Digital Switch Over - Lost Channels

[birdofprey]

We are in the first phase of the DSO. For some reason we have to retune twice, fourteen days apart.

I have lost many channels and have retuned several times since the day.

No matter what I do I cannot get ITV3.

The analogue signal has gone and I thought this would boost the digital signal but this morning ITV1 was so weak I could barely watch the rugby.

My aerial is good so the question is: will I recover the lost channels when we reach the second retune in about ten days time?

[boxtops]

Where are you? We had to tune twice here in South Kent. You may find that some of the channels have moved to different numbers now you have moved. Rugby is OK here at the moment!

[birdofprey]

We're in Aylesbury and get our signal from Beckley (Oxford). Switch-over is 14 & 28 September. We have a Sony Bravia which I have discovered (since purchase) is notorious for not locking on to a weak signal during tuning - hence the many attempts at different times.

ITV1 off completely at this moment!

[Sonyme]

If you are in the midlands BBC 2 is the lost channel selecting 2 on TV will give you ITV 1 selecting 3 will give you a blank screen. 1 4 and 5 are ok until next wednesday when all analogue channels are switched off. The digital signal will be boosted.

[Sonyme]

Sorry, I was typing before your posting appeared.

[Dodger666]

I'm in the Midlands and we have no problems with channels 2 & 3. They are both where they should be after retune phase 1. We receive signals from Sutton Coldfield.

[redman41]

A Full rescan is required each time as if you were tuning it from scratch i.e New Installation.

[Ann]

We switched over on 17 August in East Midlands (Waltham transmitter) and since then our picture freezes every so often losing sound for a few seconds, - what a bad service it is now - I get very cross about the whole switchover, its cost us a lot of money and hassle, its supposed to be an improvement (but why change something that doesn't need fixing?) I don't watch freeview channels anyway. My Mum rang me at 10am - she lives 3 miles away and has lost BBC1 and BBC2 channels completely this morning - why?

[redman41]

If you are having problems with freezing Pics and sound after the switchover it is likely that your Aerial is at fault as it may be an old roof one which may need upgrading/replacing.
Transmitter power is increased considerably after the switchover.

[Ann]

Aerial problems? O No - more expense then - GRRR!!

[VHG]

>>>but why change something that doesn't need fixing?)

How do you know it does not need fixing?

For example if we stayed at analogue we would have been stuck with only 5 channels for ever (there is no room for any more).

Also digital gives all sorts of extra features and functions that just are not available on analouge.

For example on freeview I can press the red button while watching say Wimbledon (or other events) and choose the match I want to watch, try doing that with analogue.

People who are non-technical dont always understand the reason for a switchover (the same people that moaned when we from to decimal coinage - try using your spreadsheet with pounds shillings and pence)

[Ann]

Its mainly the expense I'm cross about VHG - I could do without all that, buying new Freeview boxes for 3 TVs, possibly a new aerial, and my video recorder doesn't work in the same way so obviously need a digital one. Where do they think we can get the money for all this?

[birdofprey]

Ann86 Although it is a tad long-winded you can still use your VCR until you are ready to replace it.

You just run a feed from the Freeview Box into the back. When you want to set the timer you set the input on the VCR to AV? and remember to set the timer on the box as well.

[Ann]

Bird of Prey - thanks - my husband has already sussed that out - but its not straight forward its a bit complicated for me! I just forget which channel to put it on - I will have to write out "an idiot guide" for myself!

[birdofprey]

You're absolutely right! It is a solution but not by any means ideal because it is easy to make a mistake, then you end up settling down to watch your favourite programme to find a black screen or whatever. Been there done that!

[lozzer50]

we were turned off ages ago in granada area and it all works fine we run our freeview box on an indoor aerial with digial boost. bear with it its worth it just retune and u will get the full service eventually. we didnt bother changing
our outdoor aerial

[Ann]

Whats a digi boost Lozzer?

[whiskeryron]

http://www.amazon.co....=13&y=20&sprefix=aeri

[Hopkirk]

Thank heavens they are getting rid of creaky old steam driven analogue.

[boxtops]

Hopkirk - is that the New Stig in your avatar?

[Hopkirk]

I AM the Stig