Nov. 4th Retune (merged) - Freeview

midnightdraven · 28-10-2009, 22:44

It was my understanding that all they were doing was switching off Analogue BBC 2.
Why then would a retune be needed?

MarkLS12 · 28-10-2009, 22:56

Because the MUX carrying BBC1 and Two will be moving to take the space freed up by removing BBC 2.
It will also broadcast at a higher power.

EWA · 28-10-2009, 22:59

it does seem as though a lot of the publicity is geared towards people who haven't gone digital at all - I'm a bit confused about why Granada needs 2 retunes ...

Dolly Didge · 28-10-2009, 23:02

That's only in the North West, as that is when Winter Hill does its first stage of the switchover. So it is only people in that region that will need to retune. There'll then be another retune for people in the N.W in early December, when all the other analogue transmitters are switched off, and their frequencies get re-used for freeview.

So the sequence is:
Re-tune 1, 4th November: BBC 2 Analogue switches off. So does BBC Multiplex 1. Then BBC multiplex1 lights up the North West having nicked the old BBC 2 analogue frequency.

A month later, on December 2nd, the same happens to BBC1, ITV, Channel Four, and Five (analogue), and the frequencies that they occupied are filled with digital multiplexes (in most areas).

midnightdraven · 29-10-2009, 00:36

Ahh ok.
So its more than just flick an analogue switch.
It now makes sense.
Thanks

wgmorg · 29-10-2009, 08:53

http://www.arqiva.com/products-and-s...whats-involved

The scale of this project is enormous. Some 5000 analogue transmitters on 1154 sites have to be removed and disposed of, similarly the existing DTT system comprising 500 transmitters will be removed and replaced by 4000 transmitters to give near national coverage for the Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) multiplexes and somewhat less for the additional 'commercial' services.

Quote:

Originally Posted by midnightdraven

Ahh ok.
So its more than just flick an analogue switch.
It now makes sense.
Thanks

albertd · 29-10-2009, 09:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by EWA

I'm a bit confused about why Granada needs 2 retunes

That is the procedure for each area as it switches over, not just Granada. First BBC2 analogue switches off, Mux 1 moves (and increases power). A few weeks later, all other analogue off, other Muxes move. The Mux names change at the same time.

EWA · 29-10-2009, 15:17

so with the national retune a few weeks ago - the retune had to happen after noon - is it the same on Nov 4th ?

krytenrobot · 29-10-2009, 20:50

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/transmitt...smitter_groups

a516 · 29-10-2009, 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by EWA

so with the national retune a few weeks ago - the retune had to happen after noon - is it the same on Nov 4th ?

Digital Switchover changes occur overnight, usually about 1:00 am the analogue service goes, by 6:00 am on the main transmitter and the main relays, the new digital service is up and running. A retune can then take place.

Sexbomb · 02-11-2009, 01:40

i want to know will we get a warning message or announcement before the analogue channels go off?

chindley · 02-11-2009, 05:42

I would have thought that the local news would be mentioning when switch-over happens in the respective areas, but there was an on screen message on most Freeview boxes (don't know about IDTVs or PVR boxes as I have neither) saying that a retune was required (can't remember the date) on the last national retune date.

I think there probably will be a mention of the DSO on the national news, when the last area gets switched off in 2012 and all the area transmitters are boosted in strength.

Would be good if there was a service (possibly Digital Text) that shows information on Freeview developments, I've been thinking that would be a good idea for a few years now!

On another separate note, the first part of the DSO (BBC2 analogue being switched off permanently) happened on the local transmitter (Moel y Parc) last Wednesday and whilst I don't get my signal from there, I noticed my best friend's signal from the Welsh transmitter increased in strength! I don't know if that is to do with the first part of the DSO, but my friend is now really pleased she can get Channel Five without the signal breaking up!

marty111 · 02-11-2009, 06:29

for more information about what will happen on november 4th
see this site: http://www.viewandbuy.com/granada-wi...ion-935-0.html

Dear Viewer · 02-11-2009, 08:35

Is it me, or are there some people out there that think we completed switchover on 30th September?!

pkc · 02-11-2009, 08:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dear Viewer

Is it me, or are there some people out there that think we completed switchover on 30th September?!

I think there are people out there wondering why we have to do a retune almost every week

paddysu · 02-11-2009, 08:59

Hven't they sent out postcards to everyone in the area affected.

