Wimborne U3A : Digital Television Switchover

Digital Switchover Talk - Ferndown U3A

2012-01-29T17:16:00.003Z

I shall be giving my Switchover Talk to Ferndown U3A next Friday, 3rd February, at the Barrington Theatre (conference room). Entry is free to both members and non-members of Ferndown U3A and a free cup of tea or coffee is available between 10.00 am and 10.30 am. During that half-hour you'll also be able to chat to me about any special concerns you may have about the Switchover.

The illustrated Talk will start at 10.30 am and last for approximately one hour. Afterwards there will be time for questions and, if you've lost the Digital UK booklet "Your Guide to Switchover" which was delivered to all households in the area before Christmas, or you'd like another one, you'll be able to take one away with you.

If you cannot make that date, I shall be repeating the Talk on 16th February to Bournemouth U3A and 17th February to Wimborne U3A. Location details are in the sidebar to the right here.

Switchover Events This Year

2012-01-07T16:01:00.000Z

Friday 3 February
U3A Digital Switchover Talk
Barrington Theatre
Ferndown
10.00 am for 10.30 am to 11.45 am approx
(Free entry to non-members of Ferndown U3A also)

Thursday 16 February
U3A Digital Switchover Talk
Orchid Hotel
Bournemouth
10.00 am for 10.30 am to 11.45 am approx
(Free entry to non-members of Bournemouth U3A also)

Friday 17 February
U3A Digital Switchover Talk
Wesley Hall
Methodist Church
Wimborne
10.00 am for 10.30 am to 11.45 am approx
(Free entry to non-members of Wimborne U3A also)

Wednesday 7 March (DSO-1 day)
Digital UK Road Show
Outside Obscura Café
The Square
Bournemouth
All day

Thursday 8 March
Digital UK Road Show
Outside Obscura Café
The Square
Bournemouth
All day

Wednesday 21 March (DSO-2 day)
Digital UK Road Show
Outside Obscura Café
The Square
Bournemouth
All day

Thursday 22 March
Digital UK Road Show
Outside Obscura Café
The Square
Bournemouth
All day

Wednesday 18 April (DSO-3 day)
Applies to the Rowridge transmitter only and not to its relay transmitters

Remember: a rescan (retune) will be needed by each Freeview receiver on each of the DSO days.

No Channel 5 HD for Freeview

2012-01-02T11:17:00.001Z

It has just been announced that Channel 5 has withdrawn its successful bid to run the fifth High Definition station on Freeview. It is likely therefore that the slot will go out to tender again. We shall have to wait and see who will bid and who will be successful. In the meantime, the HD stations on Freeview after the Digital Switchover will be BBC-1 HD, BBC-HD (soon to be BBC-2 HD), ITV-1 HD and C4 HD.

Are You Ready?

2011-11-09T15:19:00.001Z

On the BBC South tv programme yesterday, Tuesday 8 November, a representative of Digital UK suggested there could be a million people in the south of England who are not yet ready for the Digital Switchover next March. That could create quite a demand for set-top boxes next March. In order to be sure of not missing out, it is important to obtain the Freeview box for an existing analogue-only television sooner rather than later.

There may be a problem in that, owing to geographical position, a household is not able to receive the current digital transmissions so a box purchased now cannot be used until March when the transmission power increases, thus using up valuable guarantee time. There is no solution to that one: you either buy now when the boxes are in plentiful supply or wait and maybe have to wait for longer if supplies run out. Similarly, anyone currently receiving tv from a relay transmitter, like Winterborne Stickland, cannot use a set-top box until next March because such transmitters are not presently transmitting any digital signals.

What to Do About Digital - 5 : Buying a New Television Set, Part 3 (LED or Not LED?)

2011-09-17T15:09:00.000+01:00

An alternative sub-title for this articlecould be: "When is an LED tv actually an LCD tv?". The answer wouldbe "always".

"LCD" standsfor Liquid Crystal Display. "LED" stands for Light Emitting Diode, asused to show your tv is in standby or in house/garden lights, for example. Thereis much misunderstanding about these two terms when used to describetelevisions, much of it down to the industry itself not making things clear. Thereal danger is you may not think you are confused about it (see the finalparagraph). Here's an explanation.

All current flat-screentelevisions are of two types: plasma or LCD. Notice the absence of the term"LED". The description "plasma" or "LCD" refersto the panel which provides the pictures you watch. Each panel is made up ofindividual picture elements called pixels. A standard definition tv panelcontains around half a million pixels, an "HD-Ready" tv panel hasaround one million pixels while a "Full-HD" panel has around twomillion pixels.

The pixels in a plasmapanel emit light themselves, much like the old CRT (cathode ray tube)televisions produced light from the end of the CRT which provided the screen. However,the pixels in an LCD panel do not produce any light themselves. They need tohave light shone through them otherwise they cannot be seen.

This is where the LEDpart comes in. LEDs can be used to provide that light source behind the LCDpanel. Such tvs are simply called "LED-tvs". Previously, the lightsource for LCD tvs was a panel made up of one or more CCFLs (cold cathodefluorescent lamps: using technology like household low-energy lamps) or anelectroluminescent panel (as used in large advertising signs) which was placedbehind the LCD panel and made to glow all over with an equal brightness byusing a diffuser. You can still buy tvs like that: they're just not called"LED-tvs".

As technology hasprogressed, a panel of LEDs behind the LCD panel was found to offer an advantageover the CCFL or electroluminescent panel. LEDs could be grouped and the brightness of each group adjustedaccording to what the LCD panel was showing. Bright areas of the image causedthe LEDs in that region to shine brightly, while dark areas of the image wouldcause the LEDs behind them to dim down. This improved the response of LCDscreens to black, previously one of their downfalls.

Later it was discoveredthat a clever arrangement of LEDs just behind one or more edges of the LCDpanel could achieve a similar result, using some sort of mirror arrangement.This resulted in the ability to produce extremely thin LCD tvs, especiallydesirable for wall-hanging.

