Freeview on the Black Hill transmitter

Black Hill transmitter: (Google Earth) (Live Maps) (Google maps) GPS: 55.8612,-3.8741

BLACK HILL transmitter - Over the next week Black Hill main transmitter: TV (analogue) working normally, TV (digital) working normally, Radio (analogue) Possible weak signal, Radio (digital) working normally.

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The symbol shows the location of the Black Hill transmitter. The Black Hill transmitter covers 940,000 homes.

Freeview on Black Hill requires aerial group/position E/WH, transmitter ERP 20000W, at 556m - BLACK HILL transmitter - Over the next week Black Hill main transmitter: TV (analogue) working normally, TV (digital) working normally, Radio (analogue) Possible weak signal, Radio (digital) working normally. [DUK]

The yellow area has the strongest signal from this transmitter, green areas are served by stronger signals from other transmitters, white shows low signal areas. See Overlap Map Key for details.

Freeview transmissions on Black Hill

Mux	Effective power level	Rating	Mode	Watts
1		Maximum	16QAM-2k 18Mb/s MPEG2	20,000
	1 BBC One (Scotland), 2 BBC Two (Scotland), 7 BBC Three, 70 CBBC Channel, 80 BBC News, 105 BBC Red Button, 719 BBC Radio Scotland, 720 BBC Radio nan Gaidheal, on C41+ (634.2MHz)
2		Low	64QAM-2k 24Mb/s MPEG2	20,000
	3 ITV1 (STV), 4 Channel 4, 5 FIVE, 6 ITV2, 13 Channel 4+1, 14 More4, 28 E4, 33 ITV2+1, 100 Teletext, 102 Rabbit, 106 Direct Gov, 107 Gay Rabbit, on C47+ (682.2MHz)
A		Low	64QAM-2k 24Mb/s MPEG2	20,000
	8 TeleG, 10 ITV3, 16 QVC, 20 Virgin 1, 23 Bid TV, 30 FIVER, 31 FIVE USA, 38 Quest, 39 SuperCasino, 72 CITV, 84 CNN International, 88 Teachers' TV, 101 Teletext Holidays, 103 Teletext Casino, 104 1-2-1 Dating, 109 MOBILIZER, 307 TOPUP Stream 1, 308 TOPUP Stream 2, 309 TOPUP Stream 3, 712 Smash Hits! Radio, on C44+ (658.2MHz)
B		Maximum	16QAM-2k 18Mb/s MPEG2	20,000
	0 BBCi 302, 0 Community, 9 BBC Four, 71 CBeebies, 81 BBC Parliament, 105 BBC Interactive text, 301 BBCi 301, 303 BBC Sport Interactive, 700 BBC Radio 1, 701 1Xtra BBC, 702 BBC Radio 2, 703 BBC Radio 3, 704 BBC Radio 4, 705 BBC Radio 5 Live, 706 BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, 707 BBC Radio 6 Music, 708 BBC Radio 7, 709 BBC Asian Network, 710 BBC World Service, on C51+ (714.2MHz)
C		Maximum	16QAM-2k 18Mb/s MPEG2	20,000
	11 Sky3, 19 Dave, 25 Dave ja vu, 29 E4+1, 37 price-drop tv, 41 Ideal Extra, 82 Sky News, 83 Sky Sports News, 108 Sky Text, 723 talkSPORT, 725 Premier Christian Radio, 727 Absolute Radio, on C55 (746.0MHz)
D		Maximum	16QAM-2k 18Mb/s MPEG2	20,000
	12 Yesterday, 15 Film4, 18 4Music, 21 VIVA, 22 Ideal World, 24 ITV4, 43 Gems TV, 45 Lottery Xtra, 85 Russia Today, 89 Al Jazeera English, 711 The Hits radio, 713 Kiss radio, 714 Heat Radio, 715 Magic radio, 716 Q radio, 718 Smooth radio, 722 Kerrang! radio, 36 Create and Craft, on C65 (826.0MHz)
PSB3 BBCB		Below average	DVB-T2 HD 40Mb/s MPEG4	10,000
	50 BBC HD, 51 ITV1 HD, 52 Channel 4 HD, on C59 (778.0MHz)

To receive Freeview from the Black Hill transmitter you will require an aerial of group E/W positioned horizontally. This transmitter is 556 metres above sea-level, and transmits at 20,000 watts.

Full list of Freeview transmitters.

Digital switchover process details

Digital switchover happens over a number of weeks, this is to allow people in areas who where unable to use Freeview before switchover time to purchase equipment before the analogue service is terminated.

