Setting up a small cable operation?

[Pinza]

I was in an Apartment building recently and they have 2 Antenna's, picking up over 35 OTA Channels/Signals, these are then amplified and distributed around the building on a seperate Cable System than the Cogeco/Bell TV System.

The residents just need a TV with an ATSC Tuner to watch the Channels.

I asked about the License etc, having seen this thread and was told that they do not require one and have a reply from the CRTC to that effect. 90% of the Channels are from the US.

I was impressed at the simplicity of the distribution, no need for conversion from Digital to Analog, no need for an array of Receivers they just let the TV do the work with the ATSC Tuner.

[classicsat]

The thing with the Slingboxes, would mean you still at least need licenses to distribute channels, and if from a BDU, commercial subscriptions that would allow you to basically IPTV to other residences.

In other words, Slingbox is a solution to some technical problems (a poor one IMO), and no solution to legal/regulatory ones.

[ScaryBob]

A single WiFi access point would not work. Bandwidth would be lacking, especially on the 2.4GHz band. 5GHz may work but now we are talking about more expensive routers at each end plus expensive directional antennas. High powered? Now we are taking about either getting a wireless BDU license or risking prosecution for breaking low power broadcasting regulations. Then there are the technical aspects of setting it all up and maintaining a server plus remote media servers. Never underestimate the requirements for technical support.

[HDTV101]

There would be nothing illegal with using 'High Power' outdoor access points such as the 600mw Engenious radios.

http://www.engeniustech.com/business...-dual-antennas

Each client needs only 1.5Mbit to achieve an HD quality picture. Keep in mind that Slingbox uses the best codecs available.... it takes far less bandwidth these days for the Sling then using 13 Mbit using old outdated codecs like MPEG-2. The links from neighbors to the Access Point would be capable of more then 1.5Mbit ... more like 10+Mbit at such a close range.

I've achieved 30Mbit over a distance of 5km using directional antennas in a point-to-point wifi setup in Mississauga.

If bandwidth is a problem then multiple radios can be used on non overlapping channels of 1, 6, and 11.

The reason why the Slings and WiFi is a good option in MHO is,

#1 Low cost.
#2 Easy and quick to deploy.
#3 Proven technology.
#4 No digging up the neighborhood to bury cables.
#5 Private & Encrypted network. (no one will have a clue what you're doing)
#6 Looks like any other WiFi setup... it blends in with the surroundings... running coax all over your neighborhood would get noticed.

[ScaryBob]

Slingboxes might work. It's probably a better bet than any other IP based method. It could also be the most costly. For TV tuning, multiple Slingbox Pros will be required at the head end for about $300 each.

Some solutions may require a high end server to handle all the tuning and compression tasks. (The techie in me likes the challenge of this approach.) Uncompressed HD will not work well over wireless N. I'm not saying it's not doable. I'm just saying that's in not as easy as plugging in a few wireless routers, especially if multiple wireless routers and TVs are to be in use at the same time.

If bandwidth is a problem then multiple radios can be used on non overlapping channels of 1, 6, and 11.

This could interfere with the 2.4 GHz band for any other uses. The 5GHz band may be a better option.

[tvlurker]

Originally Posted by Pinza

I was in an Apartment building recently and they have 2 Antenna's, picking up over 35 OTA Channels/Signals, these are then amplified and distributed around the building on a seperate Cable System than the Cogeco/Bell TV System.

The residents just need a TV with an ATSC Tuner to watch the Channels.

I asked about the License etc, having seen this thread and was told that they do not require one and have a reply from the CRTC to that effect. 90% of the Channels are from the US.

I was impressed at the simplicity of the distribution, no need for conversion from Digital to Analog, no need for an array of Receivers they just let the TV do the work with the ATSC Tuner.

I doubt 90% of the channels are American. An exempt MATV system needs to distribute all the local channels, and they can only distribute American channels authorized for local cable systems -- for the GTA, this means ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS, plus two more (not three more) independent networks.
So if they carry WNLO and WNYO like Rogers does, they can't offer WBBZ. But they could offer WBBZ if they drop one of WNYO or WNLO.
(See http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2011/2011-89.htm in combination with the rules below.)

From the CRTC web site:

4. All signals of local Canadian television stations are distributed over the undertaking, in each case with no degradation of received signal.

"Signals of local Canadian television stations" means the signals of all television broadcasting stations licensed by the Commission having Grade A "official contours" (as defined in the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations, as amended) enclosing the area in which the undertaking in question is carried on.

5. No service received over-the-air or by satellite or microwave or optical fibre transmission is distributed over the undertaking, other than a service that the Commission by regulation, condition of licence, or otherwise has authorized for distribution by the operator of a licensed or exempt cable distribution undertaking serving the area within which the MATV undertaking is situated, whether or not the cable operator is actually distributing the service.

Subject to paragraph 4 above, the signals distributed by the exempt MATV undertaking need not be identical to those signals distributed by the licensed or exempt cable distribution undertaking serving the area, so long as they are signals of affiliates of the same network.

6. A majority of the video channels and a majority of the audio channels received by each permanent or temporary residence are devoted to the distribution of Canadian programming services.