Thus LED-tvs are of twotypes: back-lit and edge-lit. You'll see one of these descriptions in each tv'sspecifications, though the differences are becoming blurred as the technologyadvances.

There can be problemswith all these technologies. The back-lit CCFL or electroluminescent panel cansuffer uneven illumination, especially with larger screens when more than oneCCFL is needed - quite a disaster for the resulting picture: always check sucha set for that problem. Back-lit LED-tvs can suffer a bloom around dark areas.The LEDs behind the LCD panel are not as numerous as the number of pixels inthat LCD panel, so dark and light areas will not match up with the groups ofLEDs exactly. Side-lit LEDs can show a glow in the corners of the screen,especially when viewing from a wide angle. All these points are things to watchout for when selecting a new tv.

So you can see that, ifwe're to describe televisions according to the type of panel used fordisplaying the image, LCD is the acronym to use. LED is just a description ofhow the essential light source is provided.

Evidently it's perfectlypossible for members of the public not to know they are confused by this. I wasonce told by a very knowledgeable and experienced sales assistant in a notabletv shop about a lady who asked to see some LED televisions. When he told thelady that all such televisions were actually LCD tvs, she would have none ofit. She told the assistant he didn't know what he was talking about andpromptly exited the shop!

Switchover Help Scheme

2011-09-07T14:29:00.002+01:00

Information about the Switchover Help Scheme has now been sent to all those in our area who are eligible for taking advantage of the scheme. The criteria for eligibility are:

are aged 75 or over; or
get or could get Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance or mobility supplement; or
have lived in a care home for six months or more; or
are registered blind or partially sighted.

If you have not yet received a communication about the Switchover Help Scheme and you fit the criteria above it would be worth contacting the Scheme to investigate the situation. The contact details are:

Phone free on:
0800 408 5900 or
e-mail info@helpscheme.co.uk

You can also use those contacts if you are unsure about your eligibility.

The basic cost is £40 which includes the equipment, help with installation, aerial check and replacement if needed, a demonstration of how to use the equipment plus a helpline for a year.
This service is free if you are eligible and receive pension credit or income support. There are other conditions possible but they would not apply to Wimborne U3A members.

There are other options available regarding the equipment, all at a considerably reduced cost than that of a normal purchase.

You do have to have a current tv licence and one tv set which can receive only analogue signals. You may have other tv sets which can receive digital but the scheme can still be applied for in order to convert that one old tv. You have until one month after the last Switchover date to apply for the scheme. That means you cannot apply after 21 April 2012.

The basic equipment which is provided is a terrestrial digital box produced by the scheme and, if required, help to install and use it. Alternatives are:
• A digital television recorder or an integrated digital TV for an extra cost
• A free satellite service for an extra cost
• Some money off a subscription service, such as Sky, Virgin Media or BT Vision .

Full information can be found by following this link to the Digital UK website.

Digital UK Roadshow

2011-08-28T18:36:00.004+01:00

In the sidebar, a little way down, you'll find a list of the local visits by the Digital UK Roadshow. This is a motorised caravan which will tour the whole Meridian area throughout the coming months up to and including the Digital Switchover. You can ask questions and take away leaflets about the Switchover Help Scheme. Technical questions may not be the best to ask at these events, judging by the Mendip Switchover Roadshow I visited at Shaftesbury in 2010.

My Talk on 17 February, 2012, is likely to be the only truly local to Wimborne event about the Digital Switchover. Wimborne U3A Members are advised to book seats for the Talk - that can be done using the e-mail address given under "Contact and Posting" further down the sidebar.

What to Do About Digital - 4 : Buying a New tv Set, Part 2 (3D or not 3D?)

2011-08-28T13:51:00.001+01:00

You cannot fail to have noticed the way 3D viewing has become all the rage these days, both in the cinema (where it started) and in the home with 3D televisions. Without going into the long history of 3D development which has brought it to its current state, there are a few points which are worth making.

There are two kinds of 3D video technology which can be summarised as "passive" and "active". In the cinema it is the passive form. This means the inevitable spectacles are simple pieces of polaroid material, quite cheap, and the digital projection is of two images which are filtered by the glasses so one image is seen by the left eye and the other by the right eye: much better than the fifties 3D versions (remember Vincent Price in "The House of Wax"?) where the glasses contained acetate film of two different colours which interfered with the colour rendition of the image and which gave different light intensities to each eye.

3D television uses the active form, except for the LG company which is championing the passive form. Active 3D imaging uses expensive spectacles which have electronics built into them and which are synchronised with the image on the screen. It's called "active shutter technology". The image on the tv screen very quickly alternates between two versions, one for the left eye and one for the right eye. When it's displaying the image for the right eye, the left glass of the spectacles goes dark and prevents light reaching the left eye: vice versa with the following image, and so on.

Now this rapid switching of light to each eye is not everyone's cup of tea. Indeed, there have been reports of induced nausea and headaches by viewers. If you decide to embrace 3D technology, do test yourself in the shop before you buy to see if you react in that way. Give yourself plenty of time to watch the demonstration screen. It's clearly a personal response: some people will be affected and others not.

There are also technical problems associated with this rapid switching on the screen. All LCD tvs have a response time, which has been reducing as the technology advances. This is the time it takes for the tv screen to "lose" one frame while generating the next frame, essentially. The longer the response time of the screen, the slower will the screen be to change frames, resulting in some very peculiar artefacts on the screen. Bearing in mind that, in general, you're watching twenty-five frames each second (there are variations on this, depending upon the tv set and what you're watching), so we're talking about very small intervals of time. Nevertheless, LCD screens tend to have a slower response time than plasma screens, all other things being equal.

To display active 3D images, the switching involved should not leave any traces of a preceding frame, otherwise the integrity of the 3D image can be compromised. If you decide to go for 3D, do compare a plasma tv set with an LCD tv set, side by side (though you'll have to switch spectacles between looking at each one).

