28th September 2011: GOOD NEWS! It appears the signal strengths for all channels is either "Maximum" or "above average" signal strength! Let us hope this is maintained!

Stage 1: 14th September 2011: BBC 2 analogue switched off and replaced with digital signal

Stage 2: 28th September 2011: all analogue channels swtiched off and replaced with additional digital services.

Some people in the parish have experienced "electric-static" - type reception on channels ITV1, Channel 4, Channel 5, E4, More 4 and generally on Multiplex 2 which makes these channels unwatchable.

The website Editor, having received lots of great advice and checked with various websites and received information from Digital UK, has concluded that if you are experiencing reception problems at the moment (between 14th September and 28th September) it might be the case that since the switchover of Stage 1 the technical resources of those channels on Muliplex 2 might have been affected. Until the 28th September switchover we will not know if the digital signal is sufficient to ensure clear reception in the parish.

Three really useful websites are: -

• http://www.ukfree.tv/txdetail.php?a=SP567105  GBR: this is “Freeview on the Oxford Transmitter” website. Interesting in that it states all BBC channels “Maximum” reception but everything else “very low")
• http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/freeviewhelp/missing.html (GBR: very helpful website with some tips.)
• http://www.freeview.co.uk/availability (GBR: I checked this website and it says “Good news. You should be able to receive all the Freeview channels”) 

Another message (23/09/2011): "I too had problems with the band of channels that includes ITV 1, Channel 4 and Channel 5. I was getting 10 out of 10 for signal quality on BBC1, BBC2 and ITV 4 etc, but only 1 out of 10 for the ones with poor quality. I tried everything with the existing setup, including performing the recommended 'shipping condition' reset, but the ITV range of channels were all still awful. Assuming nothing would change I have since purchased a new high-gain wideband (roof mounted) aerial and now have 8 to 9 out of 10 signal quality on these channels and so get a great picture on everything. I had an existing loft mounted amplifier and this is still needed to get the best reception. Things might change with the second phase of the switchover, but I doubt it. I suspect many households might need to upgrade their aerials to take advantage of Freeview, especially if they wish to receive Freeview HD broadcasts."

The Rose household experiences and exchanges of information!

We have Sky – and have been with Sky since 2005. The reasons for going Sky were twofold: 1) The terrestrial reception was poor because there was an oak tree in the aerial line to Beckley and 2) I wanted sport! Shortly afterwards the oak tree fell down!

Why even go for a digi-box? Sky does drop out quite often – particularly in bad weather.

2nd September 2011: In anticipation of the changeover to digital TV we purchased a basic digi-box (£20). A Ferguson box and it was really easy to tune: intuitive. Great reception on all Freeview channels.

15th September 2011: I spent £150 on a digi-box for Judith with 160 hours of recording time. Much excited I tried to tune in the new box and whilst it picked up most channels it would not even register ITV channels nor Channels 4 and 5. I then connected my inexpensive digi-box to Judith’s TV. It did pick up all channels but the ITV channels and Channels 4 & 5 were like electric static pictures: unwatchable.

My email message to Digital UK from Graham Rose on 19/09/2011to DigitalUKMBX@Ehosts.Net “Digibox worked well and all channels before 14th September. Re-tuned: no ITV/ ITV2/ C4/ C5. Phoned help centre “take out aerial and put back in”. Still does not work. Believe someone has done something at Beckley. Not snow screen. Crazed screen. What should I do?”

Phoned 08456 505050 and answered by very strong Scottish-accented guy in Fife. He told me to unplug aerial and then reconnect. This had no effect.

Answer from Digital UK on 20/09/2011

Dear Mr. Rose, Thank you for your email dated 19 September regarding missing channels. I am not aware of any problems at the Oxford transmitter. According to our postcode checker you should have a good reception on all digital channels. This is dependent upon you having an aerial of the correct type, correctly aligned, and in good condition. You can test your current aerial by using analogue Teletext. This test is designed to check if your current aerial will need to be replaced or upgraded to receive a digital TV signal through your aerial after switchover. The test is broadcast on Teletext page 284 on BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4 and S4C. You should carry out the test on all channels and under different weather conditions (fog, rain, fine dry weather, etc) to achieve a more accurate and objective result. If there are more than 4 squares missing (randomly spaced – complete lines missing are fine) then your aerial needs to be checked or replaced. Ideally, the screen should display a full grid of white boxes.

The second stage of switchover in your area is on the 28th September, this is when that group of channels change frequency and are a lot stronger. Please remember to retune on this date. For your convenience I have attached a retune guide. If you have any further enquiries regarding the digital switchover please visit our website at www.digitaluk.co.uk or call us on 08456 50 50 50.

Kind Regards, Jackie Farrell Digital UK

Comments from a household in Eaton Road

I am not an expert! But - we have very marginal TV signal at our house which is compounded by a very long run of coaxial cable though the house as well as three diversely placed TV sockets. For a long time we have needed an amplifier to boost the signal. Ideally these are placed on the TV pole about a metre from the aerial - they are thus known as mast-head amplifiers. They are mains powered, low voltage, devices. Because it was difficult (for me) to fit it to the mast it lives in the loft where the TV cable comes in. It is no good fitting an amplifier near the output socket - if you are getting a very poor signal there, then amplifying it will just give you a bigger very poor signal A TV aerial salesman may try and sell you a new aerial but this isn't necessary in Appleton, see - http://www.freeview.co.uk/availability (GBR: I checked this website and it says “Good news. You should be able to receive all the Freeview channels”)

The set-up we had worked well until DTV arrived. then - some channels were OK and some broken up. I understand that the coaxial cable installed for analogue TV isn't good at handling DTV. The quality of many old cable installations was often very poor because they were very tolerant of faults. Many were done by electricians who didn't understand the subtlety of a TV signal and its special needs. However, DTV is not tolerant and a different form of cable and connections are needed. Ideally the whole of the house's old coaxial cable run needs to be removed and replaced with satellite grade cable. This can be a bit of a headache (!) if the cable runs beneath floor boards or in wall runs. I spent a very pleasant few hours in our loft a couple of weeks ago replacing all the old cable I could reach with satellite grade stuff. It needs special fittings and joining old and new is a bit tricky. We are lucky that our new set up works OK despite the fact that a lot of old coaxial cable, beneath floors and in walls, hasn't been replaced. So - it isn't just a digi-box that you need - there is more to it than meets the eye. As ever the "authorities" have failed to mention these "minor" problems which may be very expensive to resolve in some houses.

21/09/2011: Bernard Martin: he checked the signal strengths and confirmed BBC fine bit ITV very weak. He is able to receive a good signal but only because he has a high gain aerial and newly installed cabling.

Following our conversation this evening, my simple advice would be to check the signal strength (and bit error rate) of working channels and compare with those that are not working. Mine is a factor of 50%, but as I have a respectable high gain aerial, I have not experienced a problem on the different muxes. The rule of thumb is always get a high gain aerial (they don't have to be large!), and not a simple yagi with masthead amplifier as all the amplifier does is to boost a poor signal. Wait until September 29th and after retuning, if these people still have problems then probably there is a problem. I would guess that those people who are currently experiencing signal dropout, have a marginal installation anyway, and it's worthwhile checking the aerial realignment first!!