Thread: Regional WA Digital Rollout

Originally Posted by it's me

Hi, any news about Mawson? Tnx

Within 2 weeks.

Originally Posted by KDS

Services on D1 ceased this morning. all services are now off Vast.

That was quick!

Originally Posted by KDS

Mawson will go on line with all commercials and multiservices on 2nd March 2012.

Bugger. Sorry for getting that one wrong, fellas.

Thanks KDS, "whoever you may be"

Originally Posted by Smacca

That was quick!

Back to 4:3

Leroy

It looks like Bridgetown launched yesterday.



16 Digital Services (GWN7, 7TWO, 7mate, WIN, GO!, Gem, Ten West, Eleven, One, All ABC, All SBS)

• Bunbury
• Kalgoorlie
• Karratha
• Margaret River
• Rural WA (VAST)

13 Digital Services (GWN7, 7TWO, 7mate, WIN, GO!, Gem, Ten West, Eleven, One, All ABC)

• Bridgetown

10 Digital Services (GWN7, WIN, Ten West, All ABC, All SBS)

• Mawson/Central Ag.
• Mingenew

[QUOTE=Smacca;447868]It looks like Bridgetown launched yesterday.QUOTE]

That is interesting as only the ABC digital service is listed as being digital at Bridgetown. Manjimup has both ABC and SBS digital listed. Was there a public announcement/newspaper ad first? The ABC digital service at Bridgetown is on648.5Mhz

Also the Home Assistance Scheme have to advise residents of the date of digital switch on and publish the same on the My Switch web site. Did that happen?

There is another broadcast site at Boronia Park Bridgetown but that does not show any digital services.

Below is the current list of licensed services according to the ACMA as at 25/11/2011.

Site ID 27937
Name Broadcast Site Suttons Lookout BRIDGETOWN
Location
WA 6255


Assignments at this Site
Results 1 - 14 of 14 assignments.

Assignment ID Frequency Emission Designator Client Licence No

1152599-2308683 702.2240000 MHz 6M25C3F Shire of Bridgetown and Greenbushes (1155376) 1152108
1818659-2235007 648.5000000 MHz 6M70V7W Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1137920) 1903556
1831588-2246777 97.3000000 MHz 200KF8EHF Shire of Bridgetown and Greenbushes (1155376) 1940911
8108739-8108312 723.2240000 MHz 6M25C3F Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1103909) 1150010
8108740-8111312 728.7240000 MHz 130KF3EG Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1103909) 1150010
8108741-8114312 728.9661880 MHz 130KF3EG Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1103909) 1150010
1152601-2302741 707.7240000 MHz 130KF3EG Shire of Bridgetown and Greenbushes (1155376) 1152108
1152602-2302742 707.9661880 MHz 130KF3EG Shire of Bridgetown and Greenbushes (1155376) 1152108
1160682-2310994 765.2240000 MHz 6M25C3F WIN Television WA Pty Ltd (1156663) 1154876
1160683-2310995 770.7240000 MHz 130KF3EG WIN Television WA Pty Ltd (1156663) 1154876
1160684-2310996 770.9661880 MHz 130KF3EG WIN Television WA Pty Ltd (1156663) 1154876
1164693-2315008 744.2240000 MHz 6M25C3F Golden West Network Pty. Limited (46097) 1156007
1164694-2315009 749.7240000 MHz 130KF3EG Golden West Network Pty. Limited (46097) 1156007
1164695-2315010 749.9661880 MHz 130KF3EG Golden West Network Pty. Limited (46097) 1156007



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ok it looks like all the digital services being received at Bridgetown are coming off Mt Lennard at Bunbury. All services from this site are very high power. However, the fact that there are ABC digital services at Bridgetown suggests that the topography between Bunbury and Bridgetown may be an obstacle. But they have upped the power at Bunbury (above the analogue services) considerably.

I wonder if they haven't also moved the transmit antennas higher up the tower. If they have got a bit more height it will easily make the journey to Bridgetown.

If there are six or 8 tuneable ABC programs at Bridgetown then this would confirm that the signal is in fact from Bunbury. The ABC digital transmitter at Bridgetown could then be decommissioned.

