A date has finally been set for the digital switchover in Oxford.

The date has been given as: ‘30th March or possibly a date a little before this.’ We do not know why there is uncertainty and how much sooner it might be. At this time the analogue UHF broadcasts will be turned off from the Oxford transmitter after over 40 years of broadcasting.

The digital signals will then be moved into the part of the frequency band that is now being used for analogue TV. (The C/D band ) The power of the broadcasts will be increased significantly. The BBC and the ITV channels will end up at twice the power of the rest of the channels.

The levels are confirmed as follows: Programs Frequency channel Power level BBC (1&2) 53 100kW ITV etc. 60 100kW BBC (Other) 57 100kW Commercial 62 50kW Commercial 59 50kW Commercial 55 50kW We foresee the following problems for householders as the switchover occurs: 1: Extra TV points in a house. Many bedroom and kitchen TV’s are still only showing analogue TV – these pictures will disappear leaving no viewing unless a freeview box and a suitable digital aerial feed are put in place in time. 2: Signal levels too high.

After the switchover, the freeview signals are being increased in power dramatically. If aerial systems have an amplifier in circuit and the levels of the signals is high, the increase could overload systems causing them to fail causing blocking and glitching on the screen. 3: Recording. Although many people have upgraded their TV’s by adding freeview, this is not often so for their recorders (VCR’s and DVD recorders).

Humax make a decent quality freeview hard disk recorder (PVR 9150) for £150.00 – available from Astley’s of Wallingford 01491 839305.

We are happy to visit you (free of charge if we can do it when we’re reasonably near) and check your system so that you can be confident that you will not lose signals as the switchover approaches. Better to act now than next year when the trade will be extremely busy. Shaun 01865 400141