LCN 304 has just appeared from Winter Hill on the BBC HD mux - named "301 HD". It is showing the same static video frame that was reported previously when the stream was hidden.

This is a temporary HD channel for the duration of the Olympics.

It's a pity that 304 is going to be a duplicate of what is on 301 in SD instead of giving us a real extra stream of Sport.

Might have been better to use the Mux space to give 'Freesat HD' two or three extra SD channels instead.

Afraid if you want more streams, you'll have to get Freesat or a good internet connection.

Well I guess they cant do that as it will mean freeview users with non HD equipment will not have access.

Hmm why 304, what is 303 being used for? I've had "301 HD" on my EPG for a while now, glad I got the name right.

Would be nice for them to use this channel pre-Olympics too for things that are often relegated to the red button (e.g. Moto GP) but maybe they haven't got the playout facilities ready yet.

303 is used pre-DSO for the Mux B interactive stream. It used to carry BBC News Multiscreen, but now doesn't, and is just the LCN attached to BBC Red Button on Mux B.

Nearly right! 305 carried the news multiscreen. 303 is used only in pre DSO areas for legacy compatibility with BBC teletext.

No one has ever explained why but I think that certain early STBs could not display hidden channels without LCNs.

I'd always understood Cbeebies' Red Button Digital Text 5900 utilised 303. Resetting my PVR and STB next Wednesday here for the Dover transmitter so will take a look at how 5900 works then ...

Has it always been 305? At one point, I'm sure, 303 was used for split-screen BBC Parliament and two News Multiscreen screens.

No CBeebies text uses an 80kbps stream available to all BBC red button channels including 303.

Yes it was always 305 but 303 was then used for captions and masking data over the 305 quad split video.

Before 305 BBC Parliament only existed in quarter screen on LCN81 (with two other mini screens) previously LCN85 previously LCN45 (with 703 for data). Before Freeview LCN45 was audio only.

303 would have been removed years ago if it had no current function.

That's the time I'm talking about; you're right, it would of course have been 703. I'm pretty sure that that's the LCN that was linked to the screen containing Parliament and the two multiscreen screens - when you selected news multiscreen, boxes like the old Grundig breadbin would show it switching to 703.

According to DMOL, the new LCN304 is not present on the temporary HD mux being radiated from Pontop Pyke. They could be wrong of course. Anyone know what's really going on in Tyneside?

Now that's an interesting question

Does the 'pre DSO' HD mux have a more robust set of parameters I wonder, if so the 5th slot simply won't fit!

Nah it's identical and probably the same feed as an existing distribution either London or Granada. It almost certainly contains LCN117 The Space as well as LCN304. That would make two versions of the Space available from Pontop Pyke (one going into the 800s) but without confirmation we can't be sure. One thing we can be certain of is that DMOL are subject to errors; not showing LCN193 & 194 at present. THERE MUST BE ONE PONTOP PYKE HD VIEWER ON HERE??????

It doesn't contain The Space - that was confirmed at the time (as you say, if it did it'd be a pointless duplicate)

I'd be surprised if 304 wasn't on there though.

If Pontop Pike is anything like here in Dover at the moment, you will be seeing two CBBCs, one at 70 -with the programmes -and another at 73 with an onscreen message.

304 is being carried by the HD multiplex on Pontop Pike. I think it came on last night as I had to re-tune one of my sets. Ignore my stated location as I've just moved back 'up north'

Thank you very much for that. Could you also confirm whether the HD mux is carrying LCN117 The Space as well as it being on Mux B? If so there should be a version in the 800s on Pontop Pyke only.

Ray. It is Pike not Pyke.

Radiomyke

301HD has appeared on LCN 304 via Wenvoe, just retuned my Bush DVB 680 to get it

I prefer Pyke even if it isn't in the dictionary but thank you for pointing out the correct spelling.

Ray ( or Rai?) yes Pontop Pike is broadcasting 117; I tried yesterday and couldn't make the Internet connection but it is working fine today via Sony set WiFi and Virgin Hub.

That one we knew but I was wondering whether 117 is coming from Mux B AND the HD mux. If so the second version might be found in the 800s Pontop Pike only.