Engineering reportRestack channel planningSydneyENGINEERING REPORT TPS2012/08

SEPTEMBER 2012

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Published by the Australian Communications and Media Authority

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Executive summary 1

Proposed channel allotments 2

1 Introduction 31.1 Scope 31.2 Channel planning principles 31.3 Sydney licence area channel block identifications 41.4 Consultation 41.5 Terminology 41.6 Transmitter specifications 5

2 Block identification and channel allotment proposals 62.1 Background 62.2 High-power sites 62.3 Sydney licence area repeater sites 6

3 Implementation/sequencing considerations 113.1 TLAP timing windows 113.2 Constraints on the restacking of sites 11

Appendix A1—Planning principles 14

Appendix A2—Proposed channel plan 16

Appendix A3—Maps 18

Appendix A4—Service-by-service constraint list 21

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Executive summary

This engineering report accompanies, and is intended to read with, documentation related to the draft television licence area plan (TLAP) for the Sydney TV1 Licence Area. It provides background explanations for the proposed channel block identifications and channel allotments for broadcast sites and other relevant types of sites such as retransmission sites within the Sydney TV1 Licence Area.

The proposed channel allotments are discussed in detail in section 2 of the report, and are summarised in the table following this executive summary. The proposed block identifications and channel allotments follow the restack planning principles unless specifically noted.

Section 3 of the report discusses implementation sequencing constraints that may need to be captured as events or circumstances in the draft TLAP or as licence conditions. However, the determination of restack ‘timing windows’ is not covered in this report. It is considered separately in the discussion paper for metropolitan licence area draft TLAPs that is being released together with this engineering report.

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Proposed channel allotmentsThe table below summarises the channel allotments proposed in this engineering report. These allotments will be included in the related draft TLAP instrument.

Sites shown in rows with grey shading have all retransmission services. These services are not expected to be included in the TLAP instrument. However, they have been taken into account in channel planning for the TLAP.

Channels that are allotted in the TLAP for currently operating services that will be restacked are identified by ( ).

General area served

Block SBS ABC ATN TCN TEN UA

Sydney1 A (34) 7 12 6 8 11 10Wyong D (34) 40 (37) 41 (61) 42 (62) 43 (65) 44 45Gosford D (34) 40 (37) 41 (61) 42 (62) 43 (65) 44 45Bouddi D (34) 40 (37) 41 (61) 42 (62) 43 (65) 44 45

Sydney North West B 32 30 (48) 28 33 (45) 31 29Manly/Mosman B (34) 32 30 (48) 28 33 (45) 31 29

Kings Cross B (34) 32 30 (48) 28 33 (45) 31 29Megalong E 50 49 46 47 48 51Woronora D 40 41 42 43 44 45

Sydney South West D (64) 40 41 (47) 42 (50) 43 44 45Picton D (64) 40 41 (47) 42 (50) 43 44 45

1 The Sydney TSN29 community digital television service may be licensed to operate until 31 December 2013. Arrangements beyond that date are subject to future government decisions.

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1 Introduction1.1 ScopeThis report should be read in conjunction with the draft TLAP for Sydney, the associated discussion/explanatory papers and the related planning documents. These contain the detailed transmitter specifications consistent with the parameters assumed in conducting predictions of signal levels as part of the planning process.

The legislative and regulatory background of the Sydney TLAP is discussed in the metropolitan draft TLAP discussion paper.

The Sydney TV1 licence area consists of the market area covering greater metropolitan Sydney as well as the Central Coast overlap area. The main high-power transmission sites in this area are the three sites of Artarmon, Willoughby and Gore Hill (for the purpose of this report these three sites will be treated as being effectively co-sited).

The digital switchover timetable set the Sydney licence area including the areas that ‘overlap’ parts of Northern NSW licence area to switchover on 3 December 2013. The surrounding Southern New South Wales licence area will complete switchover on 5 June 2012, and the ‘non-overlap’ parts of the Northern New South Wales licence area will complete switchover on 27 November 2012.

This engineering report provides supporting engineering information to explain the choice of channels at sites to be included in the Sydney TLAP. To provide a complete view of the constraints influencing channel block selection, the scope of this engineering report also includes sites used to provide retransmission services (both those operated by TX Australia, and those operated by councils or other community organisations).

The report also analyses the constraints affecting the sequencing of the move to final restack channels but the determination of timing window within which the transition to final digital channels must occur is covered in the discussion paper for metropolitan licence area draft TLAPs.

1.2 Channel planning principlesThe planning principles that underpin the identification of blocks and allotment of channels have been the subject of extensive consultation/discussion at the Restack Planning Advisory Group (RPAG) and then a formal public consultation. Feedback on the proposed restack objectives was broadly positive and supportive of the proposed planning objectives. In its analyses that led to the decision to incorporate the block planning approach in its planning principles, the ACMA undertook an extensive comparative analysis of two alternative planning approaches and eventually adopted the block approach over the alternative minimum moves approach.

