Feedback

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?
In this section
Friday, 19 April 2013
D
dennis9:47 PM
Having bought a Panasonis TV with 3D and
glasses I have yet to find a programme
transmitted in 3D!.Never mentioned in TV schedules.Seems like I will have to buy
a Blue Ray player if I want 3D.Is that right?
link to this comment |
dennis: Only the Sky 3D (Sky channel 217) channel carries 3D programmes.
Movies on Sky 3D - Sky Movies HD
There have been occasional programmes on the now-defunct BBC HD channel. It is not yet known where BBC 3D test services (such as BBC News - BBC announces Doctor Who 3D special ) will go.
link to this comment |
M
MikeB10:10 PM
Peterborough
dennis: Correct - unless you have Sky 3D or a Blu Ray player (and they are pretty much all 3D these days)/Play Station 3, then 3D Freeview is pretty few and far between (the Wimbeldon Finals, The Olympics opening and the Strictly final from 2011 are the only ones the BBC have done, as far as I'm aware).
You can of course turn 2D into 3D, which might be interesting, but its not going to be as good. However, 3D Blu-Ray players are available for £70, and 3D films cost very little more than the 2D only versions.
3D is not the reason to buy a TV, but it is a mark of a higher quality screen. If you've bought an ET5, you've got a 300hz screen, and a GT50 you've got at least a 600hz screen - the higher the hz, the better the picture.
Colin - how is your TV/sound system set up? If you've got the digital opitical output bypassing the TV and going directly to a sound system, you can cause a delay.
link to this comment |
MikeB's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Saturday, 20 April 2013
S
Steve P1:46 AM
Wrexham
colin - what is wrong is that they are out of sync.
To cure it; change to another channel and back; another source and boack, or powercycle the lot.
link to this comment |
Steve's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
D
dave macready4:15 AM
Now that winter seems finally over and we are getting some sunshine, Sandy Heath is begining to crackup again. Am I in for yet another summer of practically zero Freeview service?
What is being done about co-channel interference? I have yet to get anyone to admit there is a problem.
NN5 5P*
link to this comment |
S
Steve P9:55 AM
Have you been here?
BBC - Help receiving TV and radio
Brian - would it be worth linking this somewhere? (LL145HD)
link to this comment |
Sunday, 21 April 2013
C
Colin8:28 AM
Thanks for you help.
The out of sync is not on all channels usually just one channel others seem ok.
Retuning does not work, by the way is this the same as a powercycle?
We get signal from Waltham.
It does clear its self eventually.
link to this comment |
T
Toni210:23 AM
I have elderly relations in Christchurch near Bournemouth on South Coast they make extensive use of Freeview services but have a routine (or is it regular?) problem with interference at precise times of day resulting in complete loss of service or at least pixelation and sound loss. This lasts for several minutes and iof I recall is araound 16:30 PM or was until clocks changed which now have changed the time by an hour. Can anyone throw some light on this or do others suffer? Can it be stopped or investigated as it has apparently gone on for some years. My relations aerial and set up was by a competent local installer.
link to this comment |
P
Phil C Chester10:46 AM
Following Steve P's advice found a link to RTIS which has a diagnostic tool in the form of a form. It appears to be a mix of BBC & Ofcom. I await their reply.
Many thanks.
link to this comment |
Toni2: It seems pretty likely that this is some interference due to it occurring at the same time. Further, whatever is the source operates by timer whose clock does not follow Summer Time. Granted, you may not even realise it uses a clock, but you will when you find out what it is!
I suggest that you use a battery-powered AM (LW or MW) radio to try and track down the source of the interference. Tune it away from a station. Listen for a noise appearing at the same time as the TV reception goes. Then walk around with the radio to see where the noise is the loudest.
Spinning the radio around should result in the noise getting louder and quieter. If you hold the radio with its front facing you and turn around until it gets to its loudest. When it is at its loudest, you know that the noise is coming from anywhere in front of you, behind you, above you (or indeed below you).
Conversely, when you turn around (or turn the radio) so that the noise is at its quietest then you know that the noise is coming from either side of the radio.
