Digital TV receiver on a chip...

[Sid 03]

Can someone recommend a chip that will allow a simple circuit to be built that will allow the user to tune in a local TV stations and listen to the Audio portion only. I know that most of the terrestrial TV stations have converted over to digital broadcasting, but does that include the audio signal ? Would it be that hard to build a small radio to listen to the audio portion ?

Thanks

 

[server]

Sid 03 <sidwelle@gmail.com> wrote in
news:6bf69509-6a30-45a5-b1f0-0d2a4b82926en@googlegroups.com:

Can someone recommend a chip that will allow a simple circuit to
be built that will allow the user to tune in a local TV stations
and listen to the Audio portion only. I know that most of the
terrestrial TV stations have converted over to digital
broadcasting, but does that include the audio signal ? Would it
be that hard to build a small radio to listen to the audio portion
?

Thanks

The digital transmissions carry the program audio digitized as well.
You would only be able to get TV stations that still also broadcast
analog, but I do not think there are any in the US any longer.

There were multi-band radio recievers back in the \'60s and up that
had multiple bands and many also had the TV broadcast band in them as
well.

But no... no signals... and no, no chip.

 

[Anthony William Sloman]

On Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at 12:43:46 AM UTC+11, sidw...@gmail.com wrote:
> Can someone recommend a chip that will allow a simple circuit to be built that will allow the user to tune in a local TV stations and listen to the Audio portion only. I know that most of the terrestrial TV stations have converted over to digital broadcasting, but does that include the audio signal ? Would it be that hard to build a small radio to listen to the audio portion ?

It\'s probably an unrealistric ambition. The processing schemes that compress the television signal - video and audio - into a very fast digital bit stream are remarkably complicated and entirely digital, and the decoding process that corrects some of the errors that creep in is pretty complicated too.

Look at the kind of TV sound and image you get during a thunderstorm, when the error correction gets over-loaded.

It all works because you can make lots of complicated high performance special purpose integrated circuits remarkably cheaply, but only for that one special purpose.

--
Bill Sloman, Sydney

 

[Bob Engelhardt]

How about an ota converter box? E.g.:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08WWTS9FJ/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

For $25 you can save yourself the work and have a bunch of features that
you won\'t use

 

[Jan Panteltje]

On a sunny day (Tue, 8 Feb 2022 05:43:38 -0800 (PST)) it happened Sid 03
<sidwelle@gmail.com> wrote in
<6bf69509-6a30-45a5-b1f0-0d2a4b82926en@googlegroups.com>:

Can someone recommend a chip that will allow a simple circuit to be built that
will allow the user to tune in a local TV stations and listen to the Audio
portion only. I know that most of the terrestrial TV stations have converted
over to digital broadcasting, but does that include the audio signal
? Would it be that hard to build a small radio to listen to the audio portion
?

Thanks

Type in google:
ebay digital usb tv stick

first hit:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/304053461399
looks like European standard, US may need a different one.

That said, I have several rtl-sdr sticks that are in essence digital TV decoders
but can be used for a wide spectrum of applications with the right software.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/272411458376

my spectrum analyzer uses that thing:
http://panteltje.com/panteltje/xpsa/index.html
and has radio too (new version has FM stereo too).

Lots of software and projects with it:
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/

more:
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/big-list-rtl-sdr-supported-software/

Inside, actually 2 chips:
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/improvements_v3new800x800.jpg?ffccfa&ffccfa

For the money a small miracle.

 

[Martin Rid]

Sid 03 <sidwelle@gmail.com> Wrote in message:r
> Can someone recommend a chip that will allow a simple circuit to be built that will allow the user to tune in a local TV stations and listen to the Audio portion only. I know that most of the terrestrial TV stations have converted over to digital broadcasting, but does that include the audio signal ? Would it be that hard to build a small radio to listen to the audio portion ?Thanks

Very complicated. I\'d buy a small portable TV, like the old
haier. But make sure its atsc 3.0

Cheers
--


----Android NewsGroup Reader----
https://piaohong.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/usenet/index.html

 

[Phil Allison]

sidw...@gmail.com wrote:
=====================

Can someone recommend a chip that will allow a simple circuit to be built that will allow
the user to tune in a local TV stations and listen to the Audio portion only.

** No such thing exists.

I know that most of the terrestrial TV stations have converted over to digital broadcasting,
but does that include the audio signal ?

** You bet it does. Fully digital in multi channel too.

> Would it be that hard to build a small radio to listen to the audio portion ?

** A \"set top box\" will do what you ask.
Converts the digital TV signal back to analogue video and stereo audio.
Should be able to get a used one for next to nothing.