The development of the overall restack channel plan followed a top-down approach. That is to say, high-power sites and other sites serving large populations were considered first and the most suitable channel blocks for those key sites were identified. After that, more detailed region-by-region analyses were performed to determine channel blocks for the repeater sites in each region.

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1.3 Sydney licence area channel block identificationsThe identified channel block for the high-power Sydney services was fixed as Block A by the ministerial direction to the ACMA.

Within the RPAG a collaborative process was undertaken to develop an indicative channel plan for ‘key sites’ around Australia. That process concluded that the block identifications for major surrounding regional transmitter sites around Sydney should be Newcastle (Block C), Illawarra (Block C and Central Coast (Block D and lower Block E). Those block allocations strongly influence the block identifications of most of the repeater sites in the Sydney licence area. Further details of the block identification and channel allotment for all sites in the Sydney licence area are discussed in detail in section 2.

In addition, channel blocks for other lower-power sites in the Southern and Northern New South Wales licence areas have been identified in other engineering reports, which have been the subject of consultation with industry, both through a formal public consultation and through informal consultation at RPAG Working Group meetings. During the process of developing channel plans for the Southern and Northern New South Wales sites, Sydney licence area sites were considered and channel planning for Southern and Northern New South Wales sites was undertaken in such a manner as to apply the planning principles for both regional and metropolitan area sites simultaneously).

Section 3 uses those proposed Block identifications, and knowledge of interference compatibility constraints to determine limitations or conditions that could apply to the sequence in which the restack is implemented.

Appendix A1 provides the ACMA’s planning principles.

Appendix A2 provides a channel chart that summarises the proposed channel allotments as well as current analog (where applicable) and digital channels at each site.

Appendix A3 provides colour-coded maps that illustrate the channel block identified for each transmitter site together with an indication of its expected coverage.

Appendix A4 provides a service-by-service listing of constraints on restacking each service.

1.4 ConsultationThe ACMA distributed a draft of this engineering report prior to the RPAG Working Group meeting on 30 May 2012 and discussed the channel planning proposals contained in the draft at that meeting.

1.5 TerminologyBlock identification and channel allotmentsTo align with terminology being adopted in TLAP instruments, this report uses the terms ‘identify’ or identification’ when referring to the proposed block of channels to be used to serve a particular area. The channels of the identified channel block are specified in the TLAP. The term ‘allotment’ is used in the TLAP and in this engineering report in relation to which channel is to be used by which broadcaster. Some channels will remain unallotted in the TLAP and may be available for future allotment to a new service or be made available for retransmission services operated by third parties.

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Call sign for ABC servicesThe ABC has traditionally been given a unique call sign for services from main sites and off-air fed translators and a generic state-based call sign for the main metropolitan service and satellite fed services. For example, the ABC service at Sydney has the call sign ABN. This convention has not been rigorously applied over the years and this can lead to confusion. For the purposes of consistency, in this engineering report and draft TLAP documents, the call sign ABC has been used for all ABC services.

1.6 Transmitter specificationsDetailed transmitter specifications for each service at each site are included in separate planning data. The planning data will become a ‘living document’ that should quite closely reflect the actual operating conditions of all services within the planning area covered by the TLAP. It is intended that the planning data will be revised from time to time as better information, or changes to transmitter specifications, are advised to the ACMA. Generally those specifications follow existing DCP2 technical specifications (except for channel changes).

2 Or licence data in the case of retransmission sites.

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2 Block identification and channel allotment proposals

2.1 BackgroundThis section of the engineering report explains how the proposed channel blocks were identified for each area and describes the proposed channel allotments within each identified block. In addition to the normal consideration of avoiding or minimising predicted interference between services, channel allotments have been made in accordance with the ACMA’s planning principles unless specifically noted in the discussion in this section. The planning principles are reproduced in Appendix A1.

Selection of channel blocks and channel allotments has been done in accordance with planning principles 4 and 5 in all cases. In the selection of channel blocks the ACMA has been guided by the need to avoid interference between services and by Planning Principle 7. Discussion on the rationale for particular block selections is included on a site-by-site basis in sections 2.2 and 2.3. Similarly the channel allotments within each identified block generally follow Planning Principle 6, but individual issues are discussed in sections 2.2 and 2.3.

In addition to the site-by-site discussion in this section, the channel allocation proposals have also been summarised in a consolidated channel chart (that also shows current analog and digital channels) in Appendix A2.

2.2 High-power sites2.2.1 Sydney(Artarmon, Willoughby, Gore Hill) Block AArtarmon, Willoughby and Gore Hill are the main high-power transmission sites serving the Sydney Switchover Area. Digital services may be transmitted from one or more of these three sites; however, these sites are considered to be effectively co-sited for the purpose of this report.

The identified channel block for the high-power metropolitan services in Sydney is Block A. Proposed channel allotments for Sydney follow Principle 6 and are shown in Table 2.1.

The Sydney TSN29 community service may be licensed to operate until 31 December 2013. Arrangements beyond that date are subject to future government decisions.

2.3 Sydney licence area repeater sitesTable 2.1 shows the proposed block identifications and channel allotments for repeater sites in the Sydney switchover region.

