When am I going to get freeview

mister_t · 10 April 2005 at 9:19AM

I bought a new TV 6 months ago and I decided to get one with a digital tuner built in. I new when I bought it that we would not be able to get freeview but was planning for the future so when they start transmitting it here or if I move house I wouldn't have to get a set top box.

Is there any way you can find out when they will start transmitting freeview to a particular area? I found one web site that tells you the locations of the arieals and what they broadcast but this doesn't tell me when the small transmitters will start pumping out digital.

Its galling to hear that they are turning off analogue in north wales when we cannot even pick up a single digital channel. Gloucestershire is hardly the middle of nowhere!

danmanchester · 10 April 2005 at 11:58AM

This link is a postcode checker, not sure if it then goes on to tell when it'll be available though :http://www.freeview.co.uk/canireceivefreeview/index.html

Queenie · 10 April 2005 at 12:05PM

If the above link mentioned doesn't give you the information you need - you could try writing to them direct and asking:-

How do I get in touch with FREEVIEW?

Our address is: FREEVIEW, DTV Services Ltd, Broadcast Centre, (BC3 D5), 201 Wood Lane, London, W12 7TP

For further queries, please call: 08708 80 99 80

Best of luck - no consolation, I know, but we still can't even receive Channel 5!!

Joe_Bloggs · 10 April 2005 at 12:10PM

Let's assume you lived at Gloucester railway station. The the nearest
analogue transmitter would be Ridge Hill bearing 306 degrees 16 miles
away. Analogue BBC1 is on channel 22 up to C5 on 35. The recommended aerial group is A signified by a yellow plastic cap on front of aerial. Amplified Extra High gain aerial is advised.

The Digital signal is also broadcast from the same transmitter. The channels are now at much higher frequencies ranging from 42 to 63. The BBC multiplexes are on channels 53 and 63 . These channels fall into aerial group E. This is unfortunate as you probably need a different type of aerial with a masthead amplifier to receive digital either type E or a wide band. The latter will be able to get both analogue and digital but might get more interference.
All the above assumes you have unobstructed line of sight to the
transmitter. Check what your neighbours have got on their roofs.

J_B
information obtained from the reception predictor at:
http://www.wolfbane.com/articles/tvr.htm

Queenie · 10 April 2005 at 3:01PM

:rotfl: Yeah, right ... admit it, you just lusted after Sally WotsHerName!!!!

Actually, most of the channels on Freeview show repeats of old progs anyway - who knows, TISWAS may well make a reappearance one day

(Oooh er! That means a potential for seeing the Iron Lady making her guest appearance too - who would risk it!!!???

Mr_Skint wrote:

Mind you after getting freeview you wont be watching it as their isnt any good programs on TV anymore, Bring back TISWAS and Monkey I say!

Paul_Varjak · 10 April 2005 at 3:37PM

The best way to find out if you can get FREEVIEW in your area is to contact a LOCAL aerial installer.

According to the websites I have looked at, Freeview is still not available where I live but I have been getting it (or its predecessor) successfully for about three years. It was a local aerial installer that told me I could. I did not need a new aerial either, just new aerial cable.

I live on the fringe area of two transmitters - Emley Moor and Belmont - and have aerials for both transmitters. But, to get FREEVIEW, you need good reception on FIVE. I only get good FIVE reception from Emley Moor. In order to get good reception from Belmont I would need a wide-band aerial for reasons alluded to by Joe-Bloggs.

That means I get my FREEVIEW reception from Emley Moor - and I can do this without any problems whatsoever.

andy88_2 · 10 April 2005 at 4:06PM

Our analogue Five signal comes from a separate nearer weaker transmitter, but reception is much better on the Freeview box, so in some places 5 coverage will not necessarily be a guide.

Woby_Tide · 11 April 2005 at 8:24PM

very true Andy88, seeing as half the southcoast can't get Channel 5 on an analogue signal. Freeview works fine in a lot of areas now though despite the DTV website advising it may not be.

andy88_2 · 12 April 2005 at 12:00AM

http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/transmitters/tv_trans/index.shtml

http://www.dtg.org.uk/retailer/tx_s.html

mister_t · 12 April 2005 at 7:18PM

I guess there are just too many hills around us.

As we will probably be moving in the next 6 months or so there is no point going to the trouble of getting an arial man out. I just wondered if there was a way to tell if they would be extending the coverage.

Thanks for all the usefull links.

Joe_Bloggs · 12 April 2005 at 7:35PM

Did you use the Wolfbane site that I mentioned previously ? You can get a topographical cross-section of the land between your home and any point including transmitters With:- http://www.megalithia.com/elect/terrain.html
They were off line recently so I did not quote them.

Remember to note the altitude of the transmitting device as height above obstructions is the key to avoiding hills.

J_B.

When am I going to get freeview

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