Turning the main incoming power switch off (on the distribution board) whilst the noise can be heard on the radio may be helpful. If the noise stops then you know that the cause is something that is powered from the mains and is in your relations' house. If it doesn't stop then either it is something in a neighbour's house or is in your relations' house but is powered from some other source such as batteries (e.g. electronics associated with solar panels, electronic gas/electricity meters). Try and pinpoint where the noise is coming from using the radio.
link to this comment |
A
anne cosgrove2:14 PM
my sky downstairs has interference wher the picture keeps freezing on me and then i lose picture. i unplugged everything and now when i am on the tv guide it says mini tv unavailable no satellite signal. my sky upstairs i have no problem with so why is it just happening with the downstairs one. thanks
link to this comment |
J
jb384:26 PM
anne cosgrove: If both Sky boxes are being fed from the same dish albeit with each box having its own feed directly from the dish, then your problem has to be caused by either (1) a fault on connection between the dish and the box, this including the possibility of water having entered the "F" connector on the dishes LNB, or (2) the port used on the dish being defective, (3) the box itself having developed a fault, so try swapping the two over.
All said on the assumption that you are using two boxes? and not just one box feeding the modulators signal via RF1 or 2 to another TV.
link to this comment |
J
jb385:22 PM
Phil C Chester: If the filter referred to was genuinely installed to stop interference from a local radio ham then that should not (in theory anyway) have any relevance to your problem, as the frequencies involved are vastly different.
The only thing I do find odd about what you have reported being you having said that your neighbours do not experience any problems, as numerous people have complained about reception difficulties with Ch50 immediately after the retune, this raising the question about your own installation with regards to whether or not you can receive programme number (11) Pick TV or (82) Sky News? as these channels are transmitted on mux Ch49, because if you cannot receive them either then it points to an aerial problem, further advice on this dependant on reply.
It would also have been of assistance as far as being able to assess the signal levels expected at your location is concerned if you had provided a post code, or at least one from somewhere nearby such as a shop / post office.
(Ch49 be)
link to this comment |
C
claudia5:30 PM
I moved into a house with a sky dish can I use it and how
link to this comment |
P
Phil C Chester6:53 PM
Chester
jb38:
Thank you for your interest. 11 & 82 both receivable at a strength and quality of about 50/60%. Unfortunately I don't know what they were prior to retuning. The postcode is CH3 5PP .
link to this comment |
Phil's: mapP's Freeview map terrainP's terrain plot wavesP's frequency data P's Freeview Detailed Coverage
D
Donatella Sechini7:31 PM
Hallo
i would like to see some Italian channel on my TV.
I already have a dish with SKY, but is it correct i can see Freeview Italian channels without paying simply by buying a new Sat dish? If so what is the cost of a new dish and installation? Thank you all Donatella
link to this comment |
I'm fuming. After returning from holiday I found the BBC channels missing from my 2 tv's (admittedly ancient but working perfectly). After jiggling around with the freeview boxes for hours (usually this solved any problems, I gave up, bit the bullet and went to purchase 2 new tv's.
Three days later I saw on the news that 3 million people had lost these channels and it was simply a case of re-tuning the tv. Why oh why wasn't this made clear BEFORE the event which would have saved me £250?
I'm sure it would have saved a lot of people from needless frustration and stress! Not a lot to ask.
link to this comment |
Jayne's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
M
Michael7:44 PM
Jayne: There were messages on the screen from a week before the 10th of April retune event.
Obviously if you missed them, the sensible thing to do would be to speak to others to see if they were missing channels, or use the internet to find out if there was a problem in the NW area.
link to this comment |
Monday, 22 April 2013
S
Steve P11:23 AM
Wrexham
Jayne you should have realised that if NEITHER TV worked the problem was almost certainly not the TVs.