Regular 3D tv broadcasting is some way off yet. The major current source of 3D material is from the high-definition Bluray discs, where they contain a 3D version of the film. You would need a 3D-enabled Bluray player and a 3D-enabled television or projector to watch such discs. Most manufacturers currently include a few 2D-only sets in their catalogue, though they will be at the cheaper end of the range. Most R&D is going into 3D sets so they will have the latest technology even for producing a good 2D picture. It may be, therefore, that you would end up buying a 3D set but use it only to view 2D pictures. You can't help feeling you would be paying for something you're not going to use, but there's little alternative. It's like the gentleman who, visiting a tailors, finds just the suit for him but it's a three-piece and he doesn't want the waistcoat. Upon being asked about that, the salesman replies that the waistcoat is optional; it doesn't have to be worn!

Next time we'll be looking at the question: when is an LED tv actually an LCD tv?

What to Do About Digital - 3 : Buying a New Television Set, Part 1 (Hi-Def or Not Hi-Def)

2011-08-18T13:04:00.002+01:00

Maybe, after reading the second article in this series, you decided it was time to replace your ageing television set rather than add a Freeview Set-Top Box to it. This article is for you, then. What do you need to think about and what decisions do you need to arrive at, even before you've set foot in a television shop or investigated on-line shopping?

There are many such matters to ponder: High Definition or not is possibly the first one. All current televisions of any note are flat-screen and come with a built-in digital (Freeview) tuner. In some of them that tuner will also receive the new High Definition transmissions starting at the Digital Switchover next March. Do remember that the average life-expectancy of a tv set is ten years and that many will go well beyond that. A decision now has to last, then. I would advise going for a tv with a High Definition tuner, but they are slightly more expensive than those with just a Standard Definition tuner. In the near future you probably won't have that choice - they'll all have the High-Def tuner as standard.

Why am I recommending this pathway? The likelihood is that your new tv will have a larger screen than your current tv. High Definition allows you to:
a) view a smaller screen from a nearer position;
b) view a larger screen from your current position;
while giving you a very clear, high resolution picture, showing much more detail than is provided by Standard Definition.

Of course, many tv stations are only Standard Definition and if you get too close to the screen or have a very large screen that picture is not particularly good. Need to have movable chairs, therefore, and the space in which to move them. Many years ago there were recommendations about screen size and viewing distance. These have changed since the advent of High Definition and the current Hi-Def recommendations are:

32" to 37" screen : 1.3 metres (just over 4 feet) viewing distance.
40" to 42" screen : 1.6 metres (just over 5 feet) viewing distance.
46" screen : 1.8 metres (just under 6 feet) viewing distance.

These are minimum recommended distances. The maximum distance is around double that distance. How can there be a maximum distance? It's the distance beyond which you won't really be able to notice that a Hi-Def picture looks better than a Standard-Def one. So the size of screen to go for is intimately tied up with the Hi-Def or not decision. The larger the screen, the more expensive the tv set; all other things being equal.

While you deliberate on all that, do have a look at a friend's or relative's tv if they have Hi-Def (Sky or Freesat) and carry out some experiments walking towards and away from (backwards!) the tv on both Hi-Def and Standard-Def tv stations, and see what you can notice. While you're doing all that and coming to a decision, I'll prepare Part 2 of this article - "3D or 2D?" (though you may have already decided on that).

Just one final point about High-Def. On Freeview, as on Freesat, there are four Hi-Def tv stations:
BBC-1 HD
BBC-HD
ITV-1 HD
C4-HD

BBC-HD shows a variety of programming from all its other stations, including repeats of BBC-1 HD material. All its output is in Hi-Def.
Not all programmes shown by the other stations are made in Hi-Def. Those that are usually are indicated as such in listings magazines. If "HD" is not included in the listing information then the programme is Standard-Def. It is then what is called "upscaled" before transmission. Your tv would do that to the Standard-Def station's transmission anyway, so it's nothing special.

Sky transmits many more High-Def stations, but you have to pay a subscription and have a satellite dish installed. Blu-Ray discs (BDs) are the High-Def version of DVDs. They produce a better quality picture than any current High-Def tv station, providing your tv is "Full-HD", sometimes known as "1080p" tvs. All that has no real bearing on your decisions about Freeview terrestrial digital reception next March, but it was necessary to state it at this juncture.

Digital Tips - 2 : Radio (again)

2011-07-30T17:56:00.001+01:00

Continuing the theme of Freeview radio, you don't need to have your tv switched on to listen to any of the many radio stations on Freeview if your reception is via a Freeview STB or Personal Video Recorder (PVR). So long as your STB or PVR has "audio-out sockets" (and most, if not all, do), you can connect those sockets to the Auxiliary-IN or Line-IN sockets of your audio equipment. Your Freeview box does need a number display, at least. Radio 2, for example, is on Freeview number 702, so it's easy to punch the number in using the box's remote control.

Of course, if the Freeview box and the audio equipment are a long way apart, you'll need long cables and it may not be acceptable to you to have those trailing around the room. However, I'm going to ignore that and explain just how to set this up as it's the most useful way to listen to digital radio (the sound is better than Digital Audio Broadcasting [DAB]).

The audio-out sockets and the Aux-IN sockets are what are called "Phono" sockets. Here's what they look like:

The white one (sometimes it's black instead) is for the left stereo channel and the red one is for the right stereo channel. You will need to buy a stereo phono cable to connect the equipment together. Here's what the ends of such a cable look like, showing the black and red phono plugs.

The black plugs go into the white (or black) sockets of your STB and your audio equipment and the red plugs go into the red sockets - it couldn't be easier! Just make sure you've measured how long the cable needs to be and buy a cable of at least that length - goes without saying!

What to do about Digital - 2 : Buying a Freeview Set-Top Box (STB)

2011-07-30T17:12:00.002+01:00

If you currently have an analogue-only television set and have not embraced the digital Freeview tv service at all, you will lose all your favourite television programmes next March if you do nothing. The simplest thing to do is to buy what is called a "Freeview Set-Top Box", or just an STB, for short. This will work with your current tv aerial and sit between that aerial and your tv set. See "What to Do About Digital - 1" for more information about this.

