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All posts by Briantist

Below are all of Briantist's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.


Kaye: No, it won't. Freeview is a UK terrestrial service.

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Ofcom provides Product Placement logo
Sunday 20 February 2011 11:55AM

Heinz: I think the PPP brand is now defunct, they are part of the AXA brand.

The thing I find the most - suprising - is that this logo has to be displayed for three seconds.

So, whilst the channel logo will be on screen for 60 minutes in the hour, this warning to viewers will be shown for .. perhaps 9 seconds.

And it doesn't have to go in the EPG either.

Not really much of warning to a "casual viewer", which IMHO makes it a total con.

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Film 4
Sunday 20 February 2011 11:58AM

Sandra: Please cam you see the Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice page?

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Kaye: It will show you most of the local Spanish channels, but I would suspect that isn't what you want.

You can use Freesat in Spain, but you need to have a correctly sized and aligned dish.

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cagger: Yes, probably. If you can tell me your full postcode I can confirm this.

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Dean: It might be worth checking the channel allocations are correct - a lot of Freeview boxes will happily retune themselves.

Also, you have to check the "region information" for each multiplex, there can all be different.

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David Wall: I can't really be sure without your full postcode.

However, loft aerials are poor for reliable Freeview reception. The best thing you could do is relocate the aerial to the roof where it can have a clear line-of-sight to the transmitter.

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sue queen: You will get Freeview after switchover, which is Wednesdays 7th and 21st September 2011. See Elland digital switchover date | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .

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Jason Stone: Which "this" have you used please?

When analogue is turned off you will have a full Freeview service.

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Sky3 to be renamed as Pick TV
Sunday 20 February 2011 2:04PM

Garry: Or you can use a Freesat, Freesat HD or Freesat+HD box.

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Sky3 to be renamed as Pick TV
Sunday 20 February 2011 2:27PM

Garry: Yes, that is correct. As long as you have a large enough dish pointing at the correct satellites.

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Emley Moor (Kirklees, England) transmitter
Sunday 20 February 2011 2:29PM

John: Which HD system are you using?

Freeview HD only supports standard stereo at the moment, and this should be the same level.

Freesat HD supports 5.1 "surround" sound. If you have "Dolby Digital" selected and don't have a 5.1 system, you will hear only part of the sound. If this is the case, switch the Freesat box to "stereo".

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Emley Moor (Kirklees, England) transmitter
Sunday 20 February 2011 2:52PM

John: Are you connecting the box to the TV using HDMI and then using the TV speakers, or are you using the SPDIF output to connect to an external amplifier?

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Nick: Yes, they are worth a try.

No, they do not delete your recordings.

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Emley Moor (Kirklees, England) transmitter
Sunday 20 February 2011 3:18PM

John: I'll have to look into this, I can't think of anything obvious.

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Nick: I would start with the first one.

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Mark Aberfan Aerials: Right, from memory there was a ban on TV aerials in Milton Keynes, or at least there used to be.
The system has belonged to various people, I think a BT subsidiary owned it at one point.
According the the MK Council's website - MK Council - GrowingMK -
"Virgin Media have said 'our ATV service in Milton Keynes will be unaffected by the national Digital Switchover programme. We will continue to provide the existing channels over the analogue platform as we have been doing so historically...' So, households should still get those five TV channels after switchover. "
From memory again, the system isn't the normal type of cable TV system you find in the UK, which were installed after the 1984 Cable Act, which have local headends with "star networks" of coax supplying each home. This allows for the necessary bidirectional communication for the digital (and indeed analogue) subscriber services.
The system in MK more like the old Rediffusion system, which is basically a big loop of coax with junctions. The only "conditional access" is if the home is physically connected to the "loop".
Thus, upgrading isn't just a case of new headends, but having to re-engineer the connection to each house, and I don't even think that any of the cable is the right type (it's aerial cable, not cable cable) and none of it was put in ducts.
This is from memory - the last time I stayed in Milton Keynes overnight was 1985. My schoolfriend and business partner Paul lived there, but he sadly died two years ago.

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jimbob: You could do, but it would be cheaper to order a Freesat From Sky card. The only extra channels provided are Fiver, Five USA and Sky3.

The channels are listed on the All free-to-watch channels | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice page.

Call Sky on 08442 411 602.

