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atc98092's avatar
atc98092
Community Streaming Expert
4 years ago

ATSC 3.0 is coming

 I added the HDHomeRun Flex to my network a couple of days ago. My primary use is for OTA recording using JRiver Media Center, but it's also nice to be able to see what the broadcasting companies are doing with the new ATSC 3.0 rollout. Here in the Seattle area I have 7 available ATSC 3.0 stations, and have no issue receiving any of them. I put the Flex in the garage, where the coax from my distribution amp only needs to be a few feet long. I can get a station 100 miles away under some conditions, but it does vary.

Apparently Silicon Dust hasn't put much effort into their Roku channel, so there are some issues with watching one of the ATSC 3.0 channels. First, in case you weren't aware, the ATSC 3.0 standard requires using Dolby AC-4 as the audio codec. There's only one Roku that supports that codec, which is the Ultra 4800. Any other 4K Roku will display the video but no audio is available. On other devices, Silicon Dust offers an online transcoding function, and as such will output Dolby AC-3 from devices like the Shield. For some unknown reason, this function does not work on Roku devices, and SD doesn't seem to be very interested in making it work on Roku devices.

Since there's little to no support yet for AC-4 on TVs and AVRs, there is little choice for watching ATSC 3.0 as of yet. The Ultra 4800 transcodes the audio into 5.1 PCM, so the audio content is intact. When in the future the broadcasters use new features like 7.1 audio (or more), it's unknown how the Roku will perform. 

So far, my local broadcasters don't seem to be putting any actual 4K content out. I realize there likely isn't much available to them yet, but hopefully there's more coming. I expect sports to be the first to embrace 4K OTA, but who knows? Do we really need the news broadcasts in 4K? :P

14 Replies

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  • mstan2022's avatar
    mstan2022
    Reel Rookie
    3 years ago

    I too have a SD HD Homerun Quatro that I am using for OTA. Just recently about 4 channels changed to ATSC 3.0. On my TCL 4k set, it has Atmos and supports the AC4, so I have sound. My other system upstairs cannot. I'm reluctant to purchase a new 4K Tv because I would also have to buy a new surround system as well. I have heard that the Roku Ultra 4800R supports AC4 and will decode it to AC3, potentially allowing me to get sound for the ATSC 3.0 stations. There is a new 2022 model 4802R out that may work as well. Both can be gotten for the same price. My question is does the new unit still support the decoding to AC3 as did the 4800R and or does it fix some of the sound issues? Or maybe I should just buy the 4800. It seems to work for you. Your Thoughts?

    • atc98092's avatar
      atc98092
      Community Streaming Expert
      3 years ago

      Yes, the 4800/4802 supports AC-4 decoding to AC-3. I have no issues using my 4800 for ATSC 3.0 broadcasts. That said, Silicon Dust isn't putting much effort into the user interface for the Roku channel. It's far better on my Shield, but that device doesn't support AC-4 so they perform some sort of Internet magic to decode the audio online. It works fine, but I'd prefer the decoding performed locally, like the Ultra does. 

      I'm not sure what sound issues you are referring to. I haven't noticed any audio issues using either the Ultra or the Shield when viewing ATSC 3.0 content.

      • mstan2022's avatar
        mstan2022
        Reel Rookie
        3 years ago

        Thank you for your input on the 4800 & 4802. I ordered the 4800. The sound issues I encountered with the 3.0 stations were no sound on my Visio 1080P TV, and on my 4k set, I got two soundtracks, one in Spanish and one in English during a football game, which I assume was growing pains on the part of the station. It's been fine since. The main thing is the decoding from AC4 to AC3 so I can watch with sound on the 3.0 stations, which I notice are being set up in my area. Right now, only the designations are there, but I sure they will be going online soon.  I agree though.... SD could pay a little more attention to The HD Homerun app on Roku. Hopefully that will happen in the future. Till then, Thank You.

  • Paulembree's avatar
    Paulembree
    Newbie
    3 years ago

    Do you know about “auto captions”? Generated from speaking in real time by a computer?

    • atc98092's avatar
      atc98092
      Community Streaming Expert
      3 years ago

      Paulembree off topic for this thread. Please start a new thread with your questions. Also, we don't really know what you're asking about. Yes, I've seen auto-generated captions before, mostly on YouTube. Frankly, they aren't worth the bother. Simply isn't accurate enough to be worthwhile.

      • Paulembree's avatar
        Paulembree
        Newbie
        3 years ago

        Sorry, what thread should I use? Also as hearing impaired and with the poor quality of some YouTube videos, I find auto captioning very helpful. Thanks.

  • terryalbert's avatar
    terryalbert
    Newbie
    3 years ago

    How does having ATSC 3.0 on a Roku branded TV compare to other digital television standards and technologies, and what advantages does it offer?

    • atc98092's avatar
      atc98092
      Community Streaming Expert
      3 years ago
      terryalbert wrote:

      How does having ATSC 3.0 on a Roku branded TV compare to other digital television standards and technologies, and what advantages does it offer?

      ATSC 3.0 is the new digital over-the-air broadcast standard that will be rolling out in North America over the next few years. The significant advantages over the current standard (ATSC 1.0) will be the ability to have more channels on a specific frequency, more than 6 audio channels (currently 5.1 is the max), and will support 4K video. If a Roku branded TV includes an ATSC 3.0 tuner, then you are prepared for the future changeover to ATSC 3.0.

      Besides the new compression codec for video (to fit more channels in the same amount of bandwidth), it will also be using a new audio codec: AC-4. Right now, there are very few audio devices that support AC-4, so having a device that can convert the audio to AC-3/Dolby Digital is a plus. The Roku Ultra has such a converter, and I'm certain the Roku branded TVs will as well. 

      Will ATSC 3.0 look better than the current system? Perhaps once there's some true 4K material available. For now, everything being broadcast is 1080 HD or lower, and ATSC 3.0 isn't going to make that look any better. With AC-4 audio there's a potential for better sound, but again that's going to be dependent on the actual source material. Most content created 20, 30 or even more years ago simply isn't going to be high enough quality to sound better, regardless of the broadcast standard used. 

    • andyross's avatar
      andyross
      Roku Guru
      3 years ago

      You can Google about ATSC 3.0. There is lots of hype that it could include 4K, but the reality is that few if any stations will ever us it. They will use the extra bandwidth to cream more channels in. There is even a proposal for audio-only channels, and up to 50 channels could be put in one frequency, giving a bit of a SiriusXM like capability.

      The BIG killer could be encryption and Digital Rights Management (DRM). Sinclair and some of the broadcasters have forced the standard to add in encryption capabilities. The encryption keys must be hard-coded at manufacture, so you cannot do a firmware update to add it. Further, encrypted channels may require the TV/adapter box to have an Internet connection so that the key can be checked to see if it's been revoked.