How do you choose a Freeview STB then? You can either investigate what's available on the internet or visit a local tv shop. Let's look at what you'll find. If you put "Freeview Set Top Boxes" into Google it will return nearly two million "hits": somewhat daunting! Some of the hits will be reviews and some will be offering STBs for sale. Go into a local tv shop and you'll probably have less choice, which is more workable, but do go into several shops because they may well stock different manufacturer's products.

You may well decide on a maximum price you're prepared to pay. As your tv is old and probably of the old bulky cathode ray tube (CRT) design, you aren't interested in High Definition (HD). That will keep the cost down. You could well come away with a box costing under £30.

You will need to know one thing before starting this exercise: does your tv have a Scart socket?
Here's what one of those looks like on the back of a tv:

If your tv has at least one of these, you're fine. If not, when you seek a Freeview STB you'll need to ask for one "with an RF modulator inside it". Those are the words to use. They are more expensive, possibly £60 to £70, and there are very few of them available. You will then be able to "play" the STB through your aerial lead connecting the STB to the tv (see "What to Do About Digital - 1") and use one of the numbered buttons on your tv and/or remote control to tune the tv to the STB. Your sound will be in mono and not stereo but your tv may be just mono anyway.

If you are able to buy one of the cheaper STBs because you can connect it to your tv using the Scart cable provided with it, then stereo sound will be heard if your tv is a stereo one.

What else do you need to look out for?
Firstly, if you intend to listen to Freeview radio then it's useful if the STB has a display of at least numbers, rather than just a light (LED) which has one colour when the STB is in standby and another colour when it is on.
Secondly, ask to see the EPG (Electronic Programme Guide). That's a way of finding out what programmes are on all stations for seven days ahead. Some of them are easy to follow, some are a pain. Make sure you can navigate that with the remote control easily before you decide on a purchase.
Thirdly, and this may no longer apply, a few years ago there were several STBs for sale which had a faulty component inside. This resulted in a few seconds of silence every ten minutes or so. Sometimes the silence would actually last for ten minutes and then return: not very helpful. The way round the long silence was to quickly change station and then go back to what you wanted to watch: not something you really want to keep doing. It's worth asking in the shop if the STB you finally choose is without that fault, but do give it a good test once you have it up and running in your home.

Finally, any good tv shop will install an STB for you, free of charge (you have bought it from them, after all). Do watch the way it's installed and where all the cables go. If at any time you have to disconnect it (decorating, etc) you need to know how to put it all back because you can't expect the shop to do that all again for nothing - they'd make a charge. Making a diagram at the installation time is a good idea.

If you live in a poor reception area, it's better to wait until next March before buying a Freeview STB. You will then be able to test it on the new, stronger transmissions. If you do decide to buy it before then and, once installed, you cannot receive anything, don't be swayed by any suggestions of a new aerial being needed or a booster (amplifier) on your existing aerial being required. That may not be needed next March - just be patient: you don't want to spend money unnecessarily, do you? See what happens in March - if you still cannot receive the digital signals, then you will need advice and I may be able to help with that, so long as you are a Wimborne U3A member.

Mendip Transmitter Changes : 2011 - 2013

2011-07-21T17:19:00.001+01:00

Although the Mendip transmitter experienced its Digital Switchover in March 2010, there are still changes yet to come as a result of other areas having their DSO plus the selling of channels to mobile phone companies for the new 4G network.

There will be three further changes in 2012 and one in 2013, none of them requiring a rescan.

What to do about Digital - 1 [Installing a Freeview Set Top Box]

2011-07-20T14:03:00.003+01:00

This is the first in a second series of posts on this site to help you with the Digital TV Switchover at the Rowridge and Winterborne Stickland tv transmitters next March.

I know some of you who currently have only analogue television reception are beginning to think about what to do about digital. Here are some initial thoughts - more will follow in subsequent posts under this heading.

You can continue to use your current analogue tv. You will, however, have to add what is called a "Freeview Set Top Box" ("STB"). These are available from all good television shops plus other outlets like supermarkets, discount stores etc.

This STB will usually come with an "aerial fly-lead". Your current aerial lead going into a socket on the back of your tv has to be taken out of that socket and plugged into the "aerial input" socket on the STB. The aerial fly-lead given with the STB then is connected between the "aerial output" socket on the STB and the aerial socket on the tv. There are different plugs and sockets used so you cannot go wrong - just look at the plugs on the ends of the aerial fly-lead and the sockets on the equipment and you'll see how easy it is.

The STB should also come with what is called a "Scart Lead". This is quite a beast of a lead with a large plug on each end. It has to be connected between the "TV" Scart socket on the STB and a Scart socket on the tv, usually called "AV1" or "IN-1". If you have some other device connected to the tv by a Scart lead already, that socket will most likely already be used, so you'd have to use another Scart socket on the tv for your STB.

If you qualify for the Digital Switchover Help Scheme (essentially over 75 years of age or on some form of benefit), you can apply for that help from September onwards, up to one month after the final Switchover date (March 21st). Or you could buy an STB at any time, but do ask very near neighbours if they can receive digital terrestrial (Freeview) tv (not satellite) successfully. Otherwise, if you cannot receive it now you would be wasting guarantee time on the STB by buying now. Reception after the Switchover will be much better than now so it may be better to wait until close to March 7th before buying an STB.

Certainly if you are watching your analogue tv from the Winterborne Stickland Relay transmitter, there is no point in buying an STB yet because there are no digital transmissions from that transmitter until next March.

The next post in this series will look at possible problems with buying and installing an STB - there are a few! Guidelines will be given about possible ways of overcoming those problems, but the basic message behind this first post is:
You do not need to buy a new tv, nor do you need a new aerial (assuming your analogue reception is currently all right). Here is a LINK to explain more about the Switchover Help Scheme.

Digital Tips - 1 : Radio

2011-06-26T14:18:00.003+01:00

It may seem strange to have an item about radio on a tv site. However, this site has an aim of clearing up any possible confusion. The analogue FM radio service will not be switched off next March. There has been some confusion about this. A short while ago the Government stipulated a target date of 2015 for switching off the FM radio service. This has now been withdrawn and there is no current expected date. The only certainty is that analogue FM will be switched off in the future, at some time, probably later rather than sooner.