Block identifications have been made for sites listed in Table 2.1. Block identifications have not been made for Patonga. If channels for this site are required in the future, they should fit within the framework provided in Table 2.1.

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Table 2.1 Proposed channel allotments for the Sydney region

Area Served Pol

6 7 8 9 9A 10 11 12 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

Wyong3 V SB

SA

BC

ATN

TCN

TEN

UA

NE

NN

BN

NR

N

Gosford3 H SB

SA

BC

ATN

TCN

TEN

UA

NE

NN

BN

NR

N

Bouddi3 V SB

SA

BC

ATN

TCN

TEN

UA

NE

NN

BN

NR

N

Sydney North West H ATN UA

AB

CTE

NS

BS

TCN                      

Sydney H ATN

S

BS

TCN

 D

AB

UA

TEN

AB

C

TSN                        

Manly/Mosman H                A

TN UA

AB

CTE

NS

BS

TCN            

Kings Cross H                A

TN UA

AB

CTE

NS

BS

TCN            

Megalong V                            

ATN

TCN

TEN

AB

CS

BS

Woronora V                            

SB

SA

BC

ATN

TCN

TEN

UA

Sydney South West H    

SB

SA

BC

ATN

TCN

TEN

UA

Picton V    

SB

SA

BC

ATN

TCN

TEN

UA

2.3.1 Overview discussionDue to the interactions between Sydney area repeaters it is not possible to identify independent channel blocks for all repeater sites. Therefore some use of SFNs is essential if all broadcast sites and proposed retransmission site conversions and gap fillers are to be accommodated. Wherever possible it is highly desirable to maintain existing SFN arrangements to avoid creating new potential interference situations.

Therefore the starting point for Sydney TV1 licence area channel planning studies was:

> Wyong, Gosford and Bouddi operating in an SFN;> Manly/Mosman and Kings Cross operating in an SFN.

2.3.2 Wyong Block DAs mentioned in section 2.3.1, initial channel planning for Wyong was based on maintaining the currently operating SFN arrangement with Bouddi and Gosford.

Wyong, Gosford and Bouddi metro services (operating in an SFN) need to avoid Wyong, Gosford and Bouddi regional services on lower Block E, Newcastle and Illawarra services on Block C and Kings Cross and Manly/Mossman on Block B.

Therefore it is proposed that the identified channel block for Wyong is Block D.The proposed channel allotments for Wyong are SBS40, ABC41, ATN42, TCN43, TEN44 and UA45 and follow Planning Principle 6.3 Northern New South Wales services will also be provided at these sites. However, those services have not been discussed in sections 2.3.1 and 2.3.2 as they are outside the scope of this engineering report. Channel selections for Northern New South Wales TV1 licence area services will be discussed in the engineering report for that licence area. Channels for those services have; however, been shown in grey shading in Table 2.1.

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2.3.3 Gosford Block DAs mentioned in section 2.3.1, initial channel planning for Gosford was based on maintaining the currently operating SFN arrangement with Bouddi and Wyong.

Wyong, Gosford and Bouddi metro services (operating in an SFN) need to avoid Wyong, Gosford and Bouddi regional services on lower Block E, Newcastle and Illawarra services on Block C and Kings Cross and Manly/Mossman on Block B.

Therefore it is proposed that the identified channel block for Gosford is Block D.

The proposed channel allotments for Gosford are SBS40, ABC41, ATN42, TCN43, TEN44 and UA45 and follow Planning Principle 6.

Note: Metropolitan commercial broadcasters have proposed that the maximum ERP of the Gosford digital services should be increased. To ensure consistency with restack Planning Principle 10 the ACMA consulted all broadcasters operating at Gosford and concluded that there was general support for an increase in the maximum ERP by 5 dB (i.e. from 100 W ERP to 330 W ERP). This level will allow broadcasters that have currently installed 50 W transmitters to achieve the rated ERP without the need to replace their transmitters.

While this increase is beyond the scope of a straightforward like-for-like restack it appears that a 5 dB ERP increase would be supported by all broadcasters and would not introduce significant new capital costs for most broadcasters.

2.3.4 Bouddi Block DAs mentioned in section 2.3.1, initial channel planning for Bouddi was based on maintaining the currently operating SFN arrangement with Gosford and Wyong.

Wyong, Gosford and Bouddi metro services (operating in an SFN) need to avoid Wyong, Gosford and Bouddi regional services on lower Block E, Newcastle and Illawarra services on Block C and Kings Cross and Manly/Mossman on Block B. Therefore it is proposed that the identified channel block for Bouddi is Block D.

The proposed channel allotments for Bouddi are SBS40, ABC41, ATN42, TCN43, TEN44 and UA45 and follow Planning Principle 6.

2.3.5 Manly/Mossman and Kings Cross SFN Block BThe Manly/Mosman and Kings Cross services have been planned on the basis of protection of locations where the received field strength exceeds the ‘suburban’ level and where locations receive their best signals from the Kings Cross or Manly/Mosman sites.

