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For the last six years, I have answered many thousands of personal emails that you have sent to UK Free TV.

Sadly, I am unable to offer this personal service at the moment.

Until I can restore this service, please can you leave any questions you have on an appropriate page, where they will be answered as soon as possible, or below, if you can't figure out where to ask.

I look forward to your questions!



Help with TV/radio stations?
BBC Three Linear channel re-opens1
Will car radios have to be replaced?2
Will UKTV History and FTN eventually be available on fSfS or Freesat? They are 3
Could u please explain why there are no subtitles on most of your films terresti4
Can I pay as you go for British Europsort on my digital tv without subscribing?5
In this section

Comments
Friday, 14 December 2012
D
Don Archer
2:42 PM
Weybridge

Hi Briantist,

Are you aware that the ukfreetv web page for checking on BBC engineering works has not been working for a few days?

All one gets is the error message:
Fatal error: Call to undefined function facebooklike() in /home/admintv/public_html/reception_transmitters_index.php on line 40


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Don Archer's 2 posts GB flag
Don's: mapD's Freeview map terrainD's terrain plot wavesD's frequency data D's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

7:46 PM

Don Archer: Thanks for pointing that out. The page is now working again. BBC Transmitter Engineeering information | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice

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Briantist's 38,929 posts GB flag
Sunday, 16 December 2012
Kari Rives
6:28 AM

I'm an American and I love some of the shows on British television. However, there's no way for me to watch them on television (because I live in America). Is there a website I can visit to buy individual episodes of shows like we can here in America?

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Kari Rives's 1 post US flag
S
Steven Tye
11:39 AM
Newcastle Upon Tyne

water has been spilt on sky box.i have dried it off,unplugged it and we've been told to take out the card but we don't know how to get card out of box as we can't see it.How do we remove the card'

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Steven Tye's 1 post GB flag
Steven's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

5:28 PM

Steven Tye: Its assumed that you must be referring to a Sky HD box? as otherwise you would see the card in the lower slot in the middle of the front, if it is an HD box then the card should be located in a pull down flap on the lower right hand side of the fascia.

By the way water can still be trapped under the capacitors in the power supply, and so you should really take the casing off, sit the box on its end, and then blow mildly warm air from a hair dryer on its medium setting over the power unit area of the PCB for at least 5 minutes or so.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
S
Stephen P
sentiment_satisfiedGold

6:42 PM

Kari Rives

Do you know what a "Proxy Server" is? If not, google it.

I have heard that all BBCi stuff, as well as live TV, is available via a UK proxy!

link to this comment
Stephen P's 1,173 posts GB flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

6:59 PM

Stephen P: Which, I imagine, is an illegal workaround.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

8:02 PM

Stephen P: Its basically a system whereby a person residing within the UK appears in the electronic sense to any website they contact that they are located elsewhere, for example Germany.

The fact of them "appearing" as being outwith the UK allows them to download material that would be blocked if a UK IP address was detected by any site they might wish to contact.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Monday, 17 December 2012
V
Viv Gunton
12:41 PM

Why am I still intermitently getting a "splintered" picture with squeaks on the sound with ITV3 from Hannington?
This used to happen while the old sytem was running but we were told that this would stop when digital was turned up to full power.

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Viv Gunton's 15 posts GB flag
K
KMJ,Derby
sentiment_satisfiedGold

6:56 PM

Viv Gunton: What is the signal strength and quality on the SDN mux (ITV3) compared with that on say BBC1 or ITV1? It is possible that interference which only affects SDN is present, or the aerial position is such that it receives that mux less well than the others. The transmitter power at Hannington was not raised significantly at switchover, it was mainly viewers towards Guildford who would have noticed an improvement following the removal of restrictions in that direction.

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KMJ,Derby's 1,811 posts GB flag
S
Stephen P
sentiment_satisfiedGold

7:26 PM

jb38 - Indeed! Though the point here is to appear to be in the UK.

I doubt if any illegality is involved. IIRC you don't even sign anything to access BBC websites, so they clearly impose no civil obligations either.

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Stephen P's 1,173 posts GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

8:16 PM

Stephen P: Yes quite so, and I do realise that you were only indicating to Kari Rives a possible way to obtain UK TV programmes in the US without being blocked when an IP address from outwith the UK was detected, what I mentioned was just an example of the same thing being done but in reverse.

I personally dont really know anything about the legalities of using a proxy, but it has to be admitted that by using one for the purposes referred to involves an element of deception, but whether its deception in a legal sense is another matter, although I suppose the legal aspect might only come into it if the proxy was being used for criminal purposes.


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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 18 December 2012
S
Stephen P
sentiment_satisfiedGold

6:24 PM

I suspect the BBC gives not a fig, so long as it is just for personal use. But because they don't have overseas rights to a lot of their content have to make some impression of limiting it.

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Stephen P's 1,173 posts GB flag
A
A Jamieson
8:46 PM
Bangor

Is RTE. available on Freeview to all NI. Thanks

link to this comment
A Jamieson's 20 posts GB flag
A's: mapA's Freeview map terrainA's terrain plot wavesA's frequency data A's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Thursday, 20 December 2012
M
Martin H
2:12 PM

According to Digital UK the Pennsylvania (Exeter) transmitter provides 17 TV channels (2 of these are for children and 2 are news related). This is a bit of shock after having got used to 50 plus freeview channels elsewhere. Does anyone know if this situation is likely to change?

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Martin H's 2 posts GB flag
M
Michael
sentiment_satisfiedGold

2:32 PM

Martin H: The Stockland Hill transmitter has all of the Freeview channels and covers some of Exeter - did the postcode checker indicate that you'd be able to receive a signal from there?

