All posts by Briantist
Below are all of Briantist's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Josh: Virgin Media have made a corporate decision not to expand their network beyond existing connected properties for financial reasons.
As I mentioned above, the cables networks are star-networks from the local head-end, so it isn't just a case of being able to "chuck a cable over the wall", but requires a connection back to the local box.
It is very frustrating in situations such as the one you list, but the current capital investment rules have lead Virgin Media to their current policy, however mad it might seem.
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Des Collier: Thanks. I am hoping this will lead to a sensible evaluation of the options for local TV.
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Rodlv: As I have not the facilities to test all equipment, I do not feel able to make recommendations based on facts.
For personal use, I have Windows 7 Media Centre with a Hauupauge Nova-DT Dual DVB-T Tuner, but that is for use with an existing PC.
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technophobe: You need to enter a postcode to get the correct BBC and ITV regions.
ITV2,3 and 4 HD are exclusive to Sky as Sky have paid ITV to do this.
The TV Licence pays for the BBC only and you can get all BBC services for free on all platforms.
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R Gower: You will be receiving them from Crystal Palace, not the Hemel Hempstead transmitter.
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Jeff Lee: The boxes are designed for use with the UK Freesat service, but if you point your dish at another satellite you can use the non-Freesat mode with that.
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Peter: Please see Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Stefan: Please see Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Dawn: Please see Freeview intermittent interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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- Reigate transmitter works 16th-28th March 2013 | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice -
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debbie kaya: Please see Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Jak: Basically no, you can't. You must use a Freeview+ box with an aerial or a Freesat+ box with a dish. Please see Upgrading from Sky+HD to Freesat+HD | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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jen: Please see Upgrading from Sky+HD to Freesat+HD | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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gary: Basically, when Digital One get around to expanding their network. You can fill in a form here - ukdigitalradio: Stay in Touch - to be kept "up to date".
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Mick: See How do I change the RF output channel on a Sky Digibox? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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MR Fray: Airline: Complete Season 1 DVD Region 1 US Import NTSC: Amazon.co.uk: Lenny Wilson, Frank Carson, Chip Coffey, Antonio Fargas, Patti Starr, Susie Boersma, Colleen Bragiel, Denise Brown-Bess, Val Brown, Michael Carr, Tim Flavin, Anita Herbert, Jim Warren, Jo Inglott, John Mounier, Lee Servis, Matthew Barbato, Scott Mislan, Anita Shah, Charles Tremayne: DVD Best of Airline 2 DVD 2004 Region 1 US Import NTSC: Amazon.co.uk: Artist Not Provided: DVD etc
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Chris H: "If you have other problems, please provide a full (not partial) postcode (or preferably enter it in box at the top right) and indicate where if aerial is on the roof, in the loft or elsewhere."
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Robin Window: No, you will not. Where are the public service (Freeview Light) transmitters? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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malcolm: As I said, this is just what you will expect to happen with a loft aerial.
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W Barton: You might have to press a button on the amp to select the digital input. It's called "Input Select" on my Cambridge Audio amplifier.
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Marcos Brooks: No transmitter is shutting down at switchover. Details of the services provided after switchover are at the top of the page.
Please report your "aerial installation engineer" to you local council's Trading Standards.
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Sean: The card could be broken. Are you using Windows 7 Media Center to scan for channels?
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Dave G: Please try doing "Method 3" on the What can my do when my Sky Digibox says 'No Signal' or 'Technical fault'? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice page.
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mughal: That's a bit of an open question. Please see How digital television works | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice and How signal stregth, quality and bitrate relate | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Ken Dalton: For Freeview see Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice for Freesat see Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Keel: Please see Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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janice: You may need to do a "factory reset" on your TV to rescan for the channels, as they have moved to a different transponder
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Steve: Yes, you need a Freeview HD receiver. Please see What does "Full HD Ready" actually mean? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Simon: There's so much good old comedy on BBC Radio 7, everything from Round The Horne via Yes, Minister to Radio Shuttleworth, On The Hour and The Now Show.
The Comedy Club is a great way to discover comedians who's early work you missed out on.
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Pauline: I would see Freeview intermittent interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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J. Clarke: Please see Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Josh: Channel 5 have signed a long-term exclusive contract with Sky for Channel 5 HD.
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Brian Springthorpe: Channel 4 HD to start on Freesat | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice Channel 4 HD free-to-air testing on Eurobird 1 | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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sean: It could be the booster - try removing it from the system if you can and use a passive splitter, as boosters usually degrade digital signals.
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Sarah: No problems since Wednesday. Please see Llanfyllin digital TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice and Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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matthew: Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Nick: You usually access iPlayer by pressing the Red Button on a BBC channel and selecting from the menu.
