In Charlotte, a Brief Report on Discovery Channel HDTV Launch Feed

By Bill Napier · 1998

Mentioned: Bill Napier

Summary

Bill Napier reports from Charlotte on the Discovery Channel HDTV launch feed, describing a flawless 45MB CBS satellite feed decoded to 1080i over-the-air broadcast using GI and Mitsubishi equipment. Three local dealers in the ADI are already displaying DTV sets with tuners receiving WBTV-DT and taking orders from enthusiastic showroom customers.

HDTV News Online

Discovery Feed In Charlotte, a Brief Report

by Bill Napier
Wednesday, November 4, 1998

The Discovery launch feed to us in Charlotte was solid as rock. Over the air demos went very well without a glitch. 45MB feed from the CBS satellite using GI gear to 1.5GB "baseband." Then Mits. encoder for 19.4 over the air. (1080I for those who keep a chart.) Audio and video matched - even off the air.

Usual reaction from the dealers and their "packed," to use their term, showroom customers: Wow!

Mitsubishi 50" TV's were in use as well and some other off-air reception equipment at the station.

As of today three dealers in our ADI are showing DTV sets with tuners receving WBTV-DT. They say their taking orders. We'll see.

BTW, the satellite downlink we had used only a 3.5 meter antenna. Receiver had zero BER on the reciever's "BER meter." A 3.5 meter was all we had so we gave it a shot. Worked fine for this time.

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