All posts by Dave Lindsay
Below are all of Dave Lindsay's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Gill W: I hope that we've helped you improve reception. I hope that we haven't blinded you with science too much.
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Muhammed Islam: "If" it won't support 8k mode, then it won't work after switchover as signals use 8k mode after switchover and 2k mode before.
However, you're referring to this page:
TVs and boxes that do not support the 8k-mode | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
A number of devices have asterisks by them, but it doesn't say what these mean. I wonder if the statement "All these sets can be upgraded …" is the meaning of an asterisk else that would mean that it applies to all the models which I would be surprised about.
Briantist [site owner and author of that page], can you shed any light on the possible upgrade of this model, or is it consigned to the tip?
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Briantist: Thanks for clarification Brian. Now you mention it, I see that the statement ends with "to add a Freeview box to the set".
What do the asterisks by some model numbers listed on that page signify?
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Chris Bowden: Santa only comes on 25th December and therefore is not likely to affect reception as switchover completes this Wednesday. On that date the power of the signal whose reception that is intermittent for you will be boosted to that of the current post-switchover BBC and equivalent to the soon-to-be former analogue.
The nature of digital reception means that a receiver requires the signal to be above a particular threshold level. Signals vary a bit over time. Thus, where the signal level changes every so slightly from "just above" the threshold to "just below" it, then the difference in the picture will be marked in that it will be available at times and not others.
The affect of the same change to an analogue signal will be a marginal change to the picture and perhaps not noticable by the viewer.
The lower power digital signals that are present before switchover mean that some (closer to the transmitter) will be able to pick them up, others will be too far away and won't be able to receive them, and then there will be some for whom it will be intermittent.
Perhaps a replacement aerial will provide a more reliable service for those whose reception is intermittent, but this is likely to be unnecessary post-switchover.
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Charlie: See Updated - changes to Freeview channel numbers this week on September 19th 2012 | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
The HD channels and news channels did not move. They may be the subject of another retune next month.
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bev hurley: Never.
The Commercial broadcasters (those that don't transmit from Mynydd Machen) achieve coverage of 90% of the population from 81 of the largest transmitters (largest by viewer population). For them to transmit from the other 1,000 plus relays including Mynydd Machen would roughly double their transmission costs whilst only adding a potential 8.5% of the population to their viewer bases. As they operate purely for profit, they wish to acquire as many viewers as possible for least cost which is what they do.
Unless you are in a spot where you can receive the Commercial channels from a full-service transmitter, then you ain't gonna get them. In some parts of South Wales Mendip can be received. If this is possible at your location you may therefore be able to receive the Commercial channels, either by using a separate aerial and separate set-top box or by combining an aerial on Mendip with one on Mynydd Machen. What can be received and can't be received in your area varies over small distances because of the terrain.
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Philip Easton: Because the Commercial broadcasters don't wish to pay to transmit from the small sites like Whitby.
They achieve a 90% coverage of the population by broadcasting from 81 of the largest transmitters (largest by viewer population).
For them to transmit from the 1,000 plus relays, including Whitby, would roughly double their cost of transmission whilst only adding 8.5% of the population to their potential viewer bases.
They operate purely for profit from advertising which they show to viewers which they wish to acquire most of for least cost.
The broadcasters that will be carried on the Whitby transmitter are the Public Service ones. As the name implies, they have a Public Service obligation which the Commercial ones don't. It's down to Parliament for not making it mandatory for the Commercial licencees to mirror the coverage of the Public Service networks.
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Saturday 22 September 2012 3:18PM
Jim Cassidy: See:
http://consumers.ofcom.or….pdf
Also see the DUK Installer Newsletter for Northern Ireland:
http://www.digitaluk.co.u….pdf
See page 5 and also page 7 under the heading "Freeview and Saorview products use different standards".