, in BBC parlance, i.e. on Monday morning?
Well, the PEC said 0500 on the 8th......
Have Seimens / RedBee introudced a 24hr clock suddenly? I thought all TV stations used a 29hr one. Although I learnt that fact on this site so therefore...
Everyone has said the RBS doesn't affect digital but surely a similar system must be in place for DTT?
Pete
Founding member
Richard Taylor posted:
Nick Harvey posted:
Richard Taylor posted:
8th Jan, 0500 I'm reliably told
Just to be an annoying pedant, is that 05:00 on the eighth, in layman's parlance, i.e. on Sunday morning; or 29:00 on the eighth, in BBC parlance, i.e. on Monday morning?
Well, the PEC said 0500 on the 8th......
Have Seimens / RedBee introudced a 24hr clock suddenly? I thought all TV stations used a 29hr one. Although I learnt that fact on this site so therefore...
Everyone has said the RBS doesn't affect digital but surely a similar system must be in place for DTT?
MB
Just so you can record this or stay up late tonight to see the tests for yourselves, here are the timings:
The engineering tests will be on analogue only and will first start on BBC-2 from 2.00am until 3.00am That's tonight Sunday into the early hours of Monday morning, 23rd of January, 2006.
Then on BBC-1 Analogue the tests will commence at approximately 4.00am and continue until 5.00am.
The engineering tests will be on analogue only and will first start on BBC-2 from 2.00am until 3.00am That's tonight Sunday into the early hours of Monday morning, 23rd of January, 2006.
Then on BBC-1 Analogue the tests will commence at approximately 4.00am and continue until 5.00am.
GE
Ok, I might have confused my terminology a little...
Coding and multiplexing are still handled in TVC, though I can't remember if it's Siemens or the BBC who do that. A fair bit of channels are uplinked from the dishes on the side of TVC (as seen on the News 24 countdown, and the Hammersmith and City line from Shepherd's Bush to Latimer Road).
Some channels are uplinked from the Broadcast Centre, although I think it's just the ESPN Classic Sport ones.
thegeek
Founding member
Richard Taylor posted:
Has Coding & Mux moved to BC then ? That's surely a transmission area. And the Satellite uplink dishes are still bolted to TVC?
Ok, I might have confused my terminology a little...
Coding and multiplexing are still handled in TVC, though I can't remember if it's Siemens or the BBC who do that. A fair bit of channels are uplinked from the dishes on the side of TVC (as seen on the News 24 countdown, and the Hammersmith and City line from Shepherd's Bush to Latimer Road).
Some channels are uplinked from the Broadcast Centre, although I think it's just the ESPN Classic Sport ones.
AN
The nature of the tests means it's analogue only.
(i.e. all transmitters lose their BBC1 or 2 analogue feed, apart from Crystal Palace, the idea is to get a picture back to all main transmitters by rebroadcasting from Crystal Palace to nearby transmitters, then from them to transmitters further away, etc, until the whole country has a TV picture again.)
In the past the tests have been broadcast on digital platforms, despite not being of much relevance.
Just to add to your description of what happens, I believe Crystal Palace loses its main feed too and goes to its standby. The daisy chain effect you mention is simply a convenient way to test the whole lot in one go, but the system is intended as a contingency for one main transmitter losing its feed and being able to rebroadcast a neighbouring transmitter.
So does this mean the tests will be broadcast on digital tonight?
Steve in Pudsey posted:
Adam posted:
Richard Blanks posted:
Will these tests be seen on digital or is it an analogue only affair?
The nature of the tests means it's analogue only.
(i.e. all transmitters lose their BBC1 or 2 analogue feed, apart from Crystal Palace, the idea is to get a picture back to all main transmitters by rebroadcasting from Crystal Palace to nearby transmitters, then from them to transmitters further away, etc, until the whole country has a TV picture again.)
In the past the tests have been broadcast on digital platforms, despite not being of much relevance.
Just to add to your description of what happens, I believe Crystal Palace loses its main feed too and goes to its standby. The daisy chain effect you mention is simply a convenient way to test the whole lot in one go, but the system is intended as a contingency for one main transmitter losing its feed and being able to rebroadcast a neighbouring transmitter.
So does this mean the tests will be broadcast on digital tonight?
R2
I hope we are treated to some idents in full to close us down and welcome us back. Though I wouldn't be surprised if it was just the generic 'This is BBC One/Two' ident, which is either Acrobats or Capoeira on BBC One and Bounce Long on BBC Two.
I presume we will have idents into and out of the tests.
I presume we will have idents into and out of the tests.
SP
Would be nice if they'd do something special with the closedown for the benefit of us anoraks, since there's a decent chance that plenty of us will be watching/taping...