#ewbs

Peru starts ISDB-T EWBS

VideoSwitch won the tender at IRTP (TV Peru) for the supply of compression-decompression equipment (DMUX-500W) in the ISDB-T standard for its Early Warning before catastrophes (EWBS) transmission system by satellite link, counting on the technical support and supervision from JTEC of Japan.As detailed in the DiBEG (Digital Broadcasting Experts Group) paper published by SET Brazil, both parties…

Kaynak : http://trstil.com/chinese-tycoon-orders-30-rolls-royce-phantoms-ewbs-for-his-new-macau-hotel/

Chinese Tycoon Orders 30 Rolls-Royce Phantoms EWBs for His New Macau Hotel

Where was it? Although it’s still called ‘The Batsford Shoot’ it actually took place near Swindon, England How was it? The Batsford Shoot is, for the time being, the only official ETAS (European traditional archery society) shoot. And people that have been to  ETAS-related shoots know that you are going to have a good time. With some of the best (warbow and longbow)archers in the field but also aspiring newcomers there is fun to be had at any level. Furthermore it brings together archers from all over Europe. This year was more versatile then ever with the Dutch, Swedes, Germans, Icelandic and of course the Brits (English, Scottish and Welsh).

Batsford is an all-round shoot with a rove, a clout, a 3D Round and, very important to most representatives of the EWBS (English Warbow Society), a flight. In England the weather always comes into play so the schedule was somewhat juggled around which meant that everything but the 3D was shot on Saturday, making it quite a busy day!

Divided in two groups we commenced with either the clout or the rove and switched after a short break between shoots. People that were at the event last year might recognize some of the rove shots but this didn’t mean it was any easier (trust me, I know). The flight is always a very prestigious part of the day with many archers displaying a master class in handling the English warbow. Although a hefty wind didn’t produce the best conditions, some records were broken at both the men’s and women’s distances.

Saturday ended with a barbecue that didn’t really live up to previous years (last year anyway) with blackened hamburgers and sausages. The food even ran out at some point when there were people that only had one serving (while others had several), or even none. Let’s call it a small blemish on an otherwise perfect day. Quickly forgotten by the next trademark of this ETAS shoot, the theme party!

With several entertaining performances and an actual beer tent there were many jolly times to be had. The theme this year was Steampunk and because it was the 10th anniversary of ETAS many people actually dressed up in some way or the other. All of this resulted in some ‘interesting’ creations (dare I mention a man-kini? *shivers*).

On Sunday we commenced with the 3D round and it was quickly apparent that some of the party-goers woke up with a ‘little’ hangover (thus not being man enough to even start a 3D round!). Who could have known they might have been better off when it started pouring. Being in a small overgrown area did not help much, resulting in some very soaked archers. The day ended with the annual raffle and the award ceremony (special prizes this year and very much worth your efforts).

Conclusion? One weekend with all the shooting disciplines, great company, a smashing party and some nifty prizes; what else could you want. Ok, the barbecue didn’t work out so well this year and one can never predict the weather but these are small issues, easily forgotten. One can only hope someday there will be more official ETAS shoots!

Score 4.5/5

The Opening of Government Television

Tracing back the good ol’ days, the Government Television or simply called GTV was born after the Marcos regime. With the word “government”, the channel aims to make the government closer to the people by the means of broadcast media. Then it was being reformatted to People’s Television or PTV. “People”, which symbolizes the whole network, is what now the channel serves to, until it was being reformatted again and now known as the National Broadcasting Network or NBN.

Being the nation’s flagship government network, NBN targets the mass to fulfil the needs of the whole country. From public service to nationwide news, NBN shows how competitive they were, aside from having the three major networks in the limelight. Time by time, Channel 4 is there to broadcast the President’s address to the nation, the Senate’s hearing, Malacañang’s press releases and various administrative programs exclusive for the government network.

At this point in time, the government still holds the ownership of the two sequestered channels back in Martial Law, namely RPN-9 and IBC-13. Both channels were at the peak of their hiatus in the 90’s, with the network’s introduction to Mexicanovelas and various new game show formats. But as the time comes, those two were slowing down from their success because of the emergence of original stories and soap operas being created by the major networks, which they come to being sold into numerous private agencies wanted to own those networks.