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Michael's 358 posts GB flag
Friday, 21 December 2012
V
Viv Gunton
10:15 AM

KMJ Derby. Thank you for your reply. I regret to say that I am not a technician and have no means of measuring signal strength or quality.
The problem only seems to happen with high atmos. pressure and there has been some improvement since switchover.

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Viv Gunton's 15 posts GB flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

10:29 AM

Viv Gunton: TVs and set-top boxes usually provide a measure of signal strength and is usually found somewhere in the menu system.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
M
Martin H
10:52 AM

Michael: Digital uk (postcode checker) shows variable reception from Stockland Hill but limited to up to 17 channels.


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Martin H's 2 posts GB flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

11:12 AM

Martin H: Stockland Hill's COMs (those channels that the Pennsylvania transmitter does not carry) are on the same UHF channels (frequencies) as Rowridge's COMs. They are also on lower power than the PSBs which is probably so as to reduce the area of clashes between the two.

The predictor takes into account factors it thinks are relevant including the degradation from other stations (interference).

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

1:07 PM

Viv Gunton: In addition to that already said by KMJ,Derby and Dave Lindsay, as far as your type of query is concerned its essential that anyone offering assistance has knowledge of a persons location, yours at no time having been mentioned, this info being required purely for the purpose of assessing the signal levels expected wherever a person might be located within the stations coverage area, and with the assessment being made with reference to a useful technical facility called DUK's reception predictor, but one that can only be accessed via a post code or at least one from somewhere nearby, such as a shop, post office etc.

The other point to note being, that its also useful to know the model number of the receiver (TV or box) that a person is using, as some equipment is known to perform much better than others when operating under iffy reception conditions and where lower level atmospheric changes play a part in reception, something which unfortunately exists in many areas albeit that this fact only showed up when the much more critical digital service commenced, as prior to that when reception was via analogue the only indication of an unsatisfactory signal level was by variable (and intermittent) levels of grainy pictures being seen, or maybe even occasional spells of ghosting being noticed to the right hand side of the image.

Just thought that I would point these facts out as its not always understood why certain questions are asked.



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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Saturday, 22 December 2012
V
Viv Gunton
11:39 AM

jb38 & Dave Lindsay: thanks for your help. The next time I have time to spare I will search for the signal strength.
Meanwhile: postcode is RG291PH, the TV is a Sony Bravia KDL-26V40xx and the aerial is routed through a Sony RDR HXD995.

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Viv Gunton's 15 posts GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

12:33 PM

Viv Gunton: Thanks for the updated info, and which reveals that you are located at just under 14 miles away from the Hannington transmitter which is on a bearing of 285 degrees from your location.

Crystal Palace is also indicated at 40 miles away on a bearing of 71 degrees and these two stations are indicated as being roughly equal for reception possibilities as far as reliability is concerned.

However, on looking at what you have mentioned regarding your set up there is one thing that I would advise changing, that being not to route your TV's signal through the recorder as that can reduce its level, and in situations such as yours its always best to use a two way powered splitter which not only supplies each device with the same level of signal, but also gives each output a slight boost, and judging by what you had initially reported I feel that your signal would benefit from receiving a slight boost.



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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

1:00 PM

Viv Gunton: The manual for that TV is here:

http://pdf.crse.com/manua….pdf

Page 27 says that the signal level can be viewed via the menu:

Settings > Digital Set-up > Digital Set-up > System Information

Along with the signal strength, receivers usually give the UHF channel (frequency) to which they are tuned. This allows the user to check to see that it is tuned to the correct transmitter (the one to which the aerial faces). It is a good idea to ensure that you are tuned to the correct transmitter.

From Crystal Palace, ITV3 is on C25 and from Hannington it is on C41.

If it is wrong, then unplugging aerial trick should work as each transmitter uses frequencies that aren't intermingled and therefore scanned at different times. Should this be the case, then let us know.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
R
R H Yorke
2:17 PM

Sometimes the Guide for selection of programmes to be recorded has gaps and even complete omission of a channel particularly C4 and C5 . I have 2 TVs off a split aerial and whilst the one Guide is OK the other one may not be This happens enough to be very frustrating ----- your help would be vry much appreciated

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R H Yorke's 1 post GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

4:49 PM

R H Yorke: On the occasions where you find that Ch4 or Ch5 is missing is ITV1, ITV2 or More 4 also missing? because these are all on the same mux transmitter.

Your location and circumstances are unknown, but type of problem is frequently associated with viewers who reside in slightly iffy reception areas whereby the signal is varying in level & quality (particularly the latter) during any auto-tuning that's carried out, something that can this cause corruption in the data being loaded.

There really isn't anything you can do about this other than to carry out another auto-tune and hope that it loads OK, but though it "might" correct the problem if you carry out a "manual" tune on the mux channel involved and save the results.

Another and better method is to delete all the channels stored in the memory by carrying out a first time installation but stopping before it carries out the auto-tune as you want to manually tune in the mux concerned, then after checking the EPG list to ensure that these programmes are there (as only programmes on the mux scanned will be) then use the "add channels" facility to populate the EPG again.

Manual tuning is always being better anyway as when a channel is being scanned its not getting pulled along by the band (21 - 69) scanning circuitry.

By the way, although an iffy reception area was referred to it should be noted that this can also happen if the signal is verging on being excessively strong, as the symptoms experienced when in both these type of situations is exactly the same.