link to this comment |
Steve's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Tuesday, 23 April 2013
N
Neil Bell12:05 AM
Donatella Sechini I see no one has posted a reply for you so I'll add the little I know. There are quite a few Italian channels broadcasting free to air on Hotbird which is a lot further west in the heavens than Astra 2 etc where most of the English language channels come from. You could try a separate dish pointing at Hotbird but I don't know how big it would need to be and the size would obviously influence the cost. You could instead try a bracket on your existing dish to take an extra LNB positioned to pick up the signals from Hotbird but it may be that your existing dish is too small. If so you could replace your existing dish with a larger one, have the prime focus of the dish aimed at Hotbird and the other LNB aimed at Astra 2. I live in London and have a fairly large 1.2 metre dish aimed at Astra 3A which is in between the satellites mentioned above and I have 4 LNBs on a bracket. The LNB furthest from the centre line is for Hotbird and I get good reception on all 4 groups of satellites. If you intend to continue using Sky you would need a separate cable from the 'Hotbird LNB' to a separate receiver for the Hotbird channels. You could alternatively get a receiver which supports Diseqc 1 and have a Diseqc switch fitted close to the LNBs which would only require one cable between switch and receiver. The receiver switches between the 2 LNBs as required. I don't know what Sky set up you have but if you wanted twin tuners
on the new receiver you'd need a twin LNB rather than a single. I'm not actually in the UK at the moment so can't tell you which Italian channels I receive.
link to this comment |
N
Neil Bell12:51 AM
Jayne I think posting your comment twice is a more polite way of relieving your frustration than SHOUTING your entire message in CAPS so Ill give you the benefit of the doubt with some sympathy. I presume you were on holiday when the messages concerning the 10th April retuning were aired and so you missed them. I also presume that you do believe in coincidences and that both your freeview boxes exhibiting the same fault at the same time could indeed have been just one of those. Im a little puzzled as to why jiggling around with the freeview boxes for hours didnt include retunes but Im very impressed that you replaced both TVs for just 250 quid so Im not knocking you! Seriously though one thing you should learn from this is that if you have a problem in future post a question here first before you spend money replacing anything else. There will always be someone here to help.
link to this comment |
V
vincent10:58 AM
Skelmersdale
Neil Bell:since the tenth of april bbc1 bbc2 bbc news(it probably not be all) have disappear or the signal is so bad it goes from zero signal to 50 per cent and back to zero most channels working are 100 per cent signal
bbc1 is 0800 and not 1
i have retuned five time with no success
link to this comment |
vincent's: mapV's Freeview map terrainV's terrain plot wavesV's frequency data V's Freeview Detailed Coverage
vincent: I have replied to your posting on the page for Winter Hill:
Winter Hill (Bolton, England) full-Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
link to this comment |
S
Steve P6:36 PM
Neil B I suspect the dual posting was simply a system artefact where it was posted but not shown as such on Jane's screen and she then pressed "Post.." again.
vincent - half Lancashire is having problems; either after retuning or because they have not done.
link to this comment |
Wednesday, 24 April 2013
R
Rani4:39 PM
I had an old box which sky charged £25 for three years in dec 2012 this was for the free sat channels, my box no longer works, can I get a sky + box and put my card in and receive free sat channels?
link to this comment |
S
Steve P6:37 PM
Rani you don't even need a card to get the free channels.
link to this comment |
Friday, 26 April 2013
T
tony5:36 PM
i live in bromsgrove b602ba.i have lost my freeview signal this week.freeview is built into tv's with a highgain loft ariel with booster.it is tuned into sutton coldfield as we have had a poor signal from our local transmitter at worms ash in the past.the tv's started to pixelate on and off for about a week until the signal went completely this week.have checked all connections,re tuned everyday and checked for transmitter work. any idea what it could be?
link to this comment |
tony: The amplifier maybe. Don't assume that just because any light on it is on that the amplifier is still functional.
I suggest that you try removing the booster, and its power supply should it be separate, and connect the TV directly to the aerial. You may find that there is sufficient signal strength without it.
link to this comment |
Saturday, 27 April 2013
R
Roy Susman5:59 AM
Can I obtain and use a Eurosport player in Israel - and if so what are the costs.
Thjank you in anticipation of your kind help.
Roy Susman.
link to this comment |
C
Colin11:07 AM
Altrincham
My Metronic Gemini digi-box worked fine with my Sony TV until the April 2013 frequency changes. I've tried a re-start first without the aerial, to clear the memory, then with the aerial, but get 'No Services'. The default settings are Channel 21, 474000 MHz, TX 2K, Guard 1/32. A normal flat-screen freeview TV works fine using this aerial.
