What is needed to receive digital terrestrial television? How to receive a signal and watch T2? Switching to digital TV: what to do to prevent the blue screen from going out
Not all TVs will show at least something after the New Year. Only those that receive a digital signal (marked DVB-T2) will work. In this case, it is important that you have a UHF antenna (indoor, outdoor or collective). In short, there is something to do - try to understand all the complex abbreviations.
But the worst thing is next: if the TV is not like that, you will have to buy a special set-top box for it. You need to pay from 600 to 12 thousand rubles. Sellers assure: the set-top box costs 600-1000 rubles. will not work, you must take no less than 5 thousand rubles. Needless to say, for a single pensioner even 600 rubles. money: that's 30 loaves of bread, or 15 liters of milk! Accustomed to saving on everything and denying themselves, people are now forced to pay - or they will be deprived of TV.
Time for scammers
“All sellers are trying to persuade you to buy the device as expensively as possible,” says senior manager of a network selling TV equipment, Anton Kraevsky.— But this is a deception: the more expensive the set-top box, the more additional functions it has. For example, the ability to record programs and watch them later, parental controls, the option to watch videos from the Internet on TV, Dolby sound, etc.” Many deceptive advertisements have appeared about supposedly planned work “to collectively transfer residents” to digital terrestrial television. Given the disgusting information provided to residents about the transition, it is not surprising that many of the same gullible pensioners will fall for such scams.
From January 1, analogue broadcasting of federal television channels in Russia, including in Kuban, will be stopped.
Does this mean that now only owners of digital set-top boxes will be able to watch TV programs? Will the antennas that were responsible for the quality of analogue broadcasting become useless? And how much will it cost to buy a console? These questions are answered by Alexander Zolotov, director of the branch of the Russian television and radio broadcasting network “Krasnodar Regional Radio and Television Transmission Center”.
Why do we need to switch to digital?
Until 2010, almost half of Russians had the opportunity to watch no more than four television channels; further development of analogue television became impossible. In addition, there were international obligations, according to which Russia was obliged to convert television broadcasting to a digital standard. Because in digital broadcasting, ten digital programs can be shown on one channel, but in analogue broadcasting, only one can be shown on one frequency.
The number of frequencies does not increase. Therefore, today the entire world community is striving for a digital standard. In addition, digital broadcasting means higher quality of pictures, sound, and, strictly speaking, the signal reception itself. And the third, most basic, digital broadcasting will eliminate information inequality. If now in a small locality, TV viewers have access to 2–4 analogue channels, then with the advent of digital broadcasting, all localities will receive 20 channels in excellent quality.
Do I need to buy a new TV?
Since June of this year, on most analogue channels, for example “Russia-1”, “Pervoy”, “NTV”, the letter “A” has appeared next to the channel name. If you see it on your TV screen, you should understand that from the beginning of 2019 you will no longer be able to watch these channels, as they will stop broadcasting in analogue mode.
If you have a TV purchased after 2013, it almost certainly has a DVB-T2 digital tuner, which means you can easily receive digital channels. To do this, just check the settings. If you have an older TV, you will have to purchase a special set-top box to receive digital channels. These devices are sold in all stores that sell household appliances.
Which console should I choose?
The cost of the set-top box starts from 800 rubles. The price depends on the number of options it has. Some set-top boxes allow you to record programs and have other functions. For a retired grandmother, the simplest console is enough.
By the way, in order to avoid an unreasonable increase in prices for televisions and set-top boxes, RTRS has already prepared a price breakdown for this equipment for the Federal Antimonopoly Service.
If you have two or more TVs without a DVB-T2 tuner and you want them to show different programs, you need to buy a set-top box for each.
Why does the antenna matter?
It is imperative to check the antenna from which your TV operates. This is the point that many people forget. Television channels in the digital standard (across the country, not only in the Krasnodar Territory) operate in the UHF range. Therefore, your antenna must be decimeter. Its cost starts from 300 rubles.
If you live close to the broadcast site, then an indoor antenna is sufficient to receive digital programs. If you live in a large city with high-rise buildings, or do not live in close proximity to a transmitting station, then there is a need to use external antennas - preferably collective reception systems. The management company that works with your home is responsible for their operation.
Beware of scammers!
You shouldn’t fall for the bait of sellers, or, more simply put, scammers who go door to door and offer a set-top box that costs 800 rubles for three or five thousand. There is also unfair advertising, when even in retail chains you are offered to purchase a digital antenna. There is no such thing. There are two types of antennas - for receiving meter and decimeter channels. All decimeter antennas are capable of “catching” digital TV. The rest are stories for the purpose of additional profit.
By the way, the settings of the digital set-top box are very basic. Therefore, do not be fooled by advertising where you are offered to connect and configure a set-top box for several thousand rubles.
If you are a satellite or cable TV subscriber
These TVs will continue to broadcast. Accordingly, if you are a subscriber of a large cable or satellite operator, you do not need to buy a new TV or set-top box, or change program settings. These operators receive the signal of the first 20 channels directly from the regional branch of RTRS.
However, if you are watching cable TV and see the letter "A" on the screen, you should be concerned. This means that your operator takes a signal from the analogue airwaves, and from 2019 he will no longer be able to do this. Typically, this situation may arise for small cable operators.
In the Krasnodar Territory, 97.2% of residents are television viewers. More than 2 million households have televisions.
When will analogue broadcasting stop in Kuban?
From January 1, 2019, analogue broadcasting of federal channels in settlements with a population of less than 100 thousand people, and this is all except Krasnodar, Sochi, Novorossiysk and Armavir, will be turned off. But there is a forecast that within a year after January 1, 2019, analogue broadcasting will be stopped in the large cities of the region listed above.
