Digital switch-over problems
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV The Sutton Coldfield transmitter that serves Birmingham is having all the current analogue and digital services moved to a second temporary mast. This work was due to be completed last month, but the bad weather has not allowed the "air work" to be completed quickly.
With the power level reported to be about an eighth of normal, this has caused many people reception problems in second largest city in England.
Despite being close to the first digital switch-over in Whitehaven, it seems that people using the Bleach Green transmitter are unable to scan for Freeview services. However, they do work if the viewer manually tunes their box toC53, C57 and C60. "Digital UK says they are now working with Ofcom and the broadcasters to fix the problem".
Down in Cornwall, the Redruth transmitter is stuck in limbo. Cornish people can now watch digital TV from the transmitter and relays, but the commerical multiplexes are on the old power levels and old frequencies until 30 September 2009.
It would appear that the 30 September Freeview retune will be an important date nationwide.
Help with Freeview, aerials?
In this section
Sunday, 13 May 2012
J
jb384:56 PM
Jan Robins: Many thanks for the update on the situation and pleased to hear your good news.
Glad to have been of assistance.
| link to this comment |
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
C
cathy8:07 AM
My 86 year old mum has had constant problems with the digital switchover. She has had about 6 visits to get the picture back and now has no sound. She lives in Sevenoaks, has a 10 year old TV and a newish aerial. She has a free view box supplied under the scheme for people over 75.
Can you suggest anything. The last man who came out just said she'd have to by a new TV but it worked perfectly before the switchover!
| link to this comment |
J
jb3811:21 AM
cathy: As your question is one concerning reception then you really have to provide a more precise location, a post code or one from a nearby shop or whatever, as the signal levels expected at your Mums location cannot be assessed without this info.
Although an aspect about what you have reported gives rise to doubt as to whether or not the problem is one of reception at all, or its possibly that your Mum is accidentally pressing an incorrect button on the TV (like AV on remote) and taking it off the Freeview box back onto its internal tuner and which will result in a blank screen.
This said, taking it that the box is coupled into the TV via a scart lead, although if your Mum was operating it OK before then what I have said should not really apply.
| link to this comment |
Friday, 18 May 2012
B
Beverley Hampton2:12 PM
Bromley
Since the switchover I have re-tuned my 2 Freeview digital tv's twice and am still not getting the reception I used to. The picture and speech break up as if the signal is not being received. Previously everything was perfect. My Sky tv is ok. My postcode is BR2 6HT. The aerial is located in our loft.
| link to this comment |
Beverley's: mapB's Freeview map terrainB's terrain plot wavesB's frequency data B's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
R
R Johnson8:34 PM
Since the switchover this year I have experienced intermittant loss of sound, which is regained by switching the set top box off and on again. Also my EPG is slow to respond to commands using the remote.
I get my signal from Midhurst which is about 70% in strength. Any Ideas?
| link to this comment |
J
jb3810:59 PM
R Johnson: You should try carrying out a "factory reset" or "default setting" on your box before trying another re-tune, if this makes no difference to the situation then give an update on the model number of the device in question so that technical aspects of it can be checked out.
| link to this comment |
J
jb3811:01 PM
R Johnson: Meant also to say that its the quality of the signal that's more important than its strength, so maybe you could also mentioned what that is showing at "if" your box gives dual indications.
| link to this comment |
Tuesday, 29 May 2012
R
rebecca damm5:33 PM
R Damm
Since the switchover our freeview tv works fine however we can no longer record programmes using our SONY DVD player/video cassette recorder SLV-D980P GI
When we record either manually or programming using the codes from the tv guide nothing is recorded, just a blank black screen.
Is there a way to record, perhaps switching cables for example?
| link to this comment |
Saturday, 2 June 2012
M
mike davison3:04 PM
rebecca damm: Having checked the operating manual on the web, it is clear that your recorder can only receive analogue signals which if you are in an area that has gone through digital switchover no longer exist. You will need an external DVB Freeview set-top box and take video and audio from it into a suitable AV input(probably SCART) on the SLV-D980P GI recorder. Timings will have to be set manually on the recorder unless the source can be changed when the codes you mention can be changed but the set-top box will haveto be left tuned to the required service for the duration. Playback from the recorder to your analogue TV will still be possible although direct(non-channelised RF connection) through another SCART lead is to be preferred.
| link to this comment |
Select more comments
Your comment please