Topic ID 2526
Does anyone know when Digital TV will be available from the Bengeo Relay Mast on top of the watertower? Because of inconsiderate things like trees etc, I need an expensive mast to get it from Crystal Palace apparently..
Reply ID 36023
Probably won't be until they switch off the analogue signal in London (which at present is scheduled for 2012) There is much speculation that only some of the digital terrestrial (DTT) channels will be available from relay masts like Bengeo/Hertford. There is also the possibility that the signal levels from main transmitters will be increased once analogue broadcasts are out of the picture. If you really want to get into discussions about DTT then I suggest posting on a forum like digitalspy http://www.digitalspy.co.uk
Reply ID 36027
I am spitting distance from you Arty and we can receive Digital T.V. Have you tried to receive it? I am happy to lend you a spare receiver if you want to try it.
Reply ID 36029
quote:Thank-you, Nora. What an offer...but, alas digital is all about direction and those lovely trees. Even a twigg in the wrong place between you and the transmitter thingy makes all the difference. For now, we'll just have to be content with four channels and Monopoly at weekends as a treat.
Originally posted by nora batty
I am spitting distance from you Arty and we can receive Digital T.V. Have you tried to receive it? I am happy to lend you a spare receiver if you want to try it.
Reply ID 36031
If you can't wait for the Bengeo upgrade you can always get free-sat installed which for us was a 150 quid one off fee and no subscription or after that.You also get get the odd channel you might want to watch (sky 3?) plus a ton of other shopping and assorted scuzz which I'm not sure you want.
Reply ID 36032
We had to have a new aerial but I'm sure it wasn't very expensive. And we use a signal booster too.
Reply ID 36034
Just go to a couple of car boot sales buy a sky box, dish and some 75 ohm coax and your laughing. The dish can be at ground level if need be, providing it has a few feet of clear air in front. Look at neighbouring dishes to get a rough idea of where to point it or you can buy signal meters for around a tenner which make the job childsplay. Once it's up and running you then need to update the software, (sky charge up to £80 for this) but you can do it for nothing if you know how (email me and I'll tell you how). There will be a hundred or so channels available straight off but if you want you can subscribe to other channels by giving them a call and buying a card. Honestly it really is simple but obviously sky don't want you to know that. [:D]
Reply ID 36046
This subject crops up so often I'm surprised that there isn't a page on Hertford.net just about it. [:)] Yes, you'll have to wait until 2012 for Digital TV from the Hertford (Bengeo) relay. To expand on a few points, 1) Freesat - Maplin (http://www.maplin.co.uk) at Stevenage have an offer on a dish and receiver at around £80 at the moment for you to do it yourself, go on, it's easy! And you won't pay a penny to the Murdoch empire (sorry, rant mode was nearly avoided) 2) What will be available? - in technical terms multiplexes 1, 2 and B will be broadcast, these are the 'Public' multiplexes. The 'commercial' multiplexes A, C and D will most likely not be broadcast. In practice this means that BBC1, 2, 3 and 4, CBBC, CBeebies, News 24, ITV 1,2,3,4 Chanel 4, More4, E4 CITV and a lot of the current BBC radio channels WILL be broadcast; the sharp eyed amongst you who haven't fallen asleep will notice that Channel 5 isn't on that list; this is currently in Multiplex A and will be moving to one of the Public multiplexes. 3) If you DO buy sky box at a car boot sale make sure it is 'digital' and not 'analogue', the latter were phased out. 4) Can you get a signal from Sandy Heath for digital TV? This is roughly on a bearing of 340 degrees (just to the left of north) from Hertford, is this any better than looking towards Crystal Palace? You will need a good aerial and probably an amplifer which will cost £150 - £200.
Reply ID 36048
Apparently, according to Heartbeat FM Radio this morning, East Herts wont be going digital till 2011! Getting a Freeview is a start and by that time the cost of the TV's will be dirt cheap. Why bother now.. there's nothing on most channel's anyway!!!!
Reply ID 36051
quote:This has been discussed on a number of threads... http://www.hertford.net/yoursay/topic.php?id=2366 http://www.hertford.net/yoursay/topic.php?id=2366 http://www.hertford.net/yoursay/topic.php?id=2366 http://www.hertford.net/yoursay/topic.php?id=2366 http://www.hertford.net/yoursay/topic.php?id=2366
Originally posted by Rabbit Rabbit
This subject crops up so often I'm surprised that there isn't a page on Hertford.net just about it. [:)]
Reply ID 36055
quote:(Sorry, I must have deleted what I wrote so am having to resend, apologies for the quote and nothing else.) Yes, I heard the item on Hertbeat as well - absolute travesty of a non-news item, "is Hertfordshire ready for digital TV?", no of course it isn't and nor should it be - it is happening elsewhere in the country, there is no publicity machine going yet etc etc. They might just as well have said "is Hertfordshire ready for Christmas 2008". The 2001 date is for Sandy Heath and its relays. One more point (Hertford related) I meant and forgot to make was about high definition TV. When the country has digital TV and there is spectrum released 'cos the digital services fit into less bandwidth, OFCOM will be auctioning spectrum to the highest bidder - the so-called digital dividend. You can bet the broadcasters are interested in buying spectrum for HDTV coverage from the big stations but I doubt they will be interested in 28,049 viewers of a local relay. I doubt that the Hertford relay will have HDTV services - so be careful if you are smooth-talked into buying an HDTV set. You will be able to get HDTV from satellite beforehand but it will be at a price
Originally posted by Drama Queen
Apparently, according to Heartbeat FM Radio this morning, East Herts wont be going digital till 2011! Getting a Freeview is a start and by that time the cost of the TV's will be dirt cheap. Why bother now.. there's nothing on most channel's anyway!!!!