There are to be two Retune events for Mendip transmitter viewers.
1. Wednesday 28 March
Reason: Arq A Mux moves from channel 67 to channel 56.
2. 2013 (date not yet specified)
Reason: BBC A Mux moves from channel 61 to ch 49
Both of the above events are the result of selling channels 61 to 68 to the mobile phone networks for their new 4G service due to be introduced in 2013.
There are increases in power for the COM Muxes (SDN, Arq A and Arq B) occurring on 27 and 28 March of this year. That does not require a retune but reception of those three Muxes after 28 March will be improved in currently difficult reception areas. All Muxes will from then on be at the full 100 kW of power.
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Non-Working Set Top Boxes and TVs post-DSO
There is a post on this Blog referring to some old (pre-2005) Set Top Boxes (STBs) and TVs which will not work after the Digital Switchover (DSO) owing to insufficient memory (see item 3 below). There are two other reasons why old (pre-2005) equipment may cease to function after the DSO and this post is an attempt to provide some information about all possibilities.
1. Non-8k Compliant
The full list provided by Digital UK can be viewed here. Please note the document does say the list may not be exhaustive and only the manufacturer can confirm whether a piece of equipment not listed is affected. The document additionally says that a TV so affected can still be used by connecting a current STB to it.
2. Split NIT (Don't ask!!)
This is a different problem and the list of affected equipment can be found here.
3. Insufficient Memory
Link to the original post on this site.
1. Non-8k Compliant
The full list provided by Digital UK can be viewed here. Please note the document does say the list may not be exhaustive and only the manufacturer can confirm whether a piece of equipment not listed is affected. The document additionally says that a TV so affected can still be used by connecting a current STB to it.
2. Split NIT (Don't ask!!)
This is a different problem and the list of affected equipment can be found here.
3. Insufficient Memory
Link to the original post on this site.
Sunday, 19 February 2012
FAQ - 1
Q. I shall be away on the 21st March. Can I do a retune when I get back or do I have to ask a neighbour to go into my home and do it on 21st March?
A. You can do the retune at any time after the event, so when you arrive home will be fine: no need to involve neighbours!
Q. I'm going away during the Switchover and I want to leave some timer recordings for my PVR to do while I'm away. Will that work?
A. There's not a straightforward answer to this question. Therefore I've covered all possibilities below.
From 7 March:
You will not be able to record any BBC stations. The exceptions are that BBC-4, CBeebies and BBC Parliament can be recorded up to and including 20 March.
From 21 March:
You will not be able to record from ITV-1, ITV-1+1,C4, C4+1,C5, ITV-2, More4, E4; nor will you be able to record from any High Definition station starting on 21 March.
Up to 17 April:
You will be able to record from ITV-3, ITV-2+1, 5*, 5 USA, Quest, C5+1, CITV, Pick TV, Dave, Dave ja vu (if it's still transmitting), Really, E4+1, Sky News, Yesterday, Film 4, 4 Music, VIVA, ITV-4, Russia Today, Al Jazeera Eng, plus all the shopping channels (should you wish to record them!)
Q. I have a masthead amplifier (booster) fitted to my aerial. Is there a danger the new, more powerful digital transmissions after the Switchover will overload my television set?
A. In a word: Yes. If that does happen you will not get a picture or sound from any Mux which overloads your tv in that way. The trouble is, without calling in the professionals with their meters and signal generators, it is unpredictable whether you will be affected or not. You will just have to wait until 7 March and see if you are able to tune in the new, full strength BBC A Mux (containing all standard definition BBC stations).
If, after that retune, you can find only BBC-4, CBeebies and BBC Parliament, then you are in trouble. If all is well, breathe a temporary sigh of relief but, never counting chickens, keep a close watch during the next fortnight. As the weather changes you could find the BBC stations (excluding the exceptions stated above) are prone to vanish on occasions. That's a problem!
