By Margo Hearne–What is happening with our TV and internet services these days in our communities? According to a spokesperson for MHTV “things are changing from analogue to digital and MHTV recently experienced a higher volume of problems that may be related to the pole work being done in town. We are currently in conversation with BC Hydro about the relationship, if any, between the problems MHTV has been experiencing and the pole work BC Hydro undertook this fall. “MHTV ran into a series of unexpected challenges and frustrating delays through the spring and summer with regard to the construction of a ‘radio link’ but it’s now proceeding and we hope to complete the new radio link within the next three-six months. The ‘link’ is a microwave connection to the mainland for internet only to the island and has nothing to do with television. It should give the island something in the range of three to four times more capacity/bandwidth than we have now. “The current main cause of internet slowness on the island”, continued the spokesperson, “is the low Telus capacity to Gwaii Tel. Seasonal weather and other technical issues still present serious challenges that need to be overcome, but it really is coming together and we’re confident that it will happen — we just cannot commit to timing. We have been struggling to deal with inadequate capacity from Telus for a very long time, and the new link is intended to resolve that with a dramatic increase that will make a big difference for all users in the islands communities.”Regarding the changes from analogue to digital television, MHTV is holding off for a bit on the change to digital in 2013 as things begin to gel with the individual receivers required and the need to ensure that everyone is up to speed on what’s happening.
