[kictanet] Yawe migrates to Digital TV

Wed Jul 11 13:10:59 EAT 2012

Macharia,
I assumed you have been following the debate.  Ordinariry we have been
broadcasting in Standard Definition or SD.  This format is oll technology
that makes people look fat on the screen.  High Definition or HD tends to
give you an image closer to what you look in real life.  Better we now
have 3D that is is even better but you will have to use special glass to
see the effect.  Research is getting closer to get rid of the special
glasses.  Soon we shall get even better technologies in broadcasting.

In transmission we have several technologies including Satelitte or Direct
to Home (DTH) and Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) which removes the aspect of
multiple infrastructure for Analogue TV the one we are used to.  To
convert the digital signal to analogue TV you need a converter called a
Set Top Box (STB).  This is a temporary measure until new digital TVs are
in the market.

The question was whether the set top can transmit both the SD and HD using
the current STBs in the market.  I then responded that in DTH, the
Personal Video Recorder (PVR) does that easily.

PVR is a generic term for a device that is similar to a VCR but records
television data in digital format as opposed to the VCRs analog format.
VCRs utilize analog tapes to record and play programs broadcast over
television, but PVRs encode video data in MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 formats and
store the data in a hard drive. PVRs have all of the same functionality of
VCRs (recording, playback, fast forwarding, rewinding, and pausing) plus
the ability to instantly jump to any part of the program without having to
rewind or fast forward the data stream.

I hope this helps.

Ndemo.