It may be appropriate to point out that listening to analogue FM radio still means you are listening to digital radio. Between studio and transmitter the signal is digitised, at a slightly lower quality level than CD. It is returned to the analogue domain for transmission.

It may also be appropriate to say that when listening to the stereo sound of analogue tv (NICAM stereo) you are actually listening to digital audio. It is only the pictures which are analogue, unless you are watching an old pre-NICAM stereo tv where the sound is carried by the analogue mono transmission.

Watch out for future "Digital Tips" on this site.

2013 Possible Problem

2011-06-22T09:22:00.001+01:00

In 2013, a part of the tv transmission spectrum that was used by analogue TV will be auctioned off to mobile phone operators to use for the next generation of mobile Internet services, known as 4G. This will allow for an increase in data speeds on the mobile phone network, in order to make internet access by mobile phone much quicker. The problem is that many TV aerials do a good job of picking up signals in that band and, if those signals are amplified by a signal booster, the interference from neighbouring 4G base stations could overload the tuners in Freeview TV sets and set-top boxes.

The part of the transmission spectrum to be so used is channels 61 to 68. These are well beyond those used by the Rowridge transmitter but they are part of the current Mendip transmitter range of digital channels. Some change to the channels used by Mendip will be necessary by 2013, therefore. Anyone who receives from Mendip and who has an aerial amplifier should watch out for possible problems once this new 4G service starts up within the area in which they live.

If a problem does occur, there will, by then, be an Ofcom contact to whom to report the problem. A filter can be inserted between the aerial lead and the tv/set-top box. The current recommendation is that the phone operators foot the bill for this. That filter may not be effective, however, for anyone living very near to a 4G telephone transmitter. In such an instance, either cable or satellite is the only currently foreseen answer, but who pays for that is not yet clear.

For anyone interested in following this up further, here is a link.

Digital Switchover Experience

2011-06-06T12:43:00.002+01:00

In the Saga Magazine of June, 2011, there is a letter on page 205 which gives cause for concern. The writer, a pensioner, lives at Wisbech, in Cambridgeshire, and has just experienced the Digital Switchover for the East of England. She explains that she and her husband were horrified to find that they'd need to have their aerial changed as well as either buying digital boxes for the television sets they'd had for years, which were still going strong, or replacing the sets with Freeview ready models.

What is not explained is their source of this information. The main function of this blogsite is to ensure that all our Wimborne U3A members have access to fully correct and relevant information about the south of England Digital Switchover next March (2012). The couple in Wisbech are correct in that they need a digital box for each of their televisions (available for between £20 and £30 each). They do not need to buy any new televisions.

There can be very old televisions which require a special way of connecting to a digital box, and may even require a special kind of box. If any of our members is concerned about that, please contact me (Colin Moore) directly by phone or e-mail (details on the back of every Newsletter).

The most disturbing part of the letter concerns the advice that a new aerial was needed. It appears from the letter that they have already had a new aerial fitted, at a cost of more than £400.

To start with, that is an excessive cost for changing an aerial. Secondly, most people will not need a new aerial anyway. The simple test is: what is your current analogue picture like? Is any channel producing a snowy picture (small white dots all over)? If that's the case, it's most likely Channel 4 will be the worst and BBC-1 the best picture, if using the Rowridge transmitter. The reason could be the position of the house or even the position of the aerial on the house. It could be the cable from the aerial into the house and not the aerial itself which is the problem. If having a contractor in to deal with an aerial problem, do ensure all other avenues have been exhausted and have several estimates, comparing what each contractor says is necessary, and use our advice line to seek a second opinion on their estimates.

If the analogue reception is good (not snowy) then digital reception, after the Switchover, should not require a new aerial. You should not take any action regarding aerials until the Switchover has started because the current transmissions are much weaker than they will be then.

Everybody's situation is different. Do take advice before committing to any expense.

Rowridge DSO Dates 2012

2011-02-24T12:50:00.000Z

The dates for the Rowridge transmitter Digital SwitchOver (DSO) have been announced.

DSO1 - the first stage - 7 March 2012. On this date BBC-2 analogue will shut down.
DSO2 - the final stage - 21 March 2012. On this date, BBC-1, ITV-1 and C4 analogue will shut down.

The same dates apply to the relay transmitter at Winterborne Stickland, used by many Wimborne residents who are unable to receive Rowridge transmissions. Please note that only half of the digital tv stations will be transmitted by Winterborne Stickland for the first time and there are no plans to improve that situation.

Anyone in the Wimborne area without some form of digital receiver will be unable to watch television after 21 March 2012.

Mendip DSO: One Week In

2010-03-31T10:30:00.003+01:00

The Mendip DSO-1 took place on Wednesday 24 March. Reports from various areas indicate the expected problems of the rescanning process placing stations from other transmitters in the tuner instead of those required. In Wales, some people are receiving Mendip more powerfully than Wenvoe. In Yeovil some people are receiving from Mendip, Stockland Hill and Rowridge. Some people have been completely unable to receive the new BBC-A Mux from Mendip owing to their Boxes/TVs being non-compliant to the new format. Here is a list of model numbers of known equipment which will cease to work after the DSO:

OnDigital boxes:

Nokia 9850T (early versions)
Philips DTX 6370
Philips DTX 6371
Philips DTX 6372
Pioneer DBR-T200GB some DBR-T210GBS
Pace DTR-730 (early). later versions & 735 perhaps OK
all DT730 and DT735
Sony VTX-D500
Toshiba DTB2000

Freeview boxes:
Pace DTVA-T
Pace DT210F

IDTVs:
Panasonic TX-28DT2
Panasonic TX-32DT2
Panasonic TX-28DT30
Panasonic TX-32DT30
Panasonic TX-36DT30
Panasonic TX-36DT35
Grundig MW70-500
Grundig MW82-500
Grundig MW70-502
Grundig MW82-502
Grundig MW70-505
Grundig MW82-505
Grundig MW70-600
Grundig MW82-600
Grundig MW70-605
Grundig MW82-605
Philips 28DW6734
Philips 32DW6834
Philips 32DW9625
Philips 28DW6557
Philips 32SW6557
Sony 28DS60
Sony 32DS60
Sony 28DS65
Sony 32DS65
Sony 28DX20
Sony 32DX20
Sony 28DX30
Sony 32DX30
Sony 28DS20
Sony 32DS20
Toshiba 28WT98B
Toshiba 32WT98B
Toshiba 28ZT29B
Toshiba 32ZT29B
Toshiba 36ZT29B
Toshiba 42WT29B
Toshiba 50WT29B
Toshiba 57WT29B

If you currently cannot receive the new BBC-A Mux with all the BBC stations, check your equipment's Model Number against the above list.