Wednesday 8th June 2011

BBC TWO C46 closes. PSB1 starts on C46.

Wednesday 22nd June 2011

BBC One C40 closes. ITV-1 C43 closes. Channel 4 C50 closes. FIVE C37 closes. Mux 1 C41 closes. Mux 2 C47 closes. Mux A C44 closes. Mux B C51 closes. Mux C C55 closes. Mux D C65 closes.
Freeview power increases from 20,000 W to 100,000 W, 5 times stronger.
PSB2 starts on C43. COM4 starts on C41. PSB3 starts on C50. COM5 starts on C44. COM6 starts on C47. NEW8 starts on C48. NEW7 starts on C51.

See also Black Hill transmitter - analogue shutdown schedule.

Self-help relays

Self-help relays are transmitters that are not owned by the broadcasting and transmission companies, but by the local users. An active deflector (AD) re-transmits the analogue broadcasts on the same frequencies as the original broadcasts, while a transposer (T) transmits the received broadcasts on different frequencies.

Relay name	Type	Location	Notes
ARDTORNISH A	T	22 km NW Oban	15 homes
BALQUHIDDER	T	12 km NW Callander	42 homes
BENMORE B	AD	50 m WNW Glasgow	7 homes
BLAIR DRUMMOND	T		5 homes caravan park
BLYTH BRIDGE	AD	30 km SW Edinburgh	50 homes
GLENDARUEL	AD	40 hotel	40 homes hotel
GLENDARUEL B	AD		12 homes (second level)

Transmission frequencies

Before Sunday 15th November 1998

C37	C40	C43	C46	C50

FIVE	BBC One	ITV1	BBC TWO	C4

Sunday 15th November 1998 to Wednesday 8th June 2011

C37	C40	C41+	C43	C44+	C46	C47+	C50	C51+	C55*	C65*

FIVE	BBC One	Mux 1	ITV1	Mux A	BBC TWO	Mux 2	C4	Mux B	Mux C	Mux D

After Wednesday 22nd June 2011

C41	C43	C44	C46	C47	C48	C50	C51

Mux SDN	Mux D3+4	Mux ArqA	Mux BBCA	Mux ArqB	Mux NEW8	Mux BBCB	Mux NEW7

Colour bands denote aerial groups: Red:A Yellow:B Green:C/D Brown:E Grey:K Black:Wideband

Notes

'Out of group' frequencies are marked with a star. Analogue power output 500,000 Watts, post switchover average digital multiplex output will be 75,000 Watts.

To receive signals from this transmitter, the aerial must be mounted for horizontal polarization - the elements going from left to right.

Before switchover, the public service broadcasting multiplexes were 1, 2 and B; afterwards they were first PSB1, 2 and 3 but now called BBCA, D3+4 and BBCB. The commercial multiplexes A, C and D had initial post-switchover names COM4, 5 and 6; now they are SDN, ArqA and ArqB. At switchover BBCA, ArqA and ArqB will switch from 16QAM to 64QAM mode transmission, so five multiplexes will transmit in the 64QAM (2/3) 8k mode. BBCB is used for Freeview HD (DVB-T2, 256QAM), and has a pre-switchover service on selected main transmitters.

Upgrade to Wideband aerial requried to watch all Freeview channels during dual running of analogue and digital television. After switchover an existing group B aerial will provide all digital TV services.

itv1 - Black Hill transmitter area*

Date	Incumbent ITV company
31st Aug 1957 to date	Scottish Television
1st Feb 1983 to 31st Dec 1992	TV-am (breakfast)
1st Jan 1993 to date	GMTV (breakfast)
Note	For digital switchover this region is now known as STV.

* This Black Hill ITV transmitter came into service on VHF 405-line on 31st Aug 1957; dates before this indicate the history of the ITV company it belonged to when Black Hill began transmission.

405-line VHF black and white TV

From the Black Hill transmitter, ITV was broadcast on VHF C10. In the United Kingdom, 405-line television was used from 1936-39 and 1946 until 1982-85.

<< 24-Oct-06 < Previous 9-Feb-07

Your comments are always welcome. Please use the form below to add your thoughts or questions to this page. We will get back to you as soon as we can.

I live in the FK15 area and according to the Freeview site I should be able to get Freeview HD no bother. I have a Technika smartbox 8320HD and it can get all the normal Freeview channels but not the Freeview HD Channels. I've tried manual tuning too. Any suggestions. I also think that the online website Freeview area checker for Freeview HD is a bit suspect...

