All posts by Dave Lindsay
Below are all of Dave Lindsay's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Dale: Transmitter engineering work in preparation for switchover is taking place at Pontop Pike. The answer in such situations as you found yourself is not to retune as that simply wipes the receiver's memory leaving it without the channels. You will now have to repeatedly tune until you get them back. If you have manual tuning, then you should use it (HD services on channel 63).
For Pontop Pike it is not necessary to retune until 12th September and you would be best advised to refrain from doing so.
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Karen: The simple solution is probably to run the automatic tuning scan and unplug the aerial at 30%.
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Edward: ONdigital boxes won't work after switchover:
TVs and boxes that do not support the 8k-mode | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
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CJH: What's the model number of the Sony TV?
Some models won't work after switchover. See these links for some lists (which aren't exhaustive):
TVs and boxes that do not support the 8k-mode | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
http://www.digitaluk.co.u…ment
http://www.digitaluk.co.u…tnit
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Pam: Yes, that won't be a problem.
The only thing you should be aware of is that if you replace any TV it must have an analogue (as well as digital/Freeview) tuner, the analogue being needed for viewing the Sky box. However, manufacturers will probably stop making them. You will have to be wary of this if/when you do buy a new TV.
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Pam: Only BBC standard definition services (on C23) are at full strength. The rest will increase in strength on 18th April.
Refer to the Crystal Palace page (click the link) for the UHF channel numbers to tune to. 22 is indeed ITV1, C4, C5 etc.
Different receivers have differing levels of sensitivity (i.e. some might "hear" a signal that others won't in borderline cases). Also, any aerial lead will have a degree of loss, so the signal level will be lower where it comes out to when it went in; there's nothing you can do about this. These points may explain why one TV works whilst another doesn't.
It's likely that everything will work fine come 18th April. However, you probably wish to get it working in the mean time.
You could take the kitchen TV to the lounge where the aerial cable comes in from the roof and connect it directly to that. Then manually tune in (i.e. add) any missing channels. The objective of this is simply to get the channels stored in the TV's memory.
If you find that ITV1 doesn't work on the kitchen TV when you get it back in the kitchen, then don't retune as it won't get the signal back and will just result in the loss of the service from your TV.
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Mr. B Thomson: There are some older models that will no longer work after switchover. BBC channels have switched and the others haven't.
Some sources of affected equipment are:
TVs and boxes that do not support the 8k-mode | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
http://www.digitaluk.co.u…ment
http://www.digitaluk.co.u…tnit
These lists are not exhaustive.
If your TV isn't on these lists, then post its make and model and those on this site may be able to advise you as to whether it will or won't work after switchover.
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Andy Seaward: Not likely! See here:
Will there ever be more services on the Freeview Light transmitters? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
Unfortunately due to the fact that Ventnor is at the bottom of a steep slope, there is no likelihood of being able to receive directly from another transmitter such as Rowridge that carries the Commercial services.
Also, there is no possibility of receiving them across the water from the mainland either.
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Karen: Inversion will always happen and has always happened. The question I think you're asking is whether it will happen to such a degree as to make your TVs unwatchable.
That's a difficult, if not impossible, question to answer.
What I will say is that you appear to be in an excellent area with regards level of signal from Crystal Palace once it has switched over to full power on 18th April.
A lot of the issue comes down to the level/strength of the signals you wish to receive (i.e. those of CP) versus the level/strength of those which are interfering. The level of CP's will go up on 18th April.
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Wednesday 4 April 2012 10:53PM
sparky: Where abouts are you? If you are close to the transmitter, it could be overloading your receiver. See Freeview signals: too much of a good thing is bad for you | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice