Digital Switchover Experience

In the Saga Magazine of June, 2011, there is a letter on page 205 which gives cause for concern. The writer, a pensioner, lives at Wisbech, in Cambridgeshire, and has just experienced the Digital Switchover for the East of England. She explains that she and her husband were horrified to find that they'd need to have their aerial changed as well as either buying digital boxes for the television sets they'd had for years, which were still going strong, or replacing the sets with Freeview ready models.

What is not explained is their source of this information. The main function of this blogsite is to ensure that all our Wimborne U3A members have access to fully correct and relevant information about the south of England Digital Switchover next March (2012). The couple in Wisbech are correct in that they need a digital box for each of their televisions (available for between £20 and £30 each). They do not need to buy any new televisions.

There can be very old televisions which require a special way of connecting to a digital box, and may even require a special kind of box. If any of our members is concerned about that, please contact me (Colin Moore) directly by phone or e-mail (details on the back of every Newsletter).

The most disturbing part of the letter concerns the advice that a new aerial was needed. It appears from the letter that they have already had a new aerial fitted, at a cost of more than £400.

To start with, that is an excessive cost for changing an aerial. Secondly, most people will not need a new aerial anyway. The simple test is: what is your current analogue picture like? Is any channel producing a snowy picture (small white dots all over)? If that's the case, it's most likely Channel 4 will be the worst and BBC-1 the best picture, if using the Rowridge transmitter. The reason could be the position of the house or even the position of the aerial on the house. It could be the cable from the aerial into the house and not the aerial itself which is the problem. If having a contractor in to deal with an aerial problem, do ensure all other avenues have been exhausted and have several estimates, comparing what each contractor says is necessary, and use our advice line to seek a second opinion on their estimates.

If the analogue reception is good (not snowy) then digital reception, after the Switchover, should not require a new aerial. You should not take any action regarding aerials until the Switchover has started because the current transmissions are much weaker than they will be then.

Everybody's situation is different. Do take advice before committing to any expense.