Down here last year when Rowridge was being retuned, not turned off or anything but it was all being messed around with the whole area that it covered about four counties were sent out A5 sized postcards to the householder telling you to retune or you might loose some of your channels and that was just telling you about a freeview retune nothing to do with part switch off.

Have to say it did seem like an awful waste of money sending all those postcards out to so many milions of households I would have though especially as the area that Rowridge covers is also covered by about another 5 tranmitters/relays as well.

I didn't expect to receive anything for the 30th sept as that was a national thing so there was plenty of press coverage but I would still expect each transmitter area to be sending out infor about things especially stuff like the analogue going. Blimey I just thought, they might be in the post back log and serve the postman right if it ended up they had the then deliver one to every door when the date had passed.

Dear Viewer · 02-11-2009, 09:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by pkc

I think there are people out there wondering why we have to do a retune almost every week

Especially round those parts on the West coast, from Penzance to Lancaster who by pure coincidence are approaching or completing the major switchover process.

C'mon people, if your posting on here it means you have internet access. It means you can access the links to the pages of Digital UK, DTG, Freeview, ukfree.tv, BBC, ITV, etc. that get left in these threads.

The savvy among us are giving you the information reflected on these sites - nothing more, nothing less.

Retuning is a pain, but it's a necessary evil if you've got Freeview and a constant part of having a box, recorder or TV with it.

Unfortunately, in this day and age, you probably need to know a bit of basic knowledge about your installed equipment beyond switching it on at the start of the day and turning it off at night.

Rant over.

albertd · 02-11-2009, 09:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dear Viewer

Unfortunately, in this day and age, you probably need to know a bit of basic knowledge about your installed equipment beyond switching it on at the start of the day and turning it off at night.

Equally unfortunately, there are plenty of people (not on here though) for whom even that basic knowledge is completely beyond them. I have one friend with a TV and STB, and I had to hide his TV remote control to stop him trying to use it to change channels on the STB (He switches them on/off at the wall anyway).

Old Dude · 02-11-2009, 09:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by paddysu

Haven't they sent out postcards to everyone in the area affected.

I'm here in the Granada area and I got an 18 page booklet through my door before the September retune. It is pretty good as far as I can tell.

Dear Viewer · 02-11-2009, 09:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Dude

I'm here in the Granada area and I got an 18 page booklet through my door before the September retune. It is pretty good as far as I can tell.

They will send these booklets, news items, broadcast adverts on all channels - inc. radio - and have public awareness roadshows, and still people will claim they never got anything.

mcdavey · 02-11-2009, 10:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dear Viewer

They will send these booklets, news items, broadcast adverts on all channels - inc. radio - and have public awareness roadshows, and still people will claim they never got anything.

Yes, down here we got the booklet, there were constant mentions of switchover on BBC1 regional news, ITV regional news and even phone-in shows on BBC local radio.
But I suppose if one only watches Five USA or Babestation one could have missed it all!

Old Dude · 02-11-2009, 11:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dear Viewer

and still people will claim they never got anything.

LOL!

My alleged hyper-intelligent neighbour was asking me questions a few weeks ago. I told him that everything he was asking was in the booklet that we'd received. He admitted he hadn't read it and had put it in the re-cycling with all the other junk mail.

Sexbomb · 03-11-2009, 01:05

24 hrs from now and bbc2 will be off analogue approx?

Sexbomb · 03-11-2009, 20:56

not long to go now as a big black message comes on on all channels, could they make it any bigger?

Rossall · 03-11-2009, 21:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sexbomb

not long to go now as a big black message comes on on all channels, could they make it any bigger?

And yet nothing at all on BBC2 analogue from Winter Hill.

28-10-2009, 22:44	#1
midnightdraven Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chester, UK (Winter Hill) Services: TUTV (Thomson G1) Posts: 78	Nov. 4th Retune (merged) It was my understanding that all they were doing was switching off Analogue BBC 2. Why then would a retune be needed?

29-10-2009, 20:50	#9
krytenrobot Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lancashire Services: Be Broadband 24meg, getting 17 meg ,fvrt200 ver 0.1.1 winter hill tx. Posts: 105	retune dates http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/transmitt...smitter_groups

02-11-2009, 06:29	#13
marty111 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 139	more info for more information about what will happen on november 4th see this site: http://www.viewandbuy.com/granada-wi...ion-935-0.html

28-10-2009, 22:56	#2
MarkLS12 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Leeds Services: SKY+ Posts: 414	Because the MUX carrying BBC1 and Two will be moving to take the space freed up by removing BBC 2. It will also broadcast at a higher power.

