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BSkyB Digital
I thought it might be useful to post the following
info which comes from a thread which I replied to
in a Usenet satellite group :
................................................
RE : - BSkyB Digital Questions...
On Sun, 12 Oct 1997 09:21:22 +0100, ck@metropolis.net (Clark Kent)
wrote:
>I think that they will use such a receiver like the d-box in Germany.
>This is the only thing I am sure of but what else...
>
>What satellite, PPV only in GB (internal modem?), what equippment, when
>will it come, will the analog channels remain for some years, etc.
>
Satellite -mainly 28 deg East ,ISTR.
Receiver is a "custom" to Sky's own spec. It will be basically DVB
compatible but will NOT use a PCMCIA-based CAM module.
The encryption system will not be the same as any of the current
European ones (Conax,Irdeto,Seca etc). so you won't be able to
use a valid smartcard along with a "non made-for-Sky" box like
the Nokia models.
After pressure from Oftel, it appears the Sky box *will* now pick up
free-to-air DVB transmissions using standard formats like SR of
27,500 & FEC of 3/4.
The modem will be higher speed than the usual (slowish) ones
found in current Digital Boxes.By the 2nd generation of Sky's
boxes ,they hope to use V34 (up to 33K6 bps).
How long the analogue will continue is anybody's guess!
Depends partly on take up of the system form the public.
For the dig. Terrestrial TV service (BDB) ,the Beeb said last week
that they'd like a phase out of all analog transmissions within 10
years -but I can't see the UK public warming to that idea when it
took 20 odd years to banish 405line transmissions (at great cost
to the broadcasters).
My guess is 5 more years of analogue Sky transmissions due to
slow takeup or switchover by existing subscribers but I can only
guess what inducements Murdoch will come up with!!
Chris Muriel,Manchester, UK
Senior Field Applications Engineer
Tel: +44 (0) 161 973 1572
Fax: +44 (0) 161 905 2846
mobile 0468 720557
email address: chris.muriel@analog.com
Website : http://www.analog.com
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