Any ideas please?
link to this comment |
Colin's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage
S
Steve P6:33 PM
Colin - Are you doing a "First Time Install" or other memory clearing scan, rahter than just adding? Not sure what a "default setting" would be/be for.
Roy S - click the highlight on your question!
Ask Eurosport?
link to this comment |
C
Colin10:00 PM
Altrincham
Thanks Roy. Yes I'm doing a "First Time Install", called "First Time Setup" on the Metronic Gemini box. I've also tried all the other scan options. I've also tried both TV aerials which give quality 10 signals on both the other Freeview TVs in the house. In auto mode I can only scan for Channel 21. In "Manual Scan" mode there is zero signal and zero quality on Channel 21. Channels 23 and 50 gives 100% signals but still zero quality. On none of the channels can the box find any services. Colin
link to this comment |
Colin's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Sunday, 28 April 2013
J
jb3812:11 AM
Colin: You will not get any indications channel 21 because that is not a channel used by Winter Hill, this being the only station listed as covering your area.
You should press: menu / set up / service set up / then enter your pin code (0000 if not altered) / then select: full scan replace existing services.
The receiver will search for new services, although if you do not have any stored then that means "all" services.
These instructions refer to a Zapbox Gemini twin tuner 441820.
link to this comment |
J
jb388:24 AM
Colin: Also meant to say, that if you wish to try manually tuning in any of Winter Hills mux channels (as listed below) then change the default setting of 2K to 8K, as 2K is no longer used in the UK. Winter Hills mux channels / 50 (BBC) - 59 (ITV1) - 58 (ITV3 etc) - 49 (Pick TV / Dave etc) - 55 (Film4 / ITV4 etc).
link to this comment |
Monday, 29 April 2013
C
Colin5:57 PM
Altrincham
Roy. I have a twin tuner Metronic Gemini (not the Zapbox version, although they appear to be the same). It worked fine until the frequency changes this month. I cannot change the channel from 21 in the auto scan modes. I can change the Tx mode from 2K to 8K, and the Guard Interval from 1/32 to 1/16 etc, but still find 'no services'. In manual scan mode I've tried Channels 50,55,58 and 49 at 8K, but again 'no services'. Colin
link to this comment |
Colin's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Tuesday, 30 April 2013
I
ian from notts7:10 AM
Nottingham
Colin- Are there no channels stored in the 800 numbers of the box ?
link to this comment |
ian's: mapI's Freeview map terrainI's terrain plot wavesI's frequency data I's Freeview Detailed Coverage
C
Colin10:34 AM
Altrincham
Hi Ian. Please could you explain 'channels stored in the 800 numbers of the box'. I might be missing something here.
After a first time startup and scan or a scan via the menu, I get 'No Services Found'.
The Winter Hill transmitter appears, from the map, to cover c21 to c60, frequencies 474 to 794MHz. My digibox is set to c21 474MHz for auto scans. I've also tried manual scans at all channels between c21 and c60. Colin
link to this comment |
Colin's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage
S
Steve P7:30 PM
Colin
When a tuner detects multiple versions of a channel like BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 C4 C5 it puts whatever it perceives to be the local one in channel 101 102 103 or 001 002 003 etc. then lists others somewhere else; usually the 800 series.
Usually you can rearrange to get what you want where you want it.
But you seem to be detecting nothing at all.
If other equipment does in same place either yours bust or somehow wrongly set/instructed. Not sure about "setting" for auto scans, which usually just happen.
Some boxes cannot cope with new modulation methods but thought that all already worked through.
link to this comment |
C
Colin10:19 PM
Altrincham
Thanks Ian. I've been trying all options and suggestions from you and Roy for about a week, learning a lot in the process. However, I am beginning to think that the Metronic gemini box must be broken, although I find it difficult to believe that the break coincided with the April transmitter frequency changes. Colin
link to this comment |
Colin's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb3811:18 PM
Colin: With regards to your 10.34AM posting of today (30th) Winter Hills channels only span from Ch49 - Ch59 as the figure that you mentioned refers to the entire Freeview band.
As far as auto scans are concerned, when an a person chooses to carry out an auto-scan on their TV or box then irrespective of what brand of Freeview equipment they are using an auto-scan will ALWAYS start on Ch21.
