Arqiva statement on West Central England switchovers
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV Arqiva confirms that the Digital Switch Over process for the Ridge Hill, The Wrekin, Lark Stoke and Bromsgrove transmitter groups has been completed successfully. The four key stations and 21 relay sites serve Herefordshire, parts of Gloucestershire, Shropshire, south Cheshire, and the Stratford-upon-Avon and Bromsgrove areas in the Central TV region.
All digital multiplexes are now being transmitted at high power from the main station at Ridge Hill, with its 17 dependent relays carrying the three public-service multiplexes for the first time: Andoversford, Eardiston, Ewyas Harold, Garth Hill HP/VP, Knucklas, Hazler Hill, Hereford, Hope under Dinmore, Kington, Ludlow, New Radnor, Oakeley Mynd, Peterchurch, Presteigne, Ross On Wye, St Briavels and Upper Soudley.
The three public-service multiplexes are now being transmitted at high power from the main station at The Wrekin and, for the first time, from four dependent relays at Bucknell, Clun, Coalbrookdale and Halesowen. The Commercial multiplexes at The Wrekin will move to their final post-DSO transmission parameters in September 2011.
The three public-service multiplexes are also now being transmitted at high power from Lark Stoke and Bromsgrove, and similarly their Commercial multiplexes will be able to adopt their final post-DSO transmission parameters in September 2011.
Following switch-off of the BBC Two analogue signal on 6 April, the remaining analogue signals for BBC One, ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5 ceased by 00:03 on Wednesday 20 April. The new digital signals entered official service at Ridge Hill at 05:45, The Wrekin at 06:00, Lark Stoke at 05:50 and Bromsgrove at 05:59, with the relays completed by 16:00
11:02 PM
Tewkesbury
Thanks Briantist, will give it a go/get someone in to do that!! ;-)
| link to this comment |
ALLIE's: mapA's Freeview map terrainA's terrain plot wavesA's frequency data A's Freeview Detailed Coverage
7:25 PM
ridge hill west;thanks for your detailed reply MIKE DIMMICK but some recievers will still not manually retune tx ch 29 .This 'minimux' carries itv 1 west only , not itv1+1 or any others. Interestingly the 'txer ident' when tuning ,labels the 'central' channels AND the 'west' as 'gloucestershire'!
Digital uk are baffled but like me expect the problem to resolve itself on 12th oct when the 'west' minimux rises to 20kw .
I can't wait as only sony equipment gets 'west' at the moment .
| link to this comment |
4:02 PM
Bernard Hunt - I you live in Hereford, you are surely lucky to get ITV West as it broadcasts fom a panel relay on Ridge Hill to the south east of the mast (i.e. it's for those parts of north Gloucestershire that cannot get their regional ITV service from Mendip or its many relays in Gloucestershire). That's probably why it's labelled as Gloucestershire too.
| link to this comment |
7:31 PM
Cleckheaton
My TV is pixillating but only on BBC channels.
Why is this
| link to this comment |
Alan's: mapA's Freeview map terrainA's terrain plot wavesA's frequency data A's Freeview Detailed Coverage
9:48 AM
Leominster
andrew mark:thanks for trying but not correct! since dso in april r-hill itv1 west 'minimux' is at 5kw until oct then 20kw.the area covered is exactly the same as r-hill central now.i.e.not directional.With some tvs itv west is ok over same area as central,the minimux [tx chnl 29] doesn't carry any other channels except itv1 west which is an unusual arrangement. It seems that the majority of recievers will only 'lock into ch29' when it gets 20kw in oct. My question is the technical one of why do some tvs get it with no trouble but others do not 'see' it at all.see hr6 8dx on digital uk postcode checker as an example of current reception but ignore the '2012' misprint !
| link to this comment |
bernard's: ...
1:10 PM
Bernard - Happy to be corrected on that. It would therefore seem that the analogue ITV West relay on Ridge Hill is now redundant?
But I do not understand why there is 360 degree transmission of ITV West, when editorially they cover Bristol, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset....whereas Central covers the Midlands, including Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
So why transmit ITV West from Ridge Hill to Herefordshire and Worcestershire?
| link to this comment |
10:57 AM
Hereford
Andrew Mark.Yes,ridge hill itv west analogue ceased at dso in april.The new itv1 west 'minimux' powered up at 5kw reserving 20kw until 12-10-11 to avoid possible interference with waltham and bromsgrove during their autumn dsos .The 'footprint' of r-hill west Itv1 is 'unofficially' for Herefordshire as this county looks more to the west than west midlands and r-hill is not officially directed to Worcestershire anyway. I share the Counties of Glos and Hfds concern at the lack of BBC West local news and regional programmes from Ridge Hill and I wonder if,as a cost cutting exercise,the 'west' variations could be put out as a 'red button' selection ? Those wishing to complain to the BBC and to suggest the 'red button' option can email bbc west regional controller at Lucio.Mesquita@bbc.co.uk
| link to this comment |
bernard's: mapB's Freeview map terrainB's terrain plot wavesB's frequency data B's Freeview Detailed Coverage
8:59 PM
Bernard - I live in Gloucester, and have received BBC West for the last 30 years. I have never seen a piece on Points West about a place in Herefordshire. The same applies for ITV West.
I would be very surprised if you could convince either the BBC West or ITV West that Herefordshire should be in their editorial areas. There is no issue from them about Gloucestershire, the only debate remaining is why Ridge Hill doesn't carry BBC Points West for north Gloucestershire, as satellite and cable does.
| link to this comment |