Regional and local television companies that operate in the analogue standard will continue to broadcast throughout the region in the same mode.
What are the first and second multiplexes?
Multiplex is the combination of channels into a single package during digital broadcasting. Each multiplex included 10 television channels. The first now covers almost the entire Kuban. The second is about 60 percent of the region. From January 1, 2019, the second multiplex will also operate throughout the region. Channels included in multiplexes are free for all consumers. The only issue is related to satellite TV. While the bill obliging satellite operators to provide 20 channels free of charge has not been adopted, it is being considered in the State Duma of the Russian Federation.
I read that from the new year the country will finally switch to digital television and there will be no analogue TV. Is it so? I have an old TV. What awaits me? Please clarify the situation. Yuri Sosnin, 2nd Mitinsky lane, 3
Large cities have long been digital
The transition to digital broadcasting, in fact, has already occurred, the press center of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network told SZ. - The decision is regulated by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 985 of 2009.
Indeed, after January 2019, analogue terrestrial television broadcasting in Russian cities with a population of up to 100 thousand people will no longer be supported by the state and will be left to providers.
Muscovites don’t need to worry. In the capital, parallel broadcasting in digital and analogue transmitters has been carried out for several years. For the vast majority of residents of the capital and large cities, the transition will be invisible. In any case, the receipt of the so-called multicomplex No. 1 of 10 channels is guaranteed.
The purpose of the changes: to cover up to 98% of the country's population with high-quality television and radio broadcasting. The number of channels depends on the specific operator and the willingness of viewers to pay for certain TV packages. That is, the essence of the news is that the state will soon reduce costs for the construction and maintenance of outdated analog lines. The new signal will be transmitted by communication satellites over an unlimited distance and with higher quality.
Not everyone will refuse “analog”
Most television and radio receivers are capable of receiving and processing digital data,” the Rostelecom press service told us. - But if the picture disappears, the client must call the signal provider’s hotline, and they will help him figure out what happened.
In addition, Rostelecom is already informing customers that “the company does not plan to turn off the broadcast of analog channels from January 2019” and asks them not to worry.
For inexpensive TVs, where, in order to save money, manufacturers have not installed a TV tuner, that is, a device that converts the signal into image and sound, you will need to purchase a special set-top box - a receiver. Its cost is about 1 thousand rubles. The receiver must operate in the DVB-T2 standard with support for the MPEG4 video format.
You can check the presence or absence of the ability to receive a digital signal by reading the instructions for the TV.
“Analog” and “digital”: what is the difference?
To broadcast an analog signal, it is necessary to build transmitting and receiving stations in such a way that their coverage area covers the entire territory where there are television viewers with a signal. Hence the disadvantages of the “analogue”: expensive to build and operate, relatively slow and unprotected from interference.
“Digital” is the fruit of computer and space technologies. It is impossible to intercept it or interfere with the broadcast. This technology makes it possible to deliver a huge number of TV channels to viewers regardless of location. Broadcasting is carried out via communication satellites.
What channels can you watch without a set-top box?
Channel One, “Russia-1”, “Match TV”, NTV, “Channel Five”, “Culture”, “Russia-24”, “Carousel”, OTR, “TV Center”.
On January 14, 2019, the last analogue terrestrial television broadcast transmitter will be turned off, and the city district of Mytishchi, like the whole of Russia, will completely switch to digital television.
We must prepare for this transition now. Otherwise, the TV will simply stop working and receive a signal at one point. In connection with the transition to digital television broadcasting, Rodniki readers have many questions. Let's understand them.
Who will be affected by the transition to digital broadcasting?
Those whose TVs receive a signal through an antenna installed on the roof or balcony.
Should I scrap my old TV?
Definitely not. Digital terrestrial TV programs can also be watched on an old TV. To do this, you need to connect a digital antenna and a digital terrestrial set-top box to it, which must be of the DVB-T/T2 standard and support the MPEG4 video format.
Where can I buy a digital set-top box?
You can buy a digital set-top box in a store that sells digital equipment, or in an online store.
How much does a digital set-top box cost?
Retail prices for digital set-top boxes - depending on the manufacturer and model - average from 400 to 2000 rubles.
How do you know that your TV can receive a digital signal?
To receive terrestrial digital television, the TV must have a built-in DVB-T tuner, and to receive digital cable - a DVB-C tuner. Look for such designations in the TV passport. All modern TVs that are currently sold already have these tuners.
By the way, if when you switch channels the channel name appears on the screen next to the button number, it means you are already watching digital television.
Is it possible to receive digital broadcasting with a satellite dish?
No you can not. Satellite television broadcasting is carried out in the DVB-S standard, and terrestrial broadcasting is carried out in DVB-T2.
How many TVs can be connected to one set-top box?
Only one. If TVs do not have a built-in tuner, then each will need a separate set-top box. If you connect one digital set-top box to several TVs, then one channel will be broadcast on all TVs. If you want to watch two or more channels at the same time, then you need to purchase a set-top box for each TV.
Will there be a subscription fee for digital television?
There will be no subscription fee. The task of digital terrestrial television is to give every citizen of Russia, anywhere in the country, the opportunity to watch for free the same TV channels that they had before, only in higher quality.
High image quality and resistance to interference are not the only advantages of digital television broadcasting. It is also more economical: the power consumption of a digital transmitter per one TV program is several times lower than when transmitting analog television. In addition, the number of distributed programs on one frequency channel is increasing.
