It may seem strange to have an item about radio on a tv site. However, this site has an aim of clearing up any possible confusion. The analogue FM radio service will not be switched off next March. There has been some confusion about this. A short while ago the Government stipulated a target date of 2015 for switching off the FM radio service. This has now been withdrawn and there is no current expected date. The only certainty is that analogue FM will be switched off in the future, at some time, probably later rather than sooner.
It may be appropriate to point out that listening to analogue FM radio still means you are listening to digital radio. Between studio and transmitter the signal is digitised, at a slightly lower quality level than CD. It is returned to the analogue domain for transmission.
It may also be appropriate to say that when listening to the stereo sound of analogue tv (NICAM stereo) you are actually listening to digital audio. It is only the pictures which are analogue, unless you are watching an old pre-NICAM stereo tv where the sound is carried by the analogue mono transmission.
Watch out for future "Digital Tips" on this site.
Sunday, 26 June 2011
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
2013 Possible Problem
In 2013, a part of the tv transmission spectrum that was used by analogue TV will be auctioned off to mobile phone operators to use for the next generation of mobile Internet services, known as 4G. This will allow for an increase in data speeds on the mobile phone network, in order to make internet access by mobile phone much quicker. The problem is that many TV aerials do a good job of picking up signals in that band and, if those signals are amplified by a signal booster, the interference from neighbouring 4G base stations could overload the tuners in Freeview TV sets and set-top boxes.
The part of the transmission spectrum to be so used is channels 61 to 68. These are well beyond those used by the Rowridge transmitter but they are part of the current Mendip transmitter range of digital channels. Some change to the channels used by Mendip will be necessary by 2013, therefore. Anyone who receives from Mendip and who has an aerial amplifier should watch out for possible problems once this new 4G service starts up within the area in which they live.
If a problem does occur, there will, by then, be an Ofcom contact to whom to report the problem. A filter can be inserted between the aerial lead and the tv/set-top box. The current recommendation is that the phone operators foot the bill for this. That filter may not be effective, however, for anyone living very near to a 4G telephone transmitter. In such an instance, either cable or satellite is the only currently foreseen answer, but who pays for that is not yet clear.
For anyone interested in following this up further, here is a link.
The part of the transmission spectrum to be so used is channels 61 to 68. These are well beyond those used by the Rowridge transmitter but they are part of the current Mendip transmitter range of digital channels. Some change to the channels used by Mendip will be necessary by 2013, therefore. Anyone who receives from Mendip and who has an aerial amplifier should watch out for possible problems once this new 4G service starts up within the area in which they live.
If a problem does occur, there will, by then, be an Ofcom contact to whom to report the problem. A filter can be inserted between the aerial lead and the tv/set-top box. The current recommendation is that the phone operators foot the bill for this. That filter may not be effective, however, for anyone living very near to a 4G telephone transmitter. In such an instance, either cable or satellite is the only currently foreseen answer, but who pays for that is not yet clear.
For anyone interested in following this up further, here is a link.
Monday, 6 June 2011
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.
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.
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