Digital Region Overlap
The old analogue TV signals provided lots of nations and regions for the public service channels, and these have large areas of overlap. Places like Yeovil, Basingstoke, Colwyn Bay, King's Lynn, York and Berwick could choose the BBC and ITV services they watched.
The old low power digital TV signals were at very low levels and reception of signals from more than one transmitter was a rare event.
All Freeview boxes automatically scan the available broadcast frequencies looking for channels, and they do this from C21 to C69. Whilst scanning, if a duplicate version of a channel is found, such as another BBC One region, they are placed in the 800-899 channel range.
The 800-899 is easy to access by pressing CH- from 1, and in most programme guides is just a single scroll up.
The transmitters in Wales also put Channel 4 on "logical channel number" 8, because the fourth position is reserved for S4/C.
Quite a few people that use the Winter Hill or Mendip transmitters (or one of the relay transmitter) will probably find that they will now have:
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What can I do about this?
There are basically three options.
OPTION 1: Live with it. If the signals are strong enough you get a few extra channels (S4/C has English subtitles). There are techniques for sorting out the channel numbers below, but any future automatic scan will restore the channels to the order you now find them in.
OPTION 2: You can clear the all of the channels from the box and manually scan for the multiplex from only one transmitter. For the details, see the transmitter pages
OPTION 3: If the Freeview box has no "manual add" option, the only technique left is to pull out the aerial, start the automatic scan and insert the aerial just before the lowest channel number appears. For example, Winter Hill this is C54.
Some Freeview boxes will show a "percentage complete" as they scan, under this scheme C21 is "0%", C22 is "2%", C42 is "42%", C54 is about "66%".
Even if you manual scan, many boxes will scan during the night for new channels and may still add channels in the 800-899 range.
9:44 AM
StevensOnln1: "You already need a TV licence to watch most programmes on iPlayer." Care to elaborate, old chum? What is it NOT needed for?
Chris.SE: You are likely right about the transmitter conspiracy theory as arqiva would not benefit.
My contribution, aka "absolute cobblers" was inspired by reading:
'We notice you've been using iPlayer' email... Digital Spy
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10:42 AM
nobody: You don't need a licence to watch S4C programmes on demand.
https://www.tvlicensing.c…Q291
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10:25 AM
StevensOnln1: Thanks for that, and the link. You are obviously very well informed, which makes me wonder if you have an official position in this area, rather than merely being a tv user like me.
I have to say, the requirement for a licence to "watch TV live on any streaming service (e.g. ITVX, Channel 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Sky Go)" is a surprise to me.
Looking on YouTube, all I could find as "live streams" were Sky News, GB News and TalkTV! I need a licence for those?
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1:51 PM
nobody:
You'll have to read up a bit more ol' chap, even I knew that.
It's been well known for a long time that you need a TV Licence to watch ANY programme that is being transmitted LIVE at the time, whether it be on Freeview, Freesat (including +1 channels), or any streaming service, or ANY other Satellite services (that means those that aren't UK!).
Whilst the S4C player is effectively a copy of iPlayer, but it's called S4C Clic on Freeview Play and as already mentioned you don't need a licence to watch Catchup (On Demand). (IIRC when I last looked at it, there's no Live streaming option on S4C Clic).
Have a look here https://www.tvlicensing.c…faqs
Select "When is a TV Licence needed"
IMHO the way the information is given there, unless you read it thoroughly, someone could be "confused" into buying a licence that they don't actually need!
The information is stated much more clearly and succinctly on the back of the Licence itself.
Quote -
"You are covered to:
a) watch and record programmes as they are being shown on TV or live on an online service, including programmes streamed over the internet and satellite programmes from outside the UK, and
b) watch and download BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer.
This can be on any device, including TVs, computers, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, games consoles, digital boxes and DVD/VHS recorders.
.....
This licence does not cover areas occupied solely by tenants, lodgers or paying guests.
(There is a bit more on the back of the licence but no doubt covered in the FAQ).
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