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
Thursday, 22 December 2011
C
colin speight10:00 PM
Hello
I'm writing on behalf of my elderly mother whose problem this is. The Alba box sits atop a spare television connected to the main TV via an aerial extension cable. After set up a problem soon arose in the form of an info message "OTA searching in progress . . ". Initially, simply switching off at the plug for 10 minutes or so got the channels back. Now, however, nothing will shift this message. The remote has no effect on the box, and there are no controls on the box itself that I can revert to. Neither the manufacturer nor the (online) sales shop respond to my enquiry. Can you help?
Thank you
Colin Speight
| link to this comment |
Friday, 23 December 2011
J
jb3810:45 AM
colin speight: Which model of Alba box are you referring to? but regarding the OTA message you were (are) getting, that indicates that the box is, or attempting to, update its software via any over air downloads that might have been available so its not really advisable to switch it off whilst its doing this, that said though, if its been running for more than about 15 minutes or so like this then it may have locked up, switching off being then the only answer.
However although being unaware of the model or age of, I have to be perfectly honest and say that in general many Alba boxes have a reputation for being unreliable, with them suffering from a range of problems like freezing / crashing etc, and what you have reported is just another in the chain, and with as you have already found out, any actions taken that appears to rectify the situation being in reality nothing other than something that can be considered as a temporary measure.
| link to this comment |
Friday, 6 January 2012
C
colin smith9:34 AM
i have a combi television i bought six years ago. And i have an alba set top box which i got from argos two years ago,will that still work? or will i have to get a new tv
| link to this comment |
colin smith: The TV and box will probably work together. You will need to connect them with a scart lead. Connect the aerial to the set-top box only as there is no point in having it in the TV as well.
| link to this comment |
Monday, 9 January 2012
My elderly has just had a new flat screen TV with Freeview to replace her old tube telly.We done away with the switch over box and plugged the arial directly into the new flat screen. it was working fine for a few weeks but now she says it keeps cutting out 2 or 3 sometimes 4 times a day. She lives in the West Midlands, could this be due to the recent problems with the transmitter, or have we connected it up wrong?
| link to this comment |
J
jb3811:20 PM
Morris Gyles: Residing in the West Midlands could possibly suggest Sutton Coldfield as being the station Freeview is being received from, but for more accuracy a post code is required to enable advice to be given.
| link to this comment |
Thanks for your prompt reply, Mums post code is CV6 3LH.
| link to this comment |
Morris's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
J
jb3811:06 PM
Morris Gyles: Sorry for the slight delay in replying, however on checking the signal level expected at your Mums location I cant say that anything appears to be abnormal with her reception possibilities from Sutton Coldfield, as good is indicated across the board.
What you could do though is ask her if there are any channels in particular she is watching when this occurs, the other thing it would be interesting to know is the aerial set up being used, that is where its located.
The next time you visit her you could maybe carry out a signal strength check on BBC1 / ITV1 / ITV3, this usually done via the TV's tuning menu, although every manufacturer has their own idea on how to access signal checking facilities.
| link to this comment |
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
A
Annette Lewis9:34 AM
When switching to digital the message comes up database empty,help.
| link to this comment |
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
K
Kaye Marchant3:44 PM
I have an LG TV bought only a few months ago. I cannot get any ITV channels. Only BBC1 BBC2 BBC3 or BBC4 we were told that digital switchover would automatically be installed however this obviously not the case. Please could you advice me what to do?. Thankyou ver much.
| link to this comment |
Select more comments
Your comment please