homyak:
08/06/2015 at 16:38
Digital television or profanity?
The TV “digitization” program in the Smolensk region did not live up to viewers’ expectations
5.08.2015 08:08
More than 100 million rubles were allocated for the implementation of the digital television and radio broadcasting project in the Smolensk region.
But to this day, the majority of Smolensk residents do not have the promised digital signal, or its quality is so low that TV viewers are forced to switch to satellite dishes or watch TV with an old antenna.
When in 2011 it was announced to Smolensk residents that by 2015 there would be 100% digital television coverage in the Smolensk region, this was received with enthusiasm.
The hope that instead of the two and a half TV shows shown on most TVs in the Smolensk region, an incomprehensible, but already so desired multiplex would appear, was worth 5 years of waiting.
But after 5 years, for some reason they continue to tell us that we need to wait a little longer.
Digital Hope
In 2011, Pyotr Lopashinov, who then held the post of vice-governor, headed a working group that included specialists from the information technology department, the department of property and land relations, State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, and RTPC.
At the same time, it was announced that the first digital television package (multiplex) would include 8 channels and would begin to operate fully in the Smolensk region by June 2015.
Immediately, mass sales of set-top receivers began, allowing them to receive broadcasts in digital format.
To receive digital terrestrial television, residents of the Smolensk region need subscriber equipment of the DVB-T2 standard and a UHF antenna.
Digital TV set-top boxes cost from 1.5 to 3 thousand rubles.
Officials even stated that one of the Smolensk factories would launch their production, and also talked about a generally fantastic (as is now clear) option with the possible installation of one receiver at the entrance.
But, in addition to the usual marketing steps promising Smolensk residents a high-quality television picture, there was one more important point.
In order for the Smolensk region to switch to digital, new television towers were needed.
The implementation of the program was supposed to lead to the complete “digitization” of the Smolensk region by the end of 2015.
Towers that don't exist
Problems with digital broadcasting in the Smolensk region began after the change of governor.
The replacement of Antufiev with Ostrovsky, only at first glance, did not in any way affect the program for the transition to digital TV.
As before, regular meetings were held in the regional administration on the process of transition from analogue to digital television.
Over and over again at these meetings the same words were heard about debts to contractors and that this problem was about to be solved.
At the same time, many towers laid in 2011 remained unconnected.
But in words everything was fine.
Here's just one example. In February 2015, it was officially announced that digital terrestrial television had been launched in several localities of the Smolensk region.
Among others, a television tower was named in the village of Mikhailovskoye, Demidovsky district.
Initially, it was this tower that was supposed to distribute the digital signal to the Demidov and Dukhovshchinsky districts.
But, as in 2012, when 1 multiplex began test broadcasting in the Smolensk region, and in 2013, when a tower was installed in Mikhailovsky, the digital TV signal in the Demidovsky district was present only in places and at times.
The picture constantly froze, the channels “fell off” one at a time or all together, for an hour or weeks.
At service points and places of sale of digital set-top boxes they shrugged, saying that the “digital” was only being tested, hence the instability of the signal.
But after the commissioning of this tower was officially announced in February 2015, residents of the north-west of the Smolensk region reasonably expected that the digital TV set-top boxes they had purchased would finally work as expected.
Not so.
In a conversation with our correspondent, a representative of the Office of the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Communications in the Smolensk Region said that today the region does not have money not only for the construction of new towers, but also for connecting existing ones.
As a consequence of this, the load distribution when supplying a digital signal goes to already functioning towers, which ultimately has an adverse effect on the television picture.
“It either catches or doesn’t catch”
We specially came to the Smolensk Poozerie to find this tower, but, alas, we were unable to find the object in Mikhailovsky declared on the website of the Smolensk branch of the Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network.
Locals said that nothing like this had been built in the vicinity of their village, and advised them to go towards the village of Baklanovo.
“Do you get digital TV in your village?” I ask the saleswoman of the only grocery store in the village.
“It sometimes catches, sometimes it doesn’t,” the woman answers. — Very poor quality, depends on the weather. I installed a dish (satellite dish) for myself, now there are no problems.”
By the way, more and more Smolensk residents are following the example of women.
