Digital Switchover:The difficult stage

[Chevyman]

I have a Panasonic digital-ready TV and my region doesn't switch until September. A neighbouring region switched last month and it's digital transmissions are stronger than our analogue ones. On BBC I now receive "Look East" as local news instead of "Midlands Today".
The aerial is still facing Sutton Coldfield transmitter.
I used to rectify the problem by deleting and retuning, but over the last few days this no longer works.
Fortunately, the TV was purchsed from a local independent electrical retailer. I've spoken to them and if the problem persists, they will send a technician to investigate.
If all else fails, I'll have to wait until September

[MikeB]

Don't worry. its not your TV (Pani tuners are normally pretty good anyway). Your in the Central region, and according to the http://www.digitaluk.co.u website (which is really handy), part of the region (and other relatively close transmitters) went over earlier, and as you pointed out, its just swamping your analoge signals. You'll have to wait until September until you have the delights of 'Midlands Today', but since I get it instead of Look East, I can assure you your not missing much!

If you've hooked up your Panasonic to the net, then you should be able to use Iplayer to watchBBC - BBC One Programmes - Look East - East it - enjoy!

[Chevyman]

Thanks MikeB,

September it is then (I'll have to miss Nick Owen and Kay Alexander till then)
I pick up most of the local news on my mobile phone at present.

Cheers

[wadey]

Here in the North West we switched over some time ago, the biggest problem has been people loosing their local news

[johng]

I am afraid i don'y understand the problem. Surely if you have your TV set to receive the analogue channels then how can it pick up a digital signal. In that event there would be no need to fit TVs with digital tuners surely?

[smudge]

Thanks MikeB,

September it is then (I'll have to miss Nick Owen and Kay Alexander till then)
I pick up most of the local news on my mobile phone at present.

Cheers

Suzanne Virdee these days, surely...?

Smudge

[Chevyman]

Not for me smudge

Kay is my fave

[Chevyman]

I am afraid i don'y understand the problem. Surely if you have your TV set to receive the analogue channels then how can it pick up a digital signal. In that event there would be no need to fit TVs with digital tuners surely?

Hi johng,
It's a digital ready TV.
MikeB's answer (above) pretty much ties in with my supplier's view.

[wadey]

I am afraid i don'y understand the problem. Surely if you have your TV set to receive the analogue channels then how can it pick up a digital signal. In that event there would be no need to fit TVs with digital tuners surely?

Due to the hilly nature of our area many are on small relay transmitters, on switchover the analogue transmissions are switched off

[Chevyman]

Problem sorted.....until september anyway

Set the TV to receive analogue transmissions. Back on BBC Midlands

Reception is good....14:9 instead of 16:9, that's all

Thanks everyone for their help

[Dame Starry]

Problem sorted.....until september anyway.....set the TV to receive analogue transmissions.

Did you really have to do that? My TV receives both without any need to change settings - in fact, I sometimes end up with analogue without even trying.....if I press the TV button twice accidentally!

We change over next year in two stages.

[Chevyman]

Did you really have to do that? My TV receives both without any need to change settings - in fact, I sometimes end up with analogue without even trying.....if I press the TV button twice accidentally!

We change over next year in two stages.

Hello Dear Dame,

I was just having a fiddle when I happened upon it. This morning the digital picture kept breaking up and was driving me mad..........

Four months to go now.

x

[Biff]

Before the switchover (I'm Granada) I could receive umpty DAB radio stations. Now I can't get any. Coincidence?

[Dame Starry]

Hello Dear Dame,

I was just having a fiddle when I happened upon it. This morning the digital picture kept breaking up and was driving me mad..........

Four months to go now.

x

Before the switchover (I'm Granada) I could receive umpty DAB radio stations. Now I can't get any. Coincidence?

My transmitter, Crystal Palace is switching in two stages - April and September 2012.

Granada is complete BUT, if anybody who has been 'switched' is missing any channels OR is getting the wrong regional news service, you should see this webpage on the government's digital TV website:

Digital UK - Missing channels or wrong news service?

[Chevyman]

My transmitter, Crystal Palace is switching in two stages - April and September 2012.

Granada is complete BUT, if anybody who has been 'switched' is missing any channels OR is getting the wrong regional news service, you should see this webpage on the government's digital TV website:

Digital UK - Missing channels or wrong news service?

Many thanks for that link DS.

I'll hang on to that

x

[Dame Starry]

I've just retuned my TV and DVD recorder for the first stage of the London switchover - the second stage is on the 18th April (ignore my previous misinformation regarding September).

I now have different channels on both with the same Freeview numbers.

On the TV......... Freeview 813 is Radio 1 and Freeview 812 is Radio 2
On the DVD....... Freeview 813 is BBC4 (as well as Freeview 9) and Freeview 812 is CBeebies.

How does that happen?

[didi-5]

Just keep retuning Dame Starry, a similar thing happened to us when we reset yesterday. The channels will right themselves eventually and the BBC ones are at full strength now

[Windthrop]

Up here in North Yorks we are eventually getting Freeview HD in September. I was going to get a Freesat dish but decided to wait it out.

[Dame Starry]

Just keep retuning Dame Starry, a similar thing happened to us when we reset yesterday. The channels will right themselves eventually and the BBC ones are at full strength now

At least I'm not the only one - but it doesn't make sense that they both retuned differently 3 times; they are both Panasonic and bought within weeks of each other.

Thanks, I've reset all my series recordings three times now, so I'll just wait until the 18th when it has to be done again!

[Richard_in_wales]

Freeview was fantastic for me, analogue signals were pee poor even with a masthead booster the best we got was three channels. On a whim I bought a freeview box and bingo, all the channels came in from day one. There is a lot of junk broadcast but if you look you will always find something to watch if needed.