> These acronyms are giving me a headache. Can't you geeks communicate in
> simple English?
>
> Macharia Gaitho
>
>
> On Jul 10, 2012, at 19:49, "bitange at jambo.co.ke" <bitange at jambo.co.ke>
> wrote:
>
>> John,
>> Thanks for elaborating on these technologies.  Although I have not tried
>> to play both SD and HD in any STB, the DTH PVR does it easily and I
>> would
>> suppose some STBs would have PVR capabilities.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>>
>> Ndemo.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> Wash
>>> On my house still lies a Dish I used to receive internet 'downlink
>>> service'
>>> from intersat via DVB. the uplink was a traditional dialup, when I
>>> moved
>>> to
>>> work at a Telco (Safaricom) I used service 951 for uplink, later
>>> gprs/edge
>>> and when 3G/HSDPA came I stopped the DVB service. I forgot about DVB in
>>> the
>>> general sense.
>>>
>>> Today
>>> DVB-T2 holds so much promise. there is what badru put out but best of
>>> all
>>> is the fact that the chipsets in use can be easily extended to do so
>>> much
>>> more. that most are running quite a bit of readilly available open
>>> distro's
>>> based on open standards is awesome and means you can do things like
>>> provide
>>> internet services for the masses if a service provider is so inclined
>>> to
>>> do
>>> so, push messages, use it as part of your connected home etc.
>>>
>>> Today I am lucky to be involved with two projects that deal with these
>>> technologies. there is an interesting convergence of technologies and
>>> ideas
>>> such that while I am traditionally a 'networking guy', they might need
>>> multicast in the future, Im also curious but: to take advantage of the
>>> technologies end to end, it would be nice to know what the minimum
>>> requirements set are, then an entreprenurial fellow can figure out what
>>> value adds to throw in. This could be anything from localization to
>>> customizing the boards and operating systems/firmware with additional
>>> interfaces, like wifi or a fridge magnet:-).
>>>
>>> It is also the same technology DSTV use to do mobile TV. probably using
>>> T2-lite. It is combined with the SIM card for admittance or lets just
>>> call
>>> it authentication and billing. Now technically you could have another
>>> interface maybe a permanent IPv6 to help admittance ia all the tools
>>> you
>>> are used to like diameter. Do you start to see the potential? the
>>> moment
>>> you throw IP in the world just opens up.
>>>
>>> I'm also curious to see the quality requirements. Note in as much as
>>> STB's
>>> will be standardized, some operators might transmit lets say NTV in HD
>>> while another does it in SD. The HD would definately cost abit more
>>> based
>>> on network resources consumed so the whole free to air remains free
>>> will
>>> also be an interesting one to watch.
>>>
>>> Lastly what DVB-T2 doesn't do LTE will take and carry home. When the
>>> broadcasters release the frequencies for LTE. I guess listers and
>>> creatives
>>> here have their work cut out for them. Just like we are leading in
>>> mobile
>>> innovation, we can take this one on as well.
>>>
>>> now who said you cant be productive in traffic, or type long mail on
>>> mobile
>>> devices?:-)
>>>
>>> Gitau
>>>
>>> Sent from my Ipad
>>> On Tue, Jul 10, 2012 at 6:24 PM, Odhiambo Washington
>>> <odhiambo at gmail.com>wrote:
>>>
>>>> +1 for this contribution, Badru. You've almost mirrored what John
>>>> Gitau
>>>> asked in his last post.
>>>>
>>>> I am tempted to ask Dr. Ndemo how they (CCK) arrived at the
>>>> specification
>>>> for the STBs. Were stakeholders involved? Were citizens input
>>>> solicited?
>>>> I
>>>> am sure John Gitau would have had the platform to raise his questions
>>>> if
>>>> this was done.
>>>> In the Kenyan context, it was T1, then at some point it was almost SDB
>>>> (or
>>>> what do they call that South American one), before the decision makers
>>>> resolved that it would be DVB-T2.
>>>> I think it's almost too late for Kenyans to decide on the
>>>> specifications.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, Jul 10, 2012 at 3:30 PM, Badru Ntege <ntegeb at one2net.co.ug>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Some new stbs are running on android which effectively means that we
>>>>> should be able to deliver internet services to the home. Some of the
>>>>> boxes
>>>>> on the market even support wifi.
>>>>>
>>>>> We need to think out of the box to solve our connectivity challenge
>>>>> to
>>>>> the home.   african countries now have the opportunity to create a
>>>>> specification that manufacturers will create solutions for.  Just
>>>>> think
>>>>> of
>>>>> the order quantity if Kenya said that all stbs should have full
>>>>> Internet
>>>>> capabilities.  The tools are here but we are still trying to fix
>>>>> problems
>>>>> with conventional thinking i think we should set the bar.  The market
>>>>> will
>>>>> deliver they cannot afford to ignore continent of 1 billion people.
>>>>> However as long as we tow the itu line we will always end up with
>>>>> others
>>>>> peoples solutions to our unique problems.
>>>>>
>>>>> So Africa needs to set the standard and then market will have to we
>>>>> can
>>>>> even start with an east african standard
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Badru Ntege
>>>>> CEO
>>>>> NFT Consult Ltd
>>>>> Www.Nftconsult.com
>>>>>
>>>>> "Vision without execution is hallucination."
>>>>> -- Thomas A. Edison
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 8 Jul 2012, at 19:51, bitange at jambo.co.ke wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Robert,
>>>>>> Free to Air must remain free.  This is why we need cheaper
>>>>>> converters
>>>>> that
>>>>>> the current STBs.  Check the pricing on Internet.  They are as cheap
>>>>> as
>>>>> 5
>>>>>> dollars.  Big operators want expensive STBs in order to accomodate
>>>>> they
>>>>>> conditional access channels.  We need SMEs to bring in the low end
>>>>> DVBT2
>>>>>> STBs.  We are letting the opportunity pass those who need business
>>>>> most.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Regards
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Ndemo.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi Daktari,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Now that I have migrated I am more interested with what is going
>>>>>>> on.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> There is a bit of confusion about the free to air channels are they
>>>>> to
>>>>>>> remain available or not?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Regards
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Robert Yawe
>>>>>>> KAY System Technologies Ltd
>>>>>>> Phoenix House, 6th Floor
>>>>>>> P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
>>>>>>> Kenya
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ________________________________
>>>>>>> From: "bitange at jambo.co.ke" <bitange at jambo.co.ke>
>>>>>>> To: robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk>
>>>>>>> Cc: bitange at jambo.co.ke; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
>>>>>>> <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>>>>>>> Sent: Sunday, 24 June 2012, 22:04
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Yawe migrates to Digital TV
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Robert,
>>>>>>> Thank you for being a great Ambassador.  With competition you are
