Analog cable tv coming to an end

[Jukka Aho]

Just as a reminder, the Finnish cable tv companies are going to switch off their analog services (analog tv channels) on February 29th or March 1st.

So if you get your tv signal from the local cable tv company and still do not have a digital converter box, a digital video recorder, or a tv set with a built-in digital (DVB-C) tuner now it would be a good time to begin shopping for one.

Some cable tv companies have announced they’re going to keep a handful of analog basic channels available for a little bit longer – probably until their current distribution deals run out – but the analog versions of all Finnish “main” channels (YLE TV1, YLE TV2, MTV3, Nelonen, Sub, YLE FST5) will turn into static by the end of this month. Check out the website of your local cable tv company for more information.

[Kinku]

First after all. Thanks for this information.

I still do not quite understand, what should I do? I have digital box and I have my TV. but I did not purchase any paid channels. Is there still possible to watch ordinary channels like YLE, TEENA and MTV3?

[Jukka Aho]

I still do not quite understand, what should I do? I have digital box and I have my TV. but I did not purchase any paid channels. Is there still possible to watch ordinary channels like YLE, TEENA and MTV3?

Yes. You already have your digital converter box, and can watch those channels using it, so you’re all set – you don’t need to do anything. The forthcoming change will only concern those who are still watching tv without such box, using an analog tuner (such as the built-in analog tuner in an old CRT tv set), or who are still using a video recorder that only has an analog tuner inside it (such as a VHS VCR, or one of the early DVD recorders.)

[ScubaGirl]

I bought my digi box a couple weeks ago.

hey Jukka, since you seem to be the authority on all things tv related in this forum...
all my channels work fine & look clear with the exception of The Voice & the finnish sports channel (that one i don't care about). I'd really like to have The Voice though, but it's a choppy and never comes in clearly. what could be the problem?

[Jukka Aho]

all my channels work fine & look clear with the exception of The Voice & the finnish sports channel (that one i don't care about). I'd really like to have The Voice though, but it's a choppy and never comes in clearly. what could be the problem?

1) How do you get your tv signal? From the local cable tv company or via an antenna on the roof of your house? (Are you using a DVB-T or a DVB-C type of digital receiver?)

2) Do you live in a detached home where you’re in full control of your tv signals and RF distribution system, or in a rowhouse, an apartment building, or some other place where someone else (such as a caretaker company) is responsible for the maintenance of such things?

[ScubaGirl]

I have a DVB-C box & I live in an apartment building. the whole building has basic cable. should I contact my maintenance man?

[Jukka Aho]

I have a DVB-C box & I live in an apartment building. the whole building has basic cable. should I contact my maintenance man?

Digital channels are transmitted as multiplexes. That is, a single digital bitstream (that the box receives with a single tuner) contains a number of channels (say 5 or 6) at any given time, not just a single channel.

The Voice and Urheilukanava are typically transmitted within the same multiplex (i.e. multiplexed within the same transport stream, among some other channels), so if there’s some kind of problem, it is not surprising that it affects them both the same way. If your apartment building subscribes to Welho cable tv services, you will probably see the same problems on Infokanava and DINA as well, as Welho transmits these channels within the same multiplex, too.

You can see Welho channel lineup on this page. Channels that belong to the same multiplex share the same TSID number in the Service information table. In other words, it seems that you have problems with the Welho multiplex #3. Contact the maintenance man and explain him the problem, making sure that he understands that it only affects the channels in this single multiplex and not in the others. If he measures the signal levels for that mux and finds them to be a bit on the low side, he might correct the situation by adjusting the amplification levels at the central RF distribution point of the building.

As a self-help measure, you might also want to try a different coax cable between the wall socket and the box, or a different set-top box altogether, or even an RF amplifier (antennivahvistin) between the wall socket and the box. (This shouldn’t be needed, really, and doing the amplification at your end is a bit backwards unless your cable runs are particularly long, but some set-top boxes need a stronger signal than the others in order to deliver a good picture on all multiplexes/channels.)

[ScubaGirl]

If your apartment building subscribes to Welho cable tv services, you will probably see the same problems on Infokanava and DINA as well, as Welho transmits these channels within the same multiplex, too.

this is correct. i didn't think those channels were even worth mentioning though & had no idea that this problem was connected in any way. Interesting stuff. I'll call the guy tomorrow & tell him what you said. thanx!