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Freeview modes | Installing
Sunday 20 February 2011 6:19PM

mike c: Please can you see, in the first instance, Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice ?

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Mark Aberfan Aerials: Everytime I go back I'm still amazed by how "done" the place is now.

Back in 1985 when I was there, "The Point" has just opened - the first multiplex Cinema in the UK. It was on it's own in a wasteland, but it's not now.

I was involved with MK Cable for a very brief period when BT owned it, along with the much more prestigious but equally low-tech Westmister Cable.

Don't worry, I marked the anniversary this week, and I'm sad because the memories are all good ones.

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dave maden: There is no such thing as a "digital aerial".

As it says above "To receive signals from this transmitter, the aerial must be mounted for vertical polarization - the elements going from top to bottom. "

You just need, as long as the aerial is on the roof, a "bog standard" area, either group A or wideband.

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Peter: The figures are rounded to three decimal places, as are therefore both precise and accurate, as per the normal conventions of mathematics.

If you download the KML file or follow the links you will find the figure to six decimal places.

Did I mention how many mathematical qualifications I have?

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CAI and RDI-LB to merge? | Blogs
Monday 21 February 2011 6:12AM

Mark Aberfan Aerials: Much like the "Chuggers" (Charity Muggers) who are employed by a company on behalf of the so-called-Charities they work for, who claim to want people to donate, but actually want their wages paid as usually the first years worth of contributions are required to pay their wages.

No only is this not charity (a word that means "love" in Middle English), it circumvents the Charities Act which people who volunteer to collect cash from the public.

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Peter Sorrell: Answered your question elsewhere.

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Ronnie: Have you tried all three methods above?

Are you sure your dish is pointing at the correct satellites?

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Emley Moor (Kirklees, England) transmitter
Monday 21 February 2011 6:20AM

Roger: Please see Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .

I am investigating the reasons for the different sound levels on Freeview HD.

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Feedback | Feedback
Monday 21 February 2011 6:22AM

steven hodge: You stand no chance whatsoever of a loft or internal aerial providing digital TV at your location.

A top-class rooftop aerial *MAY* provide Freeview for you, but this *MAY* not be the case until 2012.

If I were you, I would install Freesat.

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Ian: I'm surprised your lip wasn't bleeding. I wonder what sort of "glue" they thought you should be using?

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Jimmy Shaker: Well, given the BBC channels are broadcast in a multiplex, if you can't get one you won't be able to get any of them. That would be impossible.

Your TV Licence pays for the production and transmission of the programmes, it does not pay for your receiving equipment.

So, please can you see Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice ?

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Mandy: You would need to have the dish moved to point at a different satellite, and to buy a new receiver capable of detecting the channels.

To be honest, you might as well get another dish installed and another receiver and keep your Sky equipment anyway.

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John Wilde: Please see Freeview intermittent interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .

It is most likely to be internal interference, such as your central heating boiler.



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John Wilde: OK, I would check around for a streetlight that comes on and off at the time, this has been the cause of such problems in the past.

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luke: As above "Freeview power increases from 9,667W (average) to 116,667W, 12 times stronger."

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Freesat from Sky cards need updating
Monday 21 February 2011 9:14AM

Robin: The card provides access to Sky3, Fiver and Five USA. If you can view these channels, you don't need a new card. If you can't, you do.

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All channels page updated | Blogs
Monday 21 February 2011 10:16AM

michae: No, they are allocated on a first-come first-served basis.

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Freesat from Sky cards need updating
Monday 21 February 2011 10:16AM

Robin: No, that's is the full list.

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All channels page updated | Blogs
Monday 21 February 2011 12:40PM

michael: If you use the search box on UK Free TV, it will also search Lyngsat to help with that.

The purpose of the list is reduce the complexity, if I started adding in all the transponder and multiplex information it would reduce clarity.

And I see little point in duplicating the excellent efforts of Lyngsat.

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Ofcom provides Product Placement logo
Monday 21 February 2011 12:41PM

Simon: As it says above, it is not an on screen graphic, it is a logo that is show for three seconds during the opening credits and after the advert breaks.

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All channels page updated | Blogs
Monday 21 February 2011 12:46PM

Keith: Nothing much, just retune the boxes/sets on the day.

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John Wilde: Firstly, the concept of a "TV Detector van" was always a red herring. They just a database of addresses without a licence.