But though you should carry out a manual scan on Winter Hills mux channels as mentioned in my reply to you yesterday @ 08.24am, making sure that you leave the TX mode "permanently" on 8K and the guard interval on 1/32.
link to this comment |
Wednesday, 1 May 2013
C
Colin12:27 AM
Altrincham
Jb. I did as you suggested and have just done it again. If I select Manual Scan, then change the channel to 49, 50, 58 or 59, with the TX mode at 8K and the interval at 1/32, I get a strong signal showing on the bar but in each case zero on the Quality bar. I then select scan but get 'No Service Added'.
I'm determined to nail this one! Thank you for your patience!
link to this comment |
Colin's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage
C
Colin12:28 AM
Altrincham
ps I have twin receivers in the Metronic Gemini. I don't suppose they are separately scanned - I don't see any options to do this in the menu.
link to this comment |
Colin's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb387:36 AM
Colin: Judging by the result of what you have found on each of the individual manual scan checks carried out when its also known that you were using the correct settings, my request purely to verify that you were, is unfortunately beginning to point to a fault on the box triggered off as a result of the initial rescan, my line of thought being that the box has lost its ability to respond to an 8K signal albeit that its RF level is still being indicated, which on many devices is normal.
But I would like you to carry out another quick check by entering Ch49 into the manual scan box again so that you see a strong signal being indicated then remove the aerial connection just to ensure that the signal vanishes, then if you have a short length (six feet or so) of wire kicking around push that into the aerial socket (middle cup of) and see if the strength bar indicates anything.
As far as the box is concerned, it would also be of assistance if you could indicate the exact model number of the device.
link to this comment |
J
jb388:41 AM
Colin: Also meant to add, that the tuners fitted in Freeview twin tuner PVR's are both automatically scanned at the same time, the reason for this being that if they weren't a person would not be able to view a programme on one mux channel whilst recording a programme that might happen to be on another mux channel.
link to this comment |
S
Steve P7:25 PM
Colin - could be that it developed a fault which only manifests itself on retuning?
Lots of trouble reported with the retune, but not total loss of all signals.
Is there not a number to call in the instructions?
link to this comment |
J
jb389:05 PM
Steve P: An aspect of Colin's box which doesnt apply in the majority of Freeview receivers is that his tuner still has the ability to operate in the 2K mode by having a tuner fitted with a dual programmed chip, whereas 99.9% of tuners fitted in standard Freeview TV's / boxes can only operate in 8K mode.
And so what you say could well be applicable if the selection circuitry is not responding to the 8K setting thereby leaving the tuner on 2K, unfortunately a situation that I cannot see changing "if" the problem was found to be the same after the box had been disconnected from the mains, followed by being reconnected again after having left a gap of about 1 minute before doing so.
link to this comment |
Friday, 3 May 2013
F
Floyd3:30 PM
Luton
I have an Acoustic Solutions HD TV with built in freeview. Until the beginnng of April it was working fine. Now, however,it only works at all after midnight. During the day all programs are erased and it showing anything at all it only pixilates. I am at a complete loss why this is happening. We have a communal rooftop aerial and my connection cables are ok. Can anybody tell me what is going on here? I am desperate. I live in the LU3 1BE area. There should not be any problems here as I understand it.Please give me an answer with a clue what to do now. I have already reinstalled all the channels, but this also made no difference. Floyd
link to this comment |
Floyd's: mapF's Freeview map terrainF's terrain plot wavesF's frequency data F's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb384:42 PM
Floyd: As you are connected into a communal aerial system then the obvious question would be if you have checked with anyone else in the block to find out if the problem is solely confined to your installation or not, because if others are also experiencing problems then its the landlords responsibility to have the communal aerial system repaired.
By the way, if you are located in Malzeard Road then the communal aerial points to the Sandy Heath transmitter, although the imagery I am looking at is not bang up to date and so the aerial might have been repositioned since then to face the local Luton transmitter at less than 1 mile away, if though you could receive ITV3 / Pick TV etc before the problem started then it hasn't been.
link to this comment |
Sunday, 5 May 2013
C
Colin6:53 PM
Altrincham
I'm back again! Tried a manual scan on C50, 8K and 1/32 with a length of wire in place of the powered aerial, but got no signal. With the proper aerial I get a good signal but zero'Quality' and the scan finds nothing. Repeated this after 5 minutes disconnected from the mains - same result.