28-10-2009, 22:59	#3
EWA Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 272	it does seem as though a lot of the publicity is geared towards people who haven't gone digital at all - I'm a bit confused about why Granada needs 2 retunes ...

28-10-2009, 23:02	#4
Dolly Didge Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2	That's only in the North West, as that is when Winter Hill does its first stage of the switchover. So it is only people in that region that will need to retune. There'll then be another retune for people in the N.W in early December, when all the other analogue transmitters are switched off, and their frequencies get re-used for freeview. So the sequence is: Re-tune 1, 4th November: BBC 2 Analogue switches off. So does BBC Multiplex 1. Then BBC multiplex1 lights up the North West having nicked the old BBC 2 analogue frequency. A month later, on December 2nd, the same happens to BBC1, ITV, Channel Four, and Five (analogue), and the frequencies that they occupied are filled with digital multiplexes (in most areas).

29-10-2009, 00:36	#5
midnightdraven Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chester, UK (Winter Hill) Services: TUTV (Thomson G1) Posts: 78	Ahh ok. So its more than just flick an analogue switch. It now makes sense. Thanks

29-10-2009, 15:17	#8
EWA Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 272	so with the national retune a few weeks ago - the retune had to happen after noon - is it the same on Nov 4th ?

02-11-2009, 01:40	#11
Sexbomb Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Preston Services: Freeview, Windows XP & Win 7, 8meg Broadband, Quiz Call Winner Posts: 7,797	i want to know will we get a warning message or announcement before the analogue channels go off?

02-11-2009, 05:42	#12
chindley Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: North Wales, UK (Winter Hill) Services: Freeview (Goodmans GDB3), XBox 360 and (a snazzy) LG DR275 Doovdé Recorder Posts: 171	I would have thought that the local news would be mentioning when switch-over happens in the respective areas, but there was an on screen message on most Freeview boxes (don't know about IDTVs or PVR boxes as I have neither) saying that a retune was required (can't remember the date) on the last national retune date. I think there probably will be a mention of the DSO on the national news, when the last area gets switched off in 2012 and all the area transmitters are boosted in strength. Would be good if there was a service (possibly Digital Text) that shows information on Freeview developments, I've been thinking that would be a good idea for a few years now! On another separate note, the first part of the DSO (BBC2 analogue being switched off permanently) happened on the local transmitter (Moel y Parc) last Wednesday and whilst I don't get my signal from there, I noticed my best friend's signal from the Welsh transmitter increased in strength! I don't know if that is to do with the first part of the DSO, but my friend is now really pleased she can get Channel Five without the signal breaking up!

02-11-2009, 08:35	#14
Dear Viewer Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: North West England Services: Sky+HD Mlt'rm w/BBand&Phone,Phillips DTT HDTV & DVD/HDD DTT Recorder Posts: 603	Is it me, or are there some people out there that think we completed switchover on 30th September?!

02-11-2009, 08:59	#16
paddysu Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Brighton Services: Freeview Posts: 4,771 Blog Entries: 57	Hven't they sent out postcards to everyone in the area affected. Down here last year when Rowridge was being retuned, not turned off or anything but it was all being messed around with the whole area that it covered about four counties were sent out A5 sized postcards to the householder telling you to retune or you might loose some of your channels and that was just telling you about a freeview retune nothing to do with part switch off. Have to say it did seem like an awful waste of money sending all those postcards out to so many milions of households I would have though especially as the area that Rowridge covers is also covered by about another 5 tranmitters/relays as well. I didn't expect to receive anything for the 30th sept as that was a national thing so there was plenty of press coverage but I would still expect each transmitter area to be sending out infor about things especially stuff like the analogue going. Blimey I just thought, they might be in the post back log and serve the postman right if it ended up they had the then deliver one to every door when the date had passed.

03-11-2009, 01:05	#23
Sexbomb Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Preston Services: Freeview, Windows XP & Win 7, 8meg Broadband, Quiz Call Winner Posts: 7,797	24 hrs from now and bbc2 will be off analogue approx?

03-11-2009, 20:56	#24
Sexbomb Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Preston Services: Freeview, Windows XP & Win 7, 8meg Broadband, Quiz Call Winner Posts: 7,797	not long to go now as a big black message comes on on all channels, could they make it any bigger?