All posts by David Roberts
Below are all of David Roberts's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
In the absence of any official info,could someone please give me the final and 100% correct details for the up and coming Winter Hill Freeview changes? How I originally understood the situation,was that PSB1/BBC A MUX,would be powered up on 19th Feb 2020,on UHF CH32 and the CH50 version would be simulcast for 24 Hours until the early Hours of 20th,when it would be discontinued. However i'm now hearing from some,that both CH50 and CH32 will be simulcast until April 22nd 2020? The Date of the remaining channels to be moved to Aerial Group T or W. I've emailed Freeview.co.uk again for clarification on this and also the situation regarding North Wales Winter Hill viewers and their Help scheme for the elderly,etc?
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Chris. I took the information from the Digital UK/Ofcom Data for the Winter Hill Transmitter. Sadly I can't post you a screenshot of it here. The info in that clearly states that viewers will need to retune on 20th February,2020 and the New CH32 PSB1 MUX,will be powered up on 19th February,2020. I posted a screenshot of this on UK Free's Twitter Feed,relating to your posts and the Winter Hill Transmitter. I'm not doubting your info but somewhere along the lines,errors have been made in the info released? I note that there still is no response from Freeview.co.uk,to my request to clarify this? What a mess!
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Reply from Freeview regarding the Winter Hill Retune(s)
Dear Mr. Roberts,
Thank you for your email dated 5 February regarding technical changes at Winter Hill.
The BBC A Mux will run in parallel (simulcast) until 22 April to help support viewers who may need a new aerial to receive BBC A on CH 32.
CH 50 will be listed from 751 in the TV guide temporarily. CH 32 will technically launch on 19 February but will not be configured to replace CH 50 'in the guide' until 20 February.
The retune should work from 10AM on 20 February.
Viewers who receive their channels from the Winter Hill transmitter (regardless of their location) may see pop up messages on screen advising the need to retune on 20 February.
In most cases a simple retune will restore any missing channels. If anyone is still having trouble getting certain channels back (following the event) then please encourage them to call us on freephone 0808 1000 288 for further support.
They can find out more information on these changes (nearer the time) and how it may affect them by visiting: Important changes to Freeview | Freeview before they call us, as they might be entitled to free home support.
Please note: Home support is only available for 3 months from the date of the retune event at each transmitter. Home support ends for the 20 February changes at Winter Hill on: 20 May 2020
Our usual opening hours are: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Saturday 9am-5pm.
Home Support:
If retuning does not restore the affected services, we may be able to send a qualified installer to the viewers home. This service is available when:
The viewers house has its own aerial and they don't have access to satellite or cable TV
The problems can be attributed to the frequency changes, and;
TV services cannot be restored by following our advice over the phone.
Our installers will investigate the cause of any reception problems and undertake necessary work, including installing a replacement rooftop aerial where required (includes loft and external wall-mounted aerials).
We do not provide in-home support to properties with shared aerial systems, businesses or
households that use a portable set-top aerial to receive TV services.
There is no charge for this service. Should any viewer arrange independently for an aerial installer to carry out work, we are not obliged to refund any costs they incur.
Thankfully at last some clear and concise info from Freeview.co.uk.
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Friday 31 January 2020 8:07AM
Chris.SE: Great Post Chris. More helpful info in your post than i've ever received from official sources!! I was under the impression,illusion perhaps! that PSB 1,on CH50 would close in the early Hours of 20th February 2020,leaving the New CH32 on its own. Again a lack of official info to blame! Maybe better if PSB 1 is simulcast on both Ch50 and 32,to see and overcome any potential reception problems. Anyone who's older receiving aerials have a Green Coloured plug at the end of the Horizontal aerial Boom,will certainly need to replace their Aerials with a W or T. As there are Tens of Thousands of Winter Hill viewers,all along the North Wales Coast and in the Flintshire and Wrexham areas,i'm concerned that official help in replacing outdated receiving aerials may not be available,for Political reasons. I recall with much annoyance,the intervention by the Welsh Assembly,in Digital UK's Winter Hill DSO promotion,in the North Wales area. It was chaos back in 2009 and i'm rather hoping that there will not be a repeat of that in 2020?