Posted by Steve (5 posts) on Monday 7 June 2010 10:05PM

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Steve: It's a bit hard to say without a postcode...

Posted by Briantist platinum

(21,369 posts) on Monday 7 June 2010 10:11PM

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further to my recent post....I thought all my standard freeview channels were fine because they appeared listed on the guide page. However, I appear to have lost Film 4 and a few others. When I view the guide via my BT vision box and select Film 4 (Ch15)I get a blank black screen. It isn't even listed on the guide via the tv. Spoke to sony centre again today and he claims its most likely my aerial. I got film 4 with my old CRT Toshiba. Now I don't know who to listen to.

Posted by stephen hamill (3 posts) on Monday 7 June 2010 10:21PM

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stephen hamill:It would appear that MuxD was present when the channels were stored in the BT vision box but the signal has now become too weak to decode or is now subject to interference.Check that there is no equipment with the RF modulator set to C65. Also try doing a manual tune to C65 on the TV- is a signal detected and if so what is the quality? As C65 is the highest frequency in use on this transmitter it is also more difficult to receive than the other muxes.Also check for trees in leaf in the signal path. An aerial with more gain(use a group E for best pick-up) may be required.

Posted by KMJ,Derby silver

(238 posts) on Tuesday 8 June 2010 12:04AM

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I Live in edinburgh postcode EH6 6DP. Should i be able to receive Freeviw HD. TY for your help (map)

Posted by B. Rowe (1 post) on Tuesday 8 June 2010 2:29AM

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B. Rowe: You do not stand a good chance of getting the service from the Black Hill transmitter, so you are going to have to wait for switch-over - 15 June 2011 - you can get Freesat today, however.

Posted by Briantist platinum

(21,369 posts) on Tuesday 8 June 2010 6:23AM

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Hi Briantist, a lady from Trading Standards went to visit Asda on my behalf & they said that if the box was brought in, when the fault was first noticed, as a 'good will' gesture on their behalf (even when the warranty ran out) they might have fixed it, instead of me contacting Goodmans. It took me ages to get someone & it's my fault apparently for not knowing where to go in the first place. Had I known Asda would fix it as a 'good will' gesture, I wouldn't had all this carry on (to & fro). The lady from Trading Standards mentioned taking it to the 'small claims' court, but that I would have to pay £65 & I might not win. Took time out to think about it and have decided not to proceed as I can't afford to pay for something that wouldn't be worth it (£164 in total - for recorder box & fee) incase I do lose. Have decided to no longer buy electrical stuff from Asda, Sainsbury's offer extended warranty on all their products, so might give them a try sometime. Thanks for all your help & advice, it was very much appreciated. All the very best - Cheers

Posted by Dott (8 posts) on Friday 11 June 2010 11:52AM

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Dott: It is a bit of a shame that Asda don't really care what Trading Standards say and the only option is going to the small claims court, which costs money.

Thanks.

Posted by Briantist platinum

(21,369 posts) on Saturday 12 June 2010 8:17AM

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You should take it to the small claims court. You will win, because it will never reach court - they will settle immediately. (map)

Posted by Gordon (16 posts) on Saturday 12 June 2010 8:25PM

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Hi Gordon, even if I did win at the small claims court, I've stilled paid £164 for a recorder box which wouldn't be worth it. I wouldn't get the £65 back & have decided that I don't want any more stress over it. Briantist gave me good advice & I appreciated his help. Thank you anyway - Cheers

Posted by Dott (8 posts) on Sunday 13 June 2010 10:10AM

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Dott: When you make a Small Claims Court claim, you get everything back, including your costs.

Posted by Briantist platinum

(21,369 posts) on Sunday 13 June 2010 10:32AM

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Hi Briantist, the lady from Trading Standards never explained that bit to me & that's what I thought would happen with the money no matter what the outcome was! If that was explained better to me then I would've considered there and then to go ahead as I had enough money at the time. Maybe because I've taken time out to think about it, I might have lost out? Will try and give the lady from Trading Standards a call during the week to see how long I have left to consider going to small claims court. Once again, thank you for your help & advice, glad you know more about this stuff & know that I really appreciate it. Cheers

Posted by Dott (8 posts) on Sunday 13 June 2010 11:56AM

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Hi Dott, its your shout and I fully respect that. To me, these things are like a red rag to a bull and I would have been pretty confident of getting either replacement or full purchasde price refunded. (map)

Posted by Gordon (16 posts) on Sunday 13 June 2010 8:52PM

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I have just bought a freeview HD TV, but cant get HD. I live in the Rutherglen area, is their a problem with freeview HD?

