It’s very nearly time for the London area to have its analogue TV service switched off. 18th April 2012 will be the final phase of the Digital Switchover for London. Analogue signals will be turned off by engineers between 12:01am and 6am in the morning.
You can read about the first part of the switchover here and what it means. More is below for the second phase:
Basic Questions about the Switchover
Crystal Palace transmitter. Photo thanks to Ben Sutherland @flickr
What is retuning and what does it do?
TV channels are changing to new frequencies during the switchover, which means you may find some of your TV channels are missing. Retuning will bring them back.
Can I retune my TV or set-top box before 18th April?
No. It must be retune on the day or afterwards.
I have a Freeview set-top box or TV which I have stored recordings on – will I lose the recordings as well?
On some models you may loose programmes recorded to your device. On others (more likely) you may loose the TV schedule or series of programmes that you have pre-set to record. Best you note down your scheduled recordings before doing the retune.
What about my radio signals?
The digital switchover does not affect old analogue radios so you can still listen to FM & AM. This only applies to TV signals.
How do I retune my TV?
Some TVs and set-top boxes will retune by themselves, but some will not. There are lots of different makes and models of TV and set-top boxes for Freeview, so there is no universal retune method, but here are the basics and it only takes a few minutes:
- Turn on your Freeview set-top box or TV
- Go to channel 80 and you should see the BBC News Channel
- Press the menu button on your remote control
- Using the up and down arrow keys on the remote control highlight the option called ‘setup’ or ‘installation’
- If you have icons instead of words on the menu highlight the option which may be a symbol of a satellite dish, or toolbox, or spanner
- If you’re prompted for a PIN or code try 0000 or 1234
- Select the ‘retune’ or ‘rescan’ option
- This on some models of set-top box be also called ‘factory settings’ or ‘default settings’
- If the device tells you that it’s going to delete all your channels this is normal. It’s just a warning message. Just choose ‘OK’ or ‘Accept’
- The TV or set-top box may go off and on again momentarily during the retune. This is normal
- If you’re prompted to ‘Save’ select this option.
I would like some more information, where can I get some?
Head over to Digital UK here where you can loads more information
You don’t say what time changeover happens. Midnight?
Good question Rosita. I’ve been asked this many times in the last 48 hours. Finally got an answer from Digital UK:
“Switchover engineering work will take place at Crystal Palace, Guildford, Hemel Hempstead, Reigate, Rowridge, Hannington, Heathfield and Stockland Hill transmitter sites between 00:01 and 06:00 on Wednesday 18 April. During these essential works DTT services may be subject to disruption.”
So from just after 12 am on 18th April through till 6am same day is the schedule.
Best do your retune then after BBC Breakfast has started it looks like.