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I can't get Freeview yet, when will it start in my area?

I can't get Freeview yet, when will it start in my area?

I can't get Freeview yet, when will it start in my area?
published on UK Free TV

See Your analogue shutdown date

General:In the UK there are over 1,100 TV transmitters. Around 40 of these transmitters serve very large areas with a single strong signal. However the majority are smaller transmitters that "fill in" the signals where the terrain is hilly.

82 of these transmitters carry the Freeview service at the moment. From my understanding, there is still considerable discussion going on about the technical challenge and the cost of upgrading these to carry Freeview.

The reason for this is because it may be considerably cheaper for some areas that are served by a large number of low-power transmitters to switched off, and satellite reception be provided to each home in these areas.

The cost savings of removing the transmitter from service, possible resale to mobile phone companies, and the savings associated with not having to do an expensive transmitter upgrade can be used to fund the equipment and installations of the homes served.

However, this may not be practicable in some areas, because the Astra satellites appears to be lower down in the sky in Scotland than in the South of England. This makes satellite reception more problematic in the very areas it may be supposed to be "filling in".

Because the Freeview service has been developed using low-power signals of frequencies that could not have been used for new analogue services, this also makes adding in Freeview services a technical challenge.

For example, if the people living in your area were given a six-month timeframe to switch over everyone from analogue to Freeview what would happen? This may have to be done so that the frequencies used for the analogue TV could then be reallocated for Freeview services elsewhere.

If new set-top boxes were subsidized, for example, how could this be done in a fair way? There are not just the technical issues, but also general training and assistance for those who need it too.

So is not so much that some areas are "forgotten", more "not yet assessed". I suspect that we will have to await the outcome of the research in the next year from the various government departments and bodies that have been given the task of organising the switchover to digital TV.

Meanwhile, you can still get a digital satellite box from Sky for £120 without subscription, and get the £23.50 card for itv-1, Channel 4 and five.

North Cornwall: You may be well advised to consider digital satellite, because I suspect that it going to be a long time (if ever) that the areas around the north Cornwall coast get "filled in".

Eastbourne: Because of the Freeview frequency plan, the transmitters around the south coast are on very low power, because the signals cannot interfere with TV transmissions in France and Belgium. Therefore you can be quite confident that Freeview will not be available in this area for some time.



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Comments
Saturday, 25 June 2011
M
Matt
sentiment_satisfiedSilver

8:40 AM

If you aerial is on rowridge or mendip, then yes.

link to this comment
Matt's 101 posts GB flag
Monday, 11 July 2011
V
Val Adams
9:03 PM

My mother who lives in Pembrokeshire can only get challenge on free view in the day time, after 7pm it states transmission starts again tomorrow morning, why is that?

link to this comment
Val Adams's 2 posts GB flag
K
KMJ,Derby
sentiment_satisfiedGold

11:46 PM

Val Adams: In Wales S4C is transmitted on Mux D3+4 instead of E4. This results in E4 being carried full time on the SDN mux instead of Challenge TV which in turn is carried part-time during the time slot which is occupied by CITV in the rest of the UK.

link to this comment
KMJ,Derby's 1,811 posts GB flag
Sunday, 18 September 2011
M
mr v ward
9:01 PM
Market Harborough

who do i ring to get help with getting freeview

link to this comment
mr v ward's 1 post GB flag
mr's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
M
Mike Dimmick
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

11:15 PM

Mr V Ward: You will need a Freeview box or an integrated digital TV. You can pick up a Freeview box at electrical retailers and even many supermarkets.

If you can't get digital TV after that, you might need your aerial system looked at. Perhaps try the Confederation of Aerial Installers' directory at Directory Search Page or the Registered Digital Installers Licensing Body at Registered Digital Installers Licensing Body | Welcome , or look for a local aerial installer in the Yellow Pages or phone book.

All your nearby transmitters have already switched over, or at least begun. Sutton Coldfield is the last and it will complete switchover on Wednesday, so you do need to sort it out - all analogue will end on Wednesday morning.

The Waltham transmitter needs a wideband aerial for all services, but most are available from a grouped aerial, as you would have had for analogue TV. At Sutton Coldfield, all services will be in the analogue group.

link to this comment
Mike Dimmick's 2,486 posts GB flag
M
Mike Dimmick
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

11:19 PM

Mr V Ward: If you're over 75 or disabled, you may be able to get help from the Switchover Help Scheme. See
The Switchover Help Scheme can help you make the switch to digital TV. | Switchover Help Scheme
for more details. You will need to move fairly quickly as registration for this scheme ends a month after the final switchover in your region - which is Oxford on the 28th of September.

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Mike Dimmick's 2,486 posts GB flag
Sunday, 6 November 2011
M
Miked
12:47 PM
Eastbourne

Hi have just had a communial Digital aerial fitted to the top of the block of flats i live in post code BN21 1LS. Got my freeview box. No freeview channels? Why?

link to this comment
Miked's 1 post GB flag
Miked's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

1:33 PM

Miked: I think it would be prudent to make enquiries with your neighbours to find out if they can receive anything, as the trade predictor does not indicate Freeview reception being possible at the post code given until May 2012, only analogue until then.

link to this comment
jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Thursday, 22 March 2012
S
Shirley
1:57 PM
Whitstable

I live in Whitstable, Kent and can only get Freeview via a Sky digibox with a card in it. I want to record from the TV as well, which I haven't been able to do up to now. The picture often freezes too and I have to switch off at the plug to reset it. My question is, what box should I buy?? I was thinking of a Humax Freesat HD box at around £230. I live in a flat and the aerial is in the loft space. I also share a dish with my neighbour upstairs. Many thanks.

link to this comment
Shirley's 2 posts EU flag
Shirley's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Thursday, 29 March 2012
S
Shirley
6:44 PM
Whitstable

Shirley: Could someone answer the question I asked on 22nd March please

link to this comment
Shirley's 2 posts GB flag
Shirley's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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