People are starting to talk about MPEG-4 video coding as a real option for launching DVB-T services now. The headend equipment is certainly available and getting better all the time. The Estonians have launched DVB-T services this year and are using MPEG-4 right from the off. The big question is will the receivers be affordable. Everyone knows that standard MPEG-2 DVB-T boxes are as cheap as chips (literally, if you get my meaning!), but there isn't yet a mass market for these new-fangled MPEG-4 boxes. So, what's happening in Estonia....?
Well it seems that one manufacturer at least has put a line in the sand in terms of a price point. This box from Kaon is, I am reliably informed, retailing at 109 €UR, plus sales tax (which is a not insignificant 18% in Estonia). The box, which is not a bad looking piece of kit, can handle MPEG-2 and MPEG-4, both SD and HD, and has HDMI output. You'll find the full spec here. (Takes a while to load for some reason.)
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