....... Phil

 

[LM]

On Tue, 8 Feb 2022 05:43:38 -0800 (PST), Sid 03 <sidwelle@gmail.com>
wrote:

Can someone recommend a chip that will allow a simple circuit to be built that will allow the user to tune in a local TV stations and listen to the Audio portion only. I know that most of the terrestrial TV stations have converted over to digital broadcasting, but does that include the audio signal ? Would it be that hard to build a small radio to listen to the audio portion ?

Thanks

What is the name of Digi TV modulation. There are chips that modulate
video and audio to Digi Tv. So, sure there demodulator chips also.
Chip in RTL dongle?

 

[Lasse Langwadt Christensen]

tirsdag den 8. februar 2022 kl. 19.40.20 UTC+1 skrev palli...@gmail.com:

sidw...@gmail.com wrote:
=====================

Can someone recommend a chip that will allow a simple circuit to be built that will allow
the user to tune in a local TV stations and listen to the Audio portion only.
** No such thing exists.
I know that most of the terrestrial TV stations have converted over to digital broadcasting,
but does that include the audio signal ?
** You bet it does. Fully digital in multi channel too.
Would it be that hard to build a small radio to listen to the audio portion ?
** A \"set top box\" will do what you ask.
Converts the digital TV signal back to analogue video and stereo audio.
Should be able to get a used one for next to nothing.

it would work, but I\'m not sure how easy it is to control without a display

 

[Phil Allison]

lang...@fonz.dk wrote:
==================

Would it be that hard to build a small radio to listen to the audio portion ?
** A \"set top box\" will do what you ask.
Converts the digital TV signal back to analogue video and stereo audio.
Should be able to get a used one for next to nothing.

it would work, but I\'m not sure how easy it is to control without a display

** True - the OP\'s question is rather nutty.
Probably wants portable and battery operated too.

The name of this NG attracts many such narcissists.


...... Phil

 

[Don]

LM wrote:

Sid 03 wrote:

Can someone recommend a chip that will allow a simple circuit to be built
that will allow the user to tune in a local TV stations and listen to the
Audio portion only. I know that most of the terrestrial TV stations
have converted over to digital broadcasting, but does that include the
audio signal ? Would it be that hard to build a small radio to listen
to the audio portion ?

Thanks
What is the name of Digi TV modulation. There are chips that modulate
video and audio to Digi Tv. So, sure there demodulator chips also.
Chip in RTL dongle?

Great minds... Although RTL-SDR\'s original purpose was to watch DVB-T,
it\'s unknown to me how well it functions with ATSC:

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=atsc+rtl-sdr

Danke,

--
Don, KB7RPU, https://www.qsl.net/kb7rpu
There was a young lady named Bright Whose speed was far faster than light;
She set out one day In a relative way And returned on the previous night.

 

[Rick C]

On Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at 2:35:01 PM UTC-5, palli...@gmail.com wrote:

lang...@fonz.dk wrote:
=================
Would it be that hard to build a small radio to listen to the audio portion ?
** A \"set top box\" will do what you ask.
Converts the digital TV signal back to analogue video and stereo audio.
Should be able to get a used one for next to nothing.

it would work, but I\'m not sure how easy it is to control without a display

** True - the OP\'s question is rather nutty.
Probably wants portable and battery operated too.

The name of this NG attracts many such narcissists.

I actually laugh out loud at some of your posts. This was funny in multiple ways. First was the idea that because this guy wants something you can\'t appreciate, he must be a \"narcissist\". Then there is the fact of it being a bit of the pot calling the kettle black.

You are too much sometimes!

--

Rick C.

- Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
- Tesla referral code - https://ts.la/richard11209

 

[Rick C]

On Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at 2:40:55 PM UTC-5, Don wrote:

LM wrote:
Sid 03 wrote:

Can someone recommend a chip that will allow a simple circuit to be built
that will allow the user to tune in a local TV stations and listen to the
Audio portion only. I know that most of the terrestrial TV stations
have converted over to digital broadcasting, but does that include the
audio signal ? Would it be that hard to build a small radio to listen
to the audio portion ?

Thanks
What is the name of Digi TV modulation. There are chips that modulate
video and audio to Digi Tv. So, sure there demodulator chips also.
Chip in RTL dongle?
Great minds... Although RTL-SDR\'s original purpose was to watch DVB-T,
it\'s unknown to me how well it functions with ATSC:

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=atsc+rtl-sdr

If he actually wants to listen to shows over the air using an antenna then yeah, something that will receive the signal and convert it would be needed.. If he just wants to listen to the shows, period, then he can possibly use pretty much any small, cheap computer to view it over the Internet. Many shows are available that way and a small computer is much handier than an old TV. I suppose a Raspberry Pi could be used for this and run off of Phil\'s battery.

