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
Tuesday, 5 June 2012
R
Robert1:54 PM
rebecca damm: Mike Davision is right with the solution he states but there are two other solutions one high cost, one low cost.
The high cost solution is to buy a hard disc recorder not sometime know as PVR instead of the digi box. If your TV is HD ready, you could by a PVR with one or more HD tuners inside and go HD at the same time. You then will able to record TV onto the hard disc with minimum fuss using the PVRs EPG. Buying a PVR with an HTMI output would be a good idea as even if you current TV does not have one, your next will and will give you better quality of picture over a SCART connection. You could still can record to tape by connecting the PVR (SCART) on the VCR This does not have to be done at the time of broadcast. I would also give you the flexibility to record all you favourite programs over the week that you are away on holiday. I see at least three clear benefits over Mikes solution.
The low cost method it to use the TV as the source of the Freeview video signal. TV can be setup to send a video output down the SCART to the VCR which can be told to record it but there are drawbacks getting it setup is one, you would only be able record what you were watching, you would have to leave the TV on, and on the correct channel to record your favourite program to watch later, if you were out at the time of broadcast. Manual programming is a pain and error prone.
| link to this comment |
R
Robert3:19 PM
cathy: Six visits and you don't buy what your being told. Your can go and buy an new TV but I do not expect that to make any difference either. Neatly, their digibox would no longer be used.
Check out if her friends (espicially if they used the DigitalUK service too) and neighbours (new reception problems since DSO?). Are they seeing similar problems?
How many times have they changed the Digibox?, have they tried a different model?
Go back and talk to the service manager. Post again if you not happy with what you are told or think you have been fogged off.
| link to this comment |
Wednesday, 27 June 2012
G
geoff4:01 PM
Faversham
Live in Faversham Kent and receive from Dover. Switched over today (27) and all ok on TV. On Sony Freeview box all also well....until I recorded a short prog to check, recorded fine but then switched off and restarted. Now TV ok but Freeview recorder no longer show picture on 'system menu' This happened after intial switchover on the 13th. The box sets up fine but loses it when switch off then on. Where am I going wrong?
| link to this comment |
geoff's: mapG's Freeview map terrainG's terrain plot wavesG's frequency data G's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Saturday, 7 July 2012
M
Mike Davison10:57 AM
Rebecca Damm - using your freeview TV as a recording source is certainly possible. I had a Hitachi TV with analogue and digital tuners and it was possible to setup the digital tuner to activate when the TV was in standby so an external recorder, which was also programmed to cover the same timeslot, could record the programme without human intervention and the CRT circuitry(!) remaining dormant. Careful reading of the TV manual may show this to be possible in your case.
| link to this comment |
Tuesday, 10 July 2012
D
Debbi McCauley12:48 PM
I had a Freeview box plugged in to my Fergusson colour portable tv - an old set, but never had any problems before! Now I find I cannot switch on tv using remote. I have to unplug Freeview box, replug it; or unplug tv and replug it - and wait! After about 10 or even 20 mins I get the blank analogue screen - and only then can I use remote to switch to the green digital screen! Why is this happening?
| link to this comment |
Tuesday, 18 September 2012
P
paul9:00 PM
Have retuned telly as per instructions in guide .did the reset then searched for all channels then stored channels .every channel saved exept bbc .keep losing these when tv turned off then on again .any ideas ? Paul.
| link to this comment |
M
Mike Dimmick10:41 PM
paul: Some equipment has two sets of channel memory, permanent and temporary. When the permanent memory is full, it starts putting new channels in temporary memory, which is lost when you switch off.
Make sure you are doing a full clear-out of the channel list before starting retuning. Check TV Re-tune for instructions for your TV, or look for the 'First-Time Installation', 'Factory Reset', 'Default Setting' or 'Virgin Mode' options. This option may be in the Software Update or System menu rather than in the tuning menu.
If that doesn't help, your TV may just not have enough memory for all the channels. If you can, use the manual tuning feature to just tune in the multiplexes you want, from the best transmitter - some equipment may store two copies of some channels if they are receivable from more than one transmitter. Other people have reported success by manually tuning the multiplex with the most channels, then deleting unwanted channels from that, and repeating with the next most, and so on.
Do check that your TV is not on the list of equipment with known tuning faults: see http://www.digitaluk.co.u…tnit . If it is, use the information there to contact the manufacturer.
| link to this comment |
Wednesday, 19 September 2012
A
ANN NEWSTEAD10:45 AM
Hi,I retuned my tv on 12th Sep;and are receiving the 133 channels that I had before but my Digihome250GB Digital tv recorder wont record rewind or pause would be grateful for any advice thanks Ann
| link to this comment |
Sunday, 30 September 2012
A
ANN NEWSTEAD4:03 PM
HI THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPLY ASKING ME FOR MORE INFORMATION NOT REALLY SURE WHAT ELSE TO SAY OTHER THAN AS I SAID I RETUNED MY DIGITAL FREEVIEV+ BOX ON 12TH SEP;AND KNOW PROBLEMS I STILL HAVE ALL THE CHANNELS THAT I HAD BEFORE THE CHANGEOVER BUT NOW MY FREEVIEV BOX HAS STOPPED RECORDING PAUSING & REWINDING I RANG THE TOPUP PEOPLE AND EXPLAINED IT TO THEM & THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN SUBSCIBING TO THEM FOR TWO YEAR BUT THEY SAID IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE AS YOU DON'T KNEAD TO SUBSCRIBE TO USE RECORD ECT;
| link to this comment |
J
jb388:10 PM
ANN NEWSTEAD: On checking back I cant actually see anyone having asked you for further info! however have you tried completely resetting the box? or alternatively removing the aerial and then carrying out a retune as this will blank the memory out, then when completed reconnect the aerial and carry out a second retune and try out the recorder.
I have to say though that your problem could be caused by a software issue and which is not easily curable, as these boxes have a reputation for being troublesome, but try the procedure mentioned and giving an update on results.
| link to this comment |
Select more comments
Your comment please