WGRCU@CUNYVM.BITNET (Bill Rubin) (03/13/86)
Actually, until a couple of weeks ago, I lived in Queens, NY, and I can tell you that there are far more than just a couple of satellite dishes around. It turns out that some of Queens is now getting cable, although parts of it and the other boroughs may not get it for another few years. On another topic, stereo on cable TV. I always thought that MTV and VH-1 were sent in MTS Stereo. Unfortunately, I don't seem to be getting it, either thru the cable box or directly into my cable-ready TV. A couple of the other cable stations seem to fade in and out of stereo (mostly out). Is this likely to be the local cable company, or the individual stations? The regular TV stations here that broadcast in stereo come in fine, so I sort of doubt it's the cable company (Cablevision LI). Thanks, Bill Rubin
brown@nicmad.UUCP (03/18/86)
In article <8603150133.AA19989@seismo.CSS.GOV> WGRCU@CUNYVM.BITNET (Bill Rubin) writes: >On another topic, stereo on cable TV. I always thought that MTV and VH-1 >were sent in MTS Stereo. Unfortunately, I don't seem to be getting it, >either thru the cable box or directly into my cable-ready TV. A couple >of the other cable stations seem to fade in and out of stereo (mostly out). >Is this likely to be the local cable company, or the individual stations? >The regular TV stations here that broadcast in stereo come in fine, so I >sort of doubt it's the cable company (Cablevision LI). When MTV first hit the cable air-waves, the stereo was broadcast on the FM band only. The only way that the cable company could have MTV was to also place it on the FM band. (I am not so sure about what they require now) VH-1 is also on the FM band, but I don't know if FM Stereo is required by the cable company. Anyway, the only way you are going to get MTS is if your cable company wants to spend the money on MTS encoders for the TV channel. It is cheaper to put it on the FM band, in stereo. Also, the sound quality is MUCH better on FM than it will ever be on MTS. Try using a splitter and send your cable signal to your FM receiver/tuner and listen to what you get. You may also find pay services there in stereo. As far as the other cable services, fading in and out, I am not sure about that. Again, the cable company would have to install MTS encoders for those channels. Because of the way that some pay services are scrambled, MTS stereo may never exist for them, but then the cable company should put them up on the FM band. Call your cable company and ask what they have on the FM service. -- ihnp4------\ harvard-\ \ Mr. Video seismo!uwvax!nicmad!brown topaz-/ / decvax------/
caf@omen.UUCP (Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX) (03/20/86)
In article <573@nicmad.UUCP> brown@nicmad.UUCP (Mr. Video) writes: Also, the sound >quality is MUCH better on FM than it will ever be on MTS. Try using a Given the usual sloppy audio practices on TV and FM stations, I doubt that the slight edge in FM MPX frequency response will make much difference. Because of MTS's DBX compression of the L-R signal, signal to noise ratio should be as good or better than with FM MPX. There is a currently observed hum in the MTS difference channel, especially noticeable during applause on Johnny Carson. Whether this is a defect in certain decoders, poor transmitter operation, or something more fundamental, nobody seems to know at the moment. I plan to hit the local TV station chief engineers on this one soon.
brown@nicmad.UUCP (03/24/86)
In article <312@omen.UUCP> caf@omen.UUCP (Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX) writes: >In article <573@nicmad.UUCP> brown@nicmad.UUCP (Mr. Video) writes: > Also, the sound >>quality is MUCH better on FM than it will ever be on MTS. Try using a > >Given the usual sloppy audio practices on TV and FM stations, I doubt >that the slight edge in FM MPX frequency response will make much difference. > >Because of MTS's DBX compression of the L-R signal, signal to noise ratio >should be as good or better than with FM MPX. > >There is a currently observed hum in the MTS difference channel, especially >noticeable during applause on Johnny Carson. Whether this is a defect in >certain decoders, poor transmitter operation, or something more fundamental, >nobody seems to know at the moment. I plan to hit the local TV station >chief engineers on this one soon. Since I listen to both NBC and CBS in MTS stereo and MTV and VH-1 in FM stereo, I can say that MTS stereo sucks, compared to FM stereo. There are problems with MTS sound. One of the main problems (my opinion, mind you) is that the sound is transmitted with the video. TOO much video noise gets through. FM sound would be an improvement under the following conditions: 1. The cable company receives the sound directly from the tv station 2. Wide-band FM modulation is used from the tv station to the cable company. If the cable company receives the sound via off-air MTS decoder, then the FM sound will not be improved. Our local cable company is working with the local NBC station to provide direct left and right audio to the head-end. The MTS encoding will then take place at the head end. Hopefully they will then provide FM stereo of the station (mono sound is provided now.) -- ihnp4------\ harvard-\ \ Mr. Video seismo!uwvax!nicmad!brown topaz-/ / decvax------/