>>>>> going to
>>>>>>> see the price of set top drom to as little as Ksh. 500.  I hear
>>>>>>> some
>>>>> with
>>>>>>> conditional access will be offering popular bouque of some 50
>>>>> channels
>>>>> for
>>>>>>> $2 (two) dollars a month.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I know of new venacular entrants coming in in less than a month.
>>>>> More
>>>>>>> content will also come from edutainment which in my view from what
>>>>>>> I
>>>>> have
>>>>>>> seen is world class.  Perhaps this may be the greatest opportunity
>>>>> to
>>>>>>> revive our own lanuages.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Regards
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Ndemo.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hi Listers,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Wanted to inform you that on the 19th of June 2012 I migrated from
>>>>>>>> analogue to digital TV reception, the signal is crystal clear not
>>>>> like
>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> graining images I have been accustomed to over the past many
>>>>>>>> years.
>>>>> The
>>>>>>>> move was necessitated by the need for some of my house-mates to
>>>>> watch
>>>>>>>> Tusker Project Fame, I went VoD many months ago.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> To put an issue to rest especially those in the media who have
>>>>>>>> been
>>>>>>>> spreading malicious roamers about the migration that I did not buy
>>>>> a
>>>>>>>> digital TV set.  All I bought was a decoder for 2,999/- which I
>>>>> plugged
>>>>>>>> into old faithful and "pap" I can now receive clear digital
>>>>>>>> signal.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> It was encouraging to note that all the current free to air
>>>>> channels,
>>>>>>>> some
>>>>>>>> of which I did not even know existed, have jumped onto the
>>>>> transmission
>>>>>>>> including NTV, KTN and Citizen which makes you wonder what all
>>>>> those
>>>>>>>> legalise was about.  The quality of the various channels is
>>>>> glaring,
>>>>>>>> something that was not visible with the analogue signal.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> To get a more holistic experience I also paid for the basic
>>>>>>>> bouquet
>>>>> for
>>>>>>>> 500/- a month, the offering was not disappointing but the number
>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>> channels is mind boggling especially having been there during the
>>>>> days
>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>> single channel VOK (Voice of Kenya).  I only wish they could allow
>>>>> me
>>>>>>>> create my own selection of channels to receive, the standard
>>>>> offerings
>>>>>>>> make me feel like I am in a straight jacket.  Yes, this is what
>>>>> happens
>>>>>>>> when you enlighten people, 2 days ago I was comfortable receiving
>>>>>>>> 6
>>>>>>>> horrible free to air channels today I am demanding a la Carte.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> All of you out there who where saving to buy expensive digital TV
>>>>> sets
>>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>>> can take 2,999/- of that money and migrate to digital TV today.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Regards
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> PS.  I just took the device home handed over to my son who within
>>>>> 15
>>>>>>>> minutes had it up and running, held on to the remote.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Robert Yawe
>>>>>>>> KAY System Technologies Ltd
>>>>>>>> Phoenix House, 6th Floor
>>>>>>>> P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
>>>>>>>> Kenya
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Tel: +254722511225,
>>>>>>>> +254202010696_______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> kictanet mailing list
>>>>>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>>>>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>>>>>>>>
>>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder
>>>>> platform
>>>>>>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy
>>>>> and
>>>>>>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in
>>>>>>>> the
>>>>> ICT
>>>>>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
>>>>>>>> development.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> kictanet mailing list
>>>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
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>>>>>>
>>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
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>>>>>>
>>>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder
>>>>> platform
>>>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>>>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the
>>>>> ICT
>>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
>>>>> development.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable
>>>>> behaviors
>>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and
>>>>> bandwidth,
>>>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect
>>>>> privacy,
>>>>> do
>>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> kictanet mailing list
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>>>>>
>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder
>>>>> platform
>>>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>>>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the
>>>>> ICT
>>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
>>>>> development.
>>>>>
>>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable
>>>>> behaviors
>>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and
>>>>> bandwidth,
>>>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect
>>>>> privacy,
>>>>> do
>>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Best regards,
>>>> Odhiambo WASHINGTON,
>>>> Nairobi,KE
>>>> +254733744121/+254722743223
>>>> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
>>>> I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> kictanet mailing list
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>>>>
>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jgitau%40gmail.com
>>>>
>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder
>>>> platform
>>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the
>>>> ICT
>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
>>>> development.
>>>>
>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and
>>>> bandwidth,
>>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy,
>>>> do
>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> **Gitau
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> kictanet mailing list
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>>>
>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
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>>>
>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
>>> development.
>>>
>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and
>>> bandwidth,
>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy,
>>> do
>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>
>>
>>
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>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
>> development.
>>
>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and
>> bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect
>> privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
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