New Repeater Questions

[radiogareth]

Without any real technical understanding and as all the current hardware for RX is quite happy with H265, I'd go with that if your encoding setup can easily deliver it. 'Tis in vain to do with more, that which can be done with less... (better quality same bandwidth is my basic understanding).
Gareth

[G3GJA]

Michael

H.265 needs a lot of processing, but if the encoder has adequate resources it can yield better results for the same bandwidth.

On the other hand H.264 might be better if the encoder is struggling. I've used both on the local repeater, but I've upset users with older set-top boxes that will only do H.264 @ 1MS/s when I've tied H265.

What encoder are you planning to use?

Clive

[EA7KIR]

What encoder are you planning to use?
Clive

My intention is to use the plugin provided by GStreamer, but certainly at lower bitrates (and at 1080p) the cpu load and latency goes up considerably. It might be possible to improve this. Early days...

[g0mjw]

I would go with H265, it is 2026 after all. H264 is over 20 years old. Even H265 is over 10 years old. We should be innovating if we want to keep our bands.

Mike

[G7VVF]

Hi Michael,
GB3EN uses an old 4th gen I7 PC and an old Nvidia graphics card, a GTX1060 and can easily produce 1MS/s H265 Full HD 1920x1080 video. The PC also functions a a repeater controller handling the inputs as well.

With this spec all you need is a £20 sat RX to receive it!

There is a full write up in CQTV 288 and 289, might be useful and give you some ideas.

Duncan
G7VVF

[EA7KIR]

With this spec all you need is a £20 sat RX to receive it!
Duncan G7VVF

Interesting. I was under the impression old Sat boxes could only do H.264. This makes HECV even more attractive. Thanks.

[g0mjw]

Interesting. I was under the impression old Sat boxes could only do H.264. This makes HECV even more attractive. Thanks.

Depends how old they are. Really old ones only do MPEG-2, less geriatric H264 and anything more recent should do H265. I think by now it's better to go with something better than try to maintain compatibility with really old receivers that probably won't do the lower symbol rates under 2ms anyway. Some repeaters are still using 4ms MPEG2.

Mike

[G7VVF]

I have used this box https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33015116271.html Koqit dvb s2 HEVC H265 DVB-S2 HD Satellite Receiver

You want to make it as easy as possible to receive your repeater to get some interest in it. This cheap box will go as low as 1Ms/s (BATC recommended repeater spec) and is one of the few that decode H265 (though this will be come more commonplace).

I use one to RX Gb3EN off air and then stream it to the BATC streamer from my QTH, so you can see it in action here https://batc.org.uk/live/gb3en

Duncan G7VVF