La RAI accende il DVB-T2, cosa fare? Lo spiega l'associazione TEN RAI will gradually switch to DVB-T2. The TEN Association explains what needs to be done.
Starting on August 28, a new digital terrestrial television standard will be available and progressively replace the existing one. What changes for citizens? The “Tecnologia Economia Normativa Association” (TEN) has created a short guide that we wish to share with our community, asking everyone to spread the word to the elderly.
The Service Contract with the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy, for the period 2023-28, that RAI broadcast a national multiplex in the DVB-T2 standard by September 1, 2024. Thus, from August 28, RAI will broadcast the national multiplex Mux B for digital terrestrial television (UHF Frequency 40) in DVB-T2.
The DVB-T2 standard is the evolution of the DVB-T digital terrestrial standard currently in use and allows for the transmission of a greater number of channels with better video quality. The multiplex is the transmission system that broadcasts multiple television channels using a single frequency, normally identified with a number from 21 to 48.
In the Mux B broadcast in DVB-T2, the channels Rai Storia HD (visible on channel 54), Rai Scuola HD (57) and Rai Radio 2 Visual (LCN 202) will be exclusively available from August 28.
RAI will also broadcast its main channels – Rai 1, Rai 2 and Rai 3 – in high definition (HD) on Mux B in DVB-T2 on channels 501, 502 and 503, respectively.
PLEASE NOTE: these channels will continue to be broadcast on the regional multiplex in DVB-T and will still be accessible on channels 1, 2, and 3.
As a result of the transformation of RAI Mux B into DVB-T2:
• It will not be necessary to change antenna or modify the reception system. The systems used for DVB-T are also compatible with DVB-T2.
• It will be sufficient to retune all the television channels on the television.
• If you have a television already set up for DVB-T2, the channels broadcast by Mux-B will be visible - starting from August 28, 2024 - on channels 54 (Rai Storia HD), 57 (Rai Scuola HD), 202 (Rai Radio 2 Visual), 501 (Rai 1), 502 (Rai 2), 503 (Rai 3).
• You can already check whether your television receives DVB-T2. Simply select channel 558. If the Rai Sport HD channel is displayed, the television is already set up for the new DVB-T2 standard.
• If the Rai Sport HD channel is not available, you should retune the television and then try selecting channel 558 again. In fact, in some cases, the scan for new channels may not been carried out recently.
• However, it is not necessary to buy a new television set if you cannot see channel 558. You can use an external decoder, which generally costi less than €50. However, you must make sure that the decoder DVB-T2 ready.
• IMPORTANT: Retirees aged 70 or over and with a pension of less than €20.000 per year will be able to receive a decoder suitable for DVB-T2 at home free of charge. The so-called decoder bonus can be requested by calling 800.776883 (Mon-Fri from 10 am to 6 pm, excluding holidays), by going to any post office, or on-line at https://www.prenotazionedecodertv.it/. Remember to always have your tax code available. The decoder bonus will be available until October 31, 2024.
In conclusion, the transition to DVB-T2 concerns only one Rai television multiplex. The remaining Rai multiplexes, the multiplexes of national broadcasters and those of local networks will continue to use the DVB-T standard.
Consequently, if you do not intend or cannot change your television to a DVB-T2 model or buy a new decoder, you will still be able to see most of the channels currently broadcast on DVB-T televisions. You will no longer be able to see the Rai Storia HD, Rai Scuola HD and Rai Radio 2 Visual channels, while the three main networks Rai 1, Rai 2 and Rai 3 will still be visible on DVB-T.
In any case, the DVB-T2 standard represents the future of digital terrestrial television and therefore equipping yourself with a DVB-T2 receiver (TV or decoder) is still useful as the transition to DVB-T2 will be progressively implemented in the future.
In particular, if you do not intend to change all the televisions in an apartment, purchasing a decoder will allow you to still use older televisions, installed for example in the kitchen or in other homes, at a reduced cost.
