MUX-8 — how to receive signals without interference?
MUX-8 is a terrestrial television multiplex, which was launched in 2018. It contained 7 standard definition SD programs (3 programs of Telewizja Polska and 4 programs of commercial broadcasters channels) or 6 programs, including one high definition HD channel (one SD and one HD Telewizja Polska channel and four SD channels from commercial broadcasters).
The operator of MUX-8 is a EmiTel, which has been obligated to start using the MUX-8 frequencies.
Like the DAB+ digital radio multiplexes, MUX-8 is broadcast on the VHF band (channels 5-12, 174-230MHz). For many users, in previous year, this meant the need to adjust or modernize the receiving antenna installations, because a significant number of the transmitters transmitted it broadcasting with vertical (V) polarization.
These circumstances made it necessary to use an additional antenna designed to receive this range, and in some cases the need to use other equipment that would enable the adjustment of the existing installation to the new conditions of expansion and extended bandwidth of digital terrestrial television reception.
So what should we do to receive MUX8 channels without any interference?
Below is a collection of some practical advice on some typical situations that may occur during the expansion or construction of a new installation, to ensure the reception of MUX8 channels:
• In the case of an existing simple installation based on directional or broadband UHF aerials, one would have to buy a VHF aerial and an appropriate multiplexer, designed for combining signals from both bands. This can be, for instance, the T-urbo-T V aerial and the ZWR-210DC multiplexer.
• In the case of a more sophisticated installation, using a channel amplifier, it is enough to buy a VHF aerial and connect it to the appropriate input of this amplifier with additional gel-filled coaxial cable. Such amplifiers sum the signals from aerials, fed to all inputs, so there is no need for multiplexers.
• The same applies to installations with multi-band amplifiers (e.g TELKOM-TELMOR WWK series). To receive MUX8 it is enough to lay an additional outdoor coaxial cable, e.g TT-113PE and connect a VHF aerial, e.g. T-urbo-T V.
• If the installation already uses an asr aerial to receive channels from the UHF band, it will allow receiving MUX8 without any changes (except for installations using the asr IQ LTE PROTECTED). In addition to adequate transmitter power and receiver distance, it is also required that MUX8 in a given area be broadcast in the same polarization as the UHF band (H polarization).
If the system does not work, it will be necessary to install an additional VHF aerial (e.g. Turbo-T V or EK-36) and connect it via a band multiplexer (ZWR-210DC) or a channel amplifier ( WK-410) . If the ZWR-210DC multiplexer is used, the passive asr aerials should work when the jumpers in the said multiplexer are removed. In the case of using active Asr aerials, it is required to leave the DC jumper in the UHF path, and then mount the power supply with the ZZ-A7 voltage separator (included with the Asr aerial) or FA-121.
• For a new installation we suggest following the advice given above, or mounting an aerial allowing to receive signals in two bands, UHF and VHF (e.g. TT 345 — but here both bands have to be transmitted in a single H polarization).
We have already completed of implementation of the MUX8 broadcast. The EmiTel website provides the full list of currently launched transmitters with their transmission parameters.
So far, four new channels have been launched on MUX8:
The range of products allowing the reception of new channels from MUX8 has also increased. In addition to the T-urbo-T V and EK-3 and TT-345 aerials we described above, new aerials have been introduced:
- aerial T-urbo-T V3 for the reception of the VHF band in vertical or horizontal polarization,
- aerial T-urbo-T COMBO for the reception of the VHF band in vertical polarization and UHF band in horizontal polarization,
- aerial T-urbo-T COMBO Smart for the reception of the VHF band in any polarization and the UHF band in horizontal polarization.