[opendtv] Re: Integrated DTV PSIP
- From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2005 15:55:40 -0500
John Shutt wrote:
> This is not the case for any of the STBs I have used
> so far. Each and every time you call up the full
> guide it has to scan all the channels. The box will
> update the mini guide for just the channel you're
> tuned to, but will forget it as soon as you change
> to another channel. Nobody is making this stuff
> properly, because it's too much work.
Probably will change in time, as more people use ATSC.
This is no different from any other consumer product.
The bad designs get weeded out in short order. Really,
I think that CE manufacturers have been quite
half-hearted about their ATSC products. I couldn't
blame them at first, i.e. prior to 2002/2003, but I
expected, and still hope, that the situation will
change now that technically viable solutions exist.
By the way, ditto for the broadcasters.
(Now I expect someone to respond that manufacturers
have "better things to do" than design decent ATSC
products, and broadcasters have "better things to do"
than provide good DTT coverage.)
> The only workaround is to have a second tuner
> scanning the channels for EPG data, but we all know
> how dear a second tuner would be. I know of DVB
> boxes with two tuners for the PVR, but I don't know
> of any ATSC equiviliant yet.
A second tuner would be a solution, but it seems a
little brute force for my taste. I don't see what's
so difficult about updating the EPG of the station
you're actually tuned to at the time, then picking up
all the other station EPGs when the unit is in standby
mode, round robin. Only needs one tuner and a little
bit of memory. I was glad to hear that my new Accurian
works something like that.
> The ideal situation is to be able to use
> omnidirectional antenna. Unless you are in a very
> rare situation where you are way out in the boonies
> between two major markets and can only receive
> signals with a huge mast mounted antenna, an omni
> antenna with preamp if necessary should suffice.
I agree. An omni with gain, i.e. stacked elements,
should be the simplest solution for most situations.
But I don't think there is one perfect solution for
every market.
For example, in my case, what would really work well
is a decent omni and an additional log periodic
aimed toward the NE. Then either join the two
together with appropriately tuned diplexer, or feed
the two downleads into each "TV appliance," and have
the receivers select the best downlead for each
station. Something of this nature could work in most
markets, where the close-by stations are on several
azimuths, but the farther stations, e.g. from an
adjacent market, come from a much narrower band of
azimuths and also require the most antenna gain.
Of course, let's not completely forget another
solution for especially difficult terrain: on-channel
repeaters and/or translators.
Bert
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