PinkTronix - Viewer Access Satellite Television

THIS PAGE UPDATED MARCH 2012

VAST Wide Bay/Sunshine Coast Commercial Channel Activation Zones for Permanent Residences.

SCENARIO ONE (You live in a “HAVE” Zone).

If you live in one of the “HAVE” zones you qualify for full VAST channel activation right now providing you are living in a government gazetted TV black spot.

The black spot may have been identified by a government field strength analysis based simply on transmitter power and a rough terrain map but without local knowledge of hills, valleys and vegetation issues, thus not all TV black spots will be gazetted by this interim government mapping system.

If you are living in a TV black spot within one of the “HAVE” zones which has not yet been gazetted as a black spot by the government, you will have to demonstrate that it is in fact a TV black spot either by a field strength survey or by explanation to the authorities regarding your dwelling location with respect to TV signal obstructions.

If you already have legal activation of a Remote Area Broadcast System, your location will have already been mapped as a TV black spot and you will be automatically entitled to change over to VAST with all channels activated.

(Over time through VAST registrations, a more accurate picture of TV black spots will emerge and it is expected that the government will be able to take advantage of this growing database to improve their current black spot mapping system. For example if your neighbour’s locations have been recorded as TV black spots, it is extremely likely that you are also in a TV black spot).

Go to  http://myswitch.digitalready.gov.au to check your current black spot and your V.A.S.T. commercial channel activation status.

SCENARIO TWO (You live in a “HAVE NOT” Zone)

If you live in one of the “HAVE-NOTS” zones and do not have legal activation of a Remote Area Broadcast System, you will not automatically qualify for full VAST channel activation until 6 months prior to analogue switch off in June 2013, regardless of your terrestrial reception status, with the one exception, as follows:

If you have legal activation of a Remote Area Broadcast System all you have to do is purchase a VAST system and register at http://myswitch.digitalready.gov.au to be activated on all channels.

You may also bring commercial channel activation forward by submitting an ACMA B58  Out-of-area reception form  to prove that you are in a TV  black spot.

More detailed information detailing the procedure for verifying your COMMERCIAL CHANNEL ACCESS qualification is explained in detail at the front of the VAST INSTALLATION PAGE.

ACCESS TO VAST ABC AND SBS CHANNELS.

Anyone can install a VAST system and access the ABC AND SBS CHANNELS immediately.
There is no restriction based on location, digital TV switchover timing or TV black spot status.

MAP BELOW IS CURRENT UNTIL 6 months before analogue switch off in June 2013.

THE ACMA B58 FIELD STRENGTH SURVEY FORM.
Click on the following link to download a copy of the ACMA B58 form>
http://www.acma.gov.au/webwr/_assets/main/lib100048/acma_b58.pdf

THE ACMA OUT-OF-AREA RECEPTION APPROVAL PROCESS
Please Note that there have been some positive changes in the ACMA B58 Out-of-area reception approval process.

Go to  http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_90075  for a full explanation of the ACMA B58  Out-of-area reception approval process.

The following excerpts from OUT-OF-AREA RECEPTION APPROVAL PROCESS SITE  at http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_90075 explain the changes.

OLD……. What do I need to do? 

1. To be eligible to receive the commercial satellite television services, viewers must first engage the services of a reputable antenna installer who must come to your premises to check the reception at your house and take signal strength readings and record the technical details on the ACMA B58 out-of-area reception application form- (Assessment of Inadequate Reception of Broadcasting Services - available from website or contact us). The antenna installer/technician must sign the statutory declaration to say that the details on the form are true and correct.
   
   
2. To complete the ACMA B58, the affected viewer/listener will complete Section 5 and sign and date. The antenna installer/technician will need to complete Sections 4, 6 and 7 of the ACMA B58. The applicant commercial satellite broadcaster will complete Section 1, 2 and 3 of the ACMA B58.
   
   
3. A separate application form is required to be completed for both Imparja and Seven Central.
   
   
4. Once the viewer/listener and antenna installer have completed the appropriate sections (Sections 4, 5, 6 and 7), send the ACMA B58(s) to the commercial satellite broadcaster(s) addresses listed below. (Do not send any copies to the ACMA).
   
   
5. If you live in Central & Eastern States, send to Imparja & Central Seven. For residents in Western Australia send copies to Golden West Network & WIN Television. The two commercial satellite broadcaster(s) will examine the form(s), and if satisfied they will submit their application to the ACMA for approval.
   
   
6. If your applications are successful, you will need to purchase a suitable satellite dish and receiver. The antenna installer/technician should be able to provide you with details of costs and suitable equipment. Prices for equipment and installation may vary between $1,200-$2,000.

NEW…..What do I need to do?

1. Viewers who do not have adequate reception of either analog or digital terrestrial television services should first visit mySwitch website (operated by the Department of Broadband Communications and the Digital Economy) to check the coverage of television services at their address.
   
   
2. Viewers who receive a coverage prediction on mySwitch for their residential address of ‘no coverage’ or ‘no transmitter’ do not have to provide signal measurements taken by a technician. They only need to complete Section 5 of the ACMA B58 out-of-area reception application form, including having their name and address details witnessed.
   
   
3. Viewers who receive a coverage prediction on mySwitch for their residential address other than ‘no coverage’ or ‘no transmitter’must first engage the services of a reputable antenna installer who must come to their premises to check the reception at their house and take signal strength readings and record the technical details on the ACMA B58 out-of-area reception application form - (Assessment of Inadequate Reception of Broadcasting Services - available from website or contact us). The antenna installer/technician must sign the statutory declaration to say that the details on the form are true and correct. To complete the ACMA B58, the affected viewer/listener will complete Section 5 and sign and date. The antenna installer/technician will need to complete Sections 4, 6 and 7 of the ACMA B58.
   
   
4. The applicant commercial satellite broadcaster will complete Section 1, 2 and 3 of the ACMA B58.
   
   
5. Viewers who intend to receive VAST satellite services should only complete one copy of the form and send it to either Imparja or Seven Central. Viewers who wish to receive Aurora satellite services will need to complete a separate application form for both Imparja and Seven Central.
   
   
6. Once the viewer/listener and antenna installer have completed the appropriate sections (Sections 4, 5, 6 and 7), send the ACMA B58(s) to the commercial satellite broadcaster(s) addresses listed below. (Do not send any copies to the ACMA).
   
   
7. The two commercial satellite broadcaster(s) will examine the form(s), and if satisfied they will submit their application to the ACMA for approval.
   
   
8. If your application is successful, and you wish to receive VAST services, you will receive a unique approval number which you will need to enter on the online form when applying for VAST on mySwitch website. You will also need to purchase a suitable satellite dish and VAST receiver. The antenna installer/technician should be able to provide you with details of costs and suitable equipment. The Digital Switchover Taskforce administers two assistance programs – the Household Assistance Scheme and the Satellite Subsidy Scheme which assist with the costs of satellite equipment for eligible viewers. Please refer to the mySwitch website for information about these programs and the relevant eligibility criteria.
   
   
9. If you wish to receive Aurora satellite services, you will need to purchase a suitable satellite dish and Aurora receiver. The antenna installer/technician should be able to provide you with details of costs and suitable equipment. Please note that there is no government rebate or subsidy for the purchase of Aurora satellite equipment and that it is expected that this service will be decommissioned at the end of 2013.

Viewer Access Satellite Television

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO BOOK A V.A.S.T. INSTALLATION PLEASE DON’T HESITATE TO CALL PINKTRONIX.

 

Next Page: PINKTRONIX - Viewer Access Satellite Television
VAST Overview