As mentioned in section 2.3.1, initial channel planning for Manly/Mosman and Kings Cross was based on maintaining the currently operating SFN arrangement.

Manly/Mosman and King Cross services (operating in SFN) need to avoid Newcastle and Illawarra services in Block C, Central Coast Metro services in Block D and Central Coast regional services on lower Block E. Therefore it is proposed that the identified channel block for Manly/Mosman is Block B. The unallotted channel has been placed on channel 29 to avoid the TSN29 service constraining or delaying the restack of other Sydney TV1 licence area services.

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The proposed channel allotments for Manly/Mosman and Kings Cross are ATN28, UA29, ABC30, TEN31, SBS32 and TCN33, maintaining the currently operating ABC30 and TCN33 services.

2.3.6 Sydney North West Block BThe Sydney North West services have been planned on the basis of protection of locations where the received field strength exceeds the ‘suburban’ level and where locations receive their best signals from the Sydney North West site.

Sydney North West services need to avoid co-channel Kings Cross and Manly/Mosman services in Block B (unless operated in an SFN with those services), Newcastle and Illawarra services in Block C, Central Coast metro services in Block D and Central Coast regional services in Block E. No clear block is available for Sydney North West services. Therefore the only way to accommodate this new gap filler is to incorporate it into an SFN with one or more other Sydney repeater sites.

Incorporating Sydney North West into the existing SFN involving Kings Cross and Manly/Mosman was found to provide the best interference margin between sites. Therefore it is proposed that the channel block identified for use by Sydney North West should be Block B.

The proposed channel allotments for Sydney North West follow Planning Principle 6 and have been aligned with those of Kings Cross and Manly/Mossman as all of these sites need to operate in an SFN.

The proposed channel allotments for Sydney North West are ATN28, UA29, ABC30, TEN31, SBS32 and TCN33.

2.3.7 Megalong Block EThe Megalong services have been planned on the basis of protection of locations where the received field strength exceeds the ‘suburban’ level and within the area defined by ABS (ASGS 2011) as the state suburb (SSC) of Blackheath.

Megalong services need to avoid co-channel operation with Central Tablelands and Illawarra services in Block C and Portland/Wallerawang services in Block D. It is not desirable for Megalong services to operate on Block B because current analog services operate on high Band V channels and existing viewer antennas may not perform well on Band IV channels. Therefore it is proposed that the identified channel block for Megalong should be Block E.

Identification of Block E also has the advantage that it will allow Megalong to commence on final channels without requiring restacking.

The proposed channel allotments for Megalong are ATN46, TCN47, TEN48, ABC49, SBS50 and UA51. This follows the channel allotment order requested by TX Australia (which will hold the licences of all these services).

2.3.8 Woronora Block DThe Woronora services have been planned on the basis of protection of locations where the received field strength exceeds the ‘urban’ level and within suburbs of Woronora and Bonnet Bay. The planning is also assumed inclusion of a second panel antenna to add coverage in the Bonnet Bay area.

Woronora needs to avoid co-channel operation with Kings Cross and Manly/Mosman in Block B and Illawarra services in Block C. Woronora can operate in either Block D or E.

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As there are more channels available prior to ASO in Block D than E it is proposed that Woronora should operate on Block D and this will allow Woronora to commence on final channels without requiring restacking.

The proposed channel allotments for Woronora follow Planning Principle 6 and are SBS40, ABC41, ATN42, TCN43, TEN44 and UA45.

2.3.9 Sydney South West Block DThe Sydney South West services have been planned on the basis of protection of locations where the received field strength exceeds the ‘suburban’ level.

Sydney South West services need to avoid co-channel Kings Cross and Manly/Mosman services in Block B, Newcastle and Illawarra services in Block C and Bowral/Mittagong services in Block E. This leaves Block D; however, due to minor interference concerns with Bouddi and Wyong digital services which are vertically polarised; horizontal polarisation has been proposed for Sydney South West. Studies found that horizontal polarisation minimised concerns about co-channel operation with Bouddi and Wyong services. Further, to avoid co-channel interference from Sydney South West into the coverage of Central Coast sites it is expected that those services should be operated in an SFN configuration.

With those understandings it is proposed that the identified channel block for Sydney South West should be Block D.

The proposed channel allotments for Sydney South West follow Planning Principle 6 and are SBS40, ABC41, ATN42, TCN43, TEN44 and UA45.

2.3.10 Picton Block DThe Picton services have been planned on the basis of protection of locations where the received field strength exceeds the ‘suburban’ level.

Picton services need to avoid co-channel operation with Kings Cross and Manly/Mosman services in Block B, Newcastle and Illawarra services in Block C, and Bowral/Mittagong services in Block E. Therefore Block D is proposed as the identified block for use by Picton.

As Picton services will be co-channel with the nearby Sydney South West services, it is expected/recommended that these services will operate in an SFN (or OCR) arrangement. Studies found that vertically polarised operation of Picton will minimise concerns about co-channel operation with Wollongong services and provides the best protection margins for the Picton services. The proposed channel allotments for Picton follow Planning Principle 6 and are aligned with Sydney South West to allow for SFN or OCR operation.

