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CReWdog  
#1 Posted : 21 May 2009 21:55:08(UTC)
CReWdog
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Hello.
Seeing as how the digital switchover is looming I thought I'd post the current list of the TV channels that will be available later this year. This list could change before switchover. Dates on list are when that channel will be available (BBC2 analogue is switched off first on 4th Nov. BBC1, ITV & channel4 analogue are switched off on 2nd Dec.)
Most of the people in Whaley receive their TV signal from one of the relay stations (Ladder Hill, Chinley, Birch Vale or the small relay in Whaley near the station). Unfortunately, all of these relays will only be transmitting 3 of the 6 multiplexes (groups of channels). That means you will only be able to receive around half of the channels available to most of the rest of the country. It would be too expensive and in some cases impossible to fit all of the 1000+ relay stations with all of the equipment required to transmit the full service.
You’ll notice there are 3 HD channels. The bad news is that to receive them you’ll not only have to have an HD ready TV but also have to buy a receiver capable of decoding the HD signal As far as I know they are not yet available to buy because the TV authorities have only recently decided on the transmission standard for the HD service. When they are on sale they are likely to be more expensive to begin with. Note that to be able to transmit the HD service on Freeview several other TV & radio channels had to be removed to free up the space that the HD programmes require.
Finally do not be tempted to buy the either of the Freeview DVD recorders the “corner shop” are currently selling. These both include a subscription to either Top Up TV or Setanta Sports. Neither of these channel packages are being transmitted from the local relays stations. They’ll still receive all of the other channels EXCEPT the HD ones though.
 
 

Regards

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Techy  
#2 Posted : 21 May 2009 23:09:51(UTC)
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Thanks for the heads up!

I did hear that we wouldn't get the full lineup due to the transponders but I still can't help feeling that Whaley (and surounding areas) loses out again.

tyke  
#3 Posted : 22 May 2009 07:41:57(UTC)
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Perhaps we should campaign for a half price television licence until such time as we get a full list of tv stations. If those who pay the full price get the full list then those who get half pay half. Thats fair and might encourage the powers that be install better equipment. However in the real world let's face it, thats not going to happen. What happened to Public service broadcasting?
Mikeann  
#4 Posted : 22 May 2009 08:32:45(UTC)
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Hi

Do you know if we will need to upgrade ( get a new one ) aerial or will the ones we currently have still do ?

Thanks for the info

CReWdog  
#5 Posted : 22 May 2009 10:21:31(UTC)
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Mikeann wrote:

Hi

Do you know if we will need to upgrade ( get a new one ) aerial or will the ones we currently have still do ?

Thanks for the info

Hi

It's difficult to say. For a  quick check see teletext page 248 on BBC1 & 2, ITV or C4. The pattern broadcast will start to show errors (parts of the pattern missing) roughly at the point where the TV signal has degraded enough that you should think about getting your aerial checked. See http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?class=countries&subclass=0&id=2452 for more information.

Chances are though, that most people wont need to have a new aerial. But until the switchover happens you wont know for sure. (Thats because the new service isn't being tested first because it will be transmitted on the same frequencies as the analogue TV is now). Best to wait & see because people are being ripped off by paying for an expensive aerial upgrade that they don't need.

TV reception is one of the few black arts remaining. Things will become even darker with Freeview because of the nature of the digital signal. Currently you can get away with a reasonable picture with analogue.  An analogue signal can be really quite poor and you will still get a watchable picture. It may be grainy and even have "ghosting" but will still be watchable. The Digital signal however is not as robust as the analogue one & will not degrade in the same way. You will either get a perfect picture, or it will keep blocking & freezing, or you won`t get anything at all. This is mainly due to the fact that the digital signal has a certain amount of "error correction" built in. This can overcome a certain amount of signal degradation but once that error correction data has been used up the picture will fail.

Having said that, provided your aerial has got a reasonably unobstructed line of sight view of the transmitter then chances are you'll receive Freeview ok. We're just unlucky in that we live in an area surrounded by big hills otherwise we'd all be watching Freeview from Winter Hill now.

For much more information on reception, aerials etc see the excellent http://www.aerialsandtv.com/index.html (Sheffield based company who supply & fit aerials. These people know what thay are talking about)

For even more information - especially on how to avoid being ripped off see http://www.paras.org.uk/ (a site set up by professional aerial fitters)

CReWdog

Radar  
#6 Posted : 22 May 2009 11:18:07(UTC)
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Fernilee get their TV signal from Winter Hill and currently have hundreds of Freeview channels to watch.

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