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On How Our Mobile Operators Could Shut Down UPC Cable BB

  • 10-10-2010 7:38pm
    #1
    Sponge Bob
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭


    and Casey in Dungarvan too.

    Basically this is about 800mhz cable which means the upgraded segments that carry TV and Broadband. While the interference issue was known about early this year the operators are getting serious about matters now that Germany has auctioned the bands off and research is ongoing demonstrating the problem.

    The trib article messes up Digital TV ( DTT) and Digital Cable TV :(

    http://www.tribune.ie/business/technology/article/2010/oct/10/tech-week-new-generation-of-mobile-phones-a-turn-o/
    Research by Cable Europe, the trade body, appears to confirm the industry's worst fears that mobile phones on long-term evolution (LTE) technology will interfere with cable TV if used within six metres of a set-top box.


    A Cable Europe report, compiled by Belgian testing group Excentis, said that it is "very likely" that a significant number of users will experience interference to their services. Ireland is to fully switch to digital TV by 2012.


    The EU has issued guidance on the issue and has urged governments to take potential interference into account.


    The crucial bandwidth at the centre of the issue is 800Mhz, which will be used to bring in LTE, which will allow users access to the internet on mobile phones at 20 times current speeds. The frequency has also been seen as useful to bring mobile broadband to rural areas. However, tests found that some of the new high-powered mobile devices cause cable TV to disrupt, from pixellation to total loss of image. It has emerged that the European standards for a cable TV box shielding and wiring insulation were not set at a strong enough level to prevent interference.


    This issue is worrying both the mobile and cable TV industries. Many have been meeting informally in a bid to head off a potentially disastrous issue for them.


    The reports have prompted cable operators in Germany to lobby the government to delay the awarding of freed-up spectrum in the country. In the UK, cable TV provider Virgin Media has had talks with the government and media regulator Ofcom after it held tests that confirmed the devices could be a problem.

    http://www.lteportal.com/MarketSpace/Market_Intelligence;3/Market_Reports;9/Cable_Europe_Report:_New_Risks_for_Digital_Dividend_Caused_by_Interference;425
    The research is undertaken by Excentis states that "the required distance to avoid interference varies between different models of consumer premises equipment, but for some models a distance of even more than 6 meters is required."

    The report goes on to highlight the base station issue, "if interference is caused by the base station it is likely to be constantly present...
    Moreover, the user has no control on the signal of the base station." The report cites an example where 35% of LTE devices used in urban areas will have to operate at "high power" and at these levels would likely cause interference if the user came within 3 meters of in home consumer equipment.

    and

    The most recent research , August 2010 , in detail.

    http://www.lteportal.com/Files/MarketSpace/Download/425_426_9-24cableeurope.pdf?PHPSESSID=d6b3162fd398f5f5e3eb02dd33a1877e


Comments

  • #2
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    It will only affect areas with poor cables and/or connections.

    I have ALWAYS said the main reason for decent screened cable (heavy solid braid and copper foil screen, not spider web over metalised plastic) is avoiding Interference in/out. Also every connection is important. One loose connection and the coax acts an aerial.

    UPC has already seen problems in South Dublin from Analogue TV, Digital TV and DAB all from Three Rock.

    This is nothing unexpected at all.

    Even in 1980s in Limerick Chorus some channels would have interference from pick up of Mullaghanish on VHF (heavy herring bone) !! caused no doubt by bad connections and damaged cables.

    Cable "Downstream" uses 110MHz to 560MHz, 862Mhz or even higher. Broadband downlinks OR TV channels can be affect if they are in the part of band used by LTE. Some places only selling off 790MHz to 862MHz approx part of band, so it's about 1/4 of the channels or Broadband (or mix) that is affected.

    Ironically the older parts of network far more affect by DAB (200MHz band approx) than LTE (800MHz band approx) as the older parts don't go as high a frequency as the proposed LTE services!


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