User talk:Kacx

https:DIGITAL TV ,most people have probably heard about this but only a few people understand what it really is. I decided to do this to help people understand in simple language what digital tv (DTT) realy is and what its about.

What is DTT? DTT stands for digital terrestrial television. Television broadcasts have been transmitted in analogue format since the 1940’s. Analogue terrestrial television uses one frequency to carry one television programme channel. digital terrestrial television (DTT) uses one frequency to carry multiple programme channels, thereby allowing for transmission of many television programmes using fewer frequencies and at a lower cost.

what are the benefits (compaired to analogue) benefits of DTT can be classified into two groups. Broadcasters benefits > Uniform coverage for all broadcasters both in quality and area from each transmitter . >  Entry into television broadcasting beneficial since capital expenditure is reduced due to removal of acquisition of transmitters and other network requirements . This is due to the fact that DTT uses one transmitter per coverage area, in analogue znbc, muvi tv, mobi, cbc, tbn each need to have a transmitter. In DTT all the channels will use one transmitter to cover a specific area.

To viewers. > no showers, quality picture and sound, signal will be similar to that of satellite TV. >more channels, due to the fact that broadcasting will be cheaper. >Pay television services DTT can easily facilitate a full bouquet of services and incorporate a paying/billing system(conditional access and subscriber  management) benefits are many..

Zambia is in the process of implementing and undertaking a mass roll out of second generation Digital Video Broadcasting terrestrial (DVB-T2) technology standard with Moving Picture Expert Group 4 (MPEG 4) compression. This is an enhancement of Digital Video Broadcasting terrestrial (DVB-T) that was decided as a standard for DTT in the ITU region 1. This was at the Regional Radio Conference of 2006 (RRC-06) held in Geneva. This resulted in a broadcast digital plan which was consolidated in Geneva 2006 agreement (GE-06). The Geneva 2006 agreement defines DVB-T as a standard for DTT in region 1, and on the basis of which all national frequency plans are coordinated with neighbouring countries and filed with ITU. Zambia belongs to region 1 of the ITU frequency family together with other African and European countries. DVB-T2 has enhanced features and an evolvement from DVB-T. The SADC region on 24th November 2010 at a meeting held at Intercontinental Hotel, Lusaka resolved to implement DVB-T2 as a regional standard.

when is zambia going Digital? According to znbc managing director, lusaka will staret receiving a digital signal in april 2014, and then it will roar out to other parts of the country. By december 2014 most if not all of zambia will be receiving digital signal. In this period the digital signal will run alongside the analogue.but by 17 june 2015 the analogue signal will be shut down or will be left to run without any protection from the interferance from the digital signal.

What do you have to do? To start with dont throw away your old tv to get a flat screen, lcd, plasma or one of those TVs with the word `digital`. According to my research only a few if any TVs on the zambian market can receive DTT.

How will you be able to receive digital tv? You will need a dtt set top box. A set top box is a type of decoder that can receive digital signal. It is simple device to install, connected tpo tv via Avs, rf cable or hdmi cable. Aerial is connected to stb.

What will the Set Top Box cost? ( source digital migration national task force) Currently the cost has not been determined for the DVB-T2 Set Top Box, however measures are being made to make these inexpensive. This will be a once-off cost for purchasing the STB. according to an online price check I made they will range from k80 to k600.with the cheapest having the ability to receive digital tv,while the expensive incorporate usb features or have a hardrive for recording programes.

you have more than one tv in your home, how will it work? STBs differ but with most you can connect more than one tv but only watch the same channel. So in short if you have 4 TVs you need 4 STBs. But am sure very soon we will have STBs with the ability to watch different channels.

For more information you can contact me via email phiriked@gmail.com via twitter @EdwardKaks