Problems with TV since digital switchover

[ann255]

I wonder if anyone else has been having problems with TV coverage since digital switchover.

The latest problem is that certain channels disappear and when I view the programme guide nothing is listed for them.  For a couple of weeks it has been channel 12 - Yesterday.  I have not re-tuned as I have a number of programmes recorded in my dtr library and obviously do not wish to lose them.  I am also not sure if that is the answer as this morning channel 12 has re-appeared with its listings, but channels 4 and 5 have disappeared from the guide PLUS I cannot get their pictures up on screen. Obviously channels 4+1 and 5+1 have also disappeared. However if I have already pre-set a recording it still records the programme even if the guide is blank.

The other problem that seems to occur is the set ‘freezing’.  When it does this the only thing to do is switch the whole thing off at the power and then back on again.  If it has ‘frozen’ during the day and a recording was set then it just does not do it. Alternatively if it ‘freezes’ whilst recording then it will just go on and on for hours until the TV is switched on and I discover it. This has happened twice this week so far.

I have 2 TVs, one upstairs and one down – both with dtrs, and these problems only relate to the main one downstairs which is plugged into the main aerial socket where there is also a signal booster professionally installed.

Doesn’t make sense to me, anyone got any thoughts, or where I can go for answers?

[candleflame]

http://www.ukfree.tv/transmittersmenu.php

Try this link. You type in your postcode or if you know whic transmitter you are under put that in. It has a lot of technical gobbleygook that someone understands first, but if you scroll down you get people like us saying ' I've lost a channel anyone else have the same issue' and I find that parts the most useful to me being no technical. We change later this year but the sites already been useful as it says when the transmitter is having some downtime in preparation.
Daughter lives in London so has just changed over and the only thing that restored her favourite channels was to retune the tv, nuisance though that is. Unplug everything from the mains for a couple of minutes then do a fresh install of channels. You will have to redo the timers for hard drives though!

With freezing, unplug everything from the power supply, leave a few minutes that seems to get rid of anything 'stuck' in the system. - bit like some mobile phones where you take the battery out to get back to normal.

[Roger The Hat]

We are having similar experiences with channels "disappearing", and getting muddled up in the epg. A quick re-scan cures the problem, but we have to do this at least once a week.

We also have the occasional problem with pixellation - but not all the time.
I've been told this may be due to weather, and should improve when all the analogue transmitters have been turned off and the digital signal power is increased.
Not convinced about that, though!

'Hat.

[ann255]

thanks candleflame.. Will investigate the website you mention. I know that unplugging does usually help. Also the re-tuning, but my understanding is that I will then lose everything I have recorded and stored in the library. Anyway am off to explore your website, I agree that often these are very helpful.

thanks Roger the Hat, will purge the library to watch all and then re-tune. Somewhat reassuring that it is happening to others and not just me.  Pixellation is also a problem at times.

[Billyblue]

Pixellation is due, I was told, to your aerial's alignment with the TV transmitters, and the weather.

It's worse when humidity is high, where I live.

I get it mostly on one channel (10 & its derivatives, Brisbane) but my friend 2 streets away, has problems with a quite different channel.

Dawn M

[LizzieW]

We've not had any problems with our TV, but that's because we have are with Sky and have a disc.

However, this morning my clock radio came on but just made a noise, rather than Radio 4.  I got up and went to look at it and none of the programmed channels worked, nor could I reset them, the radio just wouldn't pick up any programmes.  So my OH turned his radio on and has the same problem.  Neither are digital radios, but I thought radio wasn't going over to total digital yet.

Lizzie

[Flattybasher9]

We had the same problems with the losses of channels. This was due to us switching off the digi boxes at the walls, and not leaving them on standby. (We were trying to cut down on the electric bill). The boxes/recievers need to be connected to the mains, due to constant upgrading of program data and software. Since leaving them on standby, we have lost none.
With one of the boxes, I still get "picture freezing" but went the lazy way. Bought a set of remote control switches from Aldi, and put one on the digi box. Now, when "picture freezing" happens, I switch the box off by remote and switch on again. It saves me geting out of my bed and climbing over a weight lifting bench to get to the wall socket.
One thing that does amuse me, we, the public were sold the "digital" idea due to the picture quality, and the lack of interference/breaks in transmission.
Hmmmm. I reserve my right to disagree there.

Regards

Malky

[mofid42]

I had exactly the same problems. Our switch over was at the end of January and for a while I only had seven channels and most of those were the late night sort .

It took about a month for a few more to appear, then finally after two months I was up to 74 channels. I now have a lot less problems with pixelation than I did before the switch over except for the Yesterday channel which is bad most of time but I can now get channels such as More4 which had totally disappeared before the switch over.

[ann255]

I obviously have struck a chord with a number of you.

Anyway, would you 'adam and eve it' 2 hours ago tried the tv again and all was fully restored!!! Wonder how long this will last. 

Result of last nights hiccups was I have not got the latest episodes of The Killing, or War Heroes in my Family on my dtr. I know I can watch them on IPlayer, but does anyone know if they are repeated on the tv within the next week.