Locally I've heard of only one problem so far. A U3A Member in Corfe Mullen has worse reception of BBC stations than before the DSO-1. Have any others experienced problems?

Rogue Traders - Aerials

2009-08-21T11:39:00.003+01:00

If you missed the recent Rogue Traders tv programme about a tv aerial scam installation, you can view it here. Although I'm sure all our local traders are honourable, "caveat emptor" is a useful expression to remember. It is always advisable to have a second opinion before agreeing to having any work done and, if you live alone, have someone else with you when inviting an inspection of a problem: preferably someone who knows a bit about the area of the problem.

If in real doubt, contact the U3A e-mail address.

Post DSO Mux Name Changes

2009-07-01T11:07:00.002+01:00

This Post is specifically for those who attended the Course in the Spring Term 2009. It provides updated information, specifically about changes to the names of the Multiplexes (Muxes) given in the handout. These changes will take effect after the DSO (Digital SwitchOver).

In the list below, the new name is given along with the old (current) name in parentheses. Channel numbers have not changed. There will have to be some movement of television stations from one Mux to another to allow for the BBC B Mux to carry the new High Definition channels. It is proposed to start these HD transmissions by the end of 2009 from some transmitters, even some which are pre-DSO. Neither the list of affected transmitters nor the times of these changes are yet published but we shall all have to do yet another re-scan once those changes occur.

BBC A (PSB1)
D3+4 (PSB2)
BBC B (PSB3)
SDN (COM4)
Arq A (COM5)
Arq B (COM6)

Guide to rescanning a digital tv or STB

2009-02-25T13:04:00.002Z

Look at this site for a guide to how to rescan your tv or Set Top Box:
http://www.digitalchoices.co.uk/looking-for-new-freeview-channels.html

Website of Interest

2009-02-18T17:27:00.002Z

Here is a link to a new website which gives a helpful slant on the whole analogue switch-off event.

http://www.paras.org.uk/index.shtml

It's well worth a visit.

Some Changeover Concerns

2008-11-08T15:18:00.009Z

Articles in Issue 279 of ComputerActive magazine refer to the following points:

1. Michael Moore, Liberal Democrat MP, has called for more openness about the costs of the digital switchover. Rural areas relying on relay transmitters will receive less than half the available digital Freeview channels under current proposals. Michael has said this is unacceptable.

As some residents of north Wimborne receive their television signals from the Winterborne Stickland relay transmitter, this situation applies to them. The main obstacle to these relay transmitters being equipped to broadcast the full Freeview package is cost. It is better to raise objections now than later - your local MP would be a good starting point. However, the missing channels will be the minor ones.

The main tv stations expected to be transmitted from Winterborne Stickland are:

BBC-1 South, BBC-2 England, BBC-3, BBC-4, CBBC, CBeebies, BBC News, Ch4 HD, ITV HD, BBC HD, ITV-1 Meridian, Channel 4, Five, ITV-2, ITV-3, More 4, E4. In addition there will be some radio stations plus some interactive (red button) tv transmissions. By comparing the above list with stations identified in any listings magazine you will be able to work out what will be missing. There was an earlier post on this site about this transmitter (Sunday 13 July, 2008).

2. Concern has been expressed by Trading Standards about unscrupulous companies and tradespeople duping consumers into believing they need a new aerial to receive Freeview digital tv transmissions.

It is doorstep scams which have caused that article to appear. On no account should anyone take any notice of a cold caller offering to erect a digital-ready tv aerial: there is no such thing. If you cannot receive Freeview now, don't be tempted to try a very expensive aerial installation because the Freeview transmissions will increase in power tenfold after the 2012 switchover. Your current aerial may then suffice. If, at that time, it doesn't, then you may need to call in the professionals. Wait and see is the advice. But see item 1 if you live in North Wimborne and have an aerial with vertical elements pointing towards Blandford.

If in doubt about any aspect of the digital switchover, send an e-mail to our Wimborne U3A address as shown on our website and in "Contact and Posting" in the sidebar on the right. A reply will be sent as soon as possible.

Course Outline

2008-08-15T17:40:00.004+01:00

Session 1 : The Digital Television Set

Analogue and Digital - what do these words mean?

Differences between an analogue television and a digital television.

Aspect Ratio (Widescreen and Full-Screen - and in-between).

HD-Ready and Full HD [1080p HD-Ready] - what do they mean?

Scaling - both up and down. Why is it necessary? What is its significance?

Becoming familiar with the manual - or is it all gobbledegook?

Understanding the remote control - what do all those buttons do and what do all those symbols mean?

Using the Menu function to set the television up - to make it do as little processing as possible.

Session 2 : The Add-Ons

The Set Top Box (STB) : essentially a Freeview Tuner.

Other STBs : Freesat and Sky.

A more sophisticated Add-On : the Personal Video Recorder (PVR).

Even more sophisticated Add-Ons : the DVD Recorder; the HDD/DVD Recorder. [HDD = Hard Disk Drive]

How can these be connected to the television?

Composite video, S-Video, RGB, Component, HDMI leads and connections - is there no end to these?

No, because there’s the dreaded Scart lead and the concept of loopthrough to consider also.

And we haven’t even mentioned sound!