People are tired of waiting for the digital TV promised 5 years ago and are buying satellite dishes instead of useless receivers.
It costs more money, but the signal quality is much better.
We found the tower, which was declared on the Smolensk ORTPTS website as “neglected,” in the village of Baklanovo, 10 kilometers from Mikhailovsky.
Local residents showed us the way, simultaneously telling us that the tower, installed two years ago, still has not been connected.
“My house is five hundred meters from this tower, but when I turn on the set-top box, there is no signal, or the picture freezes,” local resident Ivan shared with us.
Externally, the tower looks quite ready.
An artificial embankment, a fenced area, a control center and a constantly working alarm system.
By the way, the “cormorant tower” syndrome, which, according to the authorities, is located in the village of Mikhailovskoye and is already operating, can be transferred to many other areas of the Smolensk region that suffer from similar problems.
Thus, towers in Pochinka, Roslavl, Desnogorsk and Yelnya have not yet been launched or are operating at the same frequency.
The situation in Smolensk is little better.
“It seems that every day the signal is getting worse and worse, the picture constantly freezes,” Pavel Nikolaevich, a resident of the center of Smolensk, told us. “Technical support reports that the signal is still being received in test mode.”
At the same time, the authorities and representatives of the Smolensk ORTPTs seem to deliberately not see the problem of signal quality, continuing to say that everything is going according to plan, spreading compliments and presenting each other with thanks “for effective interaction.”
But even the administration of the Smolensk region is unable to hide the failure of the digital TV program in the Smolensk region.
But what cannot be hidden, as we know, can be delayed.
The recognition that digital television in the Smolensk region will appear no earlier than in 3 years, the administration of the Smolensk region had to make after it became clear: by July 17, 2015, the regional authorities are not able to make 100% coverage of the Smolensk region with digital TV, as previously planned.
In fact, such a statement by the regional authorities may indicate the complete failure of the five-year program for the transition of the Smolensk region to digital broadcasting.
By the way, the news that 100% digital television coverage in the Smolensk region will not occur before 2021 may have a dangerous side effect for the authorities.
The fact is that Smolensk television companies cannot afford to purchase expensive digital equipment (for example, in the neighboring Bryansk region this problem has long been solved), and, therefore, after the departure of analogue TV, endless reports about the “heroic” actions of the Smolensk authorities will sink into oblivion. aimed at saving the region.
How then to elect a government that may be left without a powerful propaganda mouthpiece?
Alexey VOLKOV
Answer
Digital television DVB-T2
5,500 rub.
A set of an antenna and a digital set-top box for connecting one TV within a range of 20-30 km. from Ostankino.
- Digital antenna 10dB
- Bracket 0.35m.
- Cable 10m.
- Digital set-top box DVB-T2
- Standard installation
The most popular
11,500 rub.
A set of equipment for several TVs for the Moscow region within a radius of 60 km. from the repeater.
- Digital antenna 15dB
- Mast 4m.
- Brackets pair 0.5m.
- Cable 10m.
- Amplifier 20dB
- Standard installation
16,500 rub.
A set with a powerful amplifier for a large number of TVs and a distance of more than 70 km.
- Digital antenna 20 dB
- Mast 6m, brackets 0.5m.
- Cable 10m.
- Mast amplifier 40dB
- Standard installation
Analogue television will be switched off in the Smolensk region
In 2021, analog television will stop working in the most remote corners of the Smolensk region. You will no longer be able to watch TV without a special receiver.
The shutdown of analogue broadcasting is due to the refusal to subsidize this area.
In 2021, analogue broadcasting (television) will certainly be switched off. As soon as the subsidies go away, it will be turned off immediately. Nobody will support it, well, perhaps only some one or two regions will leave something there, based on their regional interests, nothing more,” said Nikolai Nikiforov, Minister of Communications and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation last week.
Thus, people who have not purchased special televisions or set-top receivers that allow them to receive a digital TV signal will most likely be left without television.
Let us recall that the so-called first multiplex of digital television in Russia includes the federal all-Russian mandatory public television and radio channels of digital television: Channel One, “Russia-1”, “Russia-2”, NTV, “Channel 5”, “Russia-Culture” , “Russia 24”, “Carousel”, OTR, TVC.