Posted by John Chambers (1 post) on Thursday 17 June 2010 9:41PM

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i live in leith and can't pick up freeview hd from craigkelly, can i get this from black hill easily?

Posted by alex (1 post) on Friday 18 June 2010 12:06AM

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Problems on the Black Hill Transmitter
Having recently purchased a Freeview HD Box and unable to pick up HD (althogh I checked my postcode on theFreeview HD post code check)I have stumbled across this Black hill web site which show the HD is working at below average and only transmitting at half the wattage of the other channels, could this be why I am having prolems (post code G67 3BH)?

Posted by Roger (1 post) on Sunday 20 June 2010 9:40PM

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John/Roger ,

I'm having the same problem , full freeview channels but no HD ones. G13 area , although I put it down to communal aerial system filtering out frequency here.

Posted by Davie (6 posts) on Monday 21 June 2010 6:06PM

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Davie: Have you tried to do a manual tune on C59? Some receivers need a bit of prompting to store channels in more than one mode.If it turns out that the signal is too weak it may be that it is not possible to increase the gain at the head end without the analogue signals overloading everyones tuner.It is unlikely that individual channel filters are in use. Check that no VCR or sky box has the RF modulator set to C59.

Posted by KMJ,Derby silver

(238 posts) on Monday 21 June 2010 8:10PM

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Roger: Yes, the current service that will run until Wednesday 22nd June 2011 is a special low-power "preview". The power will be 100,000 W, 10 times stronger after switchover.

However, you might want to check Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice first, as this might be the problem.

Posted by Briantist platinum

(21,369 posts) on Monday 21 June 2010 8:57PM

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I have a sony bravia ex703. Also have the correct ariel and mast head amplifer giving me 100% SD signal from blackhill. HD on the other hand is a bit of hit or miss. Some time I have 75 to 92% Signal Quality with 56 to 70% Strength.Most days it comes and goes. Thought at first it was atmospheric conditions, but now it happening regardless of weather. Watching the readings in system info, they fluctuate between 88% and zero, very annoying!! (Postcode FK10) (map)

Posted by Adrian (2 posts) on Tuesday 22 June 2010 3:21PM

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Thanks KMJ : Tried the manual scan of C59 at both 8MHz & 7MHz but signal strength showed 0% and sure enough got nothing. Checked Sky box and its set at C68.

Saw the info about aerial @ Freeview -
Home Resolutions About Freeview HD About Freeview HD Do you have a shared or communal aerial system and want to get HD? (G133EG)

Posted by Davie (6 posts) on Tuesday 22 June 2010 5:47PM

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Davie: Just to check, you do have a Freeview HD device, not just a HDTV with Freeview? All the UK channels are 8MHz wide.

Posted by Briantist platinum

(21,369 posts) on Tuesday 22 June 2010 5:52PM

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Adrian: The masthead amplifier should be compatible. Is that the only amplifier?

It is always worth checking Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .

Posted by Briantist platinum

(21,369 posts) on Tuesday 22 June 2010 6:01PM

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Briantist: Its a Humax HD-FOX T2 Freeview HD box. When you do manual tune you get to choose between 8/7MHz - just thought I'd try both in case :) (map)

Posted by Davie (6 posts) on Tuesday 22 June 2010 6:19PM

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Davie: It seems strange that you are getting "0%" when you get "100%" on all the other multiplexes. You wouldn't expect that.

Posted by Briantist platinum

(21,369 posts) on Tuesday 22 June 2010 6:33PM

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Briantist: I agree , thats why I thought it was the frequency being filtered out as per the link I posted a few messages above. It was only when I saw John & Roger having similar problems that I thought it might be something else going on. (map)

Posted by Davie (6 posts) on Tuesday 22 June 2010 7:01PM

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Davie: Yes. Without professional equipment is it hard to know what else to suggest.

Posted by Briantist platinum

(21,369 posts) on Wednesday 23 June 2010 8:20AM

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Briantist: No problem , thanks for the suggestions. I've contacted the owner of the flats to check with them and am awaiting a reply.
I've borrowed an all-in-one indoor HD aerial that I'll try when I get home from work to see if I can at least get some sort of signal on C59 or if its a general problem.

Thanks again

Posted by Davie (6 posts) on Wednesday 23 June 2010 12:37PM

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Davie: Let me know if it works.