Let’s mention it then by saying: “listening to the radio on your television or STB”.

I nearly forgot the EPG (Electronic Programme Guide).

How do you record television programmes from digital, then?

Session 3 : Digital Television Transmissions and their Reception in this Area

How are digital television transmissions different from analogue ones? Very!

Where do they come from? What about aerials? Will I need a new aerial in 2012?

The answer “depends” is never very satisfactory, is it? All will be revealed, however.

What will actually happen in March, 2012? Quite a lot, really, and it needs a bit of digesting.

Can anything go wrong with digital television reception? Oh, yes, believe it! But it doesn’t take much understanding to correct it yourself, as will be demonstrated.

Your questions and (I hope!) my answers.

The above is an outline only. After completion of the Course, there will be the opportunity at any time to ask further questions or seek further help by phone. Don't forget to visit this website regularly for all the latest information.

The Alternative Single Session for those currently without any digital receiving equipment

This will consist of a demonstration of a digital television set and an STB receiving digital transmissions. The differences between analogue and digital will be highlighted and advice given about what to look for and what to avoid when purchasing digital receiving equipment, with particular relevance to the members’ areas of residence, always an important factor in television reception.

Navigating This Site

2008-08-02T12:28:00.003+01:00

If you've just found this site after reading the latest Wimborne U3A Newsletter, welcome. As this is a blogsite, the latest entry is the first in the list. To read this site from the beginning, therefore, you should scroll to the bottom of this column and read "backwards" until you return to the top. All entries in a blogsite are called "posts". There is also a sidebar on the right which contains reference material which always remains in the same position.

Once there are more than seven posts, a further page will become set up and a link to earlier pages will appear at the bottom of this column.The switch to digital television is the largest development in the world of tv since the advent of colour. In fact, it is a lot more complicated for the user than may be initially apparent. Digital television has allowed the development of widescreens and high definition, accompanied by many more features which the user can adjust than ever before. This site and the accompanying course are designed to dispel the mystique and empower the viewer with the knowledge to enable a full enjoyment of digital television.

If you have not yet joined the ranks of those who have already ventured into this digital tv world, a special one-off session is available each term to provide an introduction to the topic.

On this blogsite you will be able to find the latest information about the analogue switch-off and changes to the digital services. Please use the "Comments" facility to add your own thoughts, observations, questions, answers etc. The latest information about any of the topics for which there is currently an item will appear as a Comment. It is advisable, therefore, to check regularly to see if any new Comments have been posted.

Winterborne Stickland Relay Transmitter

2008-07-13T17:52:00.004+01:00

Many people in the Wimborne area who live in the shadow of Colehill cannot receive television signals from the main transmitter at Rowridge, on the Isle of Wight. Instead, they receive transmissions from a relay transmitter at Winterborne Stickland. Currently, no relay transmitters transmit Freeview digital signals.

After the analogue switch-off that will change. However, not all Freeview stations will be available. Certainly the main BBC, ITV, C4 and Five stations will be provided but not some of the "minor" commercial stations.

Additional Information posted 20 August, 2008.
Ofcom plans to put only half of the Freeview service on your transmitter. Almost all transmitters will only get public service BBC, ITV, C4 and Five programs.

So, there will be no Sky News, Sky Sports News, Sky Three, UKTV History, Dave. There won't be the music channels 4Music (was The Hits) or TMF. No Virgin 1, Film4, Fiver, Five US or ITV2+1 or E4+1.

This information has been available since January 2006.

I hope to be able to update this site with more information about this in the future.

Set Top Box Warning

2008-07-11T12:29:00.005+01:00

It appears that some Freeview Set Top Boxes (STBs) were made with insufficient memory. As a result they have stopped working after a recent Freeview transmitter upgrade which is gradually being applied to all transmitters (though not Rowridge yet). For the full story on this visit:

http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/freeviewlandfill.html

Here is a report on the problem as it is affecting Scotland.

Daily Record Report
Exclusive: Thousands of Scots face TV blackout after Freeview signal change
Jul 5 2008 By Chris Musson

THOUSANDS of Scots telly viewers have had their programmes blacked out without warning. Bosses at Freeview decided to bring in a new transmitter signal which doesn't work on several types of set-top boxes. But many Scots didn't have a clue about the change - until their screens went blank.

It's believed that around 16,000 Scots who get their telly through Freeview are now saddled with useless boxes. One of them, Campbell Bosanquet, 61, of Aberdeen, said: "I was flicking through the channels when my box just stopped working. I find it absolutely incredible that they can just change the signal without announcing it."

Freeview admitted that at least four types of box - the Daewoo DS608P, the Labgear DTT100, the Triax DVB 2000T and the Portland DP100 - can't receive the new transmitter signal. Two types of combined Freeview boxes and VCRs, the Daewoo SV900 and Bush IDVCR01, are also affected. And engineers say the change could affect some TVs which have Freeview built in.

Millions of viewers signed up for Freeview on the promise that they would be guaranteed TV for life. But because of the transmitter change, an estimated 200,000 people across the UK will have to shell out for new set-top boxes. And an insider at one leading box maker admitted that some of the useless old boxes could still be sitting on shop shelves. The source said: "Whole batches of obsolete boxes might have been bought from manufacturers years ago and there's no way of telling if they will keep popping up."

Digital TV expert Pete Carlson, of consumer website Radio and Telly, slammed Freeview for their handling of the change. He said: "It's been hard enough getting people to switch over to digital TV. Now people are being asked to bin equipment that's only a couple of years old. Viewers have a right to be both angry and confused. How were they meant to know? It's possible to flash a message up on screen to warn viewers about changes. You have to wonder why this wasn't done."

Freeview said they changed the transmitter signal to allow them to carry more channels and interactive features. They believe that only one per cent of set-top boxes have been blacked out by the move. The new signal is being introduced in stages across the UK. Scotland was switched over on Tuesday. A Freeview spokeswoman said: "It has been necessary to carry out some network enhancements. Unfortunately, as a result, some older boxes will stop working."