--

Rick C.

+ Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
+ Tesla referral code - https://ts.la/richard11209

 

[Don]

Jan Panteltje wrote:

Sid 03 wrote:

Can someone recommend a chip that will allow a simple circuit to be built that
will allow the user to tune in a local TV stations and listen to the Audio
portion only. I know that most of the terrestrial TV stations have converted
over to digital broadcasting, but does that include the audio signal
? Would it be that hard to build a small radio to listen to the audio portion
?

Thanks

Type in google:
ebay digital usb tv stick

first hit:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/304053461399
looks like European standard, US may need a different one.

That said, I have several rtl-sdr sticks that are in essence digital TV decoders
but can be used for a wide spectrum of applications with the right software.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/272411458376

my spectrum analyzer uses that thing:
http://panteltje.com/panteltje/xpsa/index.html
and has radio too (new version has FM stereo too).

Lots of software and projects with it:
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/

more:
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/big-list-rtl-sdr-supported-software/

Inside, actually 2 chips:
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/improvements_v3new800x800.jpg?ffccfa&ffccfa

For the money a small miracle.

Great minds again... Somehow your follow up was overlooked by me until
now. ATSC compatibility still seems somewhat problematic.
Your first link says it supports DVB-T2, DVB-T, DVB-C, and the
VHF-/UHF band. But it doesn\'t support ATSC. It\'s hard for me to
understand why anyone in the USA would buy it, even if it\'s \"USA stock\"
with free shipping.

Danke,

--
Don, KB7RPU, https://www.qsl.net/kb7rpu
There was a young lady named Bright Whose speed was far faster than light;
She set out one day In a relative way And returned on the previous night.

 

[whit3rd]

On Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at 11:35:01 AM UTC-8, palli...@gmail.com wrote:

lang...@fonz.dk wrote:
==================

Would it be that hard to build a small radio to listen to the audio portion ?
** A \"set top box\" will do what you ask.

it would work, but I\'m not sure how easy it is to control without a display

** True - the OP\'s question is rather nutty.
Probably wants portable and battery operated too.

There\'s plugins for tablets and OTG cellphones that would work (give picture
as well as audio, for that matter).

<https://www.amazon.com/heaven2017-Receiver-Android-Tablet-Digital/dp/B082YTPNCD/ref=sr_1_4>

 

[Dave Platt]

In article <14f9f4d3-3850-4ba2-a6db-3b92043086bfn@googlegroups.com>,
Sid 03 <sidwelle@gmail.com> wrote:

Jan, one of the USB sticks might work. I would like to find one that
I could control w/Arduino or something small.

The RTL-SDR dongles won\'t work with ATSC television. They don\'t have
the RF bandwidth - they can only receive a 2.8 MHz \"slice\" of the
VHF/UHF spectrum, and ATSC uses the same 6 MHz RF channel spacing (and
nearly that much actual bandwidth) that the old NTSC analog TV signals
did.

There are other SDR devices which can receive a wide-enough slice of
RF to handle ATSC.

The dongles also aren\'t full \"receivers\" for any specific type of
signal modulation. They simply filter and downsample and digitize the
RF, and send it over USB to the PC (or tablet). It\'s up to the PC or
phone or tablet to do all of the signal demodulation and the decoding,
and this can take quite a bit of CPU horsepower. ATSC demodulation
and decoding would take much more \"oomph\" than any Arduino-class
processor I know of.

I\'ve read of people successfully implementing an ATSC receiver
using an SDR dongle, paired with GNURadio and a suitable
signal-processing flow graph. Doing so apparently took a pretty
fast multi-core PC.

Decoding only the ATSC audio signal would probably be a good deal
easier (maybe by half) since one could simply discard the video
portions of the data stream after demodulation.

 

[Clifford Heath]

On 10/2/22 6:39 am, Dave Platt wrote:

In article <14f9f4d3-3850-4ba2-a6db-3b92043086bfn@googlegroups.com>,
Sid 03 <sidwelle@gmail.com> wrote:

Jan, one of the USB sticks might work. I would like to find one that
I could control w/Arduino or something small.

The RTL-SDR dongles won\'t work with ATSC television. They don\'t have
the RF bandwidth - they can only receive a 2.8 MHz \"slice\" of the
VHF/UHF spectrum, and ATSC uses the same 6 MHz RF channel spacing (and
nearly that much actual bandwidth) that the old NTSC analog TV signals
did.

There are other SDR devices which can receive a wide-enough slice of
RF to handle ATSC.