I guess I have to face up to a new cheap single tuner box, so that my grandchildren can watch the programmes on this sony crt TV!
link to this comment |
Colin's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb388:57 PM
Colin: Judging by what you have now reported would certainly suggest that the box is indeed faulty and most likely for the reason mentioned in my previous reply, being that its lost its ability to operate in the 8k mode even although its been set to that in the tuning menu, although I would have liked you to have tried the manual tune test on Ch59 (ITV1) as well.
But though I cant really see any chance of the box operating again as I did notice that in your earlier replies to others you had already carried out the "first time installation" procedure etc, and as such now leaving a software update as about the only possible thing that might effect a cure, however this not being possible on that box except via an over air download which isnt forthcoming any longer.
By the way, my only reason for requesting that you take the aerial out whilst observing the signal strength was just to ensure the level seen on the indicator wasn't being caused by internal oscillation (instability) from within the tuner.
link to this comment |
Monday, 6 May 2013
R
Richard9:00 PM
Bootle
Richard / L20 9JP
Since retuning our T.V./Freeview box on April 10th we have no programme guide on most of the programmes and we are unable to pre-set the programmes to tape, we have, as advised, emptied the box of all programmes but still keep getting Welsh programmes though we are in the Merseyside area.
link to this comment |
Richard's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Tuesday, 7 May 2013
J
jb3812:19 AM
Richard: Although having said that you emptied the box of all programmes was this done using the "factory reset" procedure, or equivalent of such as "default setting" or "first time installation". The only way to avoid receiving the Welsh channels is to use one of the aforementioned followed by carrying out a "manual" scan on each of Winter Hills mux channels, storing the channels found after having scanned each individual mux. Winter Hills channels being / 50 - 59 - 54(HD service) 58 - 49 - 55. By the way an auto-scan does not appear as being possible at your location, as the Llanddona PSB relay station (which you are indicated as being able to receive) uses channels in the same range as Winter Hill. It would also assist if the model number of the box being used was given.
link to this comment |
S
Steve P5:38 PM
Richard -
still keep getting Welsh programmes though we are in the Merseyside area.
Congratulations ??
UK digital TV reception predictor
Can you tell from the channel numbers on the link which station you are receiving? Which way is your aerial - H or V ? And where pointing?
Look in the 800 series for the English channels too - you may be able to swap.
link to this comment |
D
D Matthews7:39 PM
Bampton
Thomas Hyland: I think this freeview is rubbish. Every morning i do a retune by afternoon nothing. just have to bite the bullet and watch from cable.
link to this comment |
D's: mapD's Freeview map terrainD's terrain plot wavesD's frequency data D's Freeview Detailed Coverage
M
Michael8:47 PM
D Matthews: I think this freeview is great, I turn it on in the morning to get all channels, and haven't had to retune since I bought my TV last year.
Maybe if you provide some more information, like your TV make/model, whether you neighbours are having problems and what UHF channel numbers you are tuned in to then you might get some free help on this site. (51.1,-1.116667)
link to this comment |
Wednesday, 8 May 2013
T
Tony Riz11:30 AM
Hi guys, forgive me if this is too simple a problem but I need advice and hope someone can help nonetheless . My mother has been watching Italian Tv via a dish and technomate TM 1000 receiver for a few years now with no problem. However whilst in the middle of changing channels yesterday she suddenly came across the 'no/bad signal' message. Having done the basics like switch it off then back on again; checked that all the leads were in their rightful place etc, I'm thinking that there might be something wrong with the dish or with it's alignment/LNB. The problem is that the dish is positioned fairly high up on the side of a block of flats (3rd floor) and thus it isn't easy to get access to see if the problem stems from there. So, is there anything I can do via the options in Technomate to confirm/fix the problem without recourse to calling an engineer out? If the answer is No, then are there any trustworthy companies in East London that you can recommend to diagnose and fix the trouble? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
link to this comment |
S
Steve P4:22 PM
Tony - eat your macaroni?
But at a more practical level; can you try her box with another dish and another dish with her box?
