Yes, you may connect your IDTV via RF Out function to get DTT signal, as long the cable is high quality (HDMI/TV Boxes will affect DTT reception). Some of the DTT boxes (in overseas) indeed have RF Out function to convert digital TV into analogue TV signal for video input (like what we saw in some old school Astro decoders). The RF OUT port, at least on the MYTV DVB-T2 box, only provide signal passthrough for existing analogue (no longer exists)/DTT signals. This mean that you can hook up many TV Boxes, provide if these TV boxes have RF OUT and the signal is strong enough and both set top boxes are also connected (DTT signal levels will reduce when you hook up from one box to another). These boxes must be in standby/On mode, otherwise the passthrough won't work.

Yup. As I know so far the RF OUT on SKMM certified Malaysian DVB-T2 boxes is just an passthrough. If someone with very old TV want to convert their TV to digital TV, they may buy an RF transmitter so that digital TV can be displayed on old TV via analogue RF channel (Some may want to keep their useable old TV as long as possible, one of my relatives actually still have a very old working TV on their bedroom) or just buy a newer flat screen TV with DVB-T2 function.

Yup. Just make sure that the set top box is on when you want to watch TV on IDTV if you connect your TV via RF OUT on the set top box. It won't work if there is no power.

joshhd Will attempt to check audio quality/bitrate of Mediacorp DTT channels after they upgraded their audio system. Currently Mediacorp is using 256kbps 5.1 AAC (may be 96KHz HE-AAC as my video records shown) and 64kbps HE-AAC audio.

RTM TV1 could be received via UHF DTT but the signal is not reliable due to possible interference from Indosiar analogue TV from Batam. Mediacorp is using TV3 from myFreeview DTT as their news source when reporting Malaysian news.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Nov 29 2019, 08:59 AM

The stereo audio track is 64kbps HE-AAC, and it is meant for dual sound audio. The 5.1 Sound track sound format has to be checked after all, as on LC-AAC 48khz mode it cut offs at around 13khz. For CNA, the main sound track is 96kbps HE-AAC 48khz stereo.

In this case, there will be 3 audio tracks, with Stereo audio as the main soundtrack, rather than 2 audio tracks based on their press release. This is meant for maintaining sound consistency while changing channels for stereo TV sets.

The new configuration will be :

Before 3 Dec 2.30 a.m.
Main/Default audio : 5.1 Surround Sound AAC (Stereo HE-AAC on CNA)
Second audio : Stereo HE-AAC (for dual sound service)
No third audio available.

After 3 Dec 5 a.m.
Main/Default audio : Stereo HE-AAC / AAC
Second audio : Stereo HE-AAC (for dual sound service)
Third audio : 5.1 Surround Sound AAC (Likely unavailable on CNA)

Those who use 5.1 home theater systems will have to toggle themselves to the third audio track (which carries 5.1 soundtrack).

https://www.mediacorp.sg/en/mediacorp-in-th...icleId=12129528

The picture quality on Singapore DTT is sometimes bad especially on high action content and during their NDP (where all channels simulcast same video), even if it has higher, decent bitrates (~7Mbps) than our DTT. It looks okay in most situations.
Malaysian DTT, it may be HD but has rather low bitrate for both video and audio, looks s*** most the time, not forgotting that syok sendiri watermark. Even some movement guarantees breakup.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Nov 30 2019, 10:04 PM

As promised, Mediacorp have upgraded/modified their audio system. After the changes, there are 3 audio tracks on all their channels except CNA, transmitting in 96kbps HE-AAC Stereo (main audio, as used on CNA), 64kbps HE-AAC Stereo (second audio, for dual sound tracks) and also 256kbps AAC 5.1 (this was their main audio before the change). Video bitrates remain unchanged, as well as CNA, which remained at 2 audio tracks. I had include the video links before and after the change for all to download (for Channel 5), in both MKV and raw TS file.

Around 6-8Mbps for all channels.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Dec 3 2019, 05:57 PM

All of the transmitters in SG can be/are feed by fiber optics, considering their small size and they already have such infrastructure in place.

While in HK only 3 channels have high bitrate (TVB Jade 10M, RTHK TV 31 8M, Open TV 14M). First two channels is feed terrestrially while the third is feed via cable (signal could be tuned via normal DTT/DTMB tuner if connected to MATV socket). Half of TVB Jade spectrum is shared with ViuTV, while TVB also have a multiplex that is used solely for 4 HD channels. Open TV has 1 MUX (feed via Cable) that carries 1 Cantonese and 1 English channel. RTHK has 1 MUX for 2 of their own channel + relay of CCTV-1. RTHK MUX is often not carried on some MATV systems, despite being public broadcasting. (HK DTMB MUX has around 21-22Mbps per MUX) Viewers which tune via antenna can only watch TVB, ViuTV and RTHK channels only.

Other channels (ViuTV, Other TVB channels .etc) have the usual/common HD bitrate (4-6Mbps), although ViuTV had transmitted in 9Mbps before the start of their English channel ViuTVsix. Before ATV's closure, they had transmit their sole HD channel in 13-14 Mbps.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Dec 5 2019, 12:35 AM

HK uses a vastly different terrestrial system (Chinese DTMB) to ours (DVB-T2) and the nett bitrate for HK DTMB is around 21-22Mbps. In HK there are 4 MUX, which all of them are bulit and then owned by the broadcasters, so the broadcasters have absolute control (unlike in Thailand, Malaysia and similar with Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Korea) on how much bitrate they want to use on each channel. HK only have 12 terrestrial TV channels, so they can use higher bitrates for great picture quality. 3 MUX are transmitting over the air while the fourth is transmitting solely via MATV/Cable systems. Based on the information of HK OFCA, the broadcasters uses more than 30 transmitters to cover city wide, given the hilly terrain in HK. TVB have 1 standalone MUX for 4 channels + 0.5MUX (1 Channel) which is shared by ViuTV (2 channels). RTHK (PSB) have 1 standalone MUX for 2+1 channels, but this MUX is left out by some older MATV system as only a few watches RTHK TV channels due to upgrading MATV systems costs a lot of money. while HK Open TV has another standalone MUX for 2 channels, transmitting via MATV/Cable only. Before the end of ATV broadcasts, ATV had owned 1 MUX + 0.5MUX shared with TVB too.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Dec 5 2019, 01:16 AM

