Challenge plus one, UKTVG2 plus one, even Discovery plus 1.5! These are all channels which are simulcast an hour (or 90 minutes) after their parent channel. I friend of mine a number of months ago, pointed out they are of little use, however BBC one plus one, would actually be quite handy.

Last week after a large advertising campaign, Channel 4 plus one was launched on Sky, Cable and Freeview services. Last night, due to a clash in programs I wanted to watch, I decided to not record something on c4, and just watch it an hour later on c4+1. Unfortunately, when tuning in on my Sky+ box, I found a garbled picture and sound. I tested loads of other channels, but only c4+1 was effected.

This morning I have done a little search on the web, and found this is a problem being suffered by many viewers, and has been for many years. The frequencies c4+1 is using once converted by the LNB (device on the end of the dish arm) are exactly the same as those used by digital phones. Guess what I have next to my sky box?

Previous to c4+1s launch, these particular frequencies were being used by silly dating / shopping channels that nobody watched and therefore didn't cause the same level of viewer annoyance.

So currently, most people using Sky and Dect phones can not view c4+1. Bit of a blunder from Channel 4's point of view.

I have raised a complaint with channel 4 and expect a reply within seven days.

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17th Sept 2007

A viewer relations rep by the name of Jamie has been entertaining my emails, however he doesn't seem to understand the problem.

I am aware of the issue, and know if I am desperate to watch c4+1 I can turn my phone base station off. However the average Sky viewer will not know this. I can see one of two things happening... those viewers forget about c4+1 and not watch it (reducing viewing figures and therefore {I assume} advertising revenue) or they call sky and pay for an engineer to come out, who might not even know what the problem is, and probably wont be able to fix it.

I have looked at other satellite companies, and most avoid the dreaded 12480Mhz frequency, I suspect because of this very issue. Astra seem to be selling a transponder not fit for purpose.

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20th Sept 2007

Unfortunately I think Jamie has got fed up with my emails. I received a reply today which was blank. I guess this clears the complaint out of the system. All I can do is ask if this problem also effects you... contact channel 4.