Unable though to advise on the mux channel to scan as your location is unknown, this having to be in the form or a post code, or at least from somewhere nearby such as a shop etc.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
A
alex
6:35 PM

i have a freeview pvr box, and a logic digital tv. As the tele can't record, but the digi box can. can i connect the two or will the fact that they are both receiving a signal mess things up? My mum had a virgin tv box connected to a freeview tv and it constantly seemed to be playing up! not sure if that was because the systems wont work together, or my mum's technical knowledge!! Thanks

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alex's 1 post GB flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

7:08 PM

alex: You can connect both and both can be receiving different channels without interfering with one another.

I'm not familiar with the V Box, but I am wondering if there is no need to feed the terrestrial aerial lead through it. Presumably all the channels you watch come from the cable connection and you watch via a scart lead, so I can't see that feeding the aerial into the V Box and out and into the TV performs any function. In which case, I would just feed the aerial into the TV (or via the PVR you intend to add).

If a reason is subsequently discovered that necessitates it to go via the V Box, then you can always put it back.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
Sunday, 23 December 2012
A
alan
10:27 AM

I have just changed from freeview to free sat so i have a dvd digital recorder that is now redundant.In another room I have freesky via a Pace box Is it possible to connect my freeview dvd recorder to this.

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alan's 1 post GB flag
J
john irwin
10:32 AM

hav tried all restart methodes but still got no satellite signal message

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john irwin's 1 post GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

12:20 PM

alan: Yes! as you can connect your Freeview DVD recorder to the Pace box using a scart cable between both, making sure that the scart socket used on the recorders input from the Pace box (usually AV2) is selected as the input on the recorders "input select" menu, as other wise it will try to record from the Freeview tuner by it being the default input.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Monday, 24 December 2012
T
T.Clough
8:39 AM

I use Norton (Symantec) nameservers and have had to switch to Google as Norton is blocking access to your site as they claim it is a known file-sharing site. Just thought you should know.

198.153.192.60
198.153.194.60

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T.Clough's 1 post GB flag
B
Bianca Stones
7:27 PM

bbc yorkshire appears on bbc lancashire , why ?

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Bianca Stones's 2 posts GB flag
B
Bianca Stones
7:28 PM

why does yorkshire bbc laical news appear on bbc nw ?

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Bianca Stones's 2 posts GB flag
Thursday, 27 December 2012
A
Ann Marie Heaton
1:02 PM

Hi just wondered if you could help me, I have sky in my lounge that is connected to a 4 way amplifier that connects to 3 other tv's around the house.My sky box packed up the other day and so I've put a hd+ box managed to get downstairs working but the 3 other tv's now can't get sky, please could you tell me what I've done wrong.

Thanks

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Ann Marie Heaton's 1 post GB flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

1:45 PM

Ann Marie Heaton: I'm not so sure that you've done anything wrong.

The other TVs view Sky using an analogue signal that is carried along the aerial leads. The Sky box puts out the signal on a UHF channel (frequency) which is a number somewhere from 21 to 69. Thus the TVs need to be tuned to the same UHF channel that the Sky box is "transmitting" on.

There are two possibilites:

1. Change the Sky box so that it is putting out its signal on the UHF channel to which the TVs are tuned to (and to which the former Sky box used to use).

2. Change the channel to which the TVs are tuned to, so that they are tuned to the same one used by the new Sky box.


With number 2, if you retune the TVs, you might find that the UHF channel that the Sky box uses now is not suitable as there are digital (Freeview) signals present which interfere, causing the picture to be grainy. In which case you would then have to set too finding another suitable one.

If you know that the current one is fine (good picture), then I would look to using it again (number 1). Some TVs are more helpful than others. What you need to do is see if one of your TVs will tell you what UHF channel it is tuned to (on the Sky channel). A frequency in MHz can be converted to channel number, so that will do (post it here and we can say what channel to tune to).

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
S
Steve 72
2:02 PM

My sky plus box decided to go on christmas eve. It kept saying unllug your box and wait 5 mins to restart. It was fault number 29 which after consultation. Sky said it was a weather fault. My box is now turned back on but still coming up the same but no fault number is coming up. Yet the time and date is 24 hours behind. Can I change date and how can I do it

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Steve 72's 3 posts GB flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

6:16 PM

Ann Marie Heaton: Instructions for accessing the setting screen for the "RF out" channel number are here:

How do I change the RF output channel on a Sky Digibox? | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
H
Hasan Loonat
9:08 PM

My sky box is not working. switch not turning green. When it was working i can not watch another programme while recording another.
Hasan Loonat








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Hasan Loonat's 1 post GB flag
Friday, 28 December 2012
T
Tom Pearson
11:49 AM

I presently use my sons Sky box to view Eurosports. As he is leaving home could you indicate if I will be able to recieve Eurosports on a TalkTalk TV box now or in the future?

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Tom Pearson's 1 post GB flag
Mark Agius
sentiment_satisfiedGold

7:16 PM

Re: Hasan Loonat
You need two digital receiver to watch and / or record two different channels. Is it a Sky + box?
Most old analogue TV's and Video recorders had a built in analogue tuner, but if your current TV and recorder is plugged into the same digital box
and it only has one digital tuner then you can only view or record a single channel.
Try turning off your Sky box off at the mains for a few seconds, also check the cables are plugged in and no short circuits in the satellite cable.

link to this comment
Mark Agius's 374 posts GB flag
Saturday, 29 December 2012
M
margaret walton
8:17 AM

can you please help every time i record when i come to whatch what i have taped it says part recorded for tecnical problems and that is every thing i rcord

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margaret walton's 2 posts GB flag
J
John
5:50 PM
Gateshead

Any recommendations on an aerial for the NE8 3JF area? My freeview box cannot find a single channel. 0 channels, 0 radio services, nothing. Any ideas or advice is greatly appreciated!

link to this comment
John's 4 posts GB flag
John's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

8:30 PM

John: Its really a case of what type of aerial are you are presently using to test the box out with? as the Felling PSB only relay is located at only 1 mile away (@ 140 degrees) and with the Fenham full service transmitter being only 3 miles away (@ 292 degrees) and so you should be receiving something.

Any aerial used requires to be mounted vertically (elements facing up and down) and with nothing sophisticated being necessary, something like a small log type being perfect.

Maybe along with the answer to the aerial being used query you could mention what type (model number) of box you are using.

Also, would the aerial be outdoors or in the loft?

Link to the aerial type mentioned.

Online TV FM DAB Aerial sales






link to this comment
jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

8:38 PM

margaret walton: More info on what you using to record on is required, the model number of the recorder in question being suffice to enable checking to be made, the other thing thats required is your location, this in the form of a post code or one from nearby such as a shop or post office, as only then can your reception possibilities be assessed.

link to this comment
jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Sunday, 30 December 2012
J
John
1:08 AM
Gateshead

jb38 - it's a small log aerial I'm using (20 element) mounted in the loft. The freeview box is an old Sagem one (IDT58G I think) which I've had for a good few year but I have also tried tuning in a Logik TV I have with freeview built in and still no luck, absolutely no signal at all. I've even tried using an app I downloaded to my phone which helps align the aerial to the necessary transmitters, still no luck. Would the aerial need to be a bigger log aerial because the one I currently have is small in comparison to some of the larger ones you can get (its designed to take to caravan sites I believe)?

link to this comment
John's 4 posts GB flag
John's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

8:37 AM

John: I very much doubt if it would, as I don't feel that its so much the aerial at fault but more where its positioned, as on having a study at your area I feel that your problem might be related to the roof insulation used on these modern build properties, because in recent times many have insulation of a type containing metallic elements which has a blocking effect on RF signals, this also applying in some cases to wall insulation, and so it would be interesting to know if anything was picked up if the aerial was tested out in an upstairs room near to a window, transmitter direction permitting, the window being specified for the aforementioned insulation reasons.

Although very few aerials are actually seen in your area (Google not being bang up to date) the one I did notice in the Close was directed towards the Fenham full service transmitter, but even with the aerial in its present position just to get an idea if anything is there signal wise you should try a "manual tune" on Fenhams BBC Ch27, (ITV Ch24) the reason for manual tune being stated is because that on most equipment as soon as the channel number is entered into the box but "before" search or scan is pressed (which would kill it) the signal strength will be indicated, this being a handy facility for trimming an indoor aerial.

You could also try the same test on Fellings BBC Ch40, ITV being Ch46 giving an update on your findings.

link to this comment
jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
J
John
2:58 PM
Gateshead

Still no luck unfortunately, will just admit defeat on this one. I mounted the aerial outside, still no luck. Signal on manual tune for Channel 27 and 24 pointing to Fenham was 1% for both strength and quality, and never fluctuates beyond that even when adjusting the aerial. Same when I tried to tune it into the Felling transmitter. I noticed aerials on my street point upwards toward the sky so I tried that, with no luck. My house is surrounded by a lot of tall buildings so I can only assume these are blocking my line of sight.

link to this comment
John's 4 posts GB flag
John's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

7:15 PM

John: If you tried a test with the aerial outside and that was the result, then its either a case of you residing in a complete dead spot for reception or that a short circuit exists on the cable from the aerial, and so I would like you to double check each end of the cable to make sure that every single strand of the braiding has been pulled back over the coax outer cover when the plug was being fitted, this also applying to when the connection was being made on the aerial, as with some types of cable its very easy for a single strand of the braiding to be accidentally caught around the middle core, as although you might well be surrounded by tall buildings a reading some sort should have been obtained even from signal bounce from the side of a building, as that type of test you carried out uses the TV's tuner as a sensitive signal sniffer.

One thing though that I can assure of is, that a larger aerial would not make any difference whatsoever in your type of situation, although if any aerial did then it would automatically indicate that the one it replaced had an electrical defect, which in the general run of things comes into the category of "once in a blue moon" type of situation.

If after double checking the the connections and a further test is made but again with negative results, then you should really make enquiries in your immediate locality to find out what the situation is with others, and I would be interested in what you find out.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
J
June
9:53 PM
Swansea

Hi, I cancelled my virgin subscription a few months ago as I could no longer afford it, but really miss their recording feature. I have freeview built-in on my TV with excellent reception. and was wondering if there is any way to record programmes using my VCR? I've connected it up using 2 scart leads and can play old recordings so I know that it's working OK. But not knowing very much about what I'm doing it's purely guess-work. My common sense can't see how it could possibly work as there's no signal going through the VCR so I'm looking for some expert advice please? I'm not able to spend money on an alternative yet either, but I do have an old 'Pace' box, and the satellite dish is still in place from 14 years ago...Would I be able to utilise them to record from 'Freesat' instead maybe?

link to this comment
June's 1 post GB flag
June's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Monday, 31 December 2012
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

8:08 AM

June: Being able to record from the TV depends entirely on what brand model of TV you have and so maybe you could mention what it is, but the main problem with doing things this way is that you can only record what you are presently viewing, or if not actually viewing anything the TV has still have to be left switched on if you want to record anything.

You would be much better using your old Pace box and recording from Sky's Free to view channels, and which apart from the very odd exception are very similar to Freesat and with a viewing card not really being necessary except to view an odd channel here and there, the only downside of not using a
card being that your local news "might" not actually be local but from a wider area.

