Where Did My Freeview Channels Go?

Oblivion

We have a Grundig digital freeview box serving our TV in the kitchen. We are used to seeing the first available channels in the list as ...

001 BBC1
002 BBC2
003 ITV
004 ITV4
005 CH5

and then the rest.

We come back from a few days holiday to find that channels 001, 002, 003, and 004 have disapeared, and the first available channel is 005 CH5.

I have carried out an automatic channel search setup several times, but no change. I have also checked to see if there is a firmware update download available, but it reports 'no'.

So what has become of our most used channels 001 to 004, anyone got any ideas?

BTW, we live in Epsom, Surrey and can see the Crystal Palace and Croydon masts from where we are, so signal strength has never been an issue.

Dave.

S0litaire

Check this page:
http://www.freeview.co.uk/help/faq/id104963

Freeview changed the type of signal they use to transmit the Freeview channels a few weeks ago.

This new signal is not compatible with some FreeView box's so they don't receive a signal.


http://www.cumberland-news.co.uk/news/1.205884

http://www.freeview.co.uk/

Oblivion

Thanks for the links Sol. The date listed for the Greater London area is 29th July 2008 which would make perfect sense in relation to when we came back off holiday. Looks like the change was made whilst we were away.

Curious that our Grundig box is not one of those listed as being potentially affected, but clearly it is. Looks like I'll have to shell out for a new box :mad:

Dave.

S0litaire

Contact Grundig it may be something they can help with. Or at lest tell you what makes work.

Oblivion

S0litaire wrote: »

Contact Grundig it may be something they can help with. Or at lest tell you what makes work.

Yes, I think I'll do just that.

Dave.

Torry_Quine

The same thing happened to me with the digital box I use in the bedroom. However the channels were still there but under the wrong numbers so I would suggest you check the numbers starting with 800 as that is where mine went.

Oblivion

Torry_Quine wrote: »

The same thing happened to me with the digital box I use in the bedroom. However the channels were still there but under the wrong numbers so I would suggest you check the numbers starting with 800 as that is where mine went.

Yes, I had seen some BBC and ITV channels appear in the 80x series, but they seem to be dedicated news channels rather than the true BBC and ITV channels. A friend suggested that these are the channels you would normally get transferred to when offered the red selection button. I still can't find the true BBC & ITV channels anywhere now on our Grundig box.

Dave.

Jolaaled

Oblivion wrote: »

We have a Grundig digital freeview box serving our TV in the kitchen. We are used to seeing the first available channels in the list as ...

001 BBC1
002 BBC2
003 ITV
004 ITV4
005 CH5

and then the rest.

We come back from a few days holiday to find that channels 001, 002, 003, and 004 have disapeared, and the first available channel is 005 CH5.

I have carried out an automatic channel search setup several times, but no change. I have also checked to see if there is a firmware update download available, but it reports 'no'.

So what has become of our most used channels 001 to 004, anyone got any ideas?



Dave.

I've had the same problem...bbc 1, 2 and ITV and ch 4 are now all in the 800's but not in any logical order. Very annoying. I've a Thompson box, which isn't listed as one of those affected. I live in SE Uk.
If anyone has any ideas on how to rectify, if possible, without shelling out for a new box, it'd be really great.
thanks

Oblivion

Well I emailed the 'Grundig' support and received this response this morning ...

"Dear Sir /Madam

The Alba Plc group bought the logo Grundig when the original company ceased a few years ago.We have are own product range using the Grundig logo which we now sell the products all begin with the prefix GU , we have no knowledge of any Grundig products prior to this date and can only suggest the that you contact the retailer , Grundig Germany email c.schulz@aswo.com or Dixons on 0870 9090444 spares/08706070973 lcd and plasma/0870 1541541 crt,video and hifi/08456015544/0870 6001550 general support ,for information or help for your query."

I can't imagine I'm going to get anywhere with any of the contacts offered, so it looks like a new box is needed. I thought technology was supposed to make life easier. :rolleyes:

Dave.

vyseyboy

It seems strange that some channels remain working, while others have disappeared. Every other box I've seen that was affected by the change (including my own) just refused to detect any channels when scanning.

Oblivion

OK, I'll probably get cashiered from MSE but I ended up spending money to get around my problems with the old Grundig Freeview box. It set me thinking that I'd like a modern Freeview box with internal recording facilities.

So I've been and bought the very latest Humax PVR9300T and I've got to tell you all, it's the Dog's Danglies. Twin receivers so I can record two programs simultaneously, 320GB hard drive that will record approximately 200 hours of TV, picture in picture, 8 day TV guide, automatic time tracking so it will adjust recording times if the program is late or early etc. etc. It's brilliant.

I'm like a kid with a new toy :rotfl:

Dave.