If you want someone (and it is the BBC who are reponsible) to do a tests, follow the "BBC Reception Test" link next to your post. This is the official way to report such problems.

Any reputable aerial company will have the correct equipment to help detect a source of interference.

Your times are very specific - I would have a look around for a dodgy street light that is coming on at the time you start having the problem. Or other sources such as security lighting or that belonging to a business.

If the times are exactly the same then this does suggest something on a timer.

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Freesat from Sky cards need updating
Monday 21 February 2011 12:54PM

Robin: The full list of free channels is on the All free-to-watch channels | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice page, there are hundreds of them.

The card only provides access to an additional three.

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Pauline: You should get DAB from the Oxford transmitter to your south. If your indoor aerial is poor for DAB, you can fit a small DAB aerial to the roof to improve reception.

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Emley Moor (Kirklees, England) transmitter
Monday 21 February 2011 1:00PM

Peter Sorrell: It shouldn't effect reception outside the time specified.

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william forster: No, the Sky+ boxes will not play/record/pause without a subscription.

You can, however, swap them out for Freesat+ or Freesat+HD boxes using the dish and cables. These boxes require no subscription.

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Dave sharp: You should put the aerial on the roof where it can have a clear line-of-sight to the transmitter.

This is a much more reliable option than using boosters and amplifiers.

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Emley Moor (Kirklees, England) transmitter
Monday 21 February 2011 1:06PM

Peter Sorrell: You would expect that, given the power output levels.

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Chris Mead: I would advise that you do not interfere with such a system. Please contact the management company and ask them to provide the service you require.

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All channels page updated | Blogs
Monday 21 February 2011 1:40PM

Rose-Marie: Please can you see the suggestions on the Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice page?

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GOODWIN: Yes, you can connect any number of Freesat devices to the dish.

What matters is the number of "LNB outputs" that you have. If you only have a single output, you will need to change the LNB for a quad-LNB with four outputs.

You then just run in a satellite grade cable from the LNB output to each Freesat/Freesat HD box.

Satellite recorders require two connections, including Freesat+HD.

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Chris Mead: Yes, that may be the case, but you can't be sure how the system is configured.

These systems are always managed and you should not interfere with them.

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C21 (474.0MHz) after switchover
Monday 21 February 2011 1:51PM

Chris Lowry: They are all listed at Eurobird 1 & Astra 2A/2B/2D at 28.2°E - LyngSat .

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Chris Mead: I can't understand why you don't call in the management company, who will have access to the written site records.

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Chris Mead: No, I mean the hardware configuration as held in the site records.

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george cran: Yes, you can buy Freesat and Freesat HD boxes from all high street outlets.

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GOODWIN: Are you sure you connected a FreeSAT box, and not a FreeVIEW box?

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Chris Mead: Well, if you don't mind being charged with criminal damage if someone discovers what you've done.

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Upgrading from Sky to Freesat | Freesat
Monday 21 February 2011 2:31PM

Ann: If you stop paying Sky, the existing boxes will become "Freesat from Sky" boxes.

Otherwise, yes, you can change them for Freesat boxes - see Upgrading from Sky to Freesat
| ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
.

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GOODWIN: Not unless you have a FREESAT television. As you have not mentioned it and they are rather expensive, you will need a FreeSAT box to do this.

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GOODWIN: No problem, always happy to help clarify things.

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Chris Mead: Do as you wish, but I doesn't sound like you are expert enough to be able to configure the system or understand how it is configured.

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Upgrading from Sky to Freesat | Freesat
Monday 21 February 2011 2:56PM

nicharm: If you have a Sky+HD box, you can diconnect this and replace it directly with a Freesat+HD box.

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Upgrading from Sky to Freesat | Freesat
Monday 21 February 2011 3:17PM

nicharm: No, you can not split a satellite link. You must have a cable from each receiver (and there are two in a "+" box) to a LNB output.

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Upgrading from Sky to Freesat | Freesat
Monday 21 February 2011 3:33PM

nicharm: Sorry, I'm a bit lost here. What is that you have three of?

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Upgrading from Sky to Freesat | Freesat
Monday 21 February 2011 3:46PM

nicharm: Do you mean you use the RF link so you can watch what is on the Sky+HD box in each place? Or do you mean you have a Sky box in each place?

It is best to use a Freesat box (they are very cheap) for each set with a link to the dish, you can then watch any channel you want independent of each other.