As far as connections are concerned, as you are only intending to use the Pace box for recording from, then your VCR's AV2 scart socket (might be marked decoder) would be coupled into the Sky boxes AV2 (usually marked VCR) and with the VCR's AV1 going into the TV's scart socket, and which it might already be connected into.

In operation as far as the VCR is concerned, the VCR would operate exactly as you are presently using it, but if you wish to record from the Pace box then you would select EXT or AV2 on the VCR's input select menu and that would enable the Sky box (if not in standby) to be viewed on the TV through the VCR, because unless you selected EXT or AV2 on the VCR it would be trying to view or record via its own internal tuner, which of course would result in nothing being recorded as analogue TV is no longer in use.

Another point to note being, that you do not require any connections to be made to the aerial socket on the VCR as it doesn't really serve any purpose, and if you are going to record from the Pace box then after you have set the VCR's timer you can, as would usually be done, put the VCR in standby but NOT the Pace box, other wise nothing would be recorded.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

8:19 AM

June: Small addition to "in operation", remember that when setting the VCR's timer for recording to always select EXT or AV2 on it rather than a channel number, as you are using the external input on a permanent basis.

VCR's recording set up menu systems can differ depending on the brand model, but the external input must always be set as such and never a channel number.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
M
MIKE
2:30 PM

Hi i have sky reciever when i put on all channells there are arrows on some channells how do i get these of when ipress to go on station there OK just cant get rid arrows once again thanx

link to this comment
MIKE's 1 post GB flag
J
john thompson
10:29 PM

the epg on my freeview plus box has completely disappeared i have tried all the reset actions retuned it everything but i carnt get them back any suggestions

link to this comment
john thompson's 1 post GB flag
Wednesday, 2 January 2013
A
ALAN PEACHEY
sentiment_satisfiedBronze

12:11 PM

Anyone know what the new channel is on ASTRA 11623H? It says NO SERVICE, but on the info bar it says various NEWS programmes. Thanks.

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ALAN PEACHEY's 34 posts GB flag
J
John
7:15 PM

Just an update regarding my situation - moved the aerial slightly higher and replaced the standard coaxial cable with satellite grade cable. Finally got 64% signal and channels! Thankyou very much for all of your advice! (54.9589,-1.5866) 

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John's 4 posts GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

8:15 PM

John: Many thanks for the update! and I'm please to hear that you have been successful in sorting the problem out, although I do suspect that its the new cable / terminations on that has played the biggest part in rectifying the fault, albeit the situation having been further improved by you having moved the aerial, a device that is deceptively good for its size as I use various types of these log aerials in conjunction with variable boosters on fault finding missions in difficult (and sometimes distant) reception areas.

Pleased to have been of assistance!

Regards / JB.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Thursday, 3 January 2013
B
Bill W
sentiment_satisfiedBronze

8:46 AM

In the past I was able to display a Test Card (a bit old fashioned but useful for checking display characteristics) by selecting Freeview channel 105 followed by a keypad selection routine. Recently, I've been unable to do this, mainly because channel 105 no longer exists in the line up.

Why is this, and/or is there any other route to achieving the Test Card?

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Bill W's 43 posts GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

9:09 AM

Bill W: 105 has simply moved to 200.

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Briantist's 38,929 posts GB flag
V
Viv Gunton
11:50 AM

Dave Lindsay and jb38. Thanks for your help.
My aerial points around 285 so should be good for Hannington. I already have an aerial booster. I usually notice the problem when watching recordings so see no point in re-wiring.
I have the TV manual but missed the tiny reference to signal strength on P27. So I used the DVD and went throuygh all channels. I either got red "no signal" or I got green with signal strength 90+% and quality good or better. This was with below standard atmos. pressure.
Have now repeated using the TV. BBC1 gives orange - signal strength high and ITV3/C41 gives a black 75% bar with signal strength "good".
Now that pressure is up, I got a slight flecking on ITV3 so I checked again and got the same result but the bar wavered slightly as I watched.
I would welcome any further comments but I still consider this to be a shortcoming of digital TV.

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Viv Gunton's 15 posts GB flag
P
Paul Bishop
12:13 PM

Fire blamed on arsonists blacks out TV in Bath

Bathampton TV mast fire | This is Bath



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Paul Bishop's 1 post GB flag
P
Paul Bishop
12:16 PM

Fire blamed on arsonists blacks out TV in Bath

Bathampton TV mast fire | This is Bath


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Paul Bishop's 1 post GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

6:52 PM

Viv Gunton: The wavering bar that you refer to is, as you will most likely have sussed out the cause of your problem but unfortunately one that up to a point is outwith your control, although the more important aspect of the two indications seen is the quality, and if this is observed to fluctuate in a fashion that can be classed as "diving up and down" then even using a more powerful booster will not really get over the problem, and terrible as it might be to say but nor is it likely that anything else would either, as problems of that nature is nearly always caused by intermittent obstructions to the signal path from trees and such likes, even when bare, although reflective elements can also come into the equation because RF signals have elements of the unpredictable attached to them with regards to what happens once they leave the mast.

Just out of curiosity is the booster within sight? and if so could you give an update on the model number of the device, as these come in a wide range of gain ratings and it would be interesting to know what it is.


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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Friday, 4 January 2013
V
Viv Gunton
3:49 PM

jb38. Thanks for the reply. Regrettably the booster is buried under many inches of insulation in the loft. I had to change it a year or so ago and have found the instruction leaflet. All it says is "Commtel Easy Install" and the only numbers refer to the connection diagram. Pretty useless.
I am fairly high up, AE is on the chimney and there are no trees nearby. Surely, if I have on obstruction in my signal path, won't it affect all or most of the signals?