The proposed channel allotments are SBS40, ABC41, ATN42, TCN43, TEN44 and UA45.

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3 Implementation/sequencing considerations

This section of the report introduces the concept of TLAP timing windows and discusses implementation sequencing constraints that may need to be captured as events or circumstances in the draft TLAP or as licence conditions. The determination of restack ‘timing windows’ is not covered in this report. It is discussed separately in the discussion paper for metropolitan licence area draft TLAPs that is being released together with this engineering report.

3.1 TLAP timing windowsThe TLAP instrument for Sydney will specify the period for which each channel is allotted. For a service that must restack, the TLAP would show two entries—one for the current channel allotment and a second for the final (post-restack) channel allotment. By overlapping the periods during which the current and final (or post-restack) channels are allotted, a ‘timing window’ is created within which broadcasters can schedule the actual date for the restack of each site. For services not restacking, only one channel allotment is shown in the TLAP because the pre- and post-restack channels will be the same.

The timing window concept is being used as it is not practical to define precise restack dates in the TLAP. This is because any slippage due to equipment delivery or delays due to weather events, or opportunistic advancement of some work when other work is delayed, would require the TLAP to be varied. Broadcasters and the Program Implementation Manager will need to make adequate contingency allowances in their project planning to ensure that any applicable planning permits are obtained, and site works, equipment deliveries and the actual restack for each site occurs before the end of the timing window.

Additionally, the restack at each site will need to be coordinated between broadcasters to avoid (or minimise) any need for viewers to retune their television(s) multiple times during a restack timing window.

3.2 Constraints on the restacking of sites4

An analysis showing which sites need to be restacked or switched off before other sites can be restacked has been performed. The results of that analysis are summarised in Table A4.1 in Appendix A4, where current constraints (if any) are shown for each service at each site.

The restack of Sydney market area services is not expected to commence before analog services switch off in the Northern and Southern NSW licence areas (which will occur, respectively on 27 November 2012 and 5 June 2012). So analog services at sites in the Southern NSW licence area or in the non-overlap part of the Northern NSW licence area (eg. Newcastle analog services) will not constrain the restack of Sydney area sites. Therefore analog services at sites in those areas have been excluded from the analysis in this report. However, to provide a proper understanding of opportunities for restack of Sydney area sites ahead of the analog switch-over in the Sydney switchover market area, analog constraints for Sydney area sites including Sydney, Gosford, Bouddi and Wyong have been included.

4 The analysis in this section does not include constraints on the use of the unallotted channel. It has been assumed that the unallotted channel will not generally be used before the restack has been completed.

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That analysis found that of the 11 sites considered in this report, Megalong and Woronora can operate on final post-restack channels at any time within the restack timing window for the Sydney licence area (and are expected to commence in digital on these channels).5 These are summarised in Table 3.1.

Table 3.1 Sites with broadcast services not constrained by currently operating ‘pre-restack’ services

Category Area(s) servedSites at which all services are operating (or will commence) on final channels

Megalong, Woronora

Additionally, a further 9 sites are constrained by other Sydney or surrounding Southern and Northern NSW licence area services. (These are listed in Tables 3.2 and 3.3). In most cases the constraints are a combination of Southern and Northern NSW and Sydney Licence area services. At only 2 of the 9 sites was the constraint only due to Sydney Licence area sites.

It is anticipated that these sites should be able to be restacked in a sequence that does not cause the identified restack constraints to occur.

Table 3.2 Sites with broadcast services that are only constrained by other Sydney licence area services

Area served Constraint (col. 2 digital sites must restack before col.1 site)

Sydney Analog: Sydney

Sydney North West Sydney

5 Broadcaster sites and sites providing retransmission services (both those operated by TX Australia, and those operated by councils or other community organisations).

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Table 3.3 Sites with broadcast services that are constrained by surrounding regional licence area services and/or surrounding regional area and Sydney licence area services

Area served Constraint (col. 2 digital sites must restack before col.1 site)

Bouddi Belmont North, Port Stephens, Manning RiverAnalog: Bouddi (Metro & Regional), Manly/Mosman, Wyong

Gosford Manning RiverAnalog: Gosford (Regional), Manly/Mosman, Wyong (Regional)

Kings Cross SydneyAnalog: Bouddi (Regional)

Manly/Mosman SydneyAnalog: Bouddi (Regional)

Picton Bowral/Mittagong

Sydney South West

Bowral/MittagongAnalog: Manly/Mosman

Wyong Belmont North, Port Stephens, Manning RiverAnalog: Bouddi (Metro & Regional), Manly/Mosman, Wyong

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Appendix A1—Planning principlesNote: the wording of principles below has been adjusted to align with the terminology adopted for TLAPs.

Principle 1: Replan digital television services to use VHF channels 6–12 and UHF channels 28–51.

Principle 2: Create a digital radio sub-band, comprising VHF television channels 9 and 9A, that is clear of digital television in metropolitan and regional licence areas. Where practicable, also avoid planning new services on these channels in remote licence areas.