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andy: These services are provided by Digital One, it is their responsibility to extend their network as they see fit.
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Richard waldron: Plerase see Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Richard: Please see Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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matthew: "If you have other problems, please provide a full (not partial) postcode (or preferably enter it in box at the top right)"
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Martin West: You can connect your second TV directly to the dish, you just need a satellite-grade cable to a spare output on the dish and another Freesat box, which start at £30. This will allow you to watch any channel on the other TV.
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michael: The UK LW stations will be closed at digital radio switchover, as per the Digital Economy Act.
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Charles Stuart: Two points:
a) QPSK delivers lower bitrates, and hence less channel capacity.
b) These are interleaved frequencies, the whole point of which is NOT to use channels being sold off in the Digital Dividend sale.
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Mark Knighton: Please see Freeview intermittent interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Joe: I would contact whoever makes your radio and ask them to make their software work properly.
It is hardly the fault of the BBC if your device can't do a simple HTTP file retrieval.
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Alan Phillipd: There is no such thing as a "digital aerial." I would see Freeview intermittent interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Phil: Please see Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Mark A: There is a page here A comparison of TV, HDTV and computer monitors | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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I can't see any MP being impressed with comments about known transmitter problems. What a waste of public resources.
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Steve: There is no mystery at all.
The Freesat (and Sky, just by their database) postcodes set up the regions that match the analogue transmitter network, so you get region an analogue aerial would have got before switchover.
Many homes in Nottingham were primarily served by Sutton Coldfield.
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Billy G: Enter your postcode at the top right to find a "Spare RF" channel to use.
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Josh: I'm not able to predict the outcome of contract negotiations that may or may not take place in some years time, in particular as there is supposed to be another UK beam on an upcoming Astra 2 launch.
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Alan: There is a diagram on the BBC and ITV Freesat | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice page that might explain things.
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Adam: Reigate transmitter works 16th-28th March 2011 | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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meirion jenkins: "BBC A and D3&4 at Cefn-Mawr are expected to operate at 25W until 2011" Cefn Mawr A digital TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Charles Stuart: They are expecting to make many billions from the DDR sale - BBC News - Ofcom to launch next-generation 4G consultations - the local TV system does not have "billions" in funding for additional frequencies to be used for digital TV.
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ConorMcDermott: I would save your money, I doubt anyone will remember 3D in ten years time.
The BBC are making no investment in 3D at all.
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sarah: See Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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James: Please see Freeview intermittent interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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andrew: Please see Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Paul: You will need a wideband aerial in Spain, as the national services use common frequencies on single frequency networks (SFN), and local TV services use the other frequencies (MFN).
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RJB: Please see Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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michael: I would expect that the cost of the transmitters will lead to them being closed during the current budget cuts.
I can't see DRM or DRM+ ever seeing the light of day.
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--- Reigate transmitter works 16th-28th March 2011 | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice ---
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andrew: Yes, see Freeview modes | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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James Vertigan: The was an provisioning problem which had lead to a delay with the Stanton Moor BBC DAB service, it was planned to be working some months ago, I understand.
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Mike Dimmick: Thanks for the spreadsheet.
There is a note on the Lark Stoke page "BBCB will operate on channel 21 between the first and second stage of digital switchover [correction from "BBC" in Ofcom document]" which I got from the Ofcom press office when I rang them with a list of questions.
The spreadsheet notes that Com6/ArqB is going to be on C60 until 28th September 2011.
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Thank you all for your kind comments. I shall endeavour to start catching up with everything today.
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mr deller: Please see, as it says above, Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Charlie: You will not be able to receive the commercial multiplexes with a group A aerial after switchover, and loft aerials are unsuitable for reliable Freeview reception.
You have two weeks to sort out a wideband rooftop aerial.
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Peter: I'm sorry, but the map is provided by Virgin. I'm not sure what I can possibly do about that.
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- 2011 switch-overs start today at Sandy Heath, Nottingham | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice -
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-- 2011 switch-overs start today at Sandy Heath, Nottingham | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice --
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Stephen: Please see Freeview intermittent interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Graham: See Find out how to receive Freeview and Freeview HD | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Chris: Or All free-to-watch channels | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice which is much easier.
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Jon: Please see Freeview intermittent interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Wendy Holmes: Please see Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Raymond Allcorn: It is not likley that a loft aerial will provide good digital reception.
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Harry: It could just be the signal being unable to penetrate your house, or a source of interference.
You might want to fit a rooftop FM aerial.
