Wenvoe and Mendip - final switchover

Wales no longer has analogue transmissions, and the West of England follows next week.

^{Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV 31st March 2010 at 09:08}

If you live in Wales, from 31st March 2010 you MUST have a digital television device to watch TV. If you do not you will have a blank screen.

If you live in the West of England and use the Mendip TV transmitter, the analogue service stops on April 7th.

If you use the Wenvoe TV transmitter, do not expect a terrestrial television service from midnight until 6am - or a late as lunchtime on Freeview Lite transmitters.

If you are over 75, get (or could get) Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance or mobility supplement; or have lived in a care home for six months or more; or are registered blind or partially sighted and need assistance, please see The Switchover Help Scheme.

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.

Existing Freeview users

If you already use Freeview, and can receive all the channels now, check your TV or box is not listed here - TVs and boxes that do not support the 8k-mode. If it is, you will need a new box.

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, not an "add channels". Do the procedure you did on September 30th 2009. If you can't recall what this was, please see List of manuals for Freeview retune, or try the generic clear and rescan procedure.

Using Freeview with Windows Vista

Please see Switch over and PC-based systems because you need some updates for your system to work.

Boosters

If you live close to the transmitter, you may have to disconnect any "boosters" from your aerial system. The new, more powerful digital signals may overload any amplifiers and result in no reception! When looking for them include a check for distribution amplifiers, loft boxes, set back amplifiers, bypass Amplifiers, hidden masthead amps in a loft space and any dodgy active splitters.

Homes without Freeview

If you had no Freeview service before, you will have the BBC channels digitally from last month. This is a single multiplex of the BBC channels (radio, television and text) for most people.

However, if you were on the fringes of reception from one of the main Freeview transmitters, you will now get all the Freeview channels.

If you didn't get this limited Freeview service in November then you may need a new aerial.

If you are served by a public service (relay) transmitter

You now need, from lunchtime on final switchover day to rescan, and you will get a second Multiplex with ITV1, ITV2, ITV2+1, FIVE, Channel 4, Channel 4+1, E4 and More4. And that's your lot, see Freeview retune - poor public service transmitters .

You will be also able to use Freeview HD.

Digital regional overlap

Please see - Digital Region Overlap - ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice

Freeview HD

Freeview HD started on December 2nd from Winter Hill, final switchover day for other transmitters. To watch, you will need a DVB-T2 receiver, which are now on the market, attached to a HD-Ready TV set.

For more, please see Freeview HD will be 1080p25 and 1080i25 Freeview HD - final dates BBC R&I demonstrates Freeview HD ITV boss demands Freeview HDTV The "secret" Ofcom plan for Freeview HDTV: DVB-T2