Freeview coverage post-switchover
 

For a couple of years or so I've been checking up on the Freeview website
with the postcode of my parents holiday home park in North Wales, to see
when their digital service would improve as regards the switch-over. For a
long while, they stuck to analogue as the website claimed they'd only be
able to get 2 or 3 crap channels and a small few radio stations. About 18
months ago I decided I'd give it a go anyway and went up there with a
Freeview box, a big decent aerial and a masthead booster - I managed to get
them quite a decent amount of channels.... not the full service, but loads
more than the site claimed, including Film4+1 (not Film4 though), which they
were really happy with for the time being, thinking that come the analogue
switch-off, they'd get the full service (which the website then claimed). A
few months ago, they lost Film4+1 due to a reshuffle by Channel 4...I think
one of the other +1 channels took its place. However, they took that on the
chin thinking it's not that long to the 'great' switch-over which promised
would bring them a full digital service.

However, when I put in the same postcode, it now says they can get no
channels at all at present (wrong), and after the switch-over they'd be able
to receive "the most popular channels"...this is what they say those are
(notice no Channel 4, Channel 5 and no Film 4...which they really like...no
Sky channels or Virgin 1...etc etc):
http://www.freeview.co.uk/availabili.../LL28+5YF/NA/2


So what happened to all the talk of getting the full digital service when
analogue switched off? Now they're not even promised the main 5 channels,
what with no Channel 4 or Channel 5. I don't know when they revised this
coverage prediction, I've not checked for a few months, but I think they
will be really peeved off at this news. They are pensioners now and being
forced to get Freesat for a holiday home if you want a full digital service
would be a bit of a kick in the teeth for life long license fee payers. Not
good.

I'm left wondering if they now expect some people to use satellite and not
aerial post-switchover, especially rural communities that have traditionally
struggled with getting digital via aerial, as part of the big solution to
get everyone covered with a full free-to-view digital service? Wasn't the
idea originally that turning off analogue would give them the ability to
bring the full range to everyone via an aerial? :/

Freeview coverage post-switchover
 

Slitheen wrote:
[snip]

However, when I put in the same postcode, it now says they can get no
channels at all at present (wrong), and after the switch-over they'd be able
to receive "the most popular channels"...this is what they say those are
(notice no Channel 4, Channel 5 and no Film 4...which they really like...no
Sky channels or Virgin 1...etc etc):
http://www.freeview.co.uk/availabili.../LL28+5YF/NA/2

Sticking the postcode into Digital UK's site, indicates that post DSO their
best bet is the Conway relay station. That will give them the three PSB muxes,
which with current plans will give them all BBC digital channels, and some
ITV, and C4 channels, in addition to C5 and HD services. Using Llanddona they
might get all six muxes post DSO.

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/postcodechecker/main/trade/LL28+5YF/1/0/1eca40bc3ba13599ae13de5ac24253cf



--
Mark
Please replace invalid and invalid with gmx and net to reply.

Freeview coverage post-switchover
 

"Slitheen" wrote:

I'm left wondering if they now expect some people to use satellite and not
aerial post-switchover, especially rural communities that have traditionally
struggled with getting digital via aerial, as part of the big solution to
get everyone covered with a full free-to-view digital service? Wasn't the
idea originally that turning off analogue would give them the ability to
bring the full range to everyone via an aerial? :/

IIRC, the early plan was to give about 95% of the country Freeview and
switch off most of the small relays. Now the plan is to keep the small
relays with just 3 muxes.

As for the postcode that you gave, then if Freeview is being received
now, then it's a weakish signal from Llanddona, which provides all muxes
now and after the switchover. If the aerial system is not quite up to
bringing in all the muxes at the moment, then maybe it will when the
power is boosted post-switchover.

--
Dave Farrance

Freeview coverage post-switchover
 

So what happened to all the talk of getting the full digital service when
analogue switched off? Now they're not even promised the main 5 channels,
what with no Channel 4 or Channel 5. I don't know when they revised this
coverage prediction, I've not checked for a few months, but I think they
will be really peeved off at this news. They are pensioners now and being
forced to get Freesat for a holiday home if you want a full digital
service would be a bit of a kick in the teeth for life long license fee
payers. Not good.

I'm left wondering if they now expect some people to use satellite and not
aerial post-switchover, especially rural communities that have
traditionally struggled with getting digital via aerial, as part of the
big solution to get everyone covered with a full free-to-view digital
service? Wasn't the idea originally that turning off analogue would give
them the ability to bring the full range to everyone via an aerial? :/


100% coverage via terrestrial transmitters was never promised, and is not
realistically achievable. Given the low price of a Freesat box and
installation of the dish that is the way a pragmatist would go. It will
probably cost less than a professionally fitted high gain aerial.

Peter Crosland

Freeview coverage post-switchover
 

On Thu, 29 May 2008 20:25:20 +0100, "Peter Crosland"
wrote:

So what happened to all the talk of getting the full digital service when
analogue switched off? Now they're not even promised the main 5 channels,
what with no Channel 4 or Channel 5. I don't know when they revised this
coverage prediction, I've not checked for a few months, but I think they
will be really peeved off at this news. They are pensioners now and being
forced to get Freesat for a holiday home if you want a full digital
service would be a bit of a kick in the teeth for life long license fee
payers. Not good.

I'm left wondering if they now expect some people to use satellite and not
aerial post-switchover, especially rural communities that have
traditionally struggled with getting digital via aerial, as part of the
big solution to get everyone covered with a full free-to-view digital
service? Wasn't the idea originally that turning off analogue would give
them the ability to bring the full range to everyone via an aerial? :/


100% coverage via terrestrial transmitters was never promised, and is not
realistically achievable. Given the low price of a Freesat box and
installation of the dish that is the way a pragmatist would go. It will
probably cost less than a professionally fitted high gain aerial.