The dongles also aren\'t full \"receivers\" for any specific type of
signal modulation. They simply filter and downsample and digitize the
RF, and send it over USB to the PC (or tablet). It\'s up to the PC or
phone or tablet to do all of the signal demodulation and the decoding,
and this can take quite a bit of CPU horsepower. ATSC demodulation
and decoding would take much more \"oomph\" than any Arduino-class
processor I know of.

I\'ve read of people successfully implementing an ATSC receiver
using an SDR dongle, paired with GNURadio and a suitable
signal-processing flow graph. Doing so apparently took a pretty
fast multi-core PC.

Decoding only the ATSC audio signal would probably be a good deal
easier (maybe by half) since one could simply discard the video
portions of the data stream after demodulation.

What have you been smoking?

The dongles are full digital TV receivers, and do have the full
bandwidth needed to do that. Using them as an SDR merely bypasses the
decoder, grabbing up to half the available data because that\'s all the
chip can stuff into a USB stream.

With the right software (that they are sold with) you can watch TV
without any SDR software.

CH

 

[Dave Platt]

In article <16d2396361e44c8d$1$3741208$64dd6e6a@news.thecubenet.com>,
Clifford Heath <no.spam@please.net> wrote:

>What have you been smoking?

Misinformation, apparently. Thanks, I stand corrected! I\'d only
used them in the SDR mode.

The dongles are full digital TV receivers, and do have the full
bandwidth needed to do that. Using them as an SDR merely bypasses the
decoder, grabbing up to half the available data because that\'s all the
chip can stuff into a USB stream.

With the right software (that they are sold with) you can watch TV
without any SDR software.

Are there any which actually decode all the way to the HDMI video level,
or is their output the MPEG digital stream (which would then require either
software or GPU or dedicated-MPEG decode to go to the monitor)?

 

[Clifford Heath]

On 10/2/22 9:44 am, Dave Platt wrote:

In article <16d2396361e44c8d$1$3741208$64dd6e6a@news.thecubenet.com>,
Clifford Heath <no.spam@please.net> wrote:

What have you been smoking?

Misinformation, apparently. Thanks, I stand corrected! I\'d only
used them in the SDR mode.

The dongles are full digital TV receivers, and do have the full
bandwidth needed to do that. Using them as an SDR merely bypasses the
decoder, grabbing up to half the available data because that\'s all the
chip can stuff into a USB stream.

With the right software (that they are sold with) you can watch TV
without any SDR software.

Are there any which actually decode all the way to the HDMI video level,
or is their output the MPEG digital stream (which would then require either
software or GPU or dedicated-MPEG decode to go to the monitor)?

You\'re probably right about HDMI, but smart TVs accept compressed video
streams from a DLNA server, so there\'s that.

I suspect the dongles decode the transport stream and leave the rest to
the driver software. But who knows, it\'s closed source, shrug!

 

[Wim Ton]

On Wednesday, 9 February 2022 at 21:52:05 UTC+1, Clifford Heath wrote:

On 10/2/22 6:39 am, Dave Platt wrote:
In article <14f9f4d3-3850-4ba2...@googlegroups.com>,
Sid 03 <sidw...@gmail.com> wrote:

Jan, one of the USB sticks might work. I would like to find one that
I could control w/Arduino or something small.

The RTL-SDR dongles won\'t work with ATSC television. They don\'t have
the RF bandwidth - they can only receive a 2.8 MHz \"slice\" of the
VHF/UHF spectrum, and ATSC uses the same 6 MHz RF channel spacing (and
nearly that much actual bandwidth) that the old NTSC analog TV signals
did.

There are other SDR devices which can receive a wide-enough slice of
RF to handle ATSC.

The dongles also aren\'t full \"receivers\" for any specific type of
signal modulation. They simply filter and downsample and digitize the
RF, and send it over USB to the PC (or tablet). It\'s up to the PC or
phone or tablet to do all of the signal demodulation and the decoding,
and this can take quite a bit of CPU horsepower. ATSC demodulation
and decoding would take much more \"oomph\" than any Arduino-class
processor I know of.

I\'ve read of people successfully implementing an ATSC receiver
using an SDR dongle, paired with GNURadio and a suitable
signal-processing flow graph. Doing so apparently took a pretty
fast multi-core PC.

Decoding only the ATSC audio signal would probably be a good deal
easier (maybe by half) since one could simply discard the video
portions of the data stream after demodulation.
What have you been smoking?

The dongles are full digital TV receivers, and do have the full
bandwidth needed to do that. Using them as an SDR merely bypasses the
decoder, grabbing up to half the available data because that\'s all the
chip can stuff into a USB stream.

With the right software (that they are sold with) you can watch TV
without any SDR software.

CH

The common dongles are just a direct conversion receiver and an AD converter. The rest of the processing must be done by the host.