Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
Leo Simpson, B.Bus.
Editor
Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.)
Technical Staff
John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.)
Robert Flynn
Darren Yates, B.Sc.
Reader Services
Ann Jenkinson
Sharon Macdonald
Advertising Enquiries
Leo Simpson
Phone (02) 979 5644
Regular Contributors
Brendan Akhurst
Garry Cratt, VK2YBX
Marque Crozman, VK2ZLZ
John Hill
Jim Lawler, MTETIA
Bryan Maher, M.E., B.Sc.
Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW
Jim Yalden, VK2YGY
Bob Young
Photography
Stuart Bryce
SILICON CHIP is published 12 times
a year by Silicon Chip Publications
Pty Ltd. A.C.N. 003 205 490. All
material copyright ©. No part of
this publication may be reproduced
without the written consent of the
publisher.
Printing: Macquarie Print, Dubbo,
NSW.
Distribution: Network Distribution
Company.
Subscription rates: $49 per year
in Australia. For overseas rates, see
the subscription page in this issue.
Editorial & advertising offices:
Unit 34, 1-3 Jubilee Avenue, Warrie
wood, NSW 2102. Postal address:
PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW
2097. Phone (02) 979 5644. Fax
(02) 979 6503.
PUBLISHER’S LETTER
Where to now for
satellite TV?
Over the last few months, there has been
a flurry of developments in the pay TV/
satellite TV saga and many people must
be wondering what comes next. When will
they be able to actually start subscribing to
pay TV services? After all, most, if not all,
of the satellite and cable licenses have been
snapped up and people could be forgiven
for thinking that actual services will start “real soon now”. Well the truth is
that some very limited services are about to start and may well have started
by the time this issue goes to press but note the word “limited”. Very few
people will be able to take advantage of them.
For the vast majority of people, pay TV is many years away, as in “turn
of the century” or well after that. It is significant that potentially the biggest
player in the pay TV arena, the so-called PMT (Packer/Murdoch/Telecom)
syndicate, sat on its hands during the recent licence sales. Clearly, they are
not interested in satellite TV and if you hark back to my Publisher’s Letter in
the August 1993 issue, you can see why. With Telecom’s vast phone network
open to it, it has no need for satellites.
And while little may appear to be happening on that front, much is happening behind the scenes. Telecom has let some huge contracts for its CATV
project for the major residential areas of Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sydney and
Melbourne. As part of that, Telecom Australia has awarded a $160 million
plus contract to Philips to provide the technical equipment and know-how to
deliver full interactive television to Australian audiences. Telecom has also
chosen the Digital Equipment (DEC) Wizard Subscriber Management System,
while Scientific Atlanta has been chosen to supply customer set-top units.
Philips will play a major role in the network upgrade which will involve
a rollout of more than 10,000 kilometres of cable. And nor is optical fibre
the only part of the story. Philips also has been developing the capability of
sending cable TV via twisted wires, so much of the existing network might
also be able to be used eventually. Clearly, Telecom is in the box seat for pay
TV and all the other services to come in the future.
So things are happening but if you want to watch overseas source programming right now and for quite a few years to come, there is only one way
to get it: install your own dish and satellite receiver. There is a large variety
of programs available, beamed into Australia, and more are coming as time
goes on. And this plethora of programming is certain to be available even
after pay TV is up and running. So if you have a hankering for satellite TV,
get into it now. Otherwise, you could be waiting for many years to come.
Leo Simpson
ISSN 1030-2662
WARNING!
SILICON CHIP magazine regularly describes projects which employ a mains power supply or produce high voltage. All such projects should
be considered dangerous or even lethal if not used safely. Readers are warned that high voltage wiring should be carried out according to the
instructions in the articles. When working on these projects use extreme care to ensure that you do not accidentally come into contact with
mains AC voltages or high voltage DC. If you are not confident about working with projects employing mains voltages or other high voltages,
you are advised not to attempt work on them. Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd disclaims any liability for damages should anyone be killed
or injured while working on a project or circuit described in any issue of SILICON CHIP magazine. Devices or circuits described in SILICON
CHIP may be covered by patents. SILICON CHIP disclaims any liability for the infringement of such patents by the manufacturing or selling of
any such equipment. SILICON CHIP also disclaims any liability for projects which are used in such a way as to infringe relevant government
regulations and by-laws.
Advertisers are warned that they are responsible for the content of all advertisements and that they must conform to the Trade Practices Act
1974 or as subsequently amended and to any governmental regulations which are applicable.
2 Silicon Chip
| 
