Main Page List

If analogue C5 is available in your location, has changed group and you receive a GOOD C5 signal, this indicates that you may already have a wideband antenna.

If your transmitter is Amber it may be worth considering if, at the present time, you really want the programmes on the unavailable MUX(ES), bearing in mind the cost, the deficiencies of wideband aerials (in fringe areas) and whether the particular transmitter will return to its original group at DSO

When (if....) the Digital Switch Over (DSO) occurs it is planned that the power will be increased on the main transmitters in an attempt to increase the coverage but just as significantly the hundreds of small repeater transmitters are due to start broadcasting

digital in place of analogue. Unfortunately the latter will only transmit three of the six MUXES, (i.e. just the thee PSBs) so although viewers on those transmitters will get more channels than they do at the moment, they won`t get all of them.

Also see Consequences of Digital Switch Over and Dates for Digital Switch Over.

The transmitters are listed in alphabetical order so consult the map

(or see ”Which Transmitter Am I On ?”) to confirm which one you require

the details of, then scroll down to the relevant entry.

After The Digital Switchover ( DSO )

On the 5 July 07 Ofcom released the planned “post DSO” channel allocations for the 81 transmitters currently broadcasting digital.

As we`ve been saying for years the great majority of transmitters are reverting to their original groups and in fact all the existing Digital transmitters will broadcast the main three MUXES (the so called PSBs) within band.

As for the other three MUXES, 24 of the 81 transmitters will be broadcasting between one and three of the other 3 MUXES out of their original group. Fortunately seven of these

will be transmitting the new frequencies below the existing group, meaning that those in reasonable signal areas will have a good chance of picking up the signal OK.

That leaves 17 out of 81 transmitters, and of these only six are “main” transmitters, these being Sandy, Sudbury, The Wrekin, Bilsdale, Craigkelly and Belmont. It must be admitted that for these “Dirty (half) Dozen” an aerial change will almost certainly be required in order to receive all the digital transmissions.

For the great majority, when the DSO occurs many of those who haven`t yet “upgraded” to

a wideband should then pick up the Digital signal OK. Furthermore many of those who live

in fringe areas can, if required, then take advantage of the superior gain of grouped aerials

to improve their signal.

The “powers that be” keep changing the name of the MUXES, so we just refer to them as MUXES 1 to 6,

as they should be anyway....

Also see MUXES and PSBs

Do I need a new aerial now ? (and will I need a new aerial at DSO........)

Listed below are the original 81 Digital (i.e. Freeview) transmitters and these will be the

only ones transmitting all 6 MUXES after DSO. In addition, at switchover, about 1100 smaller repeater transmitters will also begin broadcasting digital, but they will only transmit the 3 main MUXES (the PSBs), not all 6 of them. That said, these three PSBs include all the main channels and the three (or four) planned HDTV channels. Virtually all of these repeaters will be transmitting digital in the same group as they did for analogue.

The information below includes the transmitters location, their analogue and digital power outputs, their polarity *, if they transmit analogue C5 and most crucially of all if they have changed group (i.e. require a new aerial) or will be changing group at DSO. Just as significantly it also reveals that even if one does require a new aerial to receive all of the programmes, in many cases some of the six digital MUXES should be available without requiring a wideband, i.e. an aerial change. The page also indicates those who have the option to take advantage of the superior performance of a grouped antenna, this would normally apply to those in “fringe” areas.

(also see “Which transmitter am I on ?” and  Which Aerial For Which Transmitter)

* e.g. BV indicates a B group vertically polarised transmitter.

The entries include a colour coding as follows :

Green indicates that the transmitter has not changed group for all (or most) * of

the digital channels, i.e. you probably do NOT need a new aerial.

 * This is defined as MUXES 1 to 3 (i.e. the “PSBs”) plus at least 2 of the other 3 MUXES.

Bold type indicates the planned status after Digital Switchover (DSO).

Amber is for transmitters which use their existing group for the basic digital

service as defined by MUXES 1 to 3. The colour is also used to show which of any

additional MUXES requires a wideband (or K/E group) aerial.

Bold type indicates the planned status after Digital Switchover (DSO).

Red is for those transmitters where an aerial change is needed for even the

basic digital services (i.e. MUXES 1 to 3).

Bold type indicates the planned status after Digital Switchover (DSO).

MUX Name Changing.....           (Don`t you just hate all this name changing b****x ?)

We are more than willing to give advice to those actually purchasing from us.  

Could those only seeking information please just find the answer somewhere on this site,

or ring an aerial installer local to them, or call the reception advice phone numbers.