howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#1
people had the chance to ask questions today in market square as the day of the switch over gets closer.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
#2
I re-tuned as per the on-screen advice thrust upon me and since doing so my reception has improved markedly. (What with my ad-hoc paper clips and coat hanger array and the scaffold outside the window.) Is this because of the wonders of digital transmission OR down to a special introductory boost to the signal and be short lived?
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
#3
Analog is a better reception digital can be controlled and charged for
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#4
not with you keith, controlled in what way?
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#5
mr.murdoch howard,or evan mi5/6 and the kgb.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#6
they have been doing o.k up until now with the analogue signal brian.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#7
they are just updating howard.
Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,321
#8
I don't know where this "control" comes from. In terms of just watching, digital is no different to analogue. Unless of course it refers to Sky which Freeview isn't.
I was very surprised last week when I put up an aerial looking at Hougham. I am in the shadow and the analogue signal is unwatchable. However, even at the current low power the digital signal was fine. I would prefer Hougham as the Dover Town relay will only have a limited number of channels. If you have a choice and can get Hougham, go for it and don't choose the relay.
Going back to Sky, many years ago I had it for about 3 years. Getting fed up with the limited programme catalogue with even more repeats than today I gave them the required one month's notice and then cancelled my direct debit. Sky however kept it on for a further 2 months and tried to charge me. I refused to pay and was inundated for about five years with letters and visits from debt collectors. When shown the paperwork they withdrew only to be contacted by a different company a few weeks later.
Things then went quiet. Lo and behold Sky phoned me. Would I like to rejoin them? They offered 28 days free premium package. If I cancelled within the 28 days I would hear no more, or I could continue with whatever package I chose. After 26 days viewing I phoned to say no thanks. Sorry, they said, you've had it for 32 days. They counted from when they posted the card, not from when I received it.
Needless to say they tried to charge me and the debt collecting saga started all over again.
If the Murdoch's end up in prison over the hacking scandal I for one shall be very pleased!
Going back to the subject, Freeview is great. My normal viewing is via Freesat with a slightly different mix of channels. Having both gives me the best of both worlds.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#9
Help wanted from you clever techno buffs.
I recently treated myself to a new TV with built-in Freeview for the kitchen great pictures on all channels except BBC1 and BBC2 which are unwatchable, any ideas if this will change on switch over. I should add the old TV's reception was fine with its separate Freeview box, all I can think of is the aerial has moved slightly.
I wish I had known in advance about the experts visit in Market Square I could have asked them.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
#10
Jan, If the signal for Beebs 1 & 2 has been iffy since you got the TV I doubt whether 'switchover' will change anything, but here is the web-site concerned...
http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch/meridian/dover
I'll have a look to see if there is anything helpful on there.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
#11
Well, it seems that there a chance that BBC2 may improve after switch-over, but the particular circumstance of people in the Dover are depends so much on where you live and from where you get your signal. Someone here who lives near you, (or using the rather macabre phrase, "knows where you live" ) may be best to offer help.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
#12
Jan, we had an aerial upgrade about 4 years ago when we got a new tv and the engineer asked whether we wanted it aligned for digital or analogue, he said a slight tweak can make an immense difference to either. We went for the digital alignment (from Hougham rather than out local repeater as that had no digital signal) and the results were much better, no problem with any channel, so worth investing in a new aerial (I think ours was about £125 with installation).
Terry, I had a similar experience with Sky about 20 years ago, I cancelled my subscription when they started charging pay-per-view for some sports events when I already had the sports package. A few months later my daughter answered a call from them asking if we wanted to rejoin, she said I was at work and they should call back later, and told me when I got home.
A few days later and I got a card through the post with a letter thanking me for rejoining and they had reactivated the direct debit I had cancelled without my authority - a stiff letter with a copy to my bank manager explaining how they had broken the rules on direct debits got a quick apology and refund, I wouldn't ever subscribe to them again.
Terry Nunn- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,321
#13
Short answer Jan is yes, it will improve in June. At the moment the digital signal is only low power so as not to interfere with the analogue transmissions. There may be other factors however.
Yes Ray, Sky are notorious for that sort of thing. I'm surprised that Dom Littlewood hasn't been on the case. I can't stand the little twerp by the way.
terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#14
i had the same experience as terry and ray with top up t.v.
when they continued for 2 months after cancellation i simply took out a county court summons, that worked.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#15
Thanks to all of you for your help, instinct tells me it is the aerial that we inherited when we bought the house so it could be ancient. A grovelling chat with the family.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Terry Nunn- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,321
#16
Dover is a terrible place Jan. The salty atmosphere corrodes the aluminium. If the aerial is more than 20 years old it's well worth replacing it. But beware, there are an awful lot of cowboys about. Where you are you only need a bog standard one, don't be talked into buying anything super duper.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
#17
Control what you can see for free, one day there may not be free view
