By Mumba Hinzano
Much has been discussed in various forums about digital TV broadcasts. Digital TV broadcasts are here with us now. If you live in Nairobi and its environs you are probably receiving most of the channels already on offer by the various digital TV service providers.
Digital TV broadcasts have increased the number of channels. From a single channel, you can stream up to 20 channels. Gone are the days when broadcasters would complain for lack of frequencies. With digital broadcasts, there is more frequency than can be taken by the broadcasters in the market right now.
Picture clarity and versatility of the transmission have improved with the entry of digital TV. The quality of picture, especially if viewed on HD, is more superior. Digital TV enables users of hand held or portable devices access to TV channels in addition to features like program guides and radio channels.
Despite the above merits, the current pricing for receiving digital TV is prohibitive. TVs with inbuilt receivers are expensive whereas the set top boxes are also highly priced. The set top boxes may not even be preferable in the hotel industry where pilferage of small items by guests is a big concern.
Other than theft, the expense to be incurred for this migration will be felt more by hotels. If each room has its own TV, it will require a receiver to abstract the digital signal. Then there is the central signal reception abstracting equipments which cost even more.
Any type of TV, even that popular old Great Wall, can be used to receive digital TV signal as long as it is accompanied by the appropriate set top box. Digital ready TVs need not use any receiver because they have an inbuilt digital receiver.
However, users must exercise caution since almost 75% of all Digital ready TV sets were made for the European market. The European market uses chiefly DVBT broadcasts with MPEG 2 video encryption. Therefore, getting a TV with inbuilt DVBT2 receiver is not as easy as getting one with an inbuilt DVBT receiver. Kenya chose the DVBT2 format with MPEG4 picture encryption because it is sustainable in the future and will take long to exhaust. So care must always be exercised so as not to pick a TV that may not be useful even though it has an inbuilt receiver.
The model of receiver does not matter as long as it is DVBT2. Chinese models are slightly cheaper compared to European models. Maybe what one should consider is what purpose they intend to use the receiver. For home use, any model will do. For commercial use or Hotel, try the European makes.
The author is the Technical Director of Electronic & Transmission Media Ltd
