Text Availability On Bbc?

[moggie 939]

Hi
I used to be able to access Text on BBC by pressing the text button on my remote and it was almost always available any time of day on all BBC channels but.................recently I press the button and nothing happens!

This morning I did eventually get it to appear by going into Channel 80 just after 9am, but switching back to BBC1 or 2 and nothing.

Are BBC selecting the times so as not to let us miss the programmes they are showing - or am I paranoid. It makes no difference if I am on an HD BBC channel or standard.

What is happening?

Thank everyone

[dzug2]

It's working for me at the moment

[Vicasso]

If you're looking for CEEFAX, the service has finished.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20032882

[Dodger666]

I sometimes can't access teletext on Freeview BBC 1, 2 & 80 by pressing the Text button but it generally works for me by pressing the red button.

It never works on BBC HD channels, Freeview, but does on Sky on another TV.

[Buenchico]

A button actually labelled 'Text' would normally only be there to access the old analogue service which, as Vicasso indicates, is no longer available.

'Red button' text services (which is what I suspect you're actually referring to) require a stronger TV signal than normal TV reception does. The signal strength received at your aerial doesn't remain constant. It's affected by the 11-year sunspot cycle, individual solar flares, atmospheric pressure, precipitation, interference from other electrical devices in your home (such as computers, routers, TV sets, etc, etc) and similar interference from your neighbours' houses, as well as many other factors. You're obviously getting sufficient signal strength to access the red button text services at certain times of day but not at others. Your aerial will also be better at receiving some multiplexes (= 'channel bundles') than others, which is why you're sometimes able to access text via Channel 80 but not via Channels 1 or 2.

Try going directly to BBC Red Button on Channel 200 and/or improving your signal strength with one of these:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/1-way-aerial-amplifier-rt67x

[Grandma_Yiddo]

I was using the text button on BBC 1 up to and including 20th January and it worked fine for me. Now back here for a while,let us know what happens. I use text on BBC 1 all the time when we're back home.

[moggie 939]

Thanks everyone. I understand now.