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phil: The TV digital switchover will have no effect on radio transmitters. The later radio switchover (from 2015) will require you to have a DAB radio.
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Ian: No sort of aerial is suitable for use in a loft, use a rooftop aerial for reliable digital TV reception.
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Nick: Please see Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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LORRAINE: Please see Whole house digital TV | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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---- 2011 switch-overs start today at Sandy Heath, Nottingham | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice ----
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terry ireson: Digital reception requires the perfect reception of the digital multiplex. Attempts to increase the signal strength will usually destroy the signal, not improve it.
Remove the boosters from your system, fitting attenuators to a boosted signal is just asking for trouble.
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john: Please see, as it says above Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice and/or Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Charles Stuart: Sorry, but the government is expected to be able to make billions of pounds from the sale of the DDR frequencies, so it doesn't matter what anyone "thinks" about their use.
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Harry Pope: I would suggest you try doing a "full system reset", but I understand there have been some issues with Humax boxes.
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Lionel: The whole YouView service is in a state of flux at the moment, there is a section YouView | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice but I'm not doing more on it until YouView actually fix their service a bit more.
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Maurice: There are no changes to Black Hill in 2013, other transmitters are required to release use of C61 and C62.
It is just the low power level on C59 that effects reception, the service is being carried by the analogue C5 transmitter with the same radiation pattern.
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Aaron: Please see Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Mark A.: For "copyright" reasons, the HD channels are displayed using composite signals only to non-HDMI connected devices, not the usual "high quality" RGB signals.
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Carmel Parker: Please see Freeview intermittent interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Leesa: I would check TVs and boxes that do not support the 8k-mode | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice first.
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Mike Dimmick: Yes, I was considering the 550-614 MHz band in that respect. One very good use would be for SFN HD versions of the commercial multiplexes.
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lee: Please see the Freeview intermittent interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice page.
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shar: Only a Freeview HD set, or a BT Vision Box has the ability to decode MPEG4, which is used by some channels in France.
A "standard" digital tick UK TV will not have that ability, and will only provide the sound for such channels.
You can use a French set-top box with a digital TV, of course.
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Bob: Yes, this is a common situation at switchover - too much signal is as bad for digital reception as too little.
Remember to remove amplifiers first, before fitting attenuation devices.
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John Beever: I would give this - My Freeview box has no EPG, is blank on FIVE, ITV3, ITV4, ITV2+1, has no sound or the channel line up is wrong | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice - a go with your set.
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Just as a general point, if you have problems with a box or set, do this - My Freeview box has no EPG, is blank on FIVE, ITV3, ITV4, ITV2+1, has no sound or the channel line up is wrong | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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General note - if you are retuning you must do a "first time installation" or do this - My Freeview box has no EPG, is blank on FIVE, ITV3, ITV4, ITV2+1, has no sound or the channel line up is wrong | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice . An "add channels" will only confuse your receiver.
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=== 2011 switch-overs start today at Sandy Heath, Nottingham | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice ===
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Adam B: Because anyone who hasn't retuned will no longer get the channels on it, which includes the two "hidden" Sky Sports channels.
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liam boyle: It is quite possible you have too much signal, and should have used a smaller aerial. You may have to fit an attenuator.
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cathal: Please see Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Les Nicol: Thanks for those, I think I managed to get the into the Newsbucket on the day.
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lee: You can compare the frequencies you are receiving services on (if your box or TV will tell you) with those in use by the transmitter.
Or, you can look at the direction your aerial points.
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Mike Dimmick: Sorry to point this out, but it was my actual job when I worked for BT Broadcast Services once to put in all the fibre-optic system that is used to feed all the Freeview transmitters with their multiplexes.
The sites are fed using diverse-routed fibre links from the nearest couple of exchanges, where they pick up the data feeds from the multiplexing source via the Synchronous Digital Hierarchy, the SDH, which allows you to, for large sums of money, patch together such system without having to run in fibre for the whole route.
Only the BBC use satellite as a backup-of-last-resort for DTT.
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Scott: I would have thought that in the current financial climate it would not be assigned a high priority.
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lee: You will get the services your aerial provides, it depends on the direction it points and the aerial group.
It is the Lichfield transmitter that has the "preview" Freeview HD service at the moment, and you unlikey to be able to receive that.
If you want Freeview HD, move your aerial to get a signal from the Nottingham transmitter, and wait two weeks.
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Scott: HD was never part of "digital switchover", only SD. The upgrade to HD is separate transition.
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Paul: It could just be broken, I presume you have checked the batteries in the remote?
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Jill Gathercole: Have you checked the TVs and boxes that do not support the 8k-mode | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice page?