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Upgrading from Sky to Freesat | Freesat
Monday 21 February 2011 4:23PM

nicharm: The analogue RF system is out of date, and is not provided in any recent equipment.

Freesat receivers start at around £30. Buy Bush BFSAT02SD Freesat SD Digital Box - Black at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Freesat digital set top boxes.
- it would cost much less, and work much better than having an "RF modulator".

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All channels page updated | Blogs
Monday 21 February 2011 6:58PM

Brian Springthorpe: Yes, Channel 4 HD starts soon - see Channel 4 HD free-to-air testing on Eurobird 1 | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice and Channel 4 HD to start on Freesat | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .

Probably 1st April, as this is the anniversary of when the channel went on Sky's subscription service.

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All channels page updated | Blogs
Monday 21 February 2011 7:01PM

Brian Springthorpe: Film4 HD is currently exclusive to Virgin Media customers, and Channel 4 have a whole transponder in DVB-S2 mode.

So, will this be lots of ad regions in HD, or will it be Film 4 HD, Channel 4 HD+1 and Film 4HD +1 ?

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Feedback | Feedback
Monday 21 February 2011 7:02PM

tombett: I would suggest you do a "first time installation" ... again.

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Upgrading from Sky to Freesat | Freesat
Monday 21 February 2011 7:04PM

nicharm: Yes, you can pay more for less.

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Steve: Yes, most Virgin Media cable systems allow you access to the Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland versions of BBC One and BBC TWO.

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mark hawes: The modes are listed for each multiplex above.

Amplifiers should be removed at switchover, they do nothing but cause problems with digital signals.

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Jason Stone: OK, in that case either the box or the LNB is broken, or the dish isn't pointing at the satellites anymore.

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Dave sharp: Yes, you should use satellite-grade coaxial cable to preserve the signals.

Also, with switchover happening very shortly, the signals will be considerably better by 15th (Craigkelly) or 22th (Black Hill) June 2011.

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Rustyboy: Where is the aerial? Where is the booster?

If you swap the devices over, what happens?

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Brian Whittington: Please can you see the list of suggestions on the Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice page?

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Rustyboy: So the "4 connection points around the house" come from four outputs from the "box downstairs" that you assume is a booster?

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Jason Stone: Apologies, I didn't realise you meant that.

If "Method (2)" works, then the LN is probably on it's way out and need replacement. Quad LNBs cost about £20, such as Buy Quad Output Universal LNB at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Free to air satellite.
.

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Rustyboy: I'm wondering if the "box downstairs" is the power for a masthead amplifier.

This might be the case if turning it off causes the signal to go off for all the points.

The cable from the aerial to the "upstairs" point might have got damaged, or had some water ingress.

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Ian: Or the sort that run away with spoons at the end of fairy tales?

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Jason Stone: If "Method (2)" works and then you get a later failure, then it most likely the LNB.

If you have to keep doing "Method (3)" the problem is more likely to be the receiver in the Sky box. If this is the case, you might want to a Freesat box - Upgrading from Sky to Freesat
| ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
.

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graham: I would suspect you need a new box. It is unlikely that your aerial could cause the problem.

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Feedback | Feedback
Tuesday 22 February 2011 6:56AM

Jez: No, you can't do that. Sky require an one year minimum contract for Sky Sports and their hardware.

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All channels page updated | Blogs
Tuesday 22 February 2011 7:05AM

royboy: If you do "Method (3)" on the What can my do when my Sky Digibox says 'No Signal' or 'Technical fault'? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice your box should now pick up the free-to-air Channel 5.

If you want to pay £20 for a card, call 08442 411 602.

However, you can get a Freesat branded box for £30, which requires no card, see Upgrading from Sky to Freesat
| ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
.

If you have an HDTV, Freesat HD boxes again require no subscription and can be just swapped for a standard Sky box - you use an HDMI cable instead of a SCART.

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Terry: I have a DAB radio that works perfectly in any form of transport: car, bus, train. It uses two AAA batteries that last for ages.

It is certainly better than an FM radio on the move with the awful static and fade effects.

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C21 (474.0MHz) after switchover
Tuesday 22 February 2011 7:10AM

Roger: You can't complain to anyone about reception. Reception is down to you.

If you have a fault, you need to contact an aerial installer.

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NottsUK: That's very good news.

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Ian: Yes, you can watch them.