The solution to this problem is complicated. Simply, though, you'll need the masthead amplifier and its associated power supply (usually behind the tv) removed totally. That's a professional job, and I'd seriously consider having your aerial turned to a vertical polarised position at the same time. The trouble is, that's the solution on 18 April and after. Between 7 March and then you have a varying situation, where some Muxes will need the amplifier and others will not. If you can watch some programmes on your computer via the internet, that will be a stop-gap. In which case I'd consider having the change done on 21 March, as a sort of compromise time.
Basically, you would need the amplifier removed:
a) to receive BBC stations from 7 March onward (though BBC-4, CBeebies and BBC Parliament will still be receivable up to 20 March);
b) to receive ITV-1, ITV-1+1,C4, C4+1,C5, ITV-2, More4, E4 (Mux D3&4) from 21 March, plus the High-Def stations if you have an HD tuner.
You will still need the amplifier to receive ITV-3, ITV-2+1, 5*, 5 USA, Quest, C5+1, CITV, Pick TV, Dave, Dave ja vu (if it's still transmitting), Really, E4+1, Sky News, Yesterday, Film 4, 4 Music, VIVA, ITV-4, Russia Today, Al Jazeera Eng, plus all the shopping channels, up to 17 April. There might need to be some sacrifice of not watching those latter stations during the 21 March to 17 April period - maybe that's not too much of a problem!!
There is an alternative to having the amplifier removed, but it's a bit fiddly especially when it comes to retuning when doing that manually is the best way. That is to buy a "variable attenuator" - Maplin sells one at £7-99 (code number A03HT), other retail outlets may also have one.
CAVEAT: The position of the power supply for the masthead amplifier: the aerial cable must feed into that power supply as the first device in your room to receive it. Then an aerial flylead must be obtained to connect the other aerial socket on the power supply to the attenuator input socket. The voltage the power supply is delivering through the aerial cable to power the amplifier up on
your aerial must go straight to that amplifier and not through the attenuator (or anything else for that matter).
You then plug the cable which you had to take off the aerial socket on the power supply into the output socket on the attenuator.
The sequence is thus:
Aerial - masthead amplifier power supply (aerial) - masthead amplifier power supply (tv) - attenuator in - attenuator out - first Freeview device - etc.
The place to set the variable control on the attenuator has to be found by trial and error - I suggest setting it about halfway and see if you can manually tune in channel 24 (Mux BBC A) on March 7th. If not, increase the setting until that Mux is tuned. Make a note of the position of the variable control. Now turn the control to zero and try to tune in the other channels - you'll need the two download documents from our main website to give you the channel numbers in order to tune the other five Muxes in manually.
On 21 March, set the attenuator to the position you noted for the strong transmissions and manually tune in Channel 27 (Mux D3&4) [and Channel 21 (Mux BBC B) if you can deal with the High-Def stations]. To view stations on any of these strong Muxes you'll need to set the attenuator to that same position. To view all other stations, turn the attenuator control to zero.
On 18 April, set the attenuator to that same strong transmission position and try tuning in Channel 25 (Mux SDN). If that doesn't work, decrease the attenuator control until it does work - I'd try the zero position next and raise the position gradually if that didn't work. Once you've found that second position, make a note of it and use it to tune in Channel 22 (Mux Arq A) and then Channel 28 (Mux Arq B). To view stations on those three Muxes you'll need to set the attenuator control to that second position.
You could then continue after 18 April without any aerial adjustment, but it's not elegant: there are two positions you have to use, though once all are tuned in, you may find one position which works for watching all stations. It's also a "boost the signal, then reduce it" situation, which can introduce problems.
A. You can do the retune at any time after the event, so when you arrive home will be fine: no need to involve neighbours!
Q. I'm going away during the Switchover and I want to leave some timer recordings for my PVR to do while I'm away. Will that work?
A. There's not a straightforward answer to this question. Therefore I've covered all possibilities below.
From 7 March:
You will not be able to record any BBC stations. The exceptions are that BBC-4, CBeebies and BBC Parliament can be recorded up to and including 20 March.
From 21 March:
You will not be able to record from ITV-1, ITV-1+1,C4, C4+1,C5, ITV-2, More4, E4; nor will you be able to record from any High Definition station starting on 21 March.
