Using UHF channels C61 to C69? Time to retune
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV Since 1964, the UHF band (channel 21 to channel 68) has been used exclusively for television services.
The main use, of course, has been over-the-air signals to bring five analogue (and latterly lots of extra digital) TV channels, but a secondary use has been for what is called "RF modulation".
In the days before SCART cables, and long before the not ubiquitous HDMI connections, if you wanted to get a signal from a device such as a video recorder, a games console, home computer or a satellite decoder to a TV set, the only option was to "modulate" it.
If you are still using a device with an RF modulator, you need to check that the channel allocated is not in the C61-C69 range. If it is, then you need to change it for two reasons: to stop an "illegal broadcast" interfering with 4G devices, and to stop 4G transmissions interrupting your video.
Who owns the 800MHz band? It's not you.
The most common devices are Sky Digital boxes produced from October 1998 to about 2010. See How do I change the RF output channel on a Sky Digibox? .
Please don't forget you will need to retune your TV as well as the RF modulator!
If you want to know the best channel to use, enter your postcode into "site settings" box, and see the text that appears there, as shown in this example:
6:43 PM
Norwich
Andy: Try UHF RF channel 36 because that channel is not used by your main Sandy Heath transmitter in Bedfordshire. Richard, Norwich.
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Richard's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
10:44 AM
Hi
What is the UHF or how do I find best channel for analogue sky please? LU6 1FD...
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12:43 PM
Andrew: Channel 38 can be used virtually anywhere in the UK for the analogue RF output on Sky boxes.
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11:16 AM
I live in ST11 postcode area and have recently started to get interference on bedroom & dining room TV's thro' Sky Magic eye. RF is set to 68 which now appears to be used by 02. Which would be the best RF output channel to use in my area.
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Neil's: mapN's Freeview map terrainN's terrain plot wavesN's frequency data N's Freeview Detailed Coverage
11:46 AM
Neil H: As per jb38's post above yours try C38. Don't forget you'll need to retune the TVs which are receiving the analogue RF output once you've changed the channel.
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11:48 AM
Neil H: Thanks for the response, I'll give it a try.
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Neil's: mapN's Freeview map terrainN's terrain plot wavesN's frequency data N's Freeview Detailed Coverage
12:02 PM
Neil H: Hi, Neil. Channel 38 ought to be OK. Don't use 35, or anything from 39 to 46, because these are all used by Sutton Coldfield to transmit tv signals to houses. Also, don't use anything in the range 21 to 27, because these channels are used by the Fenton (near Stoke) tv relay transmitter. Don't use the upper 40s or mid-50s as these are used by Waltham in the East Midlands.Other possible channels you could try are 29 and 30, but NOT 31 or 37, also used by Waltham. Anything at 59 or over can be used by 4G mobile phone services. Richard, Norwich.
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Hi I live in BH12, Poole. Could you tell me which is the best UHF channel to use for sky?
Many thanks
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4:39 PM
David: As above, C38 is not used by any UK transmitter so should be a fairly safe choice.
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12:04 AM
Hi brian,get better soon,from nicholas....
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