Author Archive

Yorkshire gets a Switchover Poet

In the countdown to next year’s digital switchover, a survey has shown that Derrick Trotter falling through the bar in ‘Only fools and Horses” is Yorkshire’s favourite TV clip. (more…)

A digital dawn for Channel Islands

17th November 2010 – Analogue BBC One, BBC Two, Channel 4 and Channel TV were turned off permanently at the Fremont Point transmitter group shortly after midnight. (more…)

How to retune your Freeview, Top-Up TV or BT Vision equipment

Switch on your freeview box, freeview recorder or freeview television

  • Press ‘menu’ on the remote control
  • Select ‘set up’ or ‘installation’ option
  • Select ‘first time installation’ option (sometimes called ‘full retune’, ‘default settings’ or ‘factory reset’,)
  • Press ‘OK’ if your equipment asks if you want to delete all your channels – this is normal so don’t worry
  • Channels will be automatically installed. This may take a few minutes; your equipment may shut down and
    restart

These instructions are a guide only – each product works slightly differently. If you need more information on retuning then try visiting digitaluk.co.uk/retuning

How to set up your Freeview Digital Box

Your Freeview Digital Box should come with a power lead, a remote control, batteries for the remote control and a Scart lead. If your freeview box didn’t come with a Scart lead you can buy one on the high street or online from someone like Amazon for less than a fiver.

Make sure your TV is switched off, then take the aerial lead out of the back of the TV and plug it into the aerial socket on the digital box. Plug the Scart lead into the ‘TV’ socket on the digibox, and then the other end into the first Scart socket on your TV. Switch the TV onto standby then switch on with the TV remote.

Next plug the digital box in and switch it on. Most TVs will automatically detect the box, if not then select AV1 on the TV remote. Most digital boxes will then tune automatically. Once it has tuned you use the Freeview remote control to change channels and volume.

The Red Button on Your Freeview Box

The Red Button is a very simple tool that basically gives you lots more information behind the main channels and lots of extra choices.

When you press the red button a menu is displayed. You can see in the menu different categories of information – these are like ‘extra’ channels some of which have live TV of anything from major music festivals to sports events. So you could choose which court you wanted to watch at Wimbledon or which band to see at Glastonbury. Ever wanted to watch live F1 practice ? You can find it here !

Use the arrow keys and find weather for example. You can then go through the menus and find up to date weather information for your area.

To go back use the yellow button, and you can see other useful categories such as travel information, children’s games and puzzles, lottery results, business news and loads more. Use the red button to get the information you need when you want it – no need to wait for a news button or weather forecast – just press the Red Button.

Introducing Freeview+

Freeview+ has many great features to offer which are easy to get to grips with. To record a program, use the handset to go into the TV guide and use the arrow key to click through the programming schedule to find whatever it is you want to record. Select the program or movie and that’s it !

Every freeview recordeer has a seven day program guide so you can set it to record well in advance of the program being broadcast. Twin tuner freeview recorders will allow you to watch a different program to the one you are recording.

How about recording an entire series ? This is almost as simple. Just go to the TV guide and use the arrow key to find the program you want to record. If it’s a series you’ll automatically be given an option to record the entire series. Select and that’s it ! Most machines have enough storage space to record up to 100 hours of programs.

To pause live TV just press the ‘Pause’ button on the Freeview remote control, then to resume watching press ‘Play’ on the remote control. If you miss something first time round, just press ‘Rewind’ to watch it again !

That’s the beauty of Freeview+ – pause, record and rewind TV with no monthly bills !

Midlands switchover dates announced

The dates for the digital switchover for parts of Midlands have been announced – it’ll start on 30th March 2011 for thousands of Midlands viewers.

The analogue signal will switched off at (more…)

East of England switchover – countdown begins

The dates for the digital switchover for parts of the East of England have been released – starting on 30th March 2011 for many thousands of viewers. (more…)