Hundreds of digital television viewers who are missing out on channels because of poor reception will have to wait five years for a decent picture.

During the last three months householders across Brighton and Hove and the surrounding areas have had no signal for channels including ITV, ITV3, Channel 4 and E4.

Digital UK, which is responsible for the nationwide conversion from analogue to digital transmission, told The Argus that reception would not improve until Brighton and Hove officially changed over to digital television in 2012.

It advised customers who cannot wait that long to spend out on expensive cable television or further software such as a freesat' box, which costs £150.

The new system uses digital signals for broadcasting and receiving sound and pictures. It will be free to view but there will be a one-off cost for the specially designed receiver or 'digibox' to decode the signal.

The idea was that it would have better reception and could potentially transmit 65 television channels and 30 radio stations.

Brighton will be among the last areas to undergo the changes, which are being managed piecemeal throughout the UK and began this month in Whitehaven, Cumbria.

A Digital UK spokesman said that the recent problems were caused by the fact that all digital programmes were being broadcast at half power.

If the power was increased it would interfere with televisions still receiving analogue transmissions.

He said: "The message is hold on until 2012. We recognise it's frustrating for the areas affected who want a stronger Freeview signal.

"But, when we switch over Brighton will be served by a transmitter on the Isle of Wight and we will turn up the power and the signal will improve."

The news that customers must now wait five years or spend more money on software for better television reception has angered some viewers.

Tehmtan Framroze, of Roundway, Coldean, Brighton, had to pay for an engineer to help him pick up ITV3 and is still having problems. He said: "I think people are putting up with it rather than complaining. I feel it's unfair and unreasonable for them to expect us to call an engineer every time it happens because there is a design fault or something."

Martin Cooper, 39, of Aberdeen Road, Brighton, also paid out an additional £110 on top of the £30 cost of his digital box. He said: "It's a little better with the aerial but there are still channels like ITV and E4 that freeze up and jump or click.

"The worry for me is they invent something to make it better but it just makes it worse. And will we wait another five years just to find out it doesn't improve?"

Tim Norman, 37, of Salisbury Road, Hove, has had digital television for two years. He blamed the quality of his set top box when he lost ITV2 and ITV3 three months ago. He said: "Now I've discovered it's not down to the quality of the equipment. It's a bit irritating because there are things I want to watch but can't.

"I would get cable but because I live in a protected building we have to get a specialist aerial installation at a cost of hundreds of pounds."

Westdean television engineering company Astra TV has dealt with dozens of problems relating to digital reception. Company owner Kevin Henry believes the problems are caused by a faulty transmitter at Whitehawk.

He said: "They're telling everybody you're not supposed to get digital until 2012 when the reception will be perfect.

"But people have invested in a freeview box on the understanding they're going to pick up all these channels including ITV. Now they're finding they can't get it. It's not very satisfactory at all really."

France is due to switch over to digital in in 2011 but this is not expected to cause further disruption to the signal in Brighton.

John Steele, of Digital UK, said "There's a long history of reception problems along the south coast some of which is caused by interference from abroad. It's not a new phenomenon.

"But, the bottom line is regulators like OFCOM are negotiating with France to ally our switch over timetables so that interference doesn't occur.

It's not looking that it will cause problems because OFCOM are very confident they can come to an agreement with France."

Tell us about your viewing problems at www.theargus.co.uk/news