Principle 3: Plan for six digital channels at each transmission site, except fori)  licence area overlaps where two sets of three commercial services will require channels (a total of nine channels)ii)  where broadcasters operate from different sites but cover the same area.

Principles 4–6 define the essential elements of the block planning approach.

Principle 4: Plan channels so that viewers in metropolitan and regional licence areas can receive all services using a single band antenna (i.e., plan all channels in either the VHF or UHF band). Consider the benefit of single band operation in other areas on a case-by-case basis. The current polarisation of the existing transmissions in a particular band at each transmission site is to be maintained.

Principle 5: Plan all six services on channels within defined blocks of channels as follows:

Block A: 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12*Block B: 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33Block C: 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 and 39Block D: 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45Block E: 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, and 51.* Channels 9 and 9A may be used for digital TV in some remote areas.

Principle 6: Allot channels within a block as follows:

VHF: Existing VHF services to retain current channels unless they have to move to clear channels 9 and 9A under principle 2. New or changed channel allotments do not need to follow any particular order, except in all metropolitan areas where SBS should move to channel 7. Where it is possible without moving existing services, channel 10 should be the unallotted channel to align with the metropolitan area unallotted channel.

UHF: Channel allotments should be made after considering and balancing a number of objectives including: avoiding off-air input issues (adjacent channel and N+5) avoiding changes to existing services within the block using the unallotted channel to remove restack timing constraints and manage

band edge interference potential.

If none of the above issues apply, UHF channels should be allotted in the following order: SBS, ABC, Seven (or affiliate), Nine (or affiliate), Ten (or affiliate), unallotted.

Principle 7: In selecting the channel block for a transmission site:

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Consider the channels used by existing digital services and any information available on the operating frequency range of broadcaster transmission equipment.

Avoid use of a block outside the likely bandwidth of viewer antennas. In particular, avoid Block B where there is no current or past use of UHF Band IV channels. Where this cannot be avoided, minimise the total population affected.

Wherever sites utilise UHF channel blocks, attempt to place high-power services on lower UHF channel blocks.

Principle 8: Break up wide area single frequency networks (SFNs) known to have associated reception problems and minimise use of new SFNs where possible.

Principle 9: Plan on the basis of broadcasters using the DVB-T standard with transmission parameters of 8k, 64QAM, 2/3 forward error correction (FEC) and 1/16 guard interval.The co-channel protection ratio used for planning will be: 20 dB

The minimum median field strengths used for planning will be:

Minimum median field strengths for digital television planning (dBµV/m)

VHF (Block A)(174–230 MHz)

UHF (Blocks B and C)(526–610 MHz)

UHF (Blocks D and E)(610–694 MHz)

Rural Suburban Urban Rural Suburban Urban Rural Suburban Urban

Minimum median field strength (dBuV/m)

44 57 66 50 63 71 54 67 74

Consistent with the reconfirmation of the existing technical planning parameters, the assumed transmission parameters include an FEC of 2/3. Also consistent with the reconfirmation of the current minimum median field strengths and 2/3 FEC, a co-channel protection ratio of 20 dB will also continue to be used.

However, recognising the proposal to break up wide area SFNs in principle 8, a 1/16 guard interval has been adopted.

Principle 10: Equalise transmissions across all broadcasters as far as practicable through planning on the basis of equal ERP levels, identical antenna patterns, closely sited transmitters and all broadcasters having the same SFN arrangement.

Principle 11: Determine the timing constraints on channel availability and specify a minimum window of six months, where practicable, when both the current digital and the final digital channels are available. When all sites and timing windows are considered together, they should result in the digital dividend channels (52–69) being cleared as soon as practicable, and by the end of 2014 at the latest.

acma | 15

Appendix A2—Proposed channel planSydney licence area sites (including sites in the overlap area with the Northern NSW Licence Area)Belmont North