Up to 17 April:
You will be able to record from ITV-3, ITV-2+1, 5*, 5 USA, Quest, C5+1, CITV, Pick TV, Dave, Dave ja vu (if it's still transmitting), Really, E4+1, Sky News, Yesterday, Film 4, 4 Music, VIVA, ITV-4, Russia Today, Al Jazeera Eng, plus all the shopping channels (should you wish to record them!)
Q. I have a masthead amplifier (booster) fitted to my aerial. Is there a danger the new, more powerful digital transmissions after the Switchover will overload my television set?
A. In a word: Yes. If that does happen you will not get a picture or sound from any Mux which overloads your tv in that way. The trouble is, without calling in the professionals with their meters and signal generators, it is unpredictable whether you will be affected or not. You will just have to wait until 7 March and see if you are able to tune in the new, full strength BBC A Mux (containing all standard definition BBC stations).
If, after that retune, you can find only BBC-4, CBeebies and BBC Parliament, then you are in trouble. If all is well, breathe a temporary sigh of relief but, never counting chickens, keep a close watch during the next fortnight. As the weather changes you could find the BBC stations (excluding the exceptions stated above) are prone to vanish on occasions. That's a problem!
The solution to this problem is complicated. Simply, though, you'll need the masthead amplifier and its associated power supply (usually behind the tv) removed totally. That's a professional job, and I'd seriously consider having your aerial turned to a vertical polarised position at the same time. The trouble is, that's the solution on 18 April and after. Between 7 March and then you have a varying situation, where some Muxes will need the amplifier and others will not. If you can watch some programmes on your computer via the internet, that will be a stop-gap. In which case I'd consider having the change done on 21 March, as a sort of compromise time.
Basically, you would need the amplifier removed:
a) to receive BBC stations from 7 March onward (though BBC-4, CBeebies and BBC Parliament will still be receivable up to 20 March);
b) to receive ITV-1, ITV-1+1,C4, C4+1,C5, ITV-2, More4, E4 (Mux D3&4) from 21 March, plus the High-Def stations if you have an HD tuner.
You will still need the amplifier to receive ITV-3, ITV-2+1, 5*, 5 USA, Quest, C5+1, CITV, Pick TV, Dave, Dave ja vu (if it's still transmitting), Really, E4+1, Sky News, Yesterday, Film 4, 4 Music, VIVA, ITV-4, Russia Today, Al Jazeera Eng, plus all the shopping channels, up to 17 April. There might need to be some sacrifice of not watching those latter stations during the 21 March to 17 April period - maybe that's not too much of a problem!!
There is an alternative to having the amplifier removed, but it's a bit fiddly especially when it comes to retuning when doing that manually is the best way. That is to buy a "variable attenuator" - Maplin sells one at £7-99 (code number A03HT), other retail outlets may also have one.
You then plug the cable which you had to take off the aerial socket on the power supply into the output socket on the attenuator.
The sequence is thus:
Aerial - masthead amplifier power supply (aerial) - masthead amplifier power supply (tv) - attenuator in - attenuator out - first Freeview device - etc.
The place to set the variable control on the attenuator has to be found by trial and error - I suggest setting it about halfway and see if you can manually tune in channel 24 (Mux BBC A) on March 7th. If not, increase the setting until that Mux is tuned. Make a note of the position of the variable control. Now turn the control to zero and try to tune in the other channels - you'll need the two download documents from our main website to give you the channel numbers in order to tune the other five Muxes in manually.
On 21 March, set the attenuator to the position you noted for the strong transmissions and manually tune in Channel 27 (Mux D3&4) [and Channel 21 (Mux BBC B) if you can deal with the High-Def stations]. To view stations on any of these strong Muxes you'll need to set the attenuator to that same position. To view all other stations, turn the attenuator control to zero.
On 18 April, set the attenuator to that same strong transmission position and try tuning in Channel 25 (Mux SDN). If that doesn't work, decrease the attenuator control until it does work - I'd try the zero position next and raise the position gradually if that didn't work. Once you've found that second position, make a note of it and use it to tune in Channel 22 (Mux Arq A) and then Channel 28 (Mux Arq B). To view stations on those three Muxes you'll need to set the attenuator control to that second position.
