SBS
2.37 Mb/s -> SBS
2.89 Mb/s -> SBS ONE HD [MPEG-4]
4.10 Mb/s -> SBS VICELAND HD [MPEG-4]
2.14 Mb/s -> SBS VICELAND
3.69 Mb/s -> FOOD NETWORK
3.41 Mb/s -> NITV
0.12 Mb/s -> SBS ARABIC 24
0.12 Mb/s -> SBS RADIO 1
0.12 Mb/s -> SBS RADIO 2
NINE (via SCA)
6.55 Mb/s -> 9HD [MPEG-4]
3.69 Mb/s -> NINE
3.04 Mb/s -> 9GEM
3.73 Mb/s -> 9GO!
2.31 Mb/s -> 9LIFE [MPEG-4]
1.09 Mb/s -> TO BE ADVISED [MPEG-4]
1.16 Mb/s -> ASPIRE [MPEG-4]
Since the transmissions are now stat-muxed, I recorded the Sydney and Illawarra signals simultaneously to provide a more accurate comparison between the different transmitters. Whilst I recorded them at the same time, the broadcasts from the towers are not synched (I think Prime is more than 10 seconds behind 7, as an example), so it’s not a 100% like-for-like comparison, but still gives a good indication. As with NQCQTV2’s comparison, it is based on a two-minute sample of each transmission.
Interesting to see that Seven Sydney is running the racing channel at a ridiculously high level for an MPEG 4 SD channel as the same is happening in Brisbane - the picture quality however doesn’t reflect the bit allocation.
What a waste of space for SCA’s blank channel and WIN’s placeholder. Even ABC Me on its overnight run is considerably lower. How can WIN Gold, that actually shows content, be taking up less space than WIN’s placeholder?
I wonder what WIN’s reasoning behind not broadcasting TVSN and the WIN placeholder in MPEG-4 is? It would save on bandwidth which could then be pumped back into the other content channels.
Though I noticed down the other side of the hill from where I live it still suggests that Sydney TV reception is possible, but in reality, only if you have a 50ft mast!
One thing it doesn’t take into account is co-channeling. Potentially a moderate signal from two transmitters would cause problems that the site wouldn’t recognise.
Just based on my location and only talking about fringe reception outside the licence area, an unwanted signal on the same frequency can wipe out even a fairly good signal despite a directional antenna. Obviously depends on the relative signal strengths and directions - a 90 degree directional difference would probably be easiest to null but a 180 degree (ie off the back) would be very hard to null.
Where I am in Sydney, the main Newcastle and Wollongong are at about 180 degrees to each other. I normally get 10/10 signal strength and quality from Wollongong, but when there’s tropo, it can render my Wollongong TV completely unwatchable. Signal strength stays at 10 but quality drops to 0. This is with a highly directional deep fringe yagi antenna.