Area Served Pol

6 7 8 9 9A 10 11 12 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69

Wyong P V SBS

AB

C

ATN

TCN

TEN

UA

N

EN

N

BN

N

RN

Wyong C V NEN

NRN AB

C SB

S SB

S

ABC

NRN

NEN

AT

NAT

N

TCN

TC

N

TEN

TE

N

NBN

N

BN

Gosford P H SBS

AB

C

ATN

TCN

TEN

UA

N

EN

N

BN

N

RN

Gosford C H SBS

ABC

NBN

NEN AB

C

ATN

TCN

TEN

SBS

NEN

ATN

TC

N

TEN

NBN

Bouddi P V SBS

AB

C

ATN

TCN

TEN

UA

N

EN

N

BN

N

RN

Bouddi C V NEN SB

S

ABC

NBN AT

N

TCN

TEN

NEN

ATN

TC

N

SBS

TEN

ABC

NBN

Manly/Mosman P H ATN

UA

AB

C

TEN

SBS

TC

N

Manly/Mosman C H ABC

TCN

SB

S

SBS

ABC

TEN

ATN

ATN

TCN

TEN

SYDNEY P H ATN

SBS

TC

N

DAB

U

A

TEN

ABC

TSN

SYDNEY C H ATN

AT

NTC

N

TCN

DAB

TEN

TEN

AB

C SB

STS

N

SBS

Kings Cross P H ATN

UA

AB

C

TEN

SBS

TC

N

Kings Cross C H ABC

TCN

SB

S

TEN

AB

C

ATN

AT

N

TCN

TEN

SBS

Sydney North West P H ATN

UA

AB

C

TEN

SBS

TC

N

Sydney North West C H ABC

SBS

TC

N

TEN

ATN

Woronora P V SBS

AB

C

ATN

TCN

TEN

UA

Woronora C V SBS

AB

C

ATN

TC

N

TEN

ABC

ATN

TCN

TEN

SBS

Megalong P V ATN

TCN

TEN

ABC

SB

S

UA

Megalong C V ATN

TC

N

TCN

AB

C

SBS

SBS

ABC

ATN

TEN

TCN

Sydney South West P H SBS

AB

C

ATN

TCN

TEN

UA

Sydney South West C H ABC

TEN

ATN

TCN

SBS

Picton P V SBS

AB

C

ATN

TCN

TEN

UA

Picton C V ABC

TEN

ATN

TCN

SBS

A B C D E

16 | acma

Sites in neighbouring licence areas

Area Served Pol

6 7 8 9 9A 10 11 12 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69

NEWCASTLE P H UA

N

EN

N

BN

AB

C

SBS

N

RN

NEWCASTLE C H NBN

AB

C SB

S

SBS

ABC

NRN

NEN

N

EN

NRN

Belmont North P V

NBN

NEN

ABC

SB

S

UA

N

RN

Belmont North C V SBS

ABC

NEN

NBN

NRN

Port Stephens P V

NBN

NEN

ABC

SB

S

UA

N

RN

Port Stephens C V NBN

ABC

SBS

NRN

NEN

MANNING RIVER P V SBS

AB

C

NEN

UA

N

RN

N

BN

MANNING RIVER C VH ABC

ABC

NEN

NEN

SB

S

NBN

NRN

SBS

NBN

NRN

A B C D E

Area Served Pol

6 7 8 9 9A 10 11 12 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69

ILLAWARRA P H UA

AB

C

WIN

CTC

CB

N

SB

S

ILLAWARRA C H WIN

CT

C CB

N

ABC

SBS

SBS

ABC

WIN

CTC

CBN

Bowral/Mittagong P H CBN

ABC

W

IN

SB

S

CTC

U

A

Bowral/Mittagong C H SBS

ABC

WIN

WIN

CTC

CTC

CBN

CBN

SBS

ABC

Wollongong P H

WIN

ABC

CB

N

CT

C

SBS

U

A

Wollongong C H ABC

SBS

WIN

W

IN

CTC

CTC

CBN

CB

N

ABC

SBS

A B C D E

LegendCurrent or planned digital service

Current analog service

Currently operating digital radio (DAB) services

Proposed restacked digital channel allotment

Interim digital channel allotment

acma | 17

Appendix A3—MapsNote well: The following maps provide a general indication of the areas that may be covered by each transmitter, but several important disclaimers should be noted:1. the presentation does not take account of predicted interference between

services;2. the presentation has used the CRCpredict diffraction-based coverage prediction

model; The predictions use best available information about nominal ERP levels and antenna patterns;

3. the presentation does not include an allowance for clutter losses;4. For Bouddi metropolitan pattern antennas have been assumed;5. Figure A3.1 presents a simple ‘max server’ presentation which, in the case of

locations in areas of overlap between two coverages, ascribes coverage to the transmitter that provides the highest ‘Band V equivalent’ field strength at the point in question. (Note: This max server presentation is based purely on field strength comparisons it does not consider whether the received field strengths are interference-free, nor does it consider viewer preferences for one site over another);

6. Figure A3.2 provides an indication of potential ‘suburban’ coverage contour of each of the Sydney area repeater sites with the Artarmon, Willoughby and Gore Hill services excluded.

These maps SHOULD NOT BE USED to provide advice about the coverage of particular transmitters. For that purpose readers should refer to the MySwitch web site at: http://myswitch.digitalready.gov.au/

18 | acma

Figure A3.1 Sydney licence area (all services)

acma | 19

Figure A3.2 Sydney repeater sites

20 | acma

Appendix A4—Service-by-service constraint listTable A4.1 shows analog and digital services that would constrain a service at a nominated site from moving to its final restack channel.

Note: Some services do not need to be restacked (i.e. they already operate on their final, post-restack channels) and some other services do not have any constraints and could be restacked immediately.

Table A4.1: Constraints on the restack of Sydney TV1 licence area services

Area served Callsign

Current channel

Final channel Constraint or comment

Bouddi SBS 34 40 Must restack after digital Belmont North ABC40 restack.

Bouddi ABC 37 41 Must restack after analog Bouddi NBN41 switch-off.