TV channels of the second multiplex are not required for free distribution by satellite and cable broadcasting operators, and are distributed throughout Russia without charging a subscription fee to viewers: Ren-TV, Spas, STS, Domashny, TV3, NTV+ Sport, “Zvezda”, “Mir”, TNT, MuzTV.
Minister of Communications Nikiforov noted that the issue of creating a third multiplex, which would include exclusively regional channels and would be broadcast exclusively within the region, is now economically inexpedient and there are no economic prerequisites for it.
It’s curious, but the TV “digitization” program in the Smolensk region did not live up to the expectations of TV viewers.
Thus, 100 million rubles allocated for this purpose in 2011 and the authorities’ promises to complete the program by 2015 did not lead to the desired result: to this day, the majority of Smolensk residents, especially those living outside the regional center, do not have the promised digital signal, or its quality is so low that TV viewers are forced to switch to satellite dishes or watch TV with an old antenna.
The recognition that digital television in the Smolensk region will appear no earlier than by 2021 was made by the administration of the Smolensk region after it became clear that by July 17, 2015, regional authorities were not able to make 100% digital TV coverage of the Smolensk region , as previously planned.
In fact, such a statement by the regional authorities may indicate the complete failure of the five-year program for the transition of the Smolensk region to digital broadcasting.
Digital television or profanity?
More than 100 million rubles were allocated for the implementation of the digital television and radio broadcasting project in the Smolensk region. But to this day, the majority of Smolensk residents do not have the promised digital signal, or its quality is so low that TV viewers are forced to switch to satellite dishes or watch TV with an old antenna.
When in 2011 it was announced to Smolensk residents that by 2015 there would be 100% digital television coverage in the Smolensk region, this was received with enthusiasm. The hope that instead of the two and a half TV shows shown on most televisions in the Smolensk region, an incomprehensible, but already so desired multiplex would appear, was worth five years of waiting. But after five years, for some reason they continue to tell us that we need to wait a little longer.
Digital Hope
In 2011, Pyotr Lopashinov, who then held the post of vice-governor, headed a working group that included specialists from the information technology department, the department of property and land relations, State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, and RTPC. At the same time, it was announced that the first digital television package (multiplex) would include eight channels and would begin to operate fully in the Smolensk region by June 2015.
Immediately began mass sales of set-top receivers that allow receiving broadcasts in digital format. To receive digital terrestrial television, residents of the Smolensk region need subscriber equipment of the DVB-T2 standard and a UHF antenna.
Digital TV set-top boxes cost from 1.5 to 3 thousand rubles. Officials even stated that one of the Smolensk factories would launch their production, and also talked about a generally fantastic (as is now clear) option with the possible installation of one receiver at the entrance.
But, in addition to the usual marketing steps promising Smolensk residents a high-quality television picture, there was one more important point. In order for the Smolensk region to switch to digital, new television towers were needed. The implementation of the program was supposed to lead to the complete “digitization” of the Smolensk region by the end of 2015.
Towers that don't exist
Problems with digital broadcasting in the Smolensk region began after the change of governor. The replacement of Antufiev with Ostrovsky, only at first glance, did not in any way affect the program for the transition to digital TV. As before, regular meetings were held in the regional administration on the process of transition from analogue to digital television. Over and over again at these meetings the same words were heard about debts to contractors and that this problem was about to be solved. At the same time, many towers laid in 2011 remained unconnected.
But in words everything was fine. Here's just one example. In February 2015, it was officially announced that digital terrestrial television had been launched in several localities of the Smolensk region. Among others, a television tower was named in the village of Mikhailovskoye, Demidovsky district.
Initially, it was this tower that was supposed to distribute the digital signal to the Demidov and Dukhovshchinsky districts. But, as in 2012, when the first multiplex began test broadcasting in the Smolensk region, and in 2013, when a tower was installed in Mikhailovsky, the digital TV signal in the Demidovsky district was present only in places and at times.
