Television reception in Apollo Bay

Mark Loney Executive Manager, Spectrum Operations and Services TV reception issues in Apollo Bay > September 2014 . Public Retune (30/09) – Marengo TV signals changed frequencies > November 2014 . A number of viewers reported reception difficulties to local antenna installer, following an initial rollout of Telstra 4G . Telstra voluntarily ceased operations of the service > December 2014 . The Telstra LTE service was switched back on from 10/12/2014 . Around 30 households had their antenna installations amended > January – February 2015 . The ACMA’s field investigations confirmed a range of other issues also affecting TV reception in Apollo Bay

. More households reported reception problems (to local antenna installer) due to a number of issues

Role of the ACMA

> The first port of call in government for community-wide TV reception and interference problems; > Viewers’ awareness-raising, provision of general and location- specific public information and statements; > Provision of technical advice on nature and scope of the problem; > Contact and coordination with mobile carriers, broadcasters, local MPs’ offices, community and local antenna installers; > Field investigations on an exceptional basis: . two field investigations in Apollo Bay and Skenes Creek . 24/7 monitoring of TV signal level and quality in Apollo Bay > Channel planning studies and approvals (where necessary) for any change of TV transmission arrangements proposed by broadcasters.

What can cause reception problems? Receiver overload by mobile broadband signals What can cause reception problems?

Unreliable signal input feed arrangements to Marengo site

Signals travel a long way (160 km) so the reception at Tanybyrn is unreliable. What can cause reception problems? Ducting interference from King Island

• Irregular form of radio wave propagation • Seasonal in nature (dominant in evening during warmer months) What can cause reception problems?

Signal coverage deficiency

Area with variable coverage What can cause reception problems?

Summary of issues and affected TV channels

Cause Affected channels ( -affected, - not affected )

- may be affected) ABC SBS WIN Southern Cross Ten Ducting      Link fade      Receiver overload      Variable signal coverage Is there anything viewers can do?

Good antenna installation is essential

> Inadequate or incorrect antenna installation is the most common cause of reception difficulties across . > The ACMA’s antenna surveys in Apollo Bay and Skenes Creek identified a high percentage of incorrect antenna installations > Stay safe—remember that climbing on the roof is extremely dangerous. > Call your antenna installer is the best and safest option to get your receive antenna setup right

Is there anything viewers can do?

Antenna should be pointing and TV set tuned to Marengo channels

Marengo Ch Freq.(MHZ) Pol

Prime (AMV) 46 655.5 H

ABC 47 662.5 H

Southern Cross 48 669.5 H Austereo (BCV) WIN (VTV) 49 676.5 H

SBS 50 683.5 H

Is there anything viewers can do?

CORRECT antenna installation:

> Single high gain UHF antenna above rooftop > Correct (horizontal) > Pointing to Marengo TV tower > Antenna elements are horizontal > No signal booster (MHA)  Is there anything viewers can do?

INCORRECT antenna installation:

> Multiple antennas (one pointing to ) > Broken antenna Melbourne elements antenna > Antennas too close to Marengo each other antenna > MHA MHA

 Questions? Where can I find more information?

> Visit the ACMA’s TV reception hub—www.acma.go.au/tvreception.

Where can I find more information? (cont.)

> Visit mySwitch—myswitch.digitalready.gov.au.

Where can I find more information? (cont.)

> Visit mysattv—https://www.mysattv.com.au—for VAST access.