[AusNOG] Foxtel v Opticomm

[John Edwards]

This is an interesting issue that may not be easily resolved.

According to Foxtel docs like
https://www.foxtel.com.au/content/dam/foxtel/support/pdf/FXTL-T-0219%20Satellite%20Multistacker%20Installation%20Requirements%20Issue%201%20rev....pdf
the satellite transponder frequencies span 950-2350MHz, so the RF overlay
used to put the complete signal on the FTTH network would require 1400Mhz
of bandwidth to provide the same analogue 1:1 transport.

If you look at a product used to convert RF overlay in the customer
premises like https://www.c-cor.com.au/product/ipcor-on120-ftth-mini-node/
, it "only" supports 1002Mhz of bandwidth. I imagine that it's difficult to
increase this with simple active optical components that work with existing
splitters, not to mention it would involve a truck roll to every premises
to replace.

A way to address this limitation would be to re-modulate the signal at the
fibre head-end, but that would require both the customer STB to know the
new channels and additional active equipment to maintain. A classical pay
tv stand-off might result over who pays for this equipment, sharpened by
declining cable tv subscriber numbers that threaten to make such a project
never recover its costs.

It might also be possible to add a second RF overlay to cheaply provide the
additional channels, but that would be a bit of a hack and turn customer
premises into an xWDM node..

John





On Fri, 7 Aug 2020 at 17:19, James Morgan <jmorgan.au at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> Sorry for the noise on-list, but I'm seeing a lot of complaints in my area
> for Foxtel TV customers who have their Foxtel RF delivered via the Opticomm
> network who don't seem to be able to get anywhere after several weeks.  The
> common theme is they are all missing channels from the subscription (not a
> subscription lock - but apparently an RF issue).  They all get the same
> run-around with STBs being replaced and tech appointments being booked and
> then subsequently cancelled.  Clearly the issue is one between Foxtel and
> Opticomm, but neither party wants to deal with the customers about it, and
> since it's not strictly a data service they are having trouble with avenues
> they are familiar with such as the TIO.
>
> Is there anyone on-list from Foxtel and/or Opticomm who can intervene to
> be able to save several customers a lot of needless running around to fix a
> problem that is not their own?  I don't have Foxtel myself, so I don't have
> a dog in this fight - but clearly this is something that does need to be
> actioned.  The call center isn't going to be able to get to the bottom of
> this one.
>
> A side issue they are all finding is Foxtel won't do IQ4 connections via
> the Opticomm network, which is interesting given a lot of them live in
> estates where their Owners Corporations say they can't have sat-dishes...
>
> Cheers,
> James.
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