Selling the requisitioned TV networks, NBN will have it way in dominance, since the government can now pay attention into one single channel that they own. The President, which now aims NBN to be at par with the world’s leading flagship broadcasters of their countries like BBC of United Kingdom and NHK of Japan, is ready to fund the network’s readiness to conquer the technological advancements they need to be at par with.

In 2009, the National Broadcasting Network showed an infomercial on how they cope up with the current broadcast developments, from engineering to news gathering. NBN backed up its Channel 4 analog TV with a new powerful Harris transmitter and antennas in 60 kilowatts glory. With this, the network can now realize its nationwide reach having mighty power to relay those programs being fed up into the Broadcast Complex. But what’s mightier than backing up its analog frequency was their introduction of the digital television broadcast of the network.

NBN's Harris Analog TV Transmitter

500 watts of power is too small to run the National Broadcasting Network, but in digital terrestrial TV system, the UHF Channel 48 can now extend its coverage up to Suburbs receiving DTV broadcast. NBN is now known as the 2nd TV network to go digital, next to Iglesia ni Cristo-owned GEMNET. With the use of the Philippines’ DTV standard, ISDB-T, the network can now utilize the frequency to transmit digital TV signals on fixed and mobile receivers.

High definition was once used by NBN as it incepts ISDB-T in their broadcast facility. They show some videos in full 1080i HD until such time, the network reverted to multicasted Standard Definition or SD broadcast. The reason why is because the network cannot accomplish to broadcast on full HD since the network’s contents are not in fully high definition. Unlike GEMNET, which is very ready for HD broadcast as they relay those NET 25 programs onto the country’s first high def free TV channel, NBN stood back with the multi-SD in the late 2009. With three SD channels being offered in the digital spectrum, NBN also aimed to insert those RPN and IBC shows in those two remaining digital sub-channels back in 2010. But since those sequestered channels are now being sold to the private owners, NBN operated its digital channel by having a repeater for the other two sub-channels, having NBN on both 3 digital sub-channels in one frequency.

The NBN's most sophisticated Digital TV Technical Operations Facility

Purchasing powerful equipments in preparation for more advanced broadcast, NBN is ready to switch back in high definition. Their setup was the most sophisticated among broadcasters with digital TV facility because of the compliance with the ISDB-T transmission. They can switch from SD to HD and vice versa, with 1-seg capability for mobile phones with TV tuners. Aside from those, with the equipped DTV facility from Toshiba, one of the world’s leading companies, NBN can now put on the air the Philippines’ Emergency Warning System, a mandatory set by the National Telecommunications Commission on emergency warnings being broadcasted over TV sets. This will also change the television landscape since NBN is required to relay the emergency warnings throughout the digital continuum while watching other network’s programs.

Back in Japan’s megaquake last March, ISDB-T saved lives of many people with the use of the Emergency Warning System. Japanese broadcaster NHK conveyed an emergency warning throughout the whole Japan receiving its digital broadcast which turns out to be an alarm for the people to spread out of the places being affected by the earthquake. After some minutes, NHK relayed another EWS again for the incoming tsunami for people around the North of Japan. Some people were very ready for it, and rapidly evacuated from their areas saving their own lives.

With this, in view of the fact that Philippines is also prone to various natural calamities and disasters throughout a year, ISDB-T will be a good help for us Filipinos, which 70% of the total population watch television. In accordance with numerous government agencies like PAGASA and NDRRMC, the National Broadcasting Network is very ready for a quick splendour of EWS in the digital world.

NBN's Analog TV (left) and Digital TV with Datacast (right) comparisons

Also a mandatory, NBN has also its datacasting equipments. Datacast, a new and interactive way of watching TV, is somewhat transmission of data with the broadcast signals on digital TV. While watching, you can press the “red button”, which they tag it sometimes, and see some of the highlights of the show, including the breaking news and weather forecasts.

Summing up NBN’s might in digital terrestrial TV competition, the network is almost on the track in serving the Filipino people for good. These technical advancements made by NBN is just the start of their growing years, NBN can prove they can also be in the service of the Filipino.