Bouddi ATN 61 42Must restack after digital Port Stephens NEN42 restack and after analog Manly/Mosman ABC42, Wyong ABC42 switch-off.

Bouddi TCN 62 43 Must restack after digital Belmont North NEN43 restack.

Bouddi TEN 65 44Must restack after digital Manning River NRN44 restack and after analog Bouddi ATN44 switch-off.

Bouddi UA 45May not commence before digital Sydney North West TEN45, Manly/Mosman TEN45, Kings Cross TEN45 restack.

Gosford SBS 34 40 Must restack after analog Gosford NBN40 switch-off.

Gosford ABC 37 41 No constraints.

Gosford ATN 61 42 Must restack after analog Manly/Mosman ABC42, Wyong ABC42 switch-off.

Gosford TCN 62 43 Must restack after analog Gosford NEN43 switch-off.

Gosford TEN 65 44 Must restack after digital Manning River NRN44 restack.

Gosford UA 45May not commence before digital Manly/Mosman TEN45, Kings Cross TEN45 restack.

Kings Cross ATN 48 28 Must restack after analog Sydney SBS28 switch-off.

Kings Cross UA 29 Constrained by digital Sydney TSN29.

Kings Cross ABC 30 30 No channel change required at restack.

Kings Cross TEN 45 31 No constraints.

Kings Cross SBS 34 32 Must restack after analog Bouddi NEN32 switch-off.

Kings Cross TCN 33 33 No channel change required at restack.

Manly/Mosman ATN 48 28 Must restack after analog Sydney SBS28 switch-off.

acma | 21

Manly/Mosman UA 29 Constrained by digital Sydney TSN29.

Manly/Mosman ABC 30 30 No channel change required at restack.

Manly/Mosman TEN 45 31 No constraints.

Manly/Mosman SBS 34 32 Must restack after analog Bouddi NEN32 switch-off.

Manly/Mosman TCN 33 33 No channel change required at restack.

Megalong ATN 46 46 No channel change required at restack.

Megalong TCN 47 47 No channel change required at restack.

Megalong TEN 48 48 No channel change required at restack.

Megalong ABC 49 49 No channel change required at restack.

Megalong SBS 50 50 No channel change required at restack.

Megalong UA 51 May not commence before digital Newcastle NRN51, Illawarra ABC51 restack.

Picton SBS 64 40 Must restack after digital Bowral/Mittagong WIN40 restack.

Picton ABC 41 41 No channel change required at restack.

Picton ATN 47 42 No constraints.

Picton TCN 50 43 Must restack after digital Bowral/Mittagong CTC43 restack.

Picton TEN 44 44 No channel change required at restack.

Picton UA 45 No constraints.

Sydney ATN 6 6 No channel change required at restack.

Sydney SBS 34 7 Must restack after analog Sydney ATN7 switch-off.

Sydney TCN 8 8 No channel change required at restack.

Sydney UA 10 May not commence before analog Sydney TEN10 switch-off.

Sydney TEN 11 11 No channel change required at restack.

Sydney ABC 12 12 No channel change required at restack.

Sydney TSN 29 296 No constraints.

Sydney North West ATN 48 28 Must restack after analog Sydney SBS28 switch-off.

Sydney North West UA 29 Constrained by digital Sydney TSN29.

Sydney North West ABC 30 30 No channel change required at restack.

Sydney North West TEN 45 31 No constraints.

Sydney North West SBS 32 32 No channel change required at restack.

Sydney North West TCN 33 33 No channel change required at restack.

Sydney South West SBS 64 40 Must restack after digital Bowral/Mittagong WIN40 restack.

Sydney South West ABC 41 41 No channel change required at restack.

6 Interim channel

22 | acma

Sydney South West ATN 47 42 Must restack after analog Manly/Mosman ABC42 switch-off.

Sydney South West TCN 50 43 Must restack after digital Bowral/Mittagong CTC43 restack.

Sydney South West TEN 44 44 No channel change required at restack.

Sydney South West UA 45May not commence before digital Manly/Mosman TEN45, Kings Cross TEN45 restack.

Woronora SBS 40 40 No channel change required at restack.

Woronora ABC 41 41 No channel change required at restack.

Woronora ATN 42 42 No channel change required at restack.

Woronora TCN 43 43 No channel change required at restack.

Woronora TEN 44 44 No channel change required at restack.

Woronora UA 45 May not commence before digital Sydney North West TEN45 restack.

Wyong SBS 38 40 Must restack after digital Belmont North ABC40 restack.

Wyong ABC 37 41 Must restack after analog Bouddi NBN41switch-off.

Wyong ATN 61 42Must restack after digital Port Stephens NEN42 restack and after analog Wyong ABC42, Manly/Mosman ABC42 switch-off.

Wyong TCN 62 43 Must restack after digital Belmont North NEN43 restack.

Wyong TEN 65 44Must restack after digital Manning River NRN44 restack, and after analog Bouddi ATN44 switch-off.

Wyong UA 45May not commence before digital Manly/Mosman TEN45, Kings Cross TEN45 restack.

acma | 23