OFCOM Application for Tv Repeater GB3TS (Transport Stream)

[justin....@btinternet.com]

All,

I would be interested to get some idea of the level of support there
is in the general Amateur Radio community to establish a TV repeater
in the North Kent area with the view to serving large parts of London
and the South-East.
The proposal would be for a Digital TV repeater with the output on
23cms, initially at my house in Petts Wood so that the equipment can
be assembled and perfected with a view to finding a permanent site as
soon as the test phase of the project is over.
The South-East of London has never had a TV repeater before so this
would be a first. The proposed Digital TV repeater would most likely
use the DVB-S format with 4 transport streams using QPSK modulation
format. This format has the advantage of only requiring fairly simple
receiving equipment (an old DVB-S Satellite Receiver and pre-amp
combined with a 23cms antenna pointing at the repeater) and therefore
encouraging the up-take of ATV in the south-east. Initial transmitter
power would be about +13dBW, rising to +20dBW when a permanent site is
found (most likely in the Chelsfield, Swanley or Knockholt areas and
possibly even co-sited with the GB3OK and GB7OK)

The purpose and goals of the repeater would be to:
1. Encourage amateurs in the south-east to begin experimenting with
Amateur TV and self-build projects
and to encourage the up-take of digital transmission.
2. Involve local radio clubs in the development of the TV repeater
3. Use it to help evangelise amateur radio as a hobby at public
special event stations and demonstrations
4. For the technical training of amateurs within the south-east
5. To encourage new entrants to the hobby and for existing foundation
licensees to upgrade
6. Further develop the Amateur TV following within the hobby

The idea of having 4 transport streams would be to offer one analogue
and one digital TV inputs in addition to a repeater information
channel and a HD (H264) information channel with internet streaming
input for (say) RSGB news and a sound relay of the 2 meter TV calling
channel and local repeaters and even the possibility of an internet
connection. The analogue input combined with cheap digital receiving
equipment would give a low-cost entry to those starting out with TV.
Obviously I would not propose all of the above operational on day one,
but develop the repeater over a period of time.
Let me know what you think....
Best regards,

Justin G8YTZ

[Darren G7LWT]

Hi Justin,

we are looking at implementing something similar on Winterhill (Lancs
IO83SO).

Which DVB-S encoding/multiplexing hardware do you have in mind
(especially for HD)?

Vy 73 de Darren
G7LWT