How do I get a test card with Freeview	1
I would like to know if it is possible to receive UK terrestrial Freeview servic	2
I have been told I would receive too much singal from my Freeview tansmitter as	3
Can my Freeview box receive more than one BBC and ITV region?	4
Is it true that my 87 year old mother is entitled to a FREE upgrade when the ana	5

In this section

Should the UK close down the TV networks to allow for more mobile broadband?	1
UK Digital switchover ends - Northern Ireland completes on 24th October 2012	2
The last day of analogue television in the UK - goodbye PAL	3
2 days left of analogue television - goodbye teletext	4
3 days of analogue to go - goodbye to NICAM 728	5
Changes to Saorview frequencies and power levels, 24th October 2012	6

Comments

Saturday, 30 July 2011

Brian Parker
8:58 AM

i live near & we have had switch over but our tv keeps pixerlating iv'e got a digatal arial but sometimes we have no tv at all, can you me please, thanks Brian

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Brian Parker's 1 post GB flag

jb38

_{sentiment_very_satisfied}Platinum

11:30 AM

Brian Parker: Taking it that you are referring to Sandy (many Northern areas of use ) then it depends on what you are referring to, as remember you will only receive the main BBC and ITV stations at present as all others are still on low , albeit that "some" can be picked up but in a very erratic fashion dependant on location.

Both main stations are quite powerful up in the area, and if its these main stations you are referring to then its liable to be caused by deficiencies with your .

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag

Thursday, 4 August 2011

Alan Parker
11:32 AM

I have read recently that TV strength broadcasting will not come onto full power until sometime in 2012. Is this correct and if so, what date?

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Mike Dimmick

_{sentiment_very_satisfied}Platinum

2:54 PM

Alan Parker: It depends where you are.

Switchovers for the following regions aren't scheduled until 2012:

Meridian (excluding )

(no dates announced)
Ulster (no dates announced)

Switchovers for some transmitters in these regions will require changes after the publicised '' dates, in 2012:

Anglia (, )
Border ()
Central (Oxford)
STV Central ()
West ()
(, )

The interlocking nature of the frequencies used at sites around the country means that some changes have to be delayed so that as few people as possible lose any service they already had.

Where I say 'channel' below, I mean the radio that the service or is transmitted on.

At almost all sites, the three public service multiplexes - carrying the BBC , ITV1, ITV1+1, ITV2, , C4+1, E4 (except ), More4, Channel 5, and the four HD services - start up on their final channel at switchover and at full . This is because they are directly replacing the analogue channels, which don't clash with any pre-switchover services at other sites.

At some relays, the post-switchover channels are different from those used before switchover, and are not available until changes happen at other sites. Where this happens, a temporary channel is used, but at full power. In some cases, if a only transmitted two services - cases where the 'wrong' region was transmitted from the best main transmitter - the HD multiplex is postponed until later (e.g. ).

The three 'commercial' multiplexes, which carry the rest of the services, are harder. The analogue system was planned for four channels at each site, meaning at least two more frequencies have to be found for sites carrying the commercial multiplexes (only the 81 main sites that broadcast digital before switchover). Two chunks of space aren't available, either, with - being released for some undefined future use and - released for 4G mobiles, which often rules out at least one of the old analogue channels. They have to be co-ordinated with overseas broadcasters too. So there are often clashes between what has been allocated, and what is available at the time of switchover. Those clashes might be with a relay that will move to new channels at switchover, or with a low-power digital service elsewhere that is yet to switch.

Where this happens, the best option is usually to leave the low-power versions of the commercial multiplexes alone for the time being - on their original channels and original power levels - until the other site switches over and releases the required channel. Where possible, a (relatively) small increase in power is used, and/or a retune to use one of the frequencies used by a multiplex that has moved to its final location.

However, some services have started up in the BBC's spare capacity before switchover, and they must move to a different multiplex at switchover because this capacity is removed (for HD services). To do this requires the Mux C/ArqA and Mux D/ArqB multiplexes to change , and this mode needs more power. Many sites get a small power boost, but this may not be enough for all viewers to keep the services in the interim period before the final channels and/or power levels are available.

A few sites have to swap their interim channels for different temporary channels, before getting their final locations, to work around more than one clashing site.

If you provide a full postcode I can give an indication of when you will need to retune and whether any interim arrangements apply.

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Mike Dimmick's 2,486 posts GB flag

Wednesday, 10 August 2011

Jane Ashton
2:20 PM

Despite correct viewing is now daily misery of pixelation, freezing, clicking sounds, sound loss and no .
This had been getting progressively worse. This is effecting neighbours also. Do we just have to wait it out until our ? Don't know when this will be.
SWANAGE-Dorset.

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Mike Dimmick

_{sentiment_very_satisfied}Platinum

2:59 PM

Jane Ashton: You're most likely using the on the Isle of Wight, which switches over next March.

UK predicts a good chance of reliable now on Mux 1, 2, A and B, while C and D are expected to be variable. It's always more difficult on a long sea path, and you also have to contend with from northern France - I believe they are further along in their than we are.

A new, taller has been built at Rowridge, to the of the old mast, to improve coverage after , but I'm not sure whether use this mast yet.

It's still worth checking that your is intact and pointing the right way, and the cables are in good condition. Cables should be well secured so they can't move about when the wind blows - if they have been able to move, they may have worn away the outer insulation against tiles or brickwork, or just pulled out of the connection. Also, the insulation does perish with exposure to UV light - as a rule of thumb, outdoor cables last about 10 years. Damaged insulation lets water in, which increases the amount of signal lost along the and can damage equipment if it manages to run all the way along the cable.

For other ideas, see 'Freeview reception has changed'.

The postcode predictor reckons that you'll get a very good chance of reliable reception from the PSB multiplexes after switchover, but the COM multiplexes may be variable. Once they reach their final on 18 April 2012, you will get better reception by rotating the aerial so the elements go up-and-down rather than side-to-side, as Rowridge will then transmit more power on vertical polarization than horizontal. Don't do it until then, as it doesn't use vertical polarization at all until switchover.

The change to VP is intended to combat interference from French stations.

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billy
3:41 PM

I live in Rhodes Greece
Get al l except 4and five but lose them at midday till 6pm anyone know why

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billy's 2 posts GR flag

Friday, 2 September 2011

paul
8:03 PM

I have paid to have an on the (stevenage) pointing to . My freeview sometimes freezes momentarily and i sometimes get a black screen. I get a rubbish snowy on .

Is the aerial aligned properly??

Thanks for your.

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paul's 1 post GB flag

Saturday, 3 September 2011

Steve P

_{sentiment_satisfied}Gold

11:07 AM

Possibly.

Why do you not use , which is far stronger?

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Steve P's 1,173 posts GB flag

Sheena
2:08 PM

my duaghter has just moved into a flat in and cannot get a of any sort on her TV. Same problem with an indoor and trying another TV.

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