But no, without a subscription your box will not play/record/pause.

If you want to play/record/pause, get a Freesat+HD box and swap this for the Sky+HD box. These require no ongoing payment to play/record/pause.

Channel 4 HD is coming to Freesat HD in April.

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Paul: No, the power levels are never touched until the official switchover day.

Your best transmitter is definitely the Hemel Hempstead one - at the moment.

Due to the shifts going on around you, in 2012 both Sandy Heath and Crustal Palace, once switched will provide a much better Freeview service.

I have no idea why anyone would tell you that "that signal strengths are often down on what is normal (usually with no alerts that engineering work is taking place)". This is totally and utterly untrue.

But, as for the reason for your problem with multiplex 2, perhaps trying the Sandy Heath transmitter by moving your aerial?

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Rustyboy: An amplifier won't help if the signal is not there in the first place, amplifiers will not recreate a non-existent signal and usually destroy a digital signal.

Yes, if you attempt to connect a second power supply to your masthead amplifier "everything [will] just blow up".

To help eliminate the problem, can you try the other two aerial points?

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kevin ward: No, you can't connect a dish to Freeview. You will need a FreeSAT HD box, which you can get from any high street electrical retailer.

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Jason Stone: Yes, it is probably the reciever from what you have said.

They are NOT switching off digital next year, they are switching off the ANALOGUE and to allow the boosting of the digital Freeview service.

Why not get a Freesat+HD box, you only pay for the box and it doesn't stop working like a Sky+HD box does when your subscription ends?

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tina: You can connect as many Freesat boxes to your dish as you like.

You will need a suitable "quad-LNB" (they are £20) for the dish to provide enough outputs - if you don't already have one.

You just then need to connect each Freesat box to the LNB outputs on the dish using a satellite-grade cable.

You will be then able to watch any channel on any box.

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Dave sharp: Please let me know how you get on.

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Kevin: Basically, no.

You will get better reception from Mendip, but only until April, when the shifting changes caused by switchover will start to degrade the reception from there.

Your Oxford reception is also going to get worse from April too.

If you are going to spend any money, I would recommend you get a Freesat HD box and dish, and use this to fill in your reception holes until 2012.

At some point in 2012, as switchover is finished in the UK, you will get a great Freeview service again.

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mark hawes: The signal you will receive depends on your distance from the transmitter - it is the ERP listed divided by the distance squared.

45 to 65 dBuV is the typical range for Freeview reception, 33.4 dBuV being the absolute minimum.

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mark hawes: Always happy to answer questions.

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Rustyboy: You might as well try an amplifier on the point, given that the PVR works OK, but if there is a problem with the cable, such as water ingress, it won't be able to fix the problem.

I think you have already worked out to leave the power supply for the masthead amplifier where it is.

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Feedback | Feedback
Tuesday 22 February 2011 3:35PM

Darren Bromley: See in your "MY SETTINGS" box at the top right, it lists the three best RF channels to use as "Spare RF".

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Vale: You can fit a "dual arm" to a satellite dish to do this, but it a rather tricky thing to do.

Also, you can't use two clusters with a Freesat box.

You might find the best thing to do is to fit a second dish and use this with a "generic" Freesat receiver. You can get such systems from places like Maplins, and I have seen them in B&Q.

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Emley Moor (Kirklees, England) transmitter
Tuesday 22 February 2011 3:45PM

Jason Shaw: Please put your postcode into the box at the top right and when the page returns, it will show you the best three RF channels to use with the Sky RF output as "Spare RF".

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clive eastwood: Have you tried all three methods at the top of the page?

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Which? video shows shop staff knowledge
Tuesday 22 February 2011 5:41PM

Dzulkifli: The law says you are entitled to an immediate refund or replacement in the store. See Consumer Direct - Electrical and gas appliances .

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Margaret: As long as your have a rooftop aerial you should have excellent reception of multiplex 2 - can you please see Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice for some help.

Yes, the signal will be even stronger after switchover.

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Jason Stone: Yes, Freesat+HD is a very good option if you do not wish to be locked into a subscription.

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Wayne Drury: No, this is not in any way "due to work preparing for the switchover".

I would suggest you look at the Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice - the deal is that you don't pay a subscription, but the responsibility for reception is down to you.

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JOHN NEWMAN: The Great Missenden transmitter will not have any digital services until 2012.

