On 2004-08-11 16:13:25 +0100 Alex Hudson home@alexhudson.com wrote:
I think you probably ought to talk to some BBC engineers before saying too much bad stuff about them.
I have, often described in my /blog/ site, but they have said they won't write to me much any more.
I have little idea about interactive TV, but I did think the BBC used an open standard (maybe MHEG though).
I don't have much idea apart from what I've read in specs, as I don't have an interactive TV receiver. I think you may be right about the BBC using an open standard, but only for DVB-T (Freeview) and not DVB-S (Astra 2 Satellite).
[...] 7-day EPG [...] the problem is one of end-user hardware, not willingness to support standards.
I have hardware which works with the ARD services. I believe they are DVB-SI EIT and BBC isn't.
That would mean that two 7day EPGs would be being broadcast - 4TV (proprietary) and the new 7day (actually 8, IIRC) SI. Or are you saying that the full DVB-SI they're testing is proprietary?
I'm saying they're not testing full DVB-SI on the Astra 2 satellite. What's 4TV?
[...] The list of PVRs which cope with 7day EPG is *3*, according to
I reckon it's at least 16, based on the number registered with the DVB project (deducting the two Open TV ones from: wget -q -O- 'http://www.dvb.org/index.php?id=103&sid=28' | grep -ic record).
Of course, the standards support should mean you can currently make a reasonable attempt at a DIY Freeview recorder, mythtv-style.
I don't know of any DVRs which cope with it.
What's a DVR?
[engineers] I will try asking if you're interested in the answer
I am, especially if it's soon enough to affect this. Do BBC use Globecast uplinks?
Basic DVB-S equipment retails from around 80 pounds sterling,
£40-50 if you know where to look.
I wasn't counting popping to France. Beyond that, I don't know how to match your price for a complete system. The 80 pounds retail is based on the forthcoming Lidl offer news:nbahh0hpel2ldt973n84rsrt5829sj7dln@4ax.com, which will probably be a very small stock.
It's possibly more a question for those making the equipment not adhering to broadcast standards, rather than the BBC not wanting to support open/interoperable standards.
Possibly. I don't see how I can use this on the manufacturers, though. Can you? I think the BBC must create the demand by supporting the standards first.