What is DVB-T2 & why should I care?

• Update, Jun 19, 2017: Fixed a few dead links.
• Update, Aug 2, 2016: Fixed dead links and updated Mediacorp's rollout map.
• Update, Jan 3, 2016: Originally published in May 2014; updated article with latest info.

What is Digital TV & DVB-T2?

With content these days being produced in digital format, the move to digital terrestrial television (i.e., digital TV) from the decades-old analog TV standard makes sense. For end users, it allows you to get sharper images (e.g., HD formats up to 1,920 x 1,080 pixels) and wide screen formats (e.g., 16:9), compared to the 720 x 576-pixel resolution and 4:3 aspect ratio limits that analog TV has. With digital TV, it’s also possible to enjoy better sound quality (e.g., surround sound; if the content supports it, and you’ve the correct equipment), multi-language subtitles, and electronic program guides (EPGs).

Digital TV benefits the industry too, as it helps to alleviate the spectrum crunch (a bit). This is because digital broadcasting requires fewer frequencies than analog broadcasting. The freed up spectrum can then be put to other uses like wireless broadband services.

Short for ‘Digital Video Broadcasting - Second Generation Terrestrial’, this ‘DVB-T2’ term that you’ve been hearing and seeing frequently these days is simply the latest broadcast transmission standard for digital TV. Adopted by many European and Asian countries (including Singapore), it offers higher bitrate compared to its predecessor, DVB-T, thus making it more suitable for transporting HDTV signals.

In truth, the decision to switch to digital broadcasting in Singapore is really old news. As early as June 2012, the Media Development Authority (MDA) has announced that local free-to-air (FTA) channels will go fully digital by the end of 2013. And true enough, MediaCorp has been transmitting all its FTA channels in digital format using the DVB-T2 standard since December 16, 2013. This is the main reason why you’re hearing more (ever noticed those posters at bus stops and major electronics stores?) about digital TV and DVB-T2 these days: they’re already here.

Beyond Singapore, ASEAN countries have also agreed to switch over to digital TV between 2015 and 2020.

So, must I buy a new TV?

In short: no. While it’s already possible to get island-wide outdoor reception of Mediacorp’s digital TV signals, the broadcaster is still progressively rolling out indoor reception for residential homes, which it expects to continue up to 2016. Also, the existing analog TV signals will continue to be broadcasted until end-2017.

That said, there’s no harm adopting digital TV early. All seven Mediacorp channels are already being broadcast in digital format, with six of them - Channel 5, Channel 8, Suria, Vasantham, Channel NewsAsia and Okto - already available in HD. Channel U is the remaining one and will go HD by 2016.

Update, June 19, 2017: Current free-to-air digital channels you can receive include Channel 5 (HD), Channel 8 (HD), Suria (HD), Vasantham (HD), CNA (HD), Channel U, Okto (HD), and Channel U (HD). Yes, Channel U is now available in HD, too. If you've tuned your TV for digital TV previously, you'd need to retune again to receive Channel U in HD. Pay-TV users don't need to do anything.

Of course, when the rollout is completed, there will come a time these analog signals will be taken off the air totally. By then, if you still don’t have the appropriate equipment to receive digital TV, you will not be able to watch any Mediacorp TV channels. In other words, there’s no escaping digital TV.

Is my estate covered?

According to Mediacorp, as of July 13, 2016, residents in western half of Jurong West can now receive Digital TV. This is the latest addition on top of Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Bishan, Bukit Batok, Bukit Merah, Bukit Panjang, Bukit Timah, Central Area, Choa Chu Kang, Clementi, Geylang, Hougang, Jurong East, Jurong West (eastern half), Kallang, Marine Parade/East Coast, Novena, Pasir Ris, Punggol, Queenstown, Sembawang, Sengkang, Serangoon, Tampines West, Tanglin, Toa Payoh, and Yishun. By 2017, digital TV broadcast should be islandwide.

OK, I’m ready. What do I need to buy?

First of all, if you’re a pay-TV subscriber (e.g., Singtel TV, StarHub TV), you’re all set. The respective set-top box that you’re using with your pay-TV service already allows you to watch Mediacorp channels in digital format. However, if you’ve an SD set-top box, you may want to upgrade to an HD-capable one in order to watch the HD channels. (By the way, StarHub sends DVB-C signals.)

For free-to-air or over-the-air channels (i.e., if you aren’t a pay-TV subscriber), there are a couple of ways to receive digital TV:

1. Get a DVB-T2 set-top box & an indoor (or outdoor) antenna

IMDA-approved DVB-T2 set-top boxes can be found at major electronic stores and they're usually bundled with an indoor antenna. Prices range from S$95 to S$129.

There are also many enthusiasts who source their own set-top box/antenna (some even went as far as to DIY their own antenna). One of the main reasons is to save cost. For example, a China-made DVB-T2 set-top box can often be had for around S$50. Of course, there’s always the risk of compatibility, warranty, and even safety issues if you decide to go down this path. So, you’ve been warned.

Other equipment required will be a 75-ohm coaxial cable and an HDMI cable. Also, if you’ve multiple TVs in your house, you need to get a set-top box/antenna combo for each TV set.

2. Get a TV with built-in DVB-T2 tuner & an antenna

Your existing TV may be compatible with DVB-T, but not DVB-T2. A simple way to know that is when you see that it receives Channel 5 in HD (which is broadcast in both DVB-T and DVB-T2), but not Channel 8, Suria, or Vasantham in HD (because they’re broadcast in DVB-T2 only).

TVs with an integrated DVB-T2 tuner (a.k.a. IDTVs) are already in the market since mid 2013. For a start, you can refer to IMDA’s list of such set-top boxes and IDTVs. For TVs especially, this list may not be comprehensive, since there are always new models being launched. To know about the latest models, you can keep your eyes peeled on HardwareZone, or check out our very active forums. Remember, you still need an indoor antenna, because the HDB rooftop master antenna can't be used for receiving digital signals. And in case you're wondering, it's no use connecting to the StarHub TV cable point either, since it sends analog and DVB-C signals meant for StarHub's set-top boxes. Regarding digital indoor antennas, the Daiyo EU1702 is well regarded by our forum members.

If you're staying on landed property or in a commercial building, you may be able to use your existing rooftop antenna, especially if you're already using it to current UHF channels.

For some tips on using an UHF antenna, placement of indoor antenna, tuning, and more info, you can check out Mediacorp's guide and FAQ, which go into details like the difference between an active and a passive antenna.

What else must I take note of?

Whether you’re buying a set-top box or IDTV, there are two labels to look out for. Either one of these labels indicates that the product complies with Singapore’s receiver specifications, and is suitable for use to receive Mediacorp’s digital channels.

To help low income households transition to digital TV, there’s also an assistance scheme available, which kicked off in September 2014. More information on eligibility criteria and application procedure can be found on IMDA’s website.

Have more questions or want to share your experiences? You know where to head to.

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