Changes to Freeview stop TV boxes

The Labgear DTT100 is one of the boxes affected

Some television viewers who watch Freeview in Cornwall, Devon and Dorset could be forced to buy new set-top boxes because of transmitter changes.

The network is being enhanced to accommodate extra channels that six of the older receivers cannot cope with.

People living in the Plymouth, Exeter and Torbay areas, plus parts of east Devon and Dorset, could be affected.

Freeview said such boxes were less than 1% of the equipment in circulation, but that new ones would need to be bought.

SET-TOP BOXES Daewoo DS608P Labgear DTT100 Portland DP100 Triax DVB 2000T

When Freeview was launched in 2002, 30 television channels were available. There are now 48, plus radio stations and interactive services.

Freeview said that to cope with the increase it had to make changes to the network and was working on transmitters at Plympton, Caradon Hill, Stockland Hill and Beacon Hill.

SET-TOP BOX AND VCR Bush IDVCR01 Daewoo SV900

The changes affect only four models of set-top boxes and two combined boxes and video recorders.

Although the number of affected boxes represents about 1% of equipment, Freeview said the number of people who had contacted it and the boxes' manufacturers so far suggested the actual number could be much lower.

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