The picture constantly froze, the channels “fell off” one at a time or all together, for an hour or weeks. At service points and places of sale of digital set-top boxes they shrugged, saying that the “digital” was only being tested, hence the instability of the signal.
But after the commissioning of this tower was officially announced in February 2015, residents of the north-west of the Smolensk region reasonably expected that the digital TV set-top boxes they had purchased would finally work as expected. Not so.
In a conversation with our correspondent, a representative of the Office of the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Communications in the Smolensk Region said that today the region does not have money not only for the construction of new towers, but also for connecting existing ones. As a consequence of this, the load distribution when supplying a digital signal goes to already functioning towers, which ultimately has an adverse effect on the television picture.
“It either catches or doesn’t catch”
We specially came to the Smolensk Poozerie to find this tower, but, alas, we were unable to find the object in Mikhailovsky declared on the website of the Smolensk branch of the Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network. Locals said that nothing like this had been built in the vicinity of their village, and advised them to go towards the village of Baklanovo.
“Do you get digital TV in your village?” I ask the saleswoman of the only grocery store in the village.
“It sometimes catches, sometimes it doesn’t,” the woman answers. — Very poor quality, depends on the weather. I installed a dish (satellite dish) for myself, now there are no problems.”
By the way, more and more Smolensk residents are following the example of women. People are tired of waiting for the digital TV promised five years ago and are buying satellite dishes instead of useless receivers. It costs more money, but the signal quality is much better.
We found the tower, which was declared on the Smolensk ORTPTS website as “neglected,” in the village of Baklanovo, ten kilometers from Mikhailovsky. Local residents showed us the way, simultaneously telling us that the tower, installed two years ago, still has not been connected.
“My house is five hundred meters from this tower, but when I turn on the set-top box, there is no signal, or the picture freezes,” local resident Ivan shared with us. Externally, the tower looks quite ready.
An artificial embankment, a fenced area, a control center and a constantly working alarm system.
By the way, the “cormorant tower” syndrome, which, according to the authorities, is located in the village of Mikhailovskoye and is already operating, can be transferred to many other areas of the Smolensk region that suffer from similar problems. Thus, towers in Pochinka, Roslavl, Desnogorsk and Yelnya have not yet been launched or are operating at the same frequency.
The situation in Smolensk is little better. “It seems that every day the signal is getting worse and worse, the picture constantly freezes,” Pavel Nikolaevich, a resident of the center of Smolensk, told us. “Technical support reports that the signal is still being received in test mode.”
At the same time, the authorities and representatives of the Smolensk ORTPTs seem to deliberately not see the problem of signal quality, continuing to say that everything is going according to plan, spreading compliments and presenting each other with thanks “for effective interaction.”
But even the administration of the Smolensk region is unable to hide the failure of the digital TV program in the Smolensk region. But what cannot be hidden, as we know, can be delayed.
The recognition that digital television in the Smolensk region will appear no earlier than in three years, the administration of the Smolensk region had to make after it became clear: by July 17, 2015, the regional authorities are not able to make 100% coverage of the Smolensk region with digital TV, as previously planned. In fact, such a statement by the regional authorities may indicate the complete failure of the five-year program for the transition of the Smolensk region to digital broadcasting.
By the way, the news that 100% digital television coverage in the Smolensk region will not occur before 2021 may have a dangerous side effect for the authorities. The fact is that Smolensk television companies cannot afford to purchase expensive digital equipment (for example, in the neighboring Bryansk region this problem has long been solved), and, therefore, after the departure of analogue TV, endless reports about the “heroic” actions of the Smolensk authorities will sink into oblivion. aimed at saving the region. How then to elect a government that may be left without a powerful propaganda mouthpiece?
Alexey VOLKOV
You can send your news, photos and videos to the editorial office on WhatsApp at +79107850457
Where to buy a set-top box and how much does it cost?
Set-top boxes can be purchased at specialized retail chains, as well as at the nearest post office or ordered from the postman. Russian Post sells set-top boxes at a minimum price of 990 rubles, while their cost can reach up to 2,500 rubles.
To date, over 8 thousand set-top boxes have been sold in retail chains. According to the monitoring results, there is no shortage of them. In turn, Smolensk residents have already purchased about 1,800 set-top boxes from Russian Post offices. Their stock in the region's post offices is more than 3.5 thousand pieces.