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Viv Gunton's 15 posts GB flag
Saturday, 5 January 2013
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

1:11 PM

Viv Gunton: Well although anyone who resides in a higher up location does in most cases (but not all!) have an advantage over someone who doesn't, but though this advantage does not always make that much of a difference when it comes to picture glitching problems on a particular mux, and which if viewed on the signal check screen coincides with wide fluctuations in the signals quality levels being seen, because "if" all of the other muxes are being received with reasonable levels of "stability" (not signal levels which can be different) then the problem has to be caused by either that the signal itself being intermittently interfered by say atmospheric conditions allowing the reception of another more distant station that uses the same frequency, or that the signal path from the mux in question is passing over terrain of a nature that can interfere with RF signals such as dense patches of trees (these not necessarily being local) or that the mux is question is only received via an element of signal reflection anyway and which due to conditions has changed.

Needless to say, and as you will no doubt have gathered, all of these things mentioned are basically outwith local control, although in some cases moving the aerial a few feet either way in the horizontal plane can sometimes help the situation, although NOT where interference from another transmitter is suspected as the reason for the problem.

As you have already observed this problem seems to be pressure related and that alone makes it outwith local control, although a visual check of your area and beyond reveals that its one with an abundance of trees located not that terribly far away, and with these being dense to the North West of Greywell right in line with your signal from Hannington, and problems of the nature such as yours are nearly always experienced in areas of dense greenery.

By the way, that particular brand of booster isn't very forthcoming in revealing its spec although it could be in the region of 13db, but though its inadvisable for it to be covered over with roofing insulation as this is liable to cause it to run on the hot side, not the best of things as far as reliability is concerned.

I also noticed some aerials in the area facing towards Crystal Palace transmitter, and although located at around three times the distance away (@ 40 miles) there is always the possibility that it might provide a more reliable signal.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Sunday, 6 January 2013
V
Viv Gunton
12:22 PM

jb38. Thanks for all that. Looks as if i will have to live with it. Moving the aerial involves two men and scaffolding due to 'Elf & Safety.
(For info. one daughter once lived in the shadow of the Crystal Pal. mast but couldn't get a signal from it!).

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Viv Gunton's 15 posts GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

1:37 PM

Viv Gunton: I have to say that I fully agree that its not worth the expense and sheer inconvenience to do something that isn't really guaranteed to work as there is always a strong element of hit and miss about these things, as experiments of this type are really more in the domain of an able bodied enthusiast with some technical knowledge that doesn't mind spending a few hours trying an aerial out in various positions, because it can be a time consuming exercise!

I will also agree with a comment you made in an earlier posting re: > but I still consider this to be a shortcoming of digital TV < because it is, as should the level of fluctuations in signal that you are experiencing and which is causing the problem be of the same magnitude on an analogue signal, then the only effect it would have on it would be for the viewer to witness variable levels (sometimes rapidly) of a grainy picture being seen, and with this on occasions being accompanied by either an element of ghosting in the background of the picture or peculiar variations in its colour but at no time would it disappear, the problem with digital signals being that the "quality" of the signal is actually more important than the strength and any "wide" fluctuations in this has serious effects on reception, this not really applying to analogue reception which is far in a way more tolerant to signal problems.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
M
Mari
10:29 PM
Grays

I cant receive any FREEVIEW channels since the switchover. My TV has freeview built in. I had no problems before switchover, so what's the problem? Was I supposed to re tune the TV after? If so, how do I retune the TV to get the FREEVIEW chanels ?
Thank you

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Mari's 11 posts GB flag
Mari's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

11:12 PM

Mari : You just simply go into your TV's set up menu / select tuning / auto-tune and press on whatever is indicated to start the search, although advice of a more precise nature could have been provided if you had mentioned the model number of your TV.

By the way, you are indicated as being able to receive Freeview from either Crystal Palace or Bluebell Hill, Crystal Palace having the edge, and if you still cannot receive anything after having carried out an auto-tune then this could be connected to an aerial problem, details of your aerial system being unknown.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Monday, 7 January 2013
M
Mr Andrews
3:14 PM

I have a Samsung LE32A457 TV that has been on Virgin. Having bought a new TV, I have moved the old TV to another room in the house that is supplied with a Freeview aerial, but when I turn the TV on, NO SIGNAL comes up on the screen, do I need a Freview box? THANKS.

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Mr Andrews's 1 post GB flag
P
Paul
4:38 PM
Holsworthy

Can anyone tell me where the Freeview Test card has moved? It used to be available on FV 105,but not today. HELP!

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Paul's 14 posts GB flag
Paul's: mapP's Freeview map terrainP's terrain plot wavesP's frequency data P's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

4:46 PM

Mr Andrews: Knowledge of the TV's make and model number would allow us to determine whether it is equiped with a Freeview tuner, or whether it will require a separate box.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
I
ian from notts
sentiment_satisfiedSilver

7:34 AM
Nottingham

paul- someone else has asked this and briantist said the page had moved yo either 300 or 800 ?

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ian from notts's 253 posts GB flag
ian's: mapI's Freeview map terrainI's terrain plot wavesI's frequency data I's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

9:03 AM

ian from notts: It's 200..

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Briantist's 38,929 posts GB flag
A
alex Kwofie
9:16 AM

Please can a skybox be used to catch free view channels in Ghana, west Africa?

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alex Kwofie's 1 post GH flag
P
Paul
11:33 AM
Holsworthy

Briantist: Thank you, I will look at Ch.200.

