All posts by Mike Dimmick
Below are all of Mike Dimmick's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.I've received a copy of the spreadsheet by email which I will forward on. The Lark Stoke note I referred to earlier is actually completely wrong - I believe it should be a reference to Mux B moving to C21 between DSO1 and DSO2. Maybe an earlier plan had Lark Stoke switching two weeks earlier?
| link to this comment |
Paul: I'm sorry, we aren't aware of any plans for the commercial multiplex operators to extend their services to any new masts (that they did not serve before switchover). They have said that it would be too expensive. See 'Freeview Light' for more information.
You will have to subscribe to Sky's satellite service to get Sky Sports.
| link to this comment |
Ben, Kim: we really need a full postcode to be able to help.
Kim: You would connect the Sky box to one of the TV's SCART sockets. There will be a Source or Input button somewhere on the TV remote which would allow you to select 'Digital TV' (usually) for the built-in Freeview tuner, and 'AV1' or 'SCART' or similar to watch Sky. Depending on where you live, you might not get HD services for up to a year. Make sure you get a TV with a Freeview HD logo, not just 'HD Ready' - an 'HD Ready' TV requires an additional Freeview HD set-top box or PVR. If you aren't expected to get HD transmissions for a while, it's worth waiting as choice is likely to increase, and prices drop, between now and when they start in your area.
Many new TVs have only one SCART socket, so you might need an external switch box if you also want to connect an old video recorder or DVD player. Newer equipment, especially HD equipment, is usually connected with HDMI cables and new TVs usually have a few of these.
| link to this comment |
John: The BBC made some changes to their Red Button interactive service programs about a week ago that caused problems for some Humax boxes. It's possible that they've made another change that's causing a problem for your TV.
It's worth checking you have the latest firmware. On the remote, press HOME, then select Product Support, System Information and check that the version is PKG4.092EUT-0108. If not, see Televisions & Home Cinema|
Sony Support Europe for manual update instructions.
Updated firmware is broadcast periodically but with a vast range of different TVs, PVRs and set-top boxes out there, it may be a while before an update for your TV is repeated. It's worth leaving it set to automatically update itself, which means leaving it in standby overnight.
You can contact the BBC by going through their reception page at BBC - Help receiving TV and radio and entering your postcode in the top right. It will take you through a general reception troubleshooter first, but if you keep going you eventually get to a form where you can send an email. (RG47SH)
| link to this comment |
W Butcher: power is indeed increased and transmissions generally move to better channels that should be less prone to interference.
Performance is still expected to be variable after switchover completes. Digital UK are predicting that the Dover transmitter may be more reliable at this location.
| link to this comment |
Chris: Digital UK currently shows that you're out of coverage, but predicts that you should get good results on the public service channels from switchover in July. Commercial channels will initially be poor and will be variable from mid-2012.
| link to this comment |
M
Sandy Heath (Central Bedfordshire, England) Full Freeview transWednesday 30 March 2011 8:06AM
Reading
Charlie: High-power digital services don't start until 6am. Between about midnight and 6am, the transmitter is off-air.
You should now be able to rescan your Freeview box and see whether a loft aerial is likely to work - although a wideband aerial small enough to fit in a loft often won't provide enough gain. You might get usable results from a log-periodic type. Still, you will nearly always get better results by mounting an aerial in clear space outside.
| link to this comment |
M
Backwell (North Somerset, England) Freeview Light transmitterWednesday 30 March 2011 8:21AM
Reading
Lynda: The required channel numbers are above: C25 for BBC West, C28 for ITV1 West, if using the Backwell transmitter.
Strictly the Backwell transmitter requires vertical polarization - aerial rods going up and down - while the Wenvoe transmitter requires horizontal (rods going side-to-side), and they use different groups of frequencies. Unless you have two aerials, you're relying on reflections and signals that the aerial manufacturers tried to eliminate. The results are likely to be unreliable.
An aerial installer should be able to advise you on installing a second aerial for Backwell, if you haven't already.
You could also try channel 61 for BBC and 54 for ITV1, which are the transmissions from the Mendip main transmitter. However, Digital UK does not predict any usable signal from this transmitter, as you're the wrong side of a steep slope that blocks line-of-sight to the transmitter. It's off in a different direction and again requires a different aerial group (C/D).
I don't know of any boxes that require a frequency rather than a channel number to be entered. C25 is 506 MHz, C28 is 530 MHz, C61 is 794 MHz and C54 is 738 MHz.
| link to this comment |
On days when they're moving channels, services are likely to be off-air from midnight to as late as 6am. They've only actually said this for the official DSO days in August, but Waltham has to move out of the way of The Wrekin (switching next week) and can't until the channels are freed at Nottingham (switching this week and in two weeks).
Everyone will need to retune after this morning's changes to get the Multiplex A services (e.g. ITV3). In two weeks, Multiplex 2 (ITV1, ITV2, Channel 4, E4, More4, Channel 5) is moving to a different frequency and you will need to retune again.
| link to this comment |
Tuesday 29 March 2011 5:18PM
Reading
Sam: we really need a full postcode to figure out whether you're currently in coverage and when you can expect digital services to start, if not.
There is no such thing as a digital aerial. There are only UHF aerials, and your existing one may well be sufficient for digital services after switchover, though this depends on which frequencies are used before and after switchover by your local transmitter. However, they do have a limited lifespan, with exposure to the weather, and it might need to be replaced if it has deteriorated.
The price for an aerial and cabling replacement depends on exactly where the aerial is sited, what access to it is like, and what the signal levels are. It's really hard to even give a ballpark quote. You might expect to pay anywhere from £100-£200 - the majority of this is the installer's labour charge.