Have you heard of this Freeview problem?

[Dave2002]

Anna

I'm surprised about the Freeview problems. The Freeview PVR isn't too dissimilar from the Freesat one, though obviously in marginal areas satellite reception may be more reliable. In some areas the reverse may apply. I suppose that some of the extra channels, e.g. Al Jazeera might occasionally be of interest, but we don't usually bother, and the "regular" menu is pretty similar.

[Anna]

Anna

I'm surprised about the Freeview problems. The Freeview PVR isn't too dissimilar from the Freesat one, though obviously in marginal areas satellite reception may be more reliable. In some areas the reverse may apply. I suppose that some of the extra channels, e.g. Al Jazeera might occasionally be of interest, but we don't usually bother, and the "regular" menu is pretty similar.

Dave, with FreeView (where I live although my area is totally digital) the only channels it offers are BBC 1,2,3 (No BBC4!) ITV 1, 2, Channel 5 and 4 + More4, which is pathetic. My brother doesn't live in a totally digital area but again, it's lack of basic channels and poor service and quality, hence him splashing out on the Humax box. He's not paticularly interested in things like Al Jazeera or the oddball stuff as he tends to stick to BBC but the ability to record one channel whilst watching another, or record two at a time is what swung it for him. The FreeSat I have is the basic one-off payment to Sky with no subscriptions for anything extra, but I had it installed about 4 years ago, primarily due to terrible reception problems with terrestial tv (even with a booster on the aerial)

[Dave2002]

Anna

I'm sorry - maybe you live in some far flung parts where the powers that be have little interest in providing you (or your brother) with service, and there aren't any votes in it for them either.
For us there really isn't too much difference between Freeview and Freesat, with just a few extra channels on Freesat which we hardly ever watch. In the future I'd expect service to be available via fibre optic/Internet although maybe at extra cost. I know that some people find the quality on Freeview better, and for others it's reversed with Freesat giving better results. It depends on the location I'm sure.

[mangerton]

Anna, all BBC SD channels are broadcast on the same multiplex (PSB 1) so there appears to be no reason why you can't get BBC 4. Might be worth a retune?

[Don Petter]

Anna, all BBC SD channels are broadcast on the same multiplex (PSB 1) so there appears to be no reason why you can't get BBC 4. Might be worth a retune?

According to my Freeview information, BBC 1, 2 & 3 are on Multiplex 1, but BBC 4 is on Multiplex B. We can't get it at the moment here in East Sussex, as we can only get Multiplexes 1 and 2, not A, B, C or D.

Presumably this will change when we eventually get fully switched.

[mangerton]

According to my Freeview information, BBC 1, 2 & 3 are on Multiplex 1, but BBC 4 is on Multiplex B. We can't get it at the moment here in East Sussex, as we can only get Multiplexes 1 and 2, not A, B, C or D.

Presumably this will change when we eventually get fully switched.

Don, yes, it will. Anna said in her post that she is in an area that has fully switched, hence my comment.

More info here: www.dmol.co.uk

Links on that page show the allocation pre- and post-DSO

[Don Petter]

Thanks - That makes sense. I didn't realize the Mux combinations would change after DSO.

[salymap]

Is this why I can't video BBC4 at the moment? I am afraid to try since my new Freeviewbox was installed, prior to that when I put the video on A2 to video BBC 4 which has worked for years the screen broke up and went round and round.

[mangerton]

Saly, if you can still watch BBC 4 on your TV, but can't record it, your new box is unlikely to be the problem. Are you able to watch and record other digital channels?

[johnb]

Salymap,

Can you record any channels or is it only BBC4 that you can't record?

Do you have a separate recorder?

If you can't record any channels and if also have a separate recorder then it is very likely that the cable between your Freeview box and the recorder either isn't connected or is connected to the wrong 'socket' on your recorder or your Freeview box. It is also possible that the plugs aren't pushed fully in, so that they aren't properly engaging.

The other possibility is that the settings on your Freeview box are incompatible with your recorder. There should be a menu you can access on your Freeview box that will enable you to change the settings, but first look at the back of the box and make a note of the 'name' or 'label' of the socket that the recorder cable is plugged into.

If you can record other channels but not BBC4 - that sounds very odd indeed!

[salymap]

Thanks,will try when someone is here to do the getting behind the set-up.

[Dave2002]

salymap

Given the information about multiplexes in different parts of the country, it is still possible I think that BBC Four will be on a different multiplex, though it depends on before/after the digital switch over and other factors. However, I think in your area it shouldn't be a problem. Can you get the BBC radio stations on your TV? In some areas the radio stations are perhaps still on the same multiplex as BBC Four.

Another possibility is that you need an input from several different locations, and your aerial is not pointing in the optimum direction to pick them all up. We're probably south of you, and we do have to point some of the less effective aerials in slightly different directions to get good results, and it is channel dependent.

If that's the case, you may not get the full repertoire of Freeview stations available - though some you might not want - see below. DVB works on similar principles to DAB, and you may need to pick up from more than one transmitter site in order to get everything.

1. http://utvdab.com/latestnews.asp?id=100116 Wrotham coverage
2. http://www.stevelarkins.freeuk.com/c...ransmitter.htm
This shows the coverage area from Crystal Palace, and the strengths on different TV channels -
3. http://www.ukfree.tv/txdetail.php?a=TQ339712 I note that the Filth channel has low signal strength!!

The power ratings will go up in 2012. Note that if you are using an older analogue TV aerial on the roof or in the loft, and the cabling is for analogue, you could get better results by using higher rated cable - though often in practice things work well enough without. This is mentioned in URL 2 above.

[salymap]

Thanks Dave. If I'm still on line on my birthday next year I will go fully digital at last. Useful info, thanks.