FreeView is the UK Terrestrial Digital Television System. The existing Analogue Television System comprises 4 or 5 channels (depending where you live) of television viewing and teletext.
  Viewers in Purbeck and aroundabouts are only favoured with 4 channels: BBC1, BBC2, ITV and C4. We are not allowed Channel 5 for fear the transmissions may upset continental TV reception.
  The advent of digital television has meant many more channels can be combined together digitally in what are called multiplexes (MUX). There are 6 multiplexes in the UK:- 1, 2, A, B, C and D.
  When your digital receiving box or integrated television (IDTV) receives these signals it splits them up so you see whichever programme, TV or Radio, that you have selected.
  To make this system work 6 "TV channel frequencies" have been utilised. These frequencies are in the same band as the existing analogue television, but are of much lower transmission power such that they do not interfere with continental television and also our own.
  Like the analogue television, digital has the available frequencies carefully shared out so that different regions do not interfere with each other. For most of Purbeck and thereabouts the digital signals come from Rowridge, Isle of Wight, as do the analogue signals. The unfortunate consequence of that is that 1 of the 6 signals had to be at a higher frequency to the other 5 and requires (usually) an improved aerial which is normally known as a "Wideband" aerial. If you do not have said aerial you may find you are unable to receive those signals that have been highlighted in yellow in the table below.

Maxview 43 element

  The better aerial need not cost more than £30, but the cost of having somebody install it, with perhaps new and better connecting coaxial cable may vary depending on location and circumstances.
  Recent information (January 2004) suggested that the Rowridge transmitter may move Multiplex 2 on channel 52 to channel 28 which may eliminate the need for a Wideband aerial - that has now happened and more folk will be able to receive all channels using their old aerial which is known as a "group A" aerial, BUT, since the transmission power is still less than the analogue channels a new aerial may be needed anyway, only trying it out can provide an absolute answer.
  It is an acknowledged fact that signals in Purbeck, and on the south coast towards the Isle Of Wight do suffer from signal degradation for two specific reasons - atmospheric conditions especially during the summer, and local conditions. These are not the fault of the broadcaster, they are more a fact of life.
  When the analogue transmissions are eventually turned off there is scope to increase signal power which should improve reception for many.
  Analogue switch-off was suggested as being 2010, but it is likely to be spread over several years since many do not yet receive digital because there are insufficient free channels. Freeing up channels should overcome that problem and organising the switchover in regions over several years rather than the whole country at once may prove beneficial.
  A modification to freeview in 2004 has been the incorporation of "Top-Up TV" which has made a package of channels available for a monthly fee, with Television X for a separate fee.
 

14	E4	www.topuptv.com
17	UKTV GOLD	0870 0 543210
25	TCM
26	UKTV STYLE
27	Discovery channel
28	Discovery Health & Leisure
29	UKTV FOOD
32	Cartoon Network
32	Boomerang
44	Bloomberg
60	Television-X	0870 0 555100

 
  The information in the table below shows what is available at the time of writing (see bottom of page) and may change and improve, we hope, with time. The Mux. & Ch. notes may be of no consequence to many folk having such a system and are more engineering information.
  Anybody considering having such a system should refer to their supplier in respect of the ability of the equipment to receive said programmes in their particular locality.

  There is a website which such a person may refer which is www.dtg.org.uk/retailer/coverage . Whilst this is a good indicator it does does not take into account local anomalies, the only absolute answer is try and see.

  If you feel inclined to investigate further into this subject you will find lots to learn, also up-to-date news and information on www.digitalspy.co.uk

  isleofpurbeck.com accept no responsibility for reception of said programmes - refer disclaimer.

  The writer acknowledges the copyrights on all logos shown in this table as being of the company supplying said logos.

