SET top boxes at the ready... because Oxfordshire joins the digital television revolution today.

At 1.15am this morning, the old analogue BBC2 signal was switched off at the county transmitter in Beckley.

It marked the first step in the digital switchover for 400,000 homes in our area, before the rest of the analogue channels are turned off on September 28.

From then on, anyone with a non-digital television and using a conventional outdoor aerial will need a Freeview box.

Last night people were reminded to retune their televisions and rwhere they can get advice.

Engineers were yesterday set to work through the night until 6am, led by switchover manager Andy Elston.

He said: “Analogue BBC2 has been switched off for good.

“It’s very exciting. It’s the culmination of a lot of people’s hard work and it is very rewarding once it’s done. But it can be sad for a lot of the engineers who worked here for decades.”

Analogue viewers will today find Channel Four on their usual BBC2 channel, as signals are changed.

Many may also have found channels being switched off overnight as the work took place.

Once the switchover is completed, on September 28, about 64 per cent of UK homes will be receiving the new digital signal.

Regional manager for Digital UK, Peter Monteith, said: “The main reason for this switchover is fairness. Before it started, three-quarters of us could watch Freeview, but 25 per cent of us had poor signals or no signal at all.

“This will bring Freeview channels, a minimum of 15, to anyone with an analogue aerial.”

He added: “Not to mention widescreen TV, electronic menus and audio descriptions.”

There is also help on hand for anyone confused by the process, and Digital UK is expecting to help about 10,000 people in the coming weeks.

The switchover help scheme is available to those aged 75 or over, those who have lived in a care home for at least six months, those who receive some disability benefits, or those who are registered blind or partially sighted.

Caroline Jacobs, from Independent research charity Ricability, said: “For some television viewers in Oxford, particularly the elderly, the idea of the digital switchover can be very worrying, and it is up to us to reassure them that going digital does not have to be daunting.

Regional manager Ed Jezard said: “No matter how hard we try and get the message out there, we know people will need help and they will need advice from a friendly voice.

“It is not too late for people to get help. We will be there until October 28. But we would also urge everyone to think about people who might not be prepared. Any neighbours or family members who need help.”