Cable Forum - View Single Post - No analogue switch-off until equipment is 'affordable'

ntl customer · 13-10-2004, 00:11

Call me old fashioned, but I've never been a fan of this new fangled digital technology.

I've always found that digital terrestrial technology is far from robust to be made mainstream. Whenever a flourescent light is switched on, the boiler switches between hot water/heating mode or the compressor in the fridge starts working the picture and sound on certain channels always goes 'splat' - it is really annoying.

I'm sure you've read of my nightmare experiences with the ntl STB software in the other forum.

The sound quality on DAB is far from good. It might be OK for a one-weedy-speaker kitchen portable but on anything else, the over compression really shows up. Nothing beats good old FM reception IMO, provided you have a decent aerial and don't live in the shadow of a big building.

I've also never seen the point of widescreen either on certain programmes such as the news, where most international source material is 4:3. I want to see the pictures as they were intended - rather than in BBC hack-off-the-top-and-bottom-to-make-it-look-widescreen-when-it-is-not mode.

A thing I've noticed often is that stuff on digital is over compressed, thus making the picture and sound quality at times inferior to analogue TV. I think rather than trying to cram on as much as possible they should focus more on quality.

I think the government, rather than forcing digital onto us wanting to switch it off by a fixed date, perhaps should allow the technology to become more mature and robust before any firm dates are confirmed.

Some people think that Digital is a step forward, but due to the way the technology has been implemented and deployed has been a step backward in some ways when it comes to its robustness, stability and quality.

13-10-2004, 00:11	#14
ntl customer cf.geek Join Date: Jun 2003 Services: Weddings, christenings, barmitzvahs and funerals. Posts: 859	Re: No analogue switch-off until equipment is 'affordable' Call me old fashioned, but I've never been a fan of this new fangled digital technology. I've always found that digital terrestrial technology is far from robust to be made mainstream. Whenever a flourescent light is switched on, the boiler switches between hot water/heating mode or the compressor in the fridge starts working the picture and sound on certain channels always goes 'splat' - it is really annoying. I'm sure you've read of my nightmare experiences with the ntl STB software in the other forum. The sound quality on DAB is far from good. It might be OK for a one-weedy-speaker kitchen portable but on anything else, the over compression really shows up. Nothing beats good old FM reception IMO, provided you have a decent aerial and don't live in the shadow of a big building. I've also never seen the point of widescreen either on certain programmes such as the news, where most international source material is 4:3. I want to see the pictures as they were intended - rather than in BBC hack-off-the-top-and-bottom-to-make-it-look-widescreen-when-it-is-not mode. A thing I've noticed often is that stuff on digital is over compressed, thus making the picture and sound quality at times inferior to analogue TV. I think rather than trying to cram on as much as possible they should focus more on quality. I think the government, rather than forcing digital onto us wanting to switch it off by a fixed date, perhaps should allow the technology to become more mature and robust before any firm dates are confirmed. Some people think that Digital is a step forward, but due to the way the technology has been implemented and deployed has been a step backward in some ways when it comes to its robustness, stability and quality.