You could then continue after 18 April without any aerial adjustment, but it's not elegant: there are two positions you have to use, though once all are tuned in, you may find one position which works for watching all stations. It's also a "boost the signal, then reduce it" situation, which can introduce problems.
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Rowridge Digital Switchover - Converting Existing TV
It
is now 7th February. In one month's time, on Wednesday 7 March, you will no longer be able to
watch BBC-2 if you:
- have only an older analogue television and have not added a Freeview Set Top Box to it; AND
- do not have satellite or cable television.
You
therefore have one month to obtain such a Freeview Set Top Box. If you do not
do this, you will then have just a fortnight until Wednesday
21 March to obtain one. If you have not obtained one by
that date, you will not be able to watch any live television at all.
What
are the alternatives?
- You could buy a brand new television
- or go in for satellite television (either Freesat or Sky) to watch through your current older analogue television.
The
cheapest option is to buy a Freeview set top box.
The cost should be around £20 to £30 and no more.
Question: How do you buy that Freeview set top box?
Answer: Go into your local reputable
television shop (or phone them) and say:
"I
have an analogue television set and want to convert it to digital".
They
should offer some alternative purchases, probably at slightly different prices,
but they all do the same things anyway. You may wish to ask the shop to
recommend one, but however you make your choice, ensure the shop will deliver
it to your home and set it up for you.
When
that happens, watch what connections the shop representative makes in order to
connect your new set top box to your existing television. Write them down -
perhaps the representative could draw a simple diagram of the connections. That
way, should the connections have to be removed and remade at any time, eg for
room decorating, you can remake those connections yourself without having to pay the
shop to do it again for you.
Assuming
you do not have a television recording device, here is how the set top box
should be connected to your tv.
- The aerial cable is removed from the tv set and inserted into the aerial-in socket of the set top box.
- An aerial "fly-lead" is usually provided with the set top box. That is connected between the aerial-out socket of the set top box and the aerial socket of the tv.
- A Scart cable (has large plugs on each end with 21 connector points in each) is also usually provided with the set top box. That is connected between the "TV" Scart socket on the set top box and one of the Scart sockets on the tv, usually the one called "AV-1" or "IN-1".
Ask
the shop representative setting all this up to tell you just before he is about
to switch on so you are able to concentrate fully on what he is doing and what
is happening. This is the sort of thing to watch out for:
- You will now have two remote controls, your original one for the tv and a new one for your new set top box.
- Button 2 on your tv remote control will not give you BBC-2 any more from March 7.
- Button 1 on your tv remote control will not give you BBC-1 any more from March 21, and buttons 3 and 4 on your tv remote control will not give you ITV-1 and C4 respectively from March 21.
- There is one button on your tv remote control which will become the most important button of all. It can be called "AV" or "AUX" or some other name. Ask the shop representative to point it out to you and make a note of which button it is. Pressing that button will connect your tv to your new set top box. You may have to do that each time your switch on your tv - ask the shop representative about that.
- Probably the only other function on your tv remote control which you will still use is the volume control (and the ON/STAND-BY switch if you normally use that).
- You will, in future, use the set top box remote control to select the tv station you wish to watch. BBC-1 is still on button 1, etc, and you will now have C5 on button 5.
- The shop representative will demonstrate how to use the set top box. Try to ensure he does that while you are looking at the appropriate page of the manual which came with the set top box. Don't be rushed - there's a lot to take in. Add your own notes to the manual because that often helps.
- It's advisable to leave the set top
box in stand-by when you are not using it. Use its remote control to switch it
between ON and STAND-BY.
A pdf version of this article can be downloaded from here: Installing a Freeview Set Top Box, should you wish to print it out. If you know somebody who doesn't have a computer and for whom you think this article could be useful, maybe you'd like to print them out a copy? It is also available from our Wimborne U3A website.
Enjoy
all your new tv stations!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)