RE: Freeview - what the hell?!?!?

["Phil Harris" <phil@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Keith Doxey [mailto:ukha@xxxxxxx]
> Sent: 28 December 2004 09:21
> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> Subject: RE: [ukha_d] Freeview - what the hell?!?!?
>
> Hi Phil,
>
> They share the frequency/mux slot with CBeebies (or CBBC) and
> sometimes the box doesnt change channel properly. Was this
> the first program of the day on BBC3 ?

I don't think so ... TiVo was recording "Two Pints Of Lager And A
Packet Of
Crisps" which they show in pairs (one following immediately after the
first)
and the second one did record OK but I'm fairly sure that there was
something on BBC3 beforehand.

> It can happen if you select the channel too early eg
> before start of transmission as the channel doesnt exist you
> you get a placeholder screen then when the channel starts the
> placeholder doesent get removed properly.
>
> The old OnDodgy boxes can also lock up because of this. If
> the box was o something like CBeebies just before it stops at
> 7pm  and you then try to change channel AFTER the channel has
> ceased broadcasting you cant without rebooting the box :-(
>
> Because Digital is more cleverer than analogue both Freeview
> and SKY fool people into thinking there are more channels
> than there really are.
>
> eg on Analogue Channel 24 would have been "Some Channel"
> between 07:00 and 19:00 and then "Some Other Channel"
between
> 19:00 and 07:00 but it would always be Channel 24 on the set top box.
>
> On digital they still share transponders/transmitters but
> make you think they arent
>
> eg Frequency xyz MuxSlot A will be
>
> will be Channel 34 "Some Channel" between 07:00 and 19:00
and
> then Channel 67 "Some Other Channel" between 19:00 and 07:00
>
> If you watch channels on SKY that shutdown at 7pm you then
> get a "technical problem" message because they have diverted
> the data stream to its "partner"
> channel.
>
> HTH
>
> Keith

God knows ... Haven't had it happen until I retired the old Pace OnDigital
box and got a Sony 8000U thing and I've now had it happen a few times. Will
try to see if there's a pattern.

Phil