Well, I've got 4 tv's, and compared with the price of freeview boxes,
freesat for all 4 sets will be expensive, as well as the additional
cost of satellite cable from the dish to each set.

I've just looked at the freeview coverage and I won't get 4 or 5.

--
sheila t
take out rubbish before replying

Freeview coverage post-switchover
 

On 29 Maj, 20:24, "Slitheen"
wrote:
However, they took that on the
chin thinking it's not that long to the 'great' switch-over which promised
would bring them a full digital service.

Don't worry, be happy .

However, when I put in the same postcode, it now says they can get no
channels at all at present (wrong), and after the switch-over they'd be able
to receive "the most popular channels"...this is what they say those are
(notice no Channel 4, Channel 5 and no Film 4...which they really like...no
Sky channels or Virgin 1...etc etc):http://www.freeview.co.uk/availabili...erage/LL28+5YF...

If you look at the freeveiw page to the right select the
choice of Conway and the result page list the channels you
will be able to receive post DSO (expected late 2009).
(Bootom of page)
But the page also has the text:
"Please note that Channel Five will be included
in the channel line-up after switchover."
C4 and S4C will be included, too.
From early 2010 3 new HD channels will start
BBC-HD plus likely ITV-HD and C4-HD and they
will be transmitted from Conway, too.
The HD channels will require a new STB,
not yet on the market.

So what happened to all the talk of getting the full digital service when
analogue switched off?

About 90% will get the all Freeview channels, but only the
PSB channels will be broadcast from the small relay
transmitters - like Conway. There are over 1000 such small
transmitters and they raise the coverage to about 98.5%.
This is expensive and the 3 COM MUXes ( A, C and D)
will not pay the cost. Blame them, not Freeveiw.
Your parents license is very much the reason
Conway will continue to broadcast after DSO.

But your parents are in a much better situation
as they can already receive the digital transmissions
from Llanddona. The present analog transmission from
Conway on channel 50 and 46 (2 kW @ 3 km) will block
the BBC MUX-1 and the COM MUX-D, But you should
be able to receive MUX-B (BBC-4), MUX-2 (ITV) MUX-A
(Five) and MUX-C (Sky).
http://www.dtg.org.uk/retailer/dtt_channels.html

The Llanddona MUXes currently transmits with 1 kW @ 25 km
and after DSO they will transmit with 20 kW for the 3 PSB
MUXes and 10 kW for the 3 COM MUXes ( now A,C and D)
That is 20 and 10 times stronger signals.
Llanddona will change channels and you will have to do
a rescan at DSO.
The aerial is where I think you should focus just now.
http://www.wolfbane.com/cgi-bin/tvd....T=5&OS=LL285YF
recommends "Amplified extra hi-gain" in group C/D horizontal,
but as you already know - these are 'statistical' predictions
that may or may not be 100% accurate. You seems to
have better coverage.
Conway is aerial group B and transmits vertically .
Start by making a drawing of the present installation and
make a note of make and type of all components.
On your STB's infopage you should be able to
see the channel number and the signal quality
for each of the 4 MUXes.
Before you buy or change anything - write here with
the results. You may even upload a picture somewhere
and post a link here.

After DSO you will need a group E aerial as the
6 MUXes from Llanddona will use ch 43 - ch 60.
http://www.aerialsandtv.com/atvstock...ts.html#Egroup

I use earth.google.com and make a line with
the ruler from my house to the transmitter.

Once again: "Don't worry, be happy!"

Lars :-)

Freeview coverage post-switchover
 

sheila wrote:


I've just looked at the freeview coverage and I won't get 4 or 5.

What were you looking at to conclude that ?

Channel 4 is on the same mux as ITV-1, so if you can get ITV-1, you can get 4,
unless you mean S4C ?



--
Mark
Please replace invalid and invalid with gmx and net to reply.

Freeview coverage post-switchover
 

On Fri, 30 May 2008 19:22:50 +0100, Mark Carver
wrote:

sheila wrote:


I've just looked at the freeview coverage and I won't get 4 or 5.

What were you looking at to conclude that ?

Channel 4 is on the same mux as ITV-1, so if you can get ITV-1, you can get 4,
unless you mean S4C ?

From http://www.freeview.co.uk/availability
Just checked again and I can get 4, but only on +1

It says:

The good news is that you should be able to receive all the Freeview
channels now, but unfortunately you'll lose these channels for a short
period of time while your region switches to digital. You should be
able to receive the most popular Freeview channels again after
switchover.

Entertainment Channels
Available now

BBC1, BBC2, BBCthree

After switchover

BBCFour, ITV1 , ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, e4, More4, Channel4+1


It also says
"Please note that Channel Five will be included in the channel line-up
after switchover."

So will I get 5?


This is from the Preseli transmitter.

--
sheila t
take out rubbish before replying

Freeview coverage post-switchover
 

Count yourself lucky; when I put my post code into the
page I get the reply:

"Unfortunately, you won't be able to receive any Freeview
channels now, or after your region has switched to digital
TV."

Yet I live in Wiltshire (not the Welsh or Scottish
mountains)

David at BA12 6DG house name Reeves Acre

Freeview coverage post-switchover
 

Davy wrote:
Count yourself lucky; when I put my post code into the
page I get the reply:

"Unfortunately, you won't be able to receive any Freeview
channels now, or after your region has switched to digital
TV."

Yet I live in Wiltshire (not the Welsh or Scottish
mountains)

David at BA12 6DG house name Reeves Acre

You will according to this:-

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/postcodec...e/BA12+6DG/1/0

--
Mark
Please replace invalid and invalid with gmx and net to reply.