The Caldbeck transmitter group and its 48 relays serving Cumbria, south west Scotland and the south Lakes, completed the digital switchover on 24 June 2009 and 22 July 2009.

Digital switchover (DSO) complete at Caldbeck transmitter group

The Caldbeck transmitter and its 48 relays serving Cumbria, south west Scotland and the south Lakes, made the switch in two stages:

At Stage 1 (DSO1) - 24 June 2009
BBC Two analogue ceased broadcasting permanently and the first BBC multiplex, Mux BBC A, launched at 8k and 64QAM.

At Stage 2 (DSO2) - 22 July 2009
All other analogue and low powered digital services ceased broadcasting permanently and the high powered digital multiplexes launched at 8k and 64QAM.

For futher information on 8k and 64QAM transmission modes please click here.

Arqiva FEC (Forward Error Correction) mode trial at Caldbeck transmitter

Please note - Ofcom have approved Arqiva's proposed trial to test an alternative FEC (Forward Error Correction) mode on ARQ B at the Caldbeck main transmitter at DSO2 for a period of 2 months (from 22 July 2009 to approximately 16 September 2009). The alternative FEC mode, if trial on ARQ B is successful, would have the benefit of improving spectrum efficiency and potentially enabling additional services to be carried on the Arqiva multiplexes.  ARQ A will remain on the standard FEC mode, to provide a point of comparison with the trial mode.

Later technical events

Caldbeck

At the Caldbeck transmitter only, in 2012, at the end of the Divis transmitter group digital switchover, the commercial multiplexes SDN, ARQ A and ARQ B will increase in power levels reaching their final frequency positions post switchover (M1).

Kendal

On 10 November 2009, Kendal Mux BBC A will move to its final post DSO channel (H3).

Self Helps in the Caldbeck (Scotland) transmitter group

Ofcom have confirmed that there are 3 analogue self helps in the Caldbeck (Scotland) transmitter group, their status is as follows:

• Glentrool - owners have not applied for a digital license;
  
• Carsphairn - owners have not applied for a digital license;
• Newluce - owners have applied for a digital license.

Self Helps in the Caldbeck (England) transmitter group

Ofcom have confirmed that there are 3 analogue self helps in the Caldbeck (England) transmitter group, their status is as follows:

• Boreland - owners have applied for a digital license;
  
• Deepdale - owners have not applied for a digital license;
• Eskdalemuir - owners have not applied for a digital license.

Self Helps in the Kendal transmitter group

Ofcom have confirmed that there are  5 analogue self helps in the Kendal transmitter group, their status is as follows:

• Kentmere A and Kentmere B - owners have applied for a digital license;
  
• Garsdale - owners have not applied for a digital license.

For further information about self helps please visit the Ofcom website.

Aerials, group changes

At switchover, all multiplexes remain in analogue aerial group at all transmitters.

Aerials, communal systems

Channel changes at Ainstable, Caldbeck, Creetown, Crosthwaite, Dumfries South, Glenluce, Grasmere, Kendal, Lowther Valley, Millthrop and Pooley Bridge will mean that channelised communal systems will need to be reconfigured at DSO1 and DSO2.

Adjacent transmitter groups

A household in the Cumbria, south west Scotland and south Lakes area is most likely to be watching the Caldbeck transmitter group. However, they could also be watching the Douglas, Selkirk, Winter Hill, Black Hill, Craigkelly, Chatton, Llanddona, Darvel or Divis transmitter groups.