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Diary of changes to capacity of ArqB, ArqA and SDN multiplexes

Here is the current list of known dates of the changes to the three commercial multiplexes occurring in October and November 2011.

Here is the current list of known dates of the changes to the t
published on UK Free TV

There are changes going on to the 58 full-Freeview transmitters that have "switched over" to digital only transmission and are carrying the high power digital services.

By a modification to one of the parameters used for broadcast (the "forward error correction") the capacity of the multiplexes increases by 12.5%, which is sufficient for an additional standard-definition channel to be broadcast.

The changes will not allow for an extra channel until all of the transmitters have been changed - the current plan has the last transmitter required for ArqB to have an extra channel upgraded on 23rd November.

In the dairy below, 19 transmitters have an ArqA mode change, and 8 have changes to SDN.

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Transmitter   SDN ArqA ArqB
Aberdare 16-Nov October
Angus 03-Nov 02-Nov
Beacon Hill 27-Oct 27-Oct 27-Oct
Belmont 18-Nov 18-Nov
Black Hill 27-Oct 26-Oct
BlaenPlwyf October
Bressay 15-Nov 15-Nov
Brierley Hill 03-Nov
Bristol Ilchester Crescent October
Bristol Kings Weston October
Bromsgrove 22-Nov
Caldbeck October
Caradon Hill 26-Oct 03-Nov 03-Nov
Carmel October
Chesterfield October October
Craigkelly 15-Nov
Darvel 26-Oct
Durris 10-Nov 09-Nov
Eitshal 10-Nov 09-Nov
Emley Moor 08-Nov
Fenton 02-Nov
Huntshaw Cross 01-Nov 01-Nov 01-Nov
Idle 09-Nov
Keelylang Hill 03-Nov 02-Nov
Keighley 10-Nov
Kilvey Hill 17-Nov 17-Nov October
Knockmore 27-Oct 26-Oct
Lancaster 08-Nov
Lark Stoke 22-Nov
Llanddona 16-Nov 16-Nov October
Malvern 06-Nov
Mendip 08-Nov*
Moel-Y-Parc 17-Nov October
Nottingham October
Olivers Mount 15-Nov
Oxford October October
Pendle Forest 25-Oct
Plympton 10-Nov 10-Nov 10-Nov
Pontypool 15-Nov October
Preseli October
Redruth 03-Nov 03-Nov 03-Nov
Ridge Hill October
Rosemarkie 16-Nov 16-Nov
Rosneath 08-Nov*
Rumster Forest 03-Nov 02-Nov
Saddleworth 27-Oct
Sandy Heath October 28-Oct
Selkirk 23-Nov 23-Nov
Sheffield 25-Oct
Stockland Hill 25-Oct 25-Oct 25-Oct
Storeton October
Sudbury 16-Nov 16-Nov
Sutton Coldfield 01-Nov
The Wrekin 22-Nov
Torosay 10-Nov
Waltham 25-Oct
Wenvoe 14-Nov October
Winter Hill 03-Nov


Help with Freeview, aerials?
How do I get a test card with Freeview1
I would like to know if it is possible to receive UK terrestrial Freeview servic2
I have been told I would receive too much singal from my Freeview tansmitter as 3
Can my Freeview box receive more than one BBC and ITV region?4
Is it true that my 87 year old mother is entitled to a FREE upgrade when the ana5
In this section
Should the UK close down the TV networks to allow for more mobile broadband? 1
UK Digital switchover ends - Northern Ireland completes on 24th October 20122
The last day of analogue television in the UK - goodbye PAL3
2 days left of analogue television - goodbye teletext4
3 days of analogue to go - goodbye to NICAM 7285
Changes to Saorview frequencies and power levels, 24th October 20126

Comments
Friday, 4 November 2011
M
mst
8:50 AM
St. Albans

Briantist:I understand the link between bitrate and quality when reception is fine, but there will be a 'fringe area' where the digital signal quality is close to the cliff-edge between watchable and not (Analogue TV had more graceful degradation). The power difference between PSB and COM makes it clear that some will only be able to get PSB channels, and there will be a 'fringe' area where COM is marginal. The mode change just moves this fringe in towards the TX a bit.



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mst's 18 posts GB flag
mst's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

9:27 AM

andyboy: This would occur if you were using the Tacolneston transmitter.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

9:40 AM

mst: The point of calling a "cliff edge" is because that is what it is - there is no area where any degradation happens.

The difference in power levels does mean that PSB coverage will be more than COM and the COM operators do not mind this.

Here's a graph:



However, there is not a "fringe area" where there is NO COM. "Marginal" reception means you get is sometimes and not at others, not that those places receive a degraded constant service.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
A
andyboy
12:31 PM
Benfleet

hi andyboy it say all channels on sudbury and on london channels as well now please what goning very confused thanks

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andyboy's 14 posts GB flag
andyboy's: mapA's Freeview map terrainA's terrain plot wavesA's frequency data A's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

1:02 PM

andyboy: I wouldn't worry about it.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Thursday, 10 November 2011
M
Martin Andrews
11:20 AM

The signals for Film4 and ITV4 have recently disappeared from my TV in Dundee. Why, and are they going to be restored?

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Martin Andrews's 1 post GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

1:16 PM

Martin Andrews: Please see Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice - the channels will return when you discover what the problem is...

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Thursday, 1 December 2011
M
mst
11:45 PM

According to digital UK postode checker the Oxford TX has already switched the SDN mux to FEC 3/4

Also gives the final channel change for this mux from C62 to C50 in 2013

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mst's 18 posts EU flag
Sunday, 4 December 2011
D
DAVID
6:37 PM

For the past week the channels on the ARQA multiplex have had sound break-up ptomlems through my television set. I have done a retune but with no improvement. These channels work o.k. through my recorder. Any ideas what can be done.

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DAVID's 2 posts GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

7:24 PM

DAVID: With a query of that nature you really have to give info on your location (post code) so that the ArqA transmitter being referred to is known.

But just to clarify a point, are you saying that its only the TV that is suffering from this problem, as if viewing through your recorder reception is perfectly OK?

If so maybe you could come back with the make / model of the TV you are using plus your post code, this to enable a check on technical aspects of the channel involved in relation to the spec of your TV.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
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