You may also be able to hear the audio from the modulated channel,
but not see the video.
Short answer:
Some/all/one TV doesn't work with MPEG4 broadcasts, so you'll either need to put a set-top box onto those TV(s), replace the TV(s) with a newer model, or change the modulator from MPEG4 to MPEG2.
Longer answer:
There are two formats of digital TV channel broadcasting that we use in Australia - MPEG2 and MPEG4.
MPEG2 (also known as H.262, MPEG-2 Video, MPEG-2 Part 2, or ISO/IEC 13818-2) is the older format, and is still used for a number of broadcast channels, mostly for the lower resolution 576i Standard Definition (SD) channels. It's the most widely compatible format because older TVs would only have MPEG2-compatible digital tuners.
MPEG4 is more correctly called MPEG-4 AVC, H.264, or simply AVC (Advanced Video Coding), and is a newer, more compressed format. In fact, it often requires half or less the bit rate of MPEG2 broadcasts. TV license holders love it, in particular, because the channel space that they've bought/rented can now be used for more broadcast channels, leading to more viewers, more advertising dollars, and more money for their quality shows! Most of the 1080i High Definition (HD) channels use MPEG4.
There's a list of the current TV broadcasters, channels, resolutions and MPEG2/MPEG4 channel information on another knowledgebase article here.
A quick test to see whether your TV supports MPEG4 broadcasts is whether or not they can tune in the Racing.com horse racing channels (either 78 or 68, depending on your region).
If your TV can't see those, then it won't see an MPEG4-only modulator, except maybe to produce the audio.
The only solutions for this:
-
Are to replace the TV with a newer model
-
Are to use an MPEG4-capable digital set-top box
-
Or are to replace the MPEG4 modulator with an MPEG2 modulator instead
For the current Zycast/Resi-Linx range:
Model |
Description |
MPEG2 or MPEG4 or Switchable? |
RLRF100 | Analogue modulator | Analogue, so none of the above! |
RLDM1102 | Single-channel SD digital modulator | MPEG2 only |
RLDM4000 | Four-channel SD digital modulator | MPEG2 only |
RLDM8000 | Eight-channel SD digital modulator | MPEG2 only |
HD16-series |
Single-channel HD modulators |
MPEG4 only |
LCT1631A | Single-channel HD modulator | MPEG2 only |
KTFX-series |
Single/Four-channel Foxtel-approved HD modulators |
MPEG4 only* * Higher bit-rate than other MPEG4 modulators |
HD4797 | Four-channel HD modulator | MPEG4 only |
HD2000-series (HD2002DM, discontinued HD2000DM) | Two-channel HD commercial modulators | MPEG2/MPEG4 switchable, plus IP unicast/multicast streams |
HD4000-series (HD4002DM, discontinued HD4001DM) |
Four-channel HD commercial modulators | MPEG2/MPEG4 switchable, plus IP unicast/multicast streams |
Eight-channel HD commercial modulator | MPEG2/MPEG4 switchable |
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