Two final Freeview retunes in Scotland on 24 and 31 July 2013

It is the end of the rolling programme in the regions that experienced the early digital switchovers - some viewers in the north east of Scotland and the Western Isles will need to retune their Freeview boxes to keep watching all of the channels.

^{Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV 30th July 2013 at 10:00}

The original plan for digital-only television services had created a set of cleared (unused, for resale as 4G) frequencies in the range C31 to C40, and a smaller one in the C63-C68 range. However, to align the frequencies with the rest of Europe and to provide the mobile internet companies with more desirable frequencies the allocations were changed - see Digital Dividend - changes to the 800MHz band.

In the regions that switched-over after the decision was taken, the new frequency plan has been used. In the regions that switched before, viewers will have to perform one more retune.

This week, on Wednesday 24th July 2013, viewers of the Keelylang Hill and Bressay transmitter groups will see another minor Freeview change.

The following is a list of which TV channels are carried on which multiplex transmission:

Wednesday 24th July 2013 Keelylang Hill and Bressay transmitters and transmitter groups

At some point before 6am, Keelylang Hill will change: the Freeview HD (PSB3) multiplex will move from C49 to C39+ and the Arqiva B (COM6) multiplex will move from C50 to C40+

Viewers on the following relays will see changes as follows:

Collafirth Hill: PSB3 C49 to C39+ (noon)
Scalloway: PSB1 C62- to C50 (11am)
Swinster: PSB1 C62- to C50 (11am)
Weisdale: PSB2 C61 to C49 (3pm)

If you use the Burgar Hill, Pierowall or Voe transmitters, you do not need to retune, but you will not have Freeview HD until 11am, noon and 3pm respectively.

Wednesday 31st July 2013 Rosemarkie, Knockmore, Durris and Skriaig transmitter and transmitter group

In a week's time, on Wednesday 31st July 2013 the final changes occur.

At 6am - Rosemarkie's the Arqiva B (COM6) multiplex will move from C50 to C40+ and the PB2 mutiplex from C49 to C39+. At Knockmore: Arqiva B (COM6) will change slightly from C60 to C60-, but you should not need to retune.

The following relays will require a retune at the given time to restore the listed service:

Ardintoul: PSB2 C49 to C39 (11am)
Avoch: PSB3 C61 to C49 (3pm)
Balblair Wood: PSB1 C62- to C50 (11am)
Banff: PSB3 C49 to C39 (3pm)
Boddam: PSB3 C49 to C39 (3pm)
Bruernish: PSB3 C50 to C40 (1pm)
Craigellachie: PSB2 C61 to C49 (3pm)
Ellon: PSB2 C49 to C39 (11am)
Fodderty: PSB2 C61 to C49 (3pm)
Gartley Moor: PSB2 C61 to C49 (11am)
Gourdon: PSB1 C62- to C50
Inverness: PSB1 C62- to C50 (11am)
Kilbride South Uist: PSB1 C49 to C39 (4pm)
Kingussie: PSB3 C50 to C40 (11am)
Lumphanan: PSB3 C49 to C39 (3pm)
Peterhead: PSB1 C62- to C50 (11am)
Scoval: PSB1 C62- to C50 (11am)
Tarbert (Harris): PSB2 C49 to C39 (11am)
Tomich Link: PSB2 C49 to C39 (11am)
Tullich: PSB1 C62- to C50 (11am)
Uig: PSB3 C50 to C40(3pm)

Some relays do NOT require a retune, but one or more multiplex will be out of service for a time: Auchmore Wood, Cromarty, Fort Augustus, Tomatin out until 11am. Clettraval, Lochmaddy out until 11am. Daliburgh out until 1pm. Glen Covinth, Glen Urquart, Tomich, Wester Erchite, Lairg out until 3pm. Borve out until 5pm.

Notes about retuning

If you are not on the list, you should scan your box from around 6am.

When you now rescan, you MUST do a "first time installation" or "factory reset" scan (sometimes called "shipping state"), not a simple "add channels". Do the procedure you did on "national retune day", September 30th 2009, see Freeview Retune - list of manuals.

If you can't recall the procedure or find the manual, please see generic clear and rescan procedure.

Some people may find problems with the newly allocated frequencies - if so, please see Single frequency interference.

Cable and satellite

Cable (Virgin Media) and satellite (Sky, Freesat, fSfS) viewers are not affected by the changes. Remember, however, that you may be using analogue TV to watch on a second or third set and it might need a Freeview box.

Originally published on 21st July 2013 at 17:07