I would have a look at the Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice page for more things to check.


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Olivier: The engineering information does say "TV (analogue) Possible weak signal", so I suspect the work on the transmitter is to blame.

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Fred: The transmitter provides Bishop's Stortford with additional analogue reception, and will provide Freeview Light from 2012.

Can you please tell me your postcode?

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Phill: You don't get Freeview from Churchdown Hill, this transmitter only provides analogue Channel 5.

If you have Freeview now, you will have Freeview after switchover. I would think you are using the Ridge Hill transmitter.

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Dover (Kent, England) Full Freeview transmitter
Wednesday 23 February 2011 7:09AM

Olivier: Yes. The UK transmitter network has to take into account these transmitters to prevent both inbound and outbound interference.

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Connecting it all up | Installing
Wednesday 23 February 2011 7:12AM

John: Not sure why you are using any SCARTS at all. Just use HDMI to connect HD devices to your TV.

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will morton: So... you are saying that they don't record when the power is not connected?

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All channels page updated | Blogs
Wednesday 23 February 2011 7:16AM

John Fisher: "PE16 8QJ" is not a valid postcode. I would suspect you need to use a correct postcode.

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ian: So you will get better reception of Multiplex C and D from 30th March 2011.

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Do I need to buy a booster? | Installing
Wednesday 23 February 2011 7:21AM

Tom: Move the aerial to the roof where you can get a line-of-sight to the transmitter. You should then be able to remove the boosters.

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Brian Durns: The digital services start on Wednesday, 7th September 2011 with the full service on Wednesday, 21st September 2011.

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Wayne Drury: The correct people to contact still is your aerial installer.

The transmission people are not responsible for anything other than providing the output at the specified levels and frequencies.

If you still have problems once switchover is complete, it is still down to you to ensure your reception works.

Your reception of Multiplex A (COM4/SDN) will not improve until 31st August 11, and Multiplex C (COM5/ARQA) will happen on 14th September 11.

Freeview HD will start on 13th April 11.

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Mr G Collins: Yes. If that is the case I would ask the people who installed it to come back and make good their work.

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Tony Mason: You are not predicted to get good Freeview reception until 2012, when the Heathfield transmitter goes to full power digital service.

Currently the Hastings transmitter will provide you with a poor service, and this will actually get even worse in 2012.

I would suggest you consider using Freesat for the moment, and then use Heathfield when it switches for Freeview in 2012.

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Colin MK: You can connect as many connections as you have outputs for.

A single LNB has one output, a quad-LNB has four and an oct-LNB has eight.

You can change the LNB to provide the output, a quad-LNB is about £25, such as Buy Quad Output Universal LNB at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Free to air satellite.
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Feedback | Feedback
Wednesday 23 February 2011 1:06PM

jay eff: The red button services are carried on multiplex PSB1 only at the moment, so you can't access the from the HD channels.

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Steven: Just to add to Mike Dimmick's reply, you can replace the Sky+HD box directly with Freesat+HD - such as Buy Bush 250GB Freesat HD Digital TV Recorder at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Freesat digital TV recorders.
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Chris North: HDMI is a type of cable. You can't have an "HDMI box".

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Tim Newton: ...as it says at the top of the page.

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Kevin: Yes, you will have to spend another £30 on a satellite dish and some money on cables.

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Upgrading from Sky to Freesat | Freesat
Thursday 24 February 2011 6:49AM

John Gardiner: Yes, or you can run in another satellite grade cable to one of the spare outputs on the quad-LNB package on the dish, and continue to use Freesat or fSfS upstairs.

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Margaret Ward: No, that is not correct. If you could get Freeview before your "new aerial" was installed, you should still have it.

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E.V. Clutcher.: The transmissions are just fine and operating quite normally. I would suggest you contact whoever it was that installed your "communal system" and require them to make it work properly.

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Bru: I'm hopeful that will give you trouble-free viewing.

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Charles Pochin: Put the postcode into the box at the top right and it shows you are in the yellow area for Mendip.

You can also get signals from Wenvoe, but I would suspect you would prefer the English services.

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Emley Moor (Kirklees, England) transmitter
Thursday 24 February 2011 7:06AM

Neil Connelly: The work is listed on a week-by-week basis. However, I would also have a look at Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .