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chris smith: Yes, see Upgrading from Sky to Freesat
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Pete: As it is an auction, it is somewhat impossible to predict beforehand.
Don't worry, the cost will, of course, be passed onto the consumer.
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Paul: I suspect your box is broken. How about Upgrading from Sky to Freesat
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RICHARD SHORT: Please see Upgrading from Sky to Freesat
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s lobo: Please do this My Freeview box has no EPG, is blank on FIVE, ITV3, ITV4, ITV2+1, has no sound or the channel line up is wrong | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice to your set.
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Ash: OK. I did say that the table was compiled from using address hits on the Virgin Media database, and not the map.
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ian, notts: Nottingham does not have any relays. Sounds like the "cable" customer is not using cable at all.
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Jill Gathercole: In that case, do this My Freeview box has no EPG, is blank on FIVE, ITV3, ITV4, ITV2+1, has no sound or the channel line up is wrong | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Pete: There will be no changes to the transmissions other than the change of name (and graphics). How can the station change to stereo on DAB when the multiplex is already at capacity?
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Mark A: The clearances were done in a way that allowed all transmitters to keep the three PSB multiplexes "in group" and keep the COM multiplexes "in group" wherever possible.
The alignment of C61-C69 allows 4G equipment to use the same allocation in the whole of the EU, which leads to greater efficiency and lower consumer costs, in the long run.
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Mike Dimmick: "I suspect a lot of people who bought wideband aerials are going to have problems picking up 4G mobile phone signals".
I'm not really sure how this will follow. Exiting WiMax and LTE handsets have, as with all mobile phones, their aerial inside the case.
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jack guest: It's here - Lichfield digital switchover date | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Mike Dimmick: Yes, I do know this. If you have Windows 7 and don't have it you can easily get it via the Windows Anytime Upgrade, which takes a few minutes to switch the edition - for a payment of course.
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George Buchanan: It sounds like you are having a few bit errors. Video takes longer to recover than audio and the higher bitrate means much more chance of single bit errors effecting it. See How digital television works | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Dan Howard: The work is listed as complete - have you tried My Freeview box has no EPG, is blank on FIVE, ITV3, ITV4, ITV2+1, has no sound or the channel line up is wrong | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice ?
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Mike Dimmick: Both LTE and WiMax are designed to have suitable "guard bands" that will protect the adjacent DTT service.
Also, the 4G networks, like the 3G networks will be based on the much smaller cell network of base stations, not the main TV transmitters, so there shouldn't be any problems.
As I think you pointed out elsewhere, C60 is already configured as C60- to ensure protection from future LTE/WiMax services. Whatever they turn out to be.
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Mark A.: Radio 4 is always broadcast in stereo on all platforms. However, much of the production is make to ensure it mixes down properly to mono for LW/MW transmission, so the news programmes, for example, are produced in mono, but broadcast in stereo.
It would, in fact, be better quality to provide these programmes as mono rather than joint-stereo.
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Mike Dimmick/Syd Wall: I have changed the old multiplex names to the new ones for consistency.
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ian, notts: These relay transmitters use off-air reception from the main regional transmitter for provision of the old four analogue and three new digital channels.
The cable networks were required to carry the five original PSB services (BBC One, BBC TWO, ITV1, Channel 4/S4C and Channel 5) in analogue form. This requirement has lapsed.
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Ron Rogerson: A Sky box is unable to do the things you say without a card. Are you sure it's not behind a "flap" and you are looking at the "interactive slot"?
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Dan Howard: The best I can suggest right now is looking at Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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glenn hanson: Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice ?
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Mark A.: As far as I know, no one has ever suggested closing down Radio 7/4Extra.
Radio 5 Live Sports Extra carries a lot of live sport that otherwise is on Radio 4 LW.
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John Drury: See Upgrading from Sky+HD to Freesat+HD | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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sarah: Please try My Freeview box has no EPG, is blank on FIVE, ITV3, ITV4, ITV2+1, has no sound or the channel line up is wrong | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Mr. M. Brooks: Please try this My Freeview box has no EPG, is blank on FIVE, ITV3, ITV4, ITV2+1, has no sound or the channel line up is wrong | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Richard: I would check TVs and boxes that do not support the 8k-mode | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Gav: As above, see Freeview intermittent interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Tuesday 15 March 2011 6:25AM
Des Collier: Yes, this is very true. In Brighton and Hove, for example, Cable and Wireless were forbidden from doing installations in the "Conservation Areas", of which we have quite a lot.
The purpose of the table was to calculate the areas where cable coverage is non-existent (or in the case of Milton Keynes, out of date).