The Stockland Hill transmitter and its 24 relays serving Exeter, parts of Devon, Somerset and Dorset, completed the digital switchover on 6 May 2009 and 20 May 2009.

Digital switchover (DSO) complete at Stockland Hill transmitter group

The Stockland Hill transmitter and its 24 relays serving Exeter, parts of Devon, Somerset and Devon made the switch in two stages:

At Stage 1 (DSO1) - 6 May 2009
BBC Two analogue ceased broadcasting permanently and the first BBC multiplex, Mux BBC A, launched at 8k and 64QAM.

At Stage 2 (DSO2) - 20 May 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.

Later technical event

In 2012, international restrictions on the Stockland Hill antenna for the commercial multiplexes (SDN, ARQ A, ARQ B) will be lifted.  Whilst the actual date is to be defined, in 2012 SDN, ARQ A and ARQ B will increase in power levels reaching their final frequency positions post switchover. These changes will take place after switchover in France and at the Rowridge transmitter group.

Self Helps in the Stockland Hill transmitter group

Ofcom has confirmed that there are 3 analogue self helps in the Stockland Hill transmitter group. Both Ladram Bay and Freshwater Bay applied for a digital license.

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

Budleigh Salterton: a new relay for DSO

Budleigh Salterton is a new relay which launched at the completion of DSO2, to serve the area of Budleigh Satlerton and Cockwood.  This site has been built to provide an alternative service post-DSO, and is designed to serve those who were previously watching Stockland Hill (and some who may have been watching Beacon Hill).

All viewers dependant upon Budlegh Salterton will need a new group C/D aerial pointed in a different direction to their old aerial.  This is because Budleigh Salterton is not in-line with either Beacon Hill or Stockland Hill which they may have previously been watching.

Aerials, group changes

At Stockland Hill, the channels used to broadcast pre digital switchover DTT are all within the same aerial group - group A.

At switchover, all multiplexes remained in analogue aerial group, except at the following 2 relays - Chideock VP and Chideock HP.

At DSO at Chideock VP and Chideock HP, Mux BBC A moves just outside the analogue aerial group - from aerial group B to group C/D.  It is likely that the majority of existing aerials will be able to satisfactorily receive this multiplex.

Aerials, communal systems

Channel changes at Beer, Bampton, Weymouth, Bincombe Hill, Dawlish, Dunsford, Honiton, Chideock VP and Chideock HP will mean that channelised communal systems needed to be retuned at DSO1 and DSO2.

Adjacent transmitter groups

A household in Torbay or south Devon is most likely to be watching the Stockland Hill transmitter group. However, they could also be watching the Beacon Hill, Caradon Hill, Huntshaw Cross, Wenvoe, Mendip or Rowridge transmitter groups.