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BBC/ITV Freesat - Spring 08 | Freesat
Thursday 24 February 2011 7:10AM

Les Nicol: Yes, that is almost shockingly good.

Or, if you live in the USA, totally normal.

It does say something about the level of corporatism in this country that "the market" doesn't usually deliver for the customer.

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Feedback | Feedback
Thursday 24 February 2011 7:11AM

Denis burns: Yes. Or just cancel the multiroom with Sky and it becomes fSfS without paying for another card.

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Feedback | Feedback
Thursday 24 February 2011 7:12AM

Ken Hall: Pop your postcode into the box at the top right and it will then show, in the box, a list of RF channels to use with your Sky output. See How do I change the RF output channel on a Sky Digibox? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice for details of how to change.

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All channels page updated | Blogs
Thursday 24 February 2011 7:14AM

Brian Springthorpe: You watch the commercial channels live?

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Steven: Put your postcode into the box at the top right to check the services you can receive on Freeview.

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Channel 4 HD free-to-air testing on Eurobird 1
Thursday 24 February 2011 1:49PM

Ian Smith: I would expect that Channel 4 probably want to be able to launch their free to air service on the launch date.

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Feedback | Feedback
Thursday 24 February 2011 1:50PM

Darren Bromley: It says "Spare RF: C65 C66 C64" under the list.

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George: What is your postcode please?

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D Wangford: If you have any boosters or amplifiers, disconnect them from your system.

If you don't, you might have to fit an attenuator to your system.

Also, see Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .

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HEATHER: Please see Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .

You are in a poor area for Freeview reception, you might expect this to happen.

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Ian Rangeley: Basically, they are not going to add any more services to the transmitter.

The commercial multiplex operators do not wish to transmit from any such transmitters and they are under no obligation to do so.

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Connecting it all up | Installing
Thursday 24 February 2011 2:45PM

steve.s: The analogue RF output system is very out of date.

Your options are

1) use a wireless video sender;

2) add Freesat boxes to your other sets. You can get SD Freesat boxes for £30, and you just need to run in some satellite-grade cable from them to spare outputs on the dish.

The advantage of (2) is you can watch any
channel you want on each TV.

You can also get RF modulators, but for the cost you may as well have the full choice of channels.

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R Callan: If this is the case you should have no problems with the reception of Freeview HD.

Just to check, you have got a Freeview HD set, and not a HD Ready set with Freeview?

Have you tried doing a "manual add" on the C34 frequency?

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Josh: Yes, in the Netherlands, due to their rather simple terrain, they have provided DTT at high power which is more suited for indoor reception.

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Ed: No, you can't do that.

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David Pinfold: The provision by the BBC and Digital One is unrelated to the local multiplex provision.

As far as I know there are no plans this year for any extra BBC or D1 transmitters in your area.

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Ed: If you don't want to pay £60 then run in a cat5 cable. They are very inexpensive. Connect to TV on demand - Sky VOD .

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Moco: The answer is more than likey "no", but I can't be sure without the full postcode.

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Stuart Watson: You should be using Divis if you want some form of Freeview reception.

You will get mutliplexes 1, B, C and D (the 16QAM mode ones) until 2012, and everything after switchover.

Sky uses a group of satellites over the DR Congo and has nothing to do with the terrestrial transmitters. Hence the name.

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All channels page updated | Blogs
Thursday 24 February 2011 9:04PM

Brian Springthorpe: I have Windows Media Centre with the remote and it has two buttons that skip forward 30s and back 6s. Nothing could be easier to remove adverts.

I never watch anything live to be honest.

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John Booth: Does it have a screen?
Basically, all sets are compatible.
If it doesn't have Freeview built in, you just buy a Freeview box and connect it to the set.


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Allan: Let me know how you get on.

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Allan: I'm glad to hear that.

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Esther: Yes, it would have worked perfectly.

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Lichfield (Staffordshire, England) transmitter
Thursday 24 February 2011 9:08PM

Neil Williams: Get rid of the amplifiers, they will do nothing but cause the digital signals to be destroyed.

How is your analogue Channel 5 reception?

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Laura Trowbridge: First, you can't get Freeview though anything other than a TV aerial.

To get Freeview HD you will need to connect the TV set to an aerial that is pointing at a transmitter with Freeview HD.

Is the Sky box not connected to the TV set using a SCART cable?

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Allan: It is a special reset procedure to clear faults in the channel list.

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