Currently there are digital test transmissions in Augusta, Bridgetown and Pemberton ahead of launch on 9/12/2011. Albany and Nannup should be up on test very shortly ahead of launch on 16/12 ans 9/12 respecivley.
Broome should also be up over the weekend ahead of launch on 9/12/2011.

Wow, all hands on deck in WA! So by this weekend, we should have:

16 Digital Services (GWN7, 7TWO, 7mate, WIN, GO!, Gem, Ten West, Eleven, One, All ABC, All SBS)

• Albany
• Augusta
• Broome
• Bunbury
• Kalgoorlie
• Karratha
• Margaret River
• Nannup
• Pemberton
• Rural WA (VAST)

13 Digital Services (GWN7, 7TWO, 7mate, WIN, GO!, Gem, Ten West, Eleven, One, All ABC)

• Bridgetown

10 Digital Services (GWN7, WIN, Ten West, All ABC, All SBS)

• Mawson/Central Ag.
• Mingenew

Originally Posted by beerman

Ok it looks like all the digital services being received at Bridgetown are coming off Mt Lennard at Bunbury.

Nah mate, they're definitely coming from the Bridgetown transmitter on the hill. Mt Lennard signal would be pretty choppy, and besides, the networks have stated that each site will be individually VAST-fed, with no retransmission sites.

Originally Posted by Smacca

Nah mate, they're definitely coming from the Bridgetown transmitter on the hill. Mt Lennard signal would be pretty choppy, and besides, the networks have stated that each site will be individually VAST-fed, with no retransmission sites.

That is very interesting. We will have techs in Bridgetown before Christmas so we will take a look. The output power at Mt Leonard has been wound up at least five times higher than the previous analogue output power. But then again the "digital cliff" loss of signal is much closer to the source transmission than where the respective analogue "snowy picture" started.

It's also interesting that they should say there will be no retransmission sites as we already have some scheduled for next year (that is as soon as the retransmission licenses and frequencies are allocated). Unfortunately I can't publicise were these will be.

Originally Posted by beerman

That is very interesting. We will have techs in Bridgetown before Christmas so we will take a look. The output power at Mt Leonard has been wound up at least five times higher than the previous analogue output power. But then again the "digital cliff" loss of signal is much closer to the source transmission than where the respective analogue "snowy picture" started.

It's also interesting that they should say there will be no retransmission sites as we already have some scheduled for next year (that is as soon as the retransmission licenses and frequencies are allocated). Unfortunately I can't publicise were these will be.

There could be some self-help sites within network signal that are going to retransmit. All my info comes from the networks and they tell me that each and every network-owned digital site will be fed by VAST, and that all analog sites are currently reliant on it, too.

Can you tell us if the sites you're attending are retransmitting analog right now, and whether they're network-owned or self-help?

The whole Bridgetown area is a series of rolling valleys, not sure if this affects reception.

Originally Posted by Smacca

....the networks and they tell me that each and every network-owned digital site will be fed by VAST, and that all analog sites are currently reliant on it, too.

Can you tell us if the sites you're attending are retransmitting analog right now, and whether they're network-owned or self-help?

It is very possible to feed any retransmission site (network or self help) from VAST. However, the ACMA still has not issued any licenses to do so. This seems to fly in the face of what you have said is happening in WA at the moment. I do know a company that has supplied equipment to the WA broadcasters to allow them to access and retransmit the VAST signal I just didn't realsie they had begun to transmit as no licenses are published for these services.


Yes the sites we are attending (all self help sites) are all currently retransmitting analogue but the source signal is still Aurora and D1 (ABC and SBS). Many of these sites have applied to use VAST as the source.

One thing I've learnt while following the digital rollout here: things get done well before ACMA makes anything official on paper. There's no chance under the sun the networks would have gone ahead with this without a green light, so I'd say the agreement to use VAST signal in network-owned sites was made a long time ago. Self-helps on the other hand....

I've noticed on the rollout website that some sites say 'This site is unlikely to be upgraded', so does that mean every person who uses those sites for reception will have to have the aerial re-pointed?

Or will they build a new site in the same spot?