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Paul's 14 posts GB flag
Paul's: mapP's Freeview map terrainP's terrain plot wavesP's frequency data P's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

3:20 PM

alex Kwofie: Sorry, but you can't as the satellites do not cover as far south as Ghana. See the Satellite footprint maps | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice page.

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Briantist's 38,929 posts GB flag
R
Richard E
sentiment_satisfiedBronze

3:46 PM
Halstead

When viewing the Tx coverage maps ,why does the the location of the mast , have to jump up & down like a dog on heat ? Very annoying & childish !

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Richard E's 42 posts GB flag
Richard's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
S
Sarah
4:07 PM

Hi, does anyone know the new frequency for Channel 5 for viewers in the south of France?

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Sarah's 1 post FR flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

5:02 PM

Sarah: If you are referring to a Sky box? and have disconnected it from the mains supply then waited 30 secs or so before reconnecting it again, then once it starts to respond to the remote control allowing it to search for listings it should find the new frequencies itself, but whether you can view them or not really depends on where you are located in the South of France, this caused by the new 2F satellite used Ch5 etc having a very restricted coverage area outside of the UK, hence this can only be received from a level roughly from between Bordeaux and Nantes on the West sweeping around and upwards towards the East near the Stuttgart area. However just in case you are not using a Sky box these are the settings to use, this enabling the the following channels to be viewed / Ch5 / Ch5+1 / 5 USA / 5 USA+1 / 5* / 5* +1 Press SERVICES on your remote control. Select (4) :- SYSTEM SET UP Select (4) :- ADD CHANNELS FREQUENCY :- Punch in 10.964 POLARISATION :- H SYMBOL RATE :- 22.0 FEC :- 5/6 then select FIND CHANNELS, once completed do not forget to select the ones required by pressing the yellow button to tick them then saving the results. (latter referring to Sky box)

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

5:31 PM

Richard E: It denotes the selected mast, as there can be more than one mast shown on most maps.

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Briantist's 38,929 posts GB flag
K
K. Sinclair
5:56 PM
Hove

My tv is missing channels since a retune but my PVR still receives them.


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K. Sinclair's 4 posts GB flag
K.'s: mapK's Freeview map terrainK's terrain plot wavesK's frequency data K's Freeview Detailed Coverage
K
K. Sinclair
6:56 PM
Hove

I receive different BBC1 regional news on my tv and freeview box. The TV receives South Today and the box receives Southeast Today. I am on the Rowbridge transmitter, from Hove.

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Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

7:32 PM

K. Sinclair: In which case the box cannot be tuned to Rowridge, for BBC at least. This is because Rowridge broadcasts BBC South. Whitehawk Hill broadcasts BBC South East, so I guess that it will be tuned to it. You should be able to check by bringing up the signal strength screen on BBC One. Rowridge broadcasts it on UHF channel 24 whereas Whitehawk is on C60.

As your aerial faces Rowridge, but is picking up Whitehawk as well, unplug the aerial when it gets to 30% of the scan; all Rowridge channels are below this and all Whitehawk ones are above.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
Thursday, 10 January 2013
H
Helen
4:24 PM

I have a Panasonic DMR-BS850EB Blu-ray disc recorder. I am beginning to wonder if it is possible to record programmes on HD channels. I can record 'ordinary' channels but seem to have no success when trying HD. Am I doing something wrong?!

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Helen's 1 post GB flag
N
Neil Bell
sentiment_satisfiedSilver

5:51 PM

Helen There are some restrictions on copying HD programmes to Blu Ray discs - see page 58 of your instruction manual - but there aren't normally any restrictions on recording HD programmes to your hard drive (HDD) in the first place. I have 2 similar Panasonic recorders - 1 terrestrial, 1 sat and I record HD programmes frequently. Sometimes programmes recorded on ITV are limited to burning 1 copy to Blu Ray disc. Neil

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Neil Bell's 106 posts GB flag
S
Stephanie
7:47 PM

I have sky and 101 BBC has gone? Saying no signal received. Everything else is OK. Do you know how I can get this back? I have switched on and off but just blue screen. This problem has come since I have on demand extra box. Is this my problem?

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Stephanie's 1 post GB flag
Saturday, 12 January 2013
E
Eldred
5:23 PM

why does my tv eye in the bedroom stop controlling the box in the front room every evening from 5.30 pm until around 10pm? it works fine in the morning and if I am using it in the afternoon but each night it seems to have a mind of it's own? can you suggest any answer?

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Eldred's 1 post GB flag
J
Joan
5:34 PM

can i connect an inbuilt freeview tv to a freesat box

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Joan's 2 posts GB flag
Sunday, 13 January 2013
C
Craig
1:28 PM

I've been trying to find a way to split a single dish to 2 receivers. Every post so far says it's not possible with multi LNB's and extra cabling. Luckily I have quad LNB, but before I start adding cables I was wondering how apartment blocks share one dish over multiple receivers?

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Craig's 2 posts FR flag
C
Craig
1:31 PM

..my last post should have read '...it's not possible withOUT multi LNB's and extra cabling'....

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Craig's 2 posts FR flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

8:56 PM

Craig: This is simply because that its achieved by using a sophisticated device called a radial multi-switcher, the dish used on this type of system having to be fitted with a quad LNB for standard operation (Quattro for Sky+) the four inputs from the dishes LNB only being used to supply the multi-switcher with a H & V signal on the low band and exactly the same on the high band, these inputs being buffered from being altered by any commands that might be made from a Sky box by an isolation circuit within the multi-switcher, the reason they do not require to be altered on the dishes LNB in the same way as they normally would be in a normal installation being that each of the numerous outputs on the multi-switcher acts as though it was an individual port on an LNB, this meaning that the actual LNB on the dish never changes.