Posted by Briantist platinum

(21,369 posts) on Wednesday 23 June 2010 1:49PM

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Briantist - Yeah masthead is only amp, made sure it was compatable before buying. cheers Adrian. (map)

Posted by Adrian (2 posts) on Wednesday 23 June 2010 7:54PM

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Briantist : Still nothing on C59 with internal HD aerial. Could get about 50-60% strength on normal Freeview with aerial but nothing on C59 no matter what position/direction.
Looks like I'll need to wait for the switchover when power is increased. (map)

Posted by Davie (6 posts) on Wednesday 23 June 2010 10:02PM

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Davie: I would suggest Freesat, but you might not want to spend any more money. How much is it going to cost to get High Definition TV? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .

Posted by Briantist platinum

(21,369 posts) on Wednesday 23 June 2010 10:04PM

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The new big mast at Blackhill switched over in June 2010. We live near Lanark and have had good reception for 25 years although we are in an area of poor reception. We have been able to get all five channels and since we got free view didgy box have been able to get all the stations. Since the big mast came into operation we can`t get Channels 3,4,5,6,7,8,even although we get the new recommended aerial. What is the explanation for this?.

Posted by Aitken (1 post) on Monday 5 July 2010 11:23AM

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I live in Haddington (EH41 3LJ) right on the edge of The Blackhill signal reach. I receive all standard definition channels mostly very well, the exception being when an occasional rouge vehicle passes by on a fairly busy road outside.
I recently bought a Full HD Sony Bravia tv with the hope of watching The World Cup and Wimbledon in high definition but I’m unable to receive the HD channels even after performing several program scans.
I’m wondering if this could be caused by one or more of these things:-
The transmitter output of the 3 HD channels is half that of the standard definition channels?
I need a new aerial?
I need to replace the signal booster (amplifier)?
I need to replace old brown coloured aerial cable with specified digital cable (I have a real of digital satellite cable)?
(map)

Posted by David Rose (3 posts) on Tuesday 6 July 2010 6:49PM

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David Rose: If you are on the edge of the service area the lower power of the HD Mux could well be a significant factor. Do you receive Film4 on MuxD? If this is ok the aerial is suitable for the HD frequency. Replacing the cable with a good quality double screened variety should help with interference rejection even if it does not help with the HD problem.An aerial with more gain might help,as could more precise alignment or slight repositioning of the aerial but check first that no VCR or Sky box has the RF output set around C59.

Posted by KMJ,Derby silver

(238 posts) on Tuesday 6 July 2010 8:41PM

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Ah ha! Thanks all, Film 4/itv 4 coverage seems to wax and wane here in Govanhill Glasgow G42. It's an upgraded communal aerial

I thought it was channel shuffling, as I noticed it at prompted retunes, but it appears C59 comes and goes due to the weak signal.

In the past few days it dissappeared whenever the Tour de france was on and came back for Bergerac or something!!

Posted by iain (1 post) on Tuesday 13 July 2010 9:05PM

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Hi
I tuned in my friends brand new Samsung LEC580 40 inch Freeview HD tv last night in post code EH48 (Bathgate) but despite tuning the tv in twice I could not get the tv to pick up any HD channels. I even did a firmware update to the tv but this made no difference. He has a roof aerial with good signal strength and can pick up Film4 no problem. Does that mean he should be able to pick up the Freeview HD channels? Would a manual scan possibly pick them up? Thanks. Fred.

Posted by Fred Glaser (1 post) on Friday 16 July 2010 8:40AM

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Looking at the table above Fred the HD multiplex (BBC B) from Black Hill is currently on a lower power (half the others), he may need a booster or a better aerial to get HD ? Check reception with the Digital UK post code device putting in your full post code and also compare it with the prediction tool on this site.

Posted by Pete gold

(359 posts) on Friday 16 July 2010 10:29AM

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I have just got the Technika HD PVR and like others here can get all freeview channels except HD. ML4 postcode in bellshill and can see the masts all lit up from my window! Manual tune on CH59 gives 0% signal strength/quality, others are 60% strength/100% quality. Loft aerial.

Posted by Graham (1 post) on Saturday 17 July 2010 11:39PM

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Tour de France highlights are on ITV1 overnight odd nights check your guide for times.

Posted by Pete gold

(359 posts) on Sunday 18 July 2010 10:06PM, 6 days ago.

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Aitken: Black Hill has not in any way 'switched', it will do this on Wednesday 22nd June 2011.

Posted by Briantist platinum

(21,369 posts) on Wednesday 21 July 2010 8:39AM, 5 days ago.

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