DVB-SSU versus UK-OAD ( Digital TV Firmware updates and issues)

Sponge Bob

A little known feature of Digital Television is that a lot of glitches and annoyances can be sorted by sending new firmware ( software) over the air to the device.

However we have a problem in Ireland. No more than the infamous 0x1 flag they use in the UK a separate issue is that the UK have a unique standard for doing this and we will not use that standard here.

The UK method is a system called UK-OAD, better known as the "Engineering Channel" this only works if you can TUNE into a UK signal...something that is possible in much of the country but realistically no more than 20% of households can pick up a firmware update in this manner.

The Irish will use the 'normal' method of distributing firmware. This is called DVB-SSU. However a set sourced in the UK or 'specced' for the UK will not support DVB-SSU. This means that you will have to download firmware and update through an SD card if the slot is available.

No more than the issue of the 0x01 'amnesty' I have proposed it might be wise for RTE to implement a UK-OAD 'channel' during amnesty periods even if only to get firmware onto the telly that will support DVB-SSU in future so that the yoke will keep itself updated. SSU is yet another broadcast flag 0x0C. DVB-SSU support is part of the Minimum Receiver Requirements .

Reading material here for the more technical amongst us.

http://www.digitag.org/DTTResources/SSU.html

DVB-SSU provides a standard mechanism for signalling the presence of a software update
service and the means to carry the data for such a software update service. It builds on ISO/
IEC 13818-6 [2], ETR 162 [3] and EN 300 468 [4] for signalling and EN 301 192 [5] for data
carriage.

The specification provides much flexibility. When adding a new feature, broadcasters and
network operators can benefit from a phased introduction to provide sufficient time to ensure
that the feature functions properly and will not adversely affect other receivers in the market.
The optional nature of the standard allows for further flexibility since service providers can
choose between the different tools available in the specification’s toolkit. Furthermore, it allows
for the use of proprietary software updates alongside DVB-SSU.

DVB-SSU defines the simple and enhanced profiles for SSU, which are differentiated by the
signalling of services. To guarantee compatibility, both services and receivers must be able to
support the simple DVB-SSU profile. Receivers with the capability for DVB-SSU simple profile
cannot support enhanced profile transmission while receivers with the capability for DVBSSU
enhanced profile will support the simple profile.

watty

Devil's Advocate for a moment?

Why would RTE NL support stuff not in the minimum Requirements?

They might as well use MPEG2

Realistically, of TVs and Set-boxes that really support MPEG4 & HD
Don't have DVB-SSU
or
Don't have MHEG5
or
Don't support proper flags (i.e. can't tune if it's 01)

How many % of these will vs total TVs & Set -boxes (by October 2012)

1. That don't have DVB-SSU will Manufacturer issue upgrade?
2. That don't have MHEG5 will Manufacturer issue upgrade?
3. That need flags fixed will Manufacturer issue upgrade?
4. Will Manufacturer issue upgrade via UK-OAD via RTE NL instead of via user?
5. Be in use for non-pay TV just before ASO?

Is it cheaper to give a free Set-box to these people in 2012?

How many manufacturers are we talking about?
Is it likely RTE NL do anything without major enthusiasm from a Manufacturer and significant number of TVs?

For a start forget about all MPEG2 only TVs and Analogue only TVs and TVs not HD.

Forget about all TVs 2 years old or more in August 2010. (or pick a date).

So
1) How many people are *Really* affected as % of TV users in October 2012
2) How many of those are likely to actually get ANY firmware upgrades from ANY manufacturer other than Philips?
3) Of sets that known to actually HAVE firmware upgrades available today, how many of those can be OTA upgraded only with UK-OAD?

Sponge Bob

All of these questions could be investigated by a Taskforce if only Eamon Ryan would set one up ...OH!!!!

Actually the CSO has surveyed a lot of this over the years in the Household Budget survey but they ask very confusing questions.....eg they do not recognise Freesat households only Sky ones or do not recognise the concept of FT Digital in general and consider Digital TV = Paid For and Subscribed to.

A more nuanced questionnaire would sort that out.

watty

When is that survey the DCNER had tender for?
And why was it not done in May 2008 & 2009 & 2010 so as to have a trend?
We knew what was happening by Jan 2008, really and what questions to ask.

Will they do the first survey in 2013?

The Cush

watty wrote: »

When is that survey the DCNER had tender for?
And why was it not done in May 2008 & 2009 & 2010 so as to have a trend?
We knew what was happening by Jan 2008, really and what questions to ask.

Will they do the first survey in 2013?

The tender request closed in mid Sept and within 6 weeks of contract award the winning consultants had to submit their report.

We may not get to see that report and may be used to inform the internal Dept "Digital Switchover Steering Group".

This from a Dáil question at the end of Sept

Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to commission any research on public knowledge about the analogue TV switch off; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33192/10]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): My Department has set up a Digital Switchover Steering Group combining those organisations with key responsibilities for the digital terrestrial television rollout and the analogue switch-off processes. The purpose of the Group is to make the timely decisions needed to keep the analogue switch-off process in Ireland on track for completion by October 2012. The Steering Group, which is to report to the Minister, comprises representatives from my Department, RTÉ, RTÉNL, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and ComReg.

I have recently sought tenders for parties to conduct market research into the different TV reception mechanisms used in Irish households and consider that this research can be used to also identify public knowledge of analogue switch off.