Seems like for this time, it will affect another analogue channel (RCTI instead of Indosiar) in the south which its power has been reduced. I think MYTV has to negotiate with Indonesian authorities (KOMINFO, RCTI) to redesign the analogue transmitting panels for RCTI before doing any changes in Johor Bahru, which I think will be the last to move, to avoid potential interference with Indonesian analogue TV, which is a issue here for DTT reception, and there is no more analogue fallback for Malaysian TV. Imagine the complaints for the loss of RTM TV reception in numerous areas, which has already happened in the past. The usage of 470-610 MHz would be impossible in some areas, like in the south without reserving any frequencies in the future.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Dec 6 2019, 09:46 PM

Before that, what is the transmitter you were using for receiving analogue TV? You may be receive digital terrestrial signals if you were able to get TV3 analogue in the past. If there was only 2 channel (TV1/TV2) no chance unless in Lahad Datu and Kudat. Based on the coverage map and DTH coverage prediction, you can only get satellite TV as the only form of TV reception, which can mean up to 9 set top boxes and 9 satellite dishes in your case.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Dec 6 2019, 10:00 PM

joshhd I understand that some antenna adjustments has been done, on Channel 47 and 49 in the past by Kominfo. The transmissions that will cause interference is Channel 43/647mhz which will definitely need some adjustments/transmitter pattern redesign soon in Indonesian side for this frequency.

Although there are benefits of lower band giving better coverage when the DTT signals move to <600mhz, Existing transmitting antennas will have to be modified, significantly if the signal is going to move from around 690mhz to 550mhz. There is a reason why most transmitters move their DTT MUX 2 transmissions to Channel 43 and not lower bands. Those transmitters who move to Channel 32 fir MUX 2have existing transmission on Channel 30. MYTV is not going to spend that money, considering most DTT transmitting antenna panels are only 2-4 years old and their unwillingness to expand DTT coverage to some capital cities/Federal territory namely Seremban, Labuan and Kangar and rural areas, instead using DTH for these areas.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Dec 7 2019, 01:14 AM

Agree with that. Satellite TV (C-Band) is extremely reliable, with 99.995% uptime, after considering sun outages that will happen twice a year. Ku-Band is not reliable whe compared to terrestrial TV/C Band due to weather issues. Sun outages is different in each area so if one area is affected, it will typically not affect other. Only very selective users, like the military, require more than 1 satellite as they require 100% uptime. DTT is very realiable too, but however it is subject to transmitter outages. But since no one want to have 2-3 meter satellite on their house due to legal issues/looks ugly in some situations, DTT remains the best system.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Dec 11 2019, 11:26 PM

DTT service retuning is not yet done in any transmitters. 698MHz will still work as usual until the announced retune date. An announcement will be done by MYTV in the future regarding the DTT retune process.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Dec 27 2019, 06:58 PM

Seems that MYTV never learned their lesson during when RTM channels changes MUX or removing channels in the past. Just add, moved or delete channels as they wish abruptly without placing any holding slides for a while informing the move. Expect some complaints to them during frequency restacking in the future. Not everybody is tech savvy nor everybody has a set top box/TV who do auto tuning. The technical team of MYTV is incompetent and unprofessional by allowing avoidable issues happening for many times. Please do everybody if you see this, do a complaint to MCMC regarding this awful situation.This gives more space to MUX 1 though for new channels (unlikely) or allowing all channels moving to HD (also an unlikely scenario) as Media Prima cannot even settle down 8TV in HD due to their tight financial situation.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Jan 18 2020, 12:01 AM

The schedules on the DTT platform is famously unreliable sometimes due to the problem on the broadcaster forgot to update.


Even Astro' s own EPG is sometimes not that reliable too for the terrestrial channels if you want to see the schedule for the next few days. However they will at least provide a schedule based on the old data in case the terrestrial channels forgot to update their schedule.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Feb 15 2020, 09:13 AM

The frequency used before (682MHz and 698MHz) and after the retune (666MHz and 650MHz) is still pretty much unusable in the South unless the Indonesian side has switch off analogue signals. This is despite the signal levels of analogue Trans TV (663.25MHz/Channel 45) and RCTI (647.25MHz/Channel 43) is lower than SCTV (679.25MHz), which has caused significant reception issues at start of the digital broadcasting. The panels for the affected TV channels in Batam has to be readjusted as well. In fact, the viewers living in some parts of Southern Johor has better chance on receiving the multiplexes transmitted for the Northern Johor rather than the Southern Johor as there are no interference at all for now on 546MHz and 562MHz. As we see, the digital TV retune exercise has been completed/planned in many areas but no date has been announced in the South so far when I was writing this post! Anyway, I don't think any significant retune will done in the south unless the transmission issues has resolved although i know that this is done to make way for 700MHz 4G/5G.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Feb 24 2020, 07:30 PM

Understand that why DTT retune only involve one of two frequencies on most areas as many things will have to be changed including MATV changes, antenna panels (for transmitter) and more. However in case for the south, both MYTV multiplexes will be affected for the retune, as opposed of one for most masts on a future date. Anyway, it is a good time for the viewers in the Johor Bahru region to update the TV and DTT boxes in the south as many lineup changes has been done.