Switchover starts in Norfolk
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV This week sees the first stage of the digital television switchover for 387,500 homes in Norfolk.
From 6am Wednesday 9th November 2011, you must perform a "first time installation" retune (sometimes "Factory Reset" or "Shipping Condition") on your Freeview box or television set if you use the Tacolneston full service Freeview transmitter.
This is because the old low power "multiplex 1" BBC service (on C63) will be replaced by the high power BBCA multiplex on the old analogue BBC TWO frequency, C55.
On Wednesday 9th November 2011 if you use the Aldeburgh at 10am, Bramford at 6am, Burnham noon, Bury St Edmunds at 6am, Creake at 3pm, Gorleston on Sea at 6am, Great Yarmouth (new transmitter) noon, Kings Lynn at 9am, Linnet Valley at 6am, Little Walsingham at 6am, Lowestoft (new transmitter) at 8am, Norwich Central at 9am, Overstrand noon, Thetford at 6am, Wells next the Sea at 3pm or West Runton at 9am relay transmitters you will be able to receive the BBC Freeview services (with the exception of HD) for the first time, and you will no longer be able to view BBC TWO on analogue.
You MAY find that old equipment will no longer work - see TVs and boxes that do not support the 8k-mode
Another common problem at switchover is the ten-fold increase in signal from 10kW to 100kW will overload amplifiers and over-the-top aerial installations. If this is the case you will have to remove the booster or amplifier from the system, or perhaps fit an attenuator if you have no amplification. - see Freeview signals: too much of a good thing is bad for you.
On Wednesday 23rd November 2011 will see the second stage of switchover, which provides the final Freeview configuration, including Freeview HD for all transmitters in this region.
On this date, you will need, once again, to do a "first time installation" as indicated above.
If you are over 75, you should already have been supplied new equipment by the Switchover Help Scheme.
8:26 PM
good,then belmont can go to full strength,& we'll be able to receive arq a& b with no problems.(i hope!!!!!!).
| link to this comment |
12:36 AM
Switchover in Norfolk and North Suffolk you mean and into Ipswich which some people use TAC and Bramford!
| link to this comment |
9:19 AM
So by the end of this month everything that moves quickly across the screen will move in a series of jerks. Can't wait...
| link to this comment |
Taccy Fan: Yes, as it says the "Tacolneston trasmitter area".
| link to this comment |
3:37 PM
Des Collier.Once Tacolneston goes fully digital (DSO2) in the early hours of Wedneday 23 November 2011,possibly by 2am at the earliest or up to 6am at the latest,the two currently understrength Belmont mux's ArqA on ch 53 and ArqB on ch 60 will increase in power 25 times from 4kw to 100kw.Until then we have to wait.Just out of interest i receive Belmont's BBCA on ch 22,D3+4 on ch 25 and SDN on ch 30,but for now i'm using Emley Moor's ArqB on ch 48 and ArqA on ch 52 until Wednesday 23 November 2011.Once Belmont's ArqA and ArqB mux's power is increased for me will be my moment of truth whether i will be able to receive these transmissions as such.Watch this space i will reveal all come that time !
| link to this comment |
3:52 PM
On the subject of Tacolneston itself,with DSO1 due in the early hours of tomorrow morning Wednesday 9 November 2011,i wonder if viewers in the far South East of Lincolnshire (namely Spalding,Boston and possibly maybe Skegness) will pick up the high powered 100kw BBCA mux on ch 55 from the new higher Tacolneston mast itself ?
| link to this comment |
7:14 PM
I live in North Norfolk which to the digital revolution seems to be a no go area instead of having 40 channels were only getting 18 if were lucky.
When I spoke to the digital switchover site I asked them why. They responded with a long winded explanation as to public broadcasters having to make sure they provide there services and commercial broadcaster like dave have no obligation to place there channels through the relay stations.
When I asked the digital site who owns the main tacolneston site and then the subsequent relay stations I got an almost Security services reply "sorry sir we don't have that information".
can anybody tell me apart from getting freesat is there a way to complain?????? as i'm having trouble getting my freeholder to allow me to put a sat dish up on my flat.
thanks
| link to this comment |
Rich: An explanation is here:
Will there ever be more services on the Freeview Light transmitters? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
It's down to the fact that the extra channels have only installed transmitters in areas where it's worthwhile for them to do so. (DN31NJ)
| link to this comment |
11:59 PM
Rich: Many of the North Norfolk relays exist only to provide the 'correct' local news to viewers otherwise covered perfectly well by the Belmont main transmitter in Lincolnshire. If you provide a full postcode we can check whether this is possible.
The transmitter sites, masts and aerials are owned by Arqiva but they are simply contracted to transmit the six licensed multiplexes. The commercial multiplexes are SDN (owned by ITV plc) and ArqA and ArqB, owned by a different division of Arqiva. In turn they're operating on a commercial basis and would have to increase their prices a lot to cover the increased costs of transmission. It's expected to be about a 70% increase in costs to transmit from all relays, even if frequencies could be found, which they probably couldn't.
Digital UK know the answer to that question, as an organization, but I'd expect it wasn't in the call centre's script.
| link to this comment |