	BBC One 1 24 hours		Mux.1 Ch.23
	BBC Two 2 24 hours		Mux.1 Ch.23
	ITV1 3 09:25 - 06:00			Mux.2 Ch.28
	GMTV 3 06:00 - 09:25			Mux.2 Ch.28
	Channel 4 4 24 hours (except Wales)			Mux.2 Ch.28
	Five 5 24 hours				Mux.A Ch.30
	ITV2 6 09:25 - 06:00			Mux.2 Ch.28
	GMTV2 6 06:00 - 09:25			Mux.2 Ch.28
	BBC Three 7 19:00 - 04:00		Mux.1 Ch.23
	Teletext 9 24 hours			Mux.2 Ch.28
	BBC Four 10 19:00 - 03:00					Mux.B Ch.32
	Sky Travel 11 24 hours						Mux.C Ch.26
	UK History 12 07:00 - 01:00						Mux.C Ch.26
	S4C2 13 06:00 - 00:00				Mux.A Ch.30
	E4 14 16:00 - 04:00	Top-up  TV		Mux.2 Ch.28
	Coming Soon 15 -				Mux.A Ch.30
	QVC 16 24 hours (except Wales)				Mux.A Ch.30
	UKTV Gold 17 12:00 - 00:50	Top-up  TV			Mux.A Ch.30
	The Hits! 18 24 hours							Mux.D Ch.33
	UKTV BrightIdeas 19 06:00 - 18:00							Mux.D Ch.33
	f tn 20 20:00 - 06:00							Mux.D Ch.33
	Thomas Cook TV 20 18:00 - 20:00							Mux.D Ch.33
	The Music Factory 21 24 hours							Mux.D Ch.33
	Ideal World 22 24 hours							Mux.D Ch.33
	bid-up.tv 23 08:00 - 01.00				Mux.A Ch.30
	Screenshop 23 01.00 - 08.00				Mux.A Ch.30
	price-drop.tv 24 08:00 - 01:00			Mux.2 Ch.28
	Screenshop 24 01:00 - 08:00			Mux.2 Ch.28
	TCM 25 19:00 - 05:00	Top-up  TV			Mux.A Ch.30
	UKTV Style 26 18:00 - 23:00	Top-up  TV			Mux.A Ch.30
	Discovery Channel 27 12:00 - 23:00	Top-up  TV			Mux.A Ch.30
	Home & Leisure 28 06:00 - 12:00	Top-up  TV			Mux.A Ch.30
	UKTV Food 29 10:00 - 16:00	Top-up  TV		Mux.2 Ch.28
	CBBC Channel 30 07:00 - 19:00		Mux.1 Ch.23
	CBeebies 31 06:00 - 19:00					Mux.B Ch.32
	Cartoon Network 32 06:00 - 18:00	Top-up  TV			Mux.A Ch.30
	Boomerang 33 05:00 - 12:00	Top-up  TV			Mux.A Ch.30
	BBC News 24 40 24 hours		Mux.1 Ch.23
	ITV News Channel 41 24 hours			Mux.2 Ch.28
	Sky News 42 24 hours						Mux.C Ch.26
	Sky Sports News 43 24 hours						Mux.C Ch.26
	Bloomberg Television 44 05:00 - 10:00	Top-up  TV		Mux.2 Ch.28
	BBC Parliament 45 24 hours					Mux.B Ch.32
	Community Channel 46 02:45 - 05:45					Mux.B Ch.32
	FourText 50 24 hours			Mux.2 Ch.28
	BBCi 51 24 hours		Mux.1 Ch.23
	YooPlay 53 24 hours							Mux.D Ch.33
	Teletext TV Guide 54 24 hours			Mux.2 Ch.28
	Teletext Holidays 55 24 hours				Mux.A Ch.30
	Television X 60 23:00 - 05:00	(Top-up) ( TV      )			Mux.A Ch.30
	Radio: BBC Radio 1 70 24 hours				Mux.A Ch.30
	Radio: BBC 1Xtra 71 24 hours					Mux.B Ch.32
	Radio: BBC Radio 2 72 24 hours				Mux.A Ch.30
	Radio: BBC Radio 3 73 24 hours				Mux.A Ch.30
	Radio: BBC Radio 4 74 24 hours				Mux.A Ch.30
	Radio: BBC Radio Five Live 75 24 hour					Mux.B Ch.32
	Radio: BBC Radio Five Live 76                 Sports Extra varies					Mux.B Ch.32
	Radio: BBC 6 Music 77 24 hours					Mux.B Ch.32
	Radio: BBC 7 78 24 hours					Mux.B Ch.32
	Radio: BBC Asian Network 79 24 hours					Mux.B Ch.32
	Radio: BBC World Service 80 24 hours							Mux.D Ch.33
	Radio: The Hits Radio 81 24 hours							Mux.D Ch.33
	Radio: Smash Hits! 82 24 hours							Mux.D Ch.33
	Radio: Kiss 100 83 24 hours							Mux.D Ch.33
	Radio: Heat Radio 84 24 hours				Mux.A Ch.30
	Radio: Magic Radio 85 24 hours							Mux.D Ch.33
	Radio: Q Radio 86 24 hours							Mux.D Ch.33
	Radio: Oneword 87 24 hours							Mux.D Ch.33
	Radio: Jazz FM 88 24 hours							Mux.D Ch.33
	Radio: Mojo Radio 91 24 hours				Mux.A Ch.30
	Radio: Kerrang! 92 24 hours							Mux.D Ch.33
	BBCi Extra Interactive 701           Video serv varies					Mux.B Ch.32
	BBCi Extra Interactive 702           Video serv varies					Mux.B Ch.32
	BBCi Extra Interactive 703            Video serv varies					Mux.B Ch.32
	4TV Interactive services 704 -							Mux.D Ch.33

 

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