By the way, in cases where a Sky+ box is being catered for this is done using a special wall pate in conjunction with the multi-switcher.

Whats said being somewhat simplified to save an over legthy posting.



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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
I
ian from notts
sentiment_satisfiedSilver

8:08 AM
Nottingham

stephanie- not sure why bbc1 has gone but there are all the british regions of bbc1 in a skybox channel list starting at ch 951.
have they all gone ?

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ian from notts's 253 posts GB flag
ian's: mapI's Freeview map terrainI's terrain plot wavesI's frequency data I's Freeview Detailed Coverage
I
ian from notts
sentiment_satisfiedSilver

8:11 AM
Nottingham

eldred- does the led light on the back of the magic eye go out ? are there any more m/e's in the house? and what sort of problem are you getting ? ie- random channel change? box or tv turning off? no signal message ?

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ian from notts's 253 posts GB flag
ian's: mapI's Freeview map terrainI's terrain plot wavesI's frequency data I's Freeview Detailed Coverage
I
ian from notts
sentiment_satisfiedSilver

8:13 AM
Nottingham

joan- using an hdmi or scart cable and watching it thro input or av button on the tv remote.
a freesat box needs to work with a sat dish

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ian from notts's 253 posts GB flag
ian's: mapI's Freeview map terrainI's terrain plot wavesI's frequency data I's Freeview Detailed Coverage
P
P Thompson
10:32 AM
Rotherham

I have a Hitachi TV with inbuilt Freeview. After the changeover I received all the channels I should have and everything was fine until a few weeks ago when the pictures were completely breaking up on some channels ( eg 10 ITV 3, 11 Pick , 12 Dave , 23 Bid ). Retuning both from the Installation menu and removing aerial, retuning and retuning again with aerial connected had no effect. Once the retuning resulted in losing all the effected channels. These were recovered using the aerial removal method. My daughter who has a different make of television with inbuilt Freeview but was tuned to a different transmitter also received all channels after changeover but after 6 months started to loose channels. Eventually despite numerous retuning she lost all of them. ( She solved the problem by changing to Freesat.

The query I ask is, is it possible that tuners fail because of the amount of retuning done ?

A further reason I ask is that I have found that if I connect a Freeview Set Box between my Aerial and TV certain of the effected channels are OK ( eg 11 Pick , 17 Really, 29 E4+1 ) whilst the rest the sound is fine and there is only minimal breaking up of the picture. Any help or advice would be appreciated over this problem Thanks

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P Thompson's 2 posts GB flag
P's: mapP's Freeview map terrainP's terrain plot wavesP's frequency data P's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

11:16 AM

P Thompson: The COM channels have inferior coverage to that of the PSBs. Those services you have identified are those carried on the COMs.

For a list of all Freeview services, including which multiplex (mux) they are carried on, see:

DTG :: DTT Services by Multiplex

Each mux is a single signal and occupies the frequency space of one former analogue channel.

The PSB (Public Service Broadcaster) networks are designed so as to serve all those that the former four-channel analogue did. That is, the signals are powerful enough to serve the same areas as the former analogue which means that viewers should be able to receive them with the aerials installed for analogue.

The COM (Commercial) networks do not have as good a reach as the PSB channels. They broadcast from 81 of the largest transmitter (largest by viewer population) and, according to predictions, a proportion of people using those transmitters will also only receive PSBs reliably. In some cases these people may be able to use a different aerial (and sometimes a different transmitter) in order to get the full service. Others may be served, but require a replacement aerial because the frequencies used for the COMs (from their transmitter) are outside of the range of their aerial (out of the aerial's Group).


Due to the terrain in your area, going in the direction of Sheffield, there are a number of transmitters that are used, some of which are small relays which carry only PSB channels.

The Sheffield (Crosspool/Tapton Hill) transmitter carries all channels, but a replacement aerial may be required because the COM channels are out of the frequency range of the former analogue. However, Channel 5 analogue was so, which means that some will have already had their aerial replaced.

The same goes for Belmont (which is in Lincolnshire) where two of the three COM channels are also "out of group" of the former four-channel analogue. COM4 (ITV3 etc) is in Group, but is on the lowest power, so I suspect that there may be some viewers who will be without it. COM5 and COM6 are higher power than COM4, but lower than the PSBs and I suspect that their are differences at the transmitter which means that those further away, such as in Rotherham and Sheffield, may be struggling to get them.


Retuning can not break or otherwise wear out a tuner.

Retuning in cases such as yours can only ever have the two outcomes you discovered:

1. neutral: you get the same channels with the same level of reception, or reception improves, but it would have anyway because it is to do with the signal.

2. negative: you end up with less services stored in the tuner's memory because the signal(s) isn't good enough which is probably what caused the poor picture in the first place.


The issue is usually a signal one rather than a fault in the receiver.

In summary, retuning where the receiver is tuned to the frequencies of the desired transmitter can only ever either be a waste of time or shooting oneself in the foot!

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

11:31 AM

P Thompson: The reason that the COM channels are inferior is because the channels (frequencies) that they use are re-used by other transmitters in closer proximity to those of the PSBs.

Belmont's COM5 and COM6 are a case in point where the small relay at Conisbrough uses the same channels. Nearer to you, the Blackburn transmitter also broadcasts on those channels, albeit vertically and in a north-westerly direction at only 2W.

The signals are therefore "limited by interference" and not necessarily because they don't travel as far. In such cases it may be possible to resite or use a different aerial which is better at not picking up the interfering signals.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
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