Who is entitled to compensation for expenses when purchasing equipment?
Socially vulnerable categories of citizens living in settlements with no digital broadcasting will receive compensation for the costs of purchasing equipment for receiving satellite television broadcasting of the DVB-S standard and its modifications.
Nikolay Kuznetsov emphasized that compensation will be provided one-time in the amount of actual expenses for the purchase of equipment, and its maximum amount will be 3,000 rubles. More than 5 million rubles were allocated for these purposes.
The following categories of citizens are entitled to an additional measure of social support:
- participants of the Great Patriotic War;
- former minor prisoners of concentration camps, ghettos, and other places of forced detention created by the Nazis and their allies during the Second World War;
- rehabilitated persons;
- disabled people;
- one of the parents (adoptive parents, guardians, trustees) receiving state child benefits;
- one of the parents (adoptive parents, guardians, trustees) of a disabled child living with him;
- one of the parents (adoptive parents) of children from a large family.
Moreover, if several people from the listed categories live in the same premises, then compensation is provided to each of them upon confirmation of the expenses incurred for the purchase of equipment.
To receive compensation, a citizen or his representative, until October 31, 2021 inclusive, can submit an application and the necessary documents to the Center for Social Payments, Reception and Processing of Information at the place of residence or stay.
Detailed information about the measure of social support can be found on the official website of the Smolensk Region Department of Social Development.
FAST NEWS SMOLENSK
The head of the region, Alexey Ostrovsky, held a working meeting where they discussed the issue of implementing the Plan for the phased shutdown of analogue broadcasting of mandatory public television channels in the Smolensk region.
At the end of 2021, Smolensk residents got the opportunity to watch 20 TV channels for free in high digital quality. At the same time, our region fell into the third wave of analogue broadcast shutdowns, which occurred on June 3, 2021.
The head of the information technology department, Andrei Rudometkin, said that work on the transition to digital terrestrial television broadcasting has been completed. The government commission noted that the shutdown was successful, and the results of the Smolensk region were considered satisfactory:
— Meanwhile, I note that to help Smolensk residents transition to digital terrestrial television, a regional “hotline” has been organized (telephone - 8 (4812) 205-888). Its operators answer questions about targeted support measures for socially vulnerable citizens, as well as connecting the satellite system to citizens living outside the digital signal zone. In addition, those Smolensk residents who need help connecting equipment can leave a request for a volunteer visit. Volunteers will come to the specified address and help you set up your TV or set-top box for free. As of August 9, the hotline received almost 6 thousand calls.
On the instructions of Alexey Ostrovsky, the procedure for providing an additional measure of social support in 2021 for the purchase of special set-top boxes for receiving satellite TV broadcasts was approved. This support can be used by Smolensk residents who live in settlements that have fallen outside the coverage area of digital broadcasting.
— According to the relevant order of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications, in populated areas where there is no television and radio broadcasting, satellite operators are offering preferential prices for the sale of equipment. As a result of the work done, it turned out that two settlements - the village of Krasnaya Gorka in the Krasninsky district and the village of Vskhody in the Ugransky district - were not included in this order, and the measurements taken showed that the “digit” does not apply there. Now we have initiated changes to the order of the relevant Ministry so that residents of these villages can take advantage of the reduced cost of purchasing equipment and compensation from the regional budget, approved on your instructions, Alexey Vladimirovich,” Andrey Rudometkin clarified.
To eliminate the shortage of equipment for receiving digital signals, the economic development department conducted weekly monitoring of the availability of digital set-top boxes in stores and retail chains. Andrei Rudometkin assured that in the first days after analogue broadcasting was turned off, there was no shortage of equipment.
Alexey Ostrovsky thanked Andrey Rudometkin for the report. Addressing the relevant vice-governor Nikolai Kuznetsov, the head of the region instructed to further study the issue of providing the necessary equipment to veterans of the Great Patriotic War living in the Smolensk region from the regional budget:
“We need to conduct monitoring together with the heads of municipalities, calculate everything and report to me with a memo.
