big switch off fury

[david s]

I'm new to the furum and I expect that this topic has been discussed before in various guises but it's getting closer for my area now and I just wanted to vent!!!!

I would have thought that with the strength of following of TV viewing that there would have been a lot more anger about the switching off of 'ordinary' terestrial TV.

Agreed, I rarely watch it now, mainly using Sky; but very regularly, particularly during the winter, terestrial analouge is the only signal that can get through. Even 'freeview' pixalates and sticks in snowy weather. As far as signal strength is concerned...I am so close to the Sutton Coldfield mast that it will almost hit me if it falls over. We have no cable service in our area.

How is it that the powers concerned can dictate that we can only watch TV in good weather?


Dave.

The reason your Freeview signal is weak is because the analogue service is still running and Freeview is not allowed to interfere with it. Once the analogue signal is switched off in your area, the Freeview signal will be boosted and all should be fine.

If your Sky dish suffers interference in poor weather it may need adjusting slightly.

[Graham M]

You're almost talking like this has been sprung upon you...

Originally Posted by Graham M

You're almost talking like this has been sprung upon you...

well we've only had about 15 yrs notice

[Mal]

Some of us lost terrestrial tv in November 2009 and earlier

Originally Posted by Mal

Some of us lost terrestrial tv in November 2009 and earlier

there's quite a few lost it and not even realised ,especially if they had new windows from me plenty of times i have not put the old ariel cable back through the new window because mostly they either have sky or virgin but still have the old terrestrial hooked up ,some do use it for freeview in which case i put it back

Originally Posted by david s

Even 'freeview' pixalates and sticks in snowy weather. As far as signal strength is concerned...I am so close to the Sutton Coldfield mast that it will almost hit me if it falls over. We have no cable service in our area.

Perhaps you need to get your set-up checked out. I live north of Nottingham, but because of our position we cannot see Waltham or Nottingham transmitters, we actually have to use Sutton Coldfield (which is about 30 miles away) and we get a reasonable signal.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Paul M

Perhaps you need to get your set-up checked out. I live north of Nottingham, but because of our position we cannot see Waltham or Nottingham transmitters, we actually have to use Sutton Coldfield (which is about 30 miles away) and we get a reasonable signal.

Although if he is that close to the transmitter, that could be the cause of the problem. The DTV signal could literally be flying over of the top of his aerial.

[Kymmy]

It'll effect V more than H antennas being that close and Sutton Coldfield is H. They might want to raise the elevation though.

[david s]

Originally Posted by Stuart

Although if he is that close to the transmitter, that could be the cause of the problem. The DTV signal could literally be flying over of the top of his aerial.

Someone else has suggested that sort of problem but I thought he was joking.

Could I actually be too close to get a good signal?

Perhaps they'd let me run a cable strait from the mast

Oh. and no I dont think that it has been 'sprung on me', I've been saying it for a long time.

Those of you who have already been through the 'switch off'; has your digital signal improved?

[Stuart]

I have to admit, I was told that a while ago by a TV installer. I have to admit, i didn't believe it but it does make sense. They would want the signal to travel as far as possible. This would mean positioning the antennae so they don't end up transmitting into the ground.

I am sure that someone will be along who can either agree with or correct me.

[nodrogd]

Like it or not, the analogue system was at the limit of it's development, indeed the system was never designed for colour and the colour subcarriers were inserted at the expense of picture quality. While I have gripes about DAB radio, the switch to DVB-T has endless benefits. Cross-colour/luminance, ghosting, grainy pictures, co-channel interference etc will all be a thing of the past. Yes, digital doesn't solve all the problems, but it's a lot better than what it replaces.

If you are very close to a main transmitter then the analogue channels may be fouling your reception, or the existing freeview signal may be swamping the receiver anyway. Don't fiddle too much until switchover starts, and if you still have problems try an indoor aerial (if you're not using one already).