A spokeswoman for broadcasting regulator Ofcom said: "We are aware that some viewers are experiencing less than a reliable service and are monitoring the situation."

The obsolete boxes that Freeview said they know of are the:
Daewoo DS608P
Labgear DTT100
Triax DVB 2000T
Portland DP100

This is one example of how the cheapest item may not turn out to be so in the long run!

Colin

Buying a Set Top Box - A Few Tips

2008-06-29T11:12:00.004+01:00

When purchasing an STB (Set Top Box), there are a few aspects which it's advisable to be aware of so a suitable choice from the many available can be made. I'm referring to a box which is just a digital tuner, not one which has a hard-drive built-in. Those are called Personal Video Recorders (PVR).

The first thing to decide is what you want the box for. Now don't be silly, of course I want it to receive digital tv! Yes, but do you also want to record from it onto your VCR (Video Cassette Recorder), which is most likely to be a VHS machine, though you may have a museum piece in the form of a Betamax recorder? It doesn't matter which, the same things apply.

If you don't want to record from it, it doesn't really matter which box you go for. If, at present, you're in a poor reception area (analogue picture a little snowy?), you may not be able to receive Freeview. Ask your neighbours - do any of them have Freeview and what's reception like? If none have Freeview it could be you'll not be able to receive it until after March 2012. In which case, if you want digital tv you'll need to investigate Freesat (not too expensive but more expensive than Freeview) or Sky (more expensive than Freesat and do read all the small print and investigate very closely all the deals).

If some neighbours do have Freeview but reception is variable, you'll need an STB with a very sensitive tuner. That is what you should ask for in the shop. It's going to be a more expensive STB because of that.

If you want to record onto a VCR from your STB then you need to seek one with the following characteristics:
1. It should have two Scart sockets on the back. You can get away with one but you'll not be able to watch any digital channel from it while the VCR is recording (even when recording from its own internal, analogue tuner). With two Scart sockets you can do that.
2. It must have an internal timer by which you can set a switch-on time, a channel, and a switch-off time. Such boxes normally have an Electronic Programme Guide (EPG). This provides you with a programme plan for the next seven days. It's in the form of a time grid showing the programmes on every channel. To select a programme for your VCR to record, you simply navigate with the buttons on the box's remote controller to the required programme and press the "Enter" button on the remote. Don't forget you also have to do the same on the VCR but select, as the programme, the Scart socket on the VCR to which the STB is connected.
3. The EPG is a variable feast. Sometimes it's full up with all the programmes, sometimes it's got a lot of blank spaces instead of programmes. There should, therefore, also be a manual timer in the box so you can set times by hand as on the VCR. There's no Programme Delivery Control (PDC) on digital tv. Even with an EPG, you'll need to "pad out" the times (I add 5 minutes to the end time and bring the start time forward by 5 minutes) as no tv company keeps to the correct scheduled times any more. If sport overruns, there's no hope as there's no automatic adjustment. That would require the co-operation of the tv companies and the EPG producer and each manufacturer of STBs etc. Don't hold your breath!
4. STBs without an EPG have what is called a "Now and Next" guide instead. Pretty useless!
5. Now this next point could prove troublesome. When you switch an STB off via the remote, it goes into standby. To use an STB with a VCR, it should come out of standby at each timed setting, select the pre-chosen channel, remain on that channel for the duration set and then switch off, returning to stand-by. Not all STBs do this. Some will not switch on from standby at the timed settings. They have to be fully on first. Then, when the set time is reached they just change channels if necessary, with an on-screen warning display that the channel change is about to occur.
Now you can work like this, if you leave your STB fully on all the time. It's up to you, of course. The very cheapest STBs are likely to be the ones lacking in this area. It's something I'd advise asking about in the shop. Be prepared for difficulty in obtaining a definitive answer. If the answer states that it will switch on from standby at set times, obtain an agreement in writing that the box can be returned if that proves not to be true. The safest way is to ask for a demonstration of its capabilities in that regard, but be prepared for being told that's not possible. It has always been a feature of selling STBs that returns because of no reception are not allowed. Caveat emptor!

I hope this little diatribe will be helpful. Please ask any follow-up questions by clicking on the word "Comments" below.

Colin

Introduction

2008-06-01T17:22:00.002+01:00

Hallo and welcome to this blogsite for the new Wimborne U3A Activity to help with the switchover to digital television, scheduled for our area in March, 2012. That may seem a long time away but many people already have digital television equipment and that number will have to increase as the next four years pass. After March, 2012, the current analogue television transmissions will cease. It will then be possible to watch only digital television.

This U3A Activity will consist of just three sessions of two hours each (with a tea/coffee break, of course!). You will find out all you need to know about digital television and, after the experience, be in total control of whatever equipment you now have or will have. To obtain maximum benefit from this Activity it is advisable to possess already at least one piece of digital television receiving equipment. If you've not yet taken the plunge, this website, set up specially for this Activity, will contain articles giving advice on choosing digital television receiving equipment, though there will be no specific product recommendations.

What will happen in each session?
Each of the three sessions will occur four weeks apart, on a Wednesday afternoon at 2pm. There will be repeats of these three sessions each Autumn and Spring Term up to 2012 (and beyond if there is demand!). You can therefore decide which term in which year will best suit you if you wish to participate. The group size will be limited to six, so over the next four years forty eight Wimborne U3A members could avail themselves. If demand should be greater than this, additional times can be made available.

This Activity will be tailored to you personally, enabling you to understand your own equipment as well as the many ways in which digital television is different from analogue television. You will receive advice on how to deal with the equipment when it fails in some way, as it will! Most failures can be corrected by the owner; it's easy when you know how! Major problems will still require professional services but minor ones will not.

This site will have articles covering general points about the switchover to digital television in the future, especially as more information becomes available about the event. One of the first of these will deal with points to watch out for when purchasing a Freeview or Freesat set-top box (STB).

This site is open for all members of Wimborne U3A to view. If you have any questions, please use the e-mail contact facility stated in the sidebar under "Contact and Posting": such e-mailing is available to all Wimborne U3A members.

Colin