mtv Posted July 29, 2005 Share Posted July 29, 2005 The tower modification is only part of the work required. The building has to be extended to house all the additional new equipment, transmitters, links etc. The existing VHF/UHF array has to be removed and a temporary array fitted lower on the existing tower section and a new UHF array has to be fitted to the new tower section and lots of other antennas and cabling on the existing mast need to be relocated. It's a huge task, much more difficult than building a new tower from scratch. All indications at this stage are that timing is still on track. billabong33, you should also receive all Ballarat digital in Carisbrook Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billabong33 Posted July 30, 2005 Share Posted July 30, 2005 The tower modification is only part of the work required. The building has to be extended to house all the additional new equipment, transmitters, links etc. The existing VHF/UHF array has to be removed and a temporary array fitted lower on the existing tower section and a new UHF array has to be fitted to the new tower section and lots of other antennas and cabling on the existing mast need to be relocated. It's a huge task, much more difficult than building a new tower from scratch. All indications at this stage are that timing is still on track. billabong33, you should also receive all Ballarat digital in Carisbrook <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yep I do. Its just signal strentgh is a bit weak and i have 2 antenna's ( one for each tv!). Ones pointed at Mt. Dandenong (strong) and gets strong Bendigo reception and no Ballarat, the other is pointed at Lookout hill (weaker antenna) and gets both Bendigo and Ballarat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billabong33 Posted August 4, 2005 Share Posted August 4, 2005 What The?! According to the DBA reception locator WIN are ment to start DEC 05 and SC10 FEB 06 with PRIME being OCT-DEC 05. The tower being upgraded is SC10's so wont they be broadcasting digital first?! Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtv Posted August 4, 2005 Share Posted August 4, 2005 I covered that a few posts back. It all relies on the SC10 tower & building work being completed. WIN will probably commence transmission about the same time as SC10 (especially as they have had their transmitter ready for almost 3 years) and Prime is anyone's guess but as they have most of the major Vic transmitters online now, hopefully they will also be on air from Mt Alexander soon too. When you've been around the forum for while, you'll soon learn to never trust the info on the dba reception locator. it's incorrect most of the time, for reasons not always the site's fault. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billabong33 Posted August 4, 2005 Share Posted August 4, 2005 I covered that a few posts back.It all relies on the SC10 tower & building work being completed. WIN will probably commence transmission about the same time as SC10 (especially as they have had their transmitter ready for almost 3 years) and Prime is anyone's guess but as they have most of the major Vic transmitters online now, hopefully they will also be on air from Mt Alexander soon too. When you've been around the forum for while, you'll soon learn to never trust the info on the dba reception locator. it's incorrect most of the time, for reasons not always the site's fault. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Ive been around the forum a while and i know that locator is hardley right considering it said bendigo and ballarat would be broadcasting all digital channels in 2003 a few years back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syzo666 Posted August 5, 2005 Share Posted August 5, 2005 With a Fraccaro 20/4046 and a good shielded amp (I use fraccaro MAP206) you just might get the Shepp UHF digital channels from Bendigo. 10, prime,abc and sbs. Win tv however would be almost impossible at this stage due to the low power issue. I know you can get Shepp UHF in Goornong, about 20kms north of bendigo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB1503560124 Posted August 18, 2005 Share Posted August 18, 2005 Am I seeing things or is SC10 VHF8, Mt Alexander broadcasting at a lower power... Picture appears weeker then usual, although I can't measure it. Could the tower extention works have started?? AndyB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chriso_t Posted August 18, 2005 Share Posted August 18, 2005 If you have a look at mount alexander today there is a crane up along side the tower. So things must be happening up there. Chriso Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtv Posted August 18, 2005 Share Posted August 18, 2005 Indeed they are. BCV8/38 have reduced power due to the work. You will also notice an update on the dba reception locator indicating Oct-Dec 2005 as start-up dates for all three commercial networks, however, you may well see low-power tests from next month (September). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billabong33 Posted August 20, 2005 Share Posted August 20, 2005 Yep they went off air for a moment and i was picking up a fair GTV9 and HSV7 signal, and now its on low power im getting weak melbourne signals although digital just about impossible. From my house i can see Mt. Alexander about 60 odd km away and ill build a pole in my paddock and wack an antenna on it and see how i go. Cant wait for digital! thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest fattybigboy Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 I know I am keen but has anyone picked up any transmission of SC10, WIN or Prime from the Mt Alexander towers yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epscon Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 I know I am keen but has anyone picked up any transmission of SC10, WIN or Prime from the Mt Alexander towers yet? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Not yet. I'm hoping SC10 will be broadcasting by the 24/9...AFL Grand Final day!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soap Posted September 10, 2005 Share Posted September 10, 2005 An update: All of the new steel frame is now in place. New BCV8 antenna array is now on this tower, however the 18m UHF array and co-axial cable has yet to be mounted. One very impressive crane next to the tower though. I'm guessing at least 3 weeks before digital transmissions begin on low power. Interestingly, BCV8 is currently being broadcast at very low power through only 4 half-wave dipoles on the side of the tower. Half the BCV38 UHF array is also in operation. At my parents place in Bendigo there is a noticeable reduction in signal strength of channel 8. HSV7 and GTV9 have no interference off the Melb antenna. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lockie Posted September 12, 2005 Share Posted September 12, 2005 An update:All of the new steel frame is now in place. New BCV8 antenna array is now on this tower, however the 18m UHF array and co-axial cable has yet to be mounted. One very impressive crane next to the tower though. I'm guessing at least 3 weeks before digital transmissions begin on low power. Interestingly, BCV8 is currently being broadcast at very low power through only 4 half-wave dipoles on the side of the tower. Half the BCV38 UHF array is also in operation. At my parents place in Bendigo there is a noticeable reduction in signal strength of channel 8. HSV7 and GTV9 have no interference off the Melb antenna. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Is it rumour or fact. Overheard a conversation at the weekend that the crane has mechanical problems and it will take some time to fix as parts are not available. The source of this remour was one of the retailers on Bendigo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtv Posted September 14, 2005 Share Posted September 14, 2005 Is it rumour or fact.Overheard a conversation at the weekend that the crane has mechanical problems and it will take some time to fix as parts are not available. The source of this remour was one of the retailers on Bendigo. Fact....However the problem has been fixed and the new VHF array is up, as well as the new UHF array. Obviously, the crane problem has unfortunately caused a further delay, however, pending no further unforseen circumstances, digital transmissions are expected to commence (on low power) around mid October. The new VHF array will hopefully be partially operating by the end of this week, which should improve the BCV8 signal, in time for the grand final Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkint3 Posted September 14, 2005 Share Posted September 14, 2005 I had always thought that the Bendigo BCV 8 analogue signal on VHF had been switched off and had been moved to UHF 38 due to GTV 9 in Melbourne using VHF 8 for its digital signal... but from the above, I gather BCV is still transmitting in analogue on both frequencies??? I assume the same would also apply in the La Trobe Valley (where BCV was broadcasting on both VHF 8 and UHF 37 for analogue). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxxx1503560216 Posted September 14, 2005 Share Posted September 14, 2005 They do transmit on both channels, however VHF 8 is directed to the north of Mt A (there no power in the SC VHF 8 signal in the southerly direction), whilst UHF 38 is directed south. The change was made to the south to prevent interferance problems with GTV 8 from Mt D. Areas to the north of Mt A were considered to be far enough away from Mt D for this not to be a problem, and so remained on VHF 8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtv Posted September 14, 2005 Share Posted September 14, 2005 I assume the same would also apply in the La Trobe Valley (where BCV was broadcasting on both VHF 8 and UHF 37 for analogue).GLV analogue is now only UHF 37 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7seven Posted September 15, 2005 Share Posted September 15, 2005 sorry 4 dumb question, can people in bendigo pick up melbourne digital/analogue from mt dandenong? 7seven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxxx1503560216 Posted September 15, 2005 Share Posted September 15, 2005 sorry 4 dumb question, can people in bendigo pick up melbourne digital/analogue from mt dandenong? Within Bendigo, No. We're too far away. However, in the southern areas of the Bendigo viewing area (well south of the town), reception can be possible. Also (In relation to Nine Digital), BCV 8 Analoge from Mt Alexandra would drown out any VHF 8 signals from Mt Dandenong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtv Posted September 15, 2005 Share Posted September 15, 2005 xxxx is mostly correct. There are some areas in & around Bendigo that can receive Melb analogue, by using a single channel notch filter on channel 8. These have been in use for several decades. While BCV8 is running at low power, there are several people able to receive Melb 7 & 9 without a Ch8 filter, but with an amp of course. As for Melb digital, as xxxx said, the high-power Mt Alexander CH8 analogue signal wipes it out, although I wonder how it would go with BCV8 running at low power at the moment. Anyone tried this? If I have a chance, I'll do some tests before the BCV8 analogue signal increases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxxx1503560216 Posted September 15, 2005 Share Posted September 15, 2005 xxxx is mostly correct. There are some areas in & around Bendigo that can receive Melb analogue, by using a single channel notch filter on channel 8. These have been in use for several decades. While BCV8 is running at low power, there are several people able to receive Melb 7 & 9 without a Ch8 filter, but with an amp of course. Even so, reception quality and reliability is unlikely to be much good. You'd also need a darn huge (expensive) antenna. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtv Posted September 15, 2005 Share Posted September 15, 2005 Even so, reception quality and reliability is unlikely to be much good. You'd also need a darn huge (expensive) antenna.Not always. It depends largely on location. Some areas can receive it quite reliably. The most common antenna used is a Hills CA16 phased array.Also xxxx, if you quote something I (& others) say, please use the quote feature, so when you add your reply, it doesn't appear to be a continuation of the original post. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billabong33 Posted September 17, 2005 Share Posted September 17, 2005 From My location 6k's east of Maryborough i recieved great reception from melbourne with VHF/UHF Combo antenna when the power from BCV8 was low. BCV8 creates great interference with melbourne channels bad enough to effect FM radio. I picked up melbourne on 'bunny ears' when BCV8 went off altogether a month ago but with it on full power i get basically nothing. wait till analouge gets switched off and youll really notice the difference especially when your closer to MT alexander. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaddo Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 From what i heard, Southern Cross Ten, will begin broadcasting its Digital signal on the 15th October 2005. Following the sucessful transmition of Southern Cross Ten, Prime and Win will follow with their digital streams, which will finally give Bendigo full digital at last Now all i need to do is get a STB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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