TELEVISION providers embattled in a blame game are no closer to securing a stable signal for Lake Cargelligo residents.
Since the digital switchover took place on June 5 last year, homes across the Lake Cargelligo region have been thrown into a television "black hole", unable to pick up free-to-air channels without assistance.
Residents have been left with the options of installing a Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) system or pay TV both of which come at a hefty price.
A spokeswoman for the digital switchover said the lack of signal was the responsibility of local broadcasters.
She confirmed that prior to the switchover last year, analogue-only TV services for Southern Cross and WIN were broadcast from a local "self-help" transmitter site at the council water tower on Canada Street.
"Local broadcasters decided not to upgrade the site to digital," the spokeswoman said.
"The choice to convert sites to digital is a commercial decision for broadcasters. Broadcasters have not informed the Digital Switchover Taskforce of any plans to establish a digital transmitter site to serve the Lake Cargelligo area."
She said given that the local transmitter was not being upgraded to digital, it was now predicted that people living in Lake Cargelligo would only be able to receive variable digital television coverage from the Mt Bingar transmitter site in Griffith.
"Variable coverage means some people may be able to receive adequate terrestrial digital signals with the right antenna," she said.
"However, others may experience problems such as the signal dropping out or the picture breaking up."
But WIN group business director Shirley Brown said the poor reception issues could be caused by people's TV antennae.
"I am advised that the digital service is available at Lake Cargelligo but residents will need to upgrade their antenna to a UHF high gain antenna," Mrs Brown said.
"It is not known whether these people have a VHF or UHF antenna if they have a VHF antenna that may be causing their problem.
"Whilst WIN is currently broadcasting its service in VHF, we recommend that a UHF antenna be installed as later this year there is a frequency restack and I am told that WIN and the ABC will be changing from VHF to UHF."
Mrs Brown said WIN had not received any complaints and recommended that residents go to www.digitalready.gov.au to access reception information.