That should settle if it is box or dish at fault.
D Matthews - are you saying you get reception every morning and it goes, and you cannot retune later? Very odd. Are you using Oxford? Match channels to this
UK digital TV reception predictor
If you retune one morning and do nothing later on do the signals reappear the next morning? If not I suspect your box faulty. Try it elsewhere.
If so, sounds like interference or signal strength - perhaps too strong! Remove any amplifier, or other links.
link to this comment |
N
Neil Bell9:12 PM
Tony Riz If the box stopped working while changing channels it does sound like a fault with box or LNB. I live in Ilford if that is anywhere near your Mother & you want to try a swap but I'm not at home until Friday night if it can wait. I also don't know how to send a personal message on ukfree - can anyone advise? I have a motorised dish and can normally get quite a few Italian channels on Hotbird and have one older receiver that I use for aligning the dish.
link to this comment |
T
Tony Riz10:18 PM
Neil Bell: Thanks for the reply. The box itself seems to be working okay (in the sense that it does change to the appropriate tuned in channels when asked), it's just that every channel as the 'No Signal' message, which is what made me think it's probably a problem with the dish.
I live just past Hackney Marshes so probably 30 minutes or so away from Ilford. If you have a long ladder that can reach up to the third floor of a block of flats (guesstimation being that it's probably about 30-40ft up) which is where the dish is currently placed in order to get good reception, and we can agree on a reasonable fee, then I'm sure we can wait until sometime on Saturday. Why don't you send me an email (tonyriz@fsmail.net) and we can discuss this further? My poor mother has spent the past 2 days missing her usual programmes so I'd like to be able to sort it out for her asap if possible, but without using a 'cowboy'!! Thanks again for the replies
link to this comment |
Thursday, 9 May 2013
S
Steve P10:56 AM
Tony have you yet proved that it is the dish not the box?
link to this comment |
T
Tony Riz11:43 AM
Steve P: Not definitively yet as I don't have another box or dish to try as an alternative and the dish is situated in a position that isn't easy to reach without a triple ladder. I do suspect it's something to do with the dish though. Could a Sky Box be used to help at least establish if the problem is the receiver as opposed to the dish? If not, is there any other way to ascertain that?
link to this comment |
D
Diane C3:20 PM
Hi , I have been with Sky tv for many years and had my Broadband and phone lines transferred to them 2 years ago . I have asked them if they could upgrade me to sky plus but I was told it would cost me £60 as my original box is so outdated . Would I be able to change my provider ? I have a satellite dish but very poor aerial reception ?
link to this comment |
MikeP
5:22 PM
5:22 PM
Changing Broadband provider is not difficult, look at what is on offer and select your preferred supplier, then ask Sky for a MAC code (Migration Authorisation Code) and give that to your new chosen provider.
A similar process applies to moving your phone provider and your chosen broadband service may also offer a phone option as well.
As for TV, you don't say where you live so it's very difficult to recommend anything.
If your current TV does not have Freeview 'built in' then you'd need a 'set top' box and they are more than £60 for a reasonable one that records as well, so you may be better off paying the upgrade price if you want all the Sky services.
link to this comment |
N
Neil Bell5:35 PM
Tony Riz I don't think a Sky box would help because it would be tuned to transponders on Astra 2 etc at 28 degrees East. The Italian Programmes are on Hotbird at 13 degrees East so you need another expat Italian (or Pole or Bulgarian which are on Hotbird too). Their dishes would be pointing in the right direction.
link to this comment |
N
Neil Bell5:49 PM
Diane C You did say you have very poor aerial reception so Freeview is probably not an option for you. If you want to continue receiving satellite transmissions but not via Sky you would need a Freesat set top box. This would also cost a lot more than £60 for one that records as well but you wouldn't then need to keep paying Sky subscriptions so would be cheaper in the longer term unless you want to subscribe to some pay to view programmes.
link to this comment |
N
Neil Bell6:20 PM
Tony Riz Forget the Bulgarian reference (Senior moment - they broadcast on Astra 3A at 23.5 degrees East) but Polish channels certainly broadcast on Hotbird if you can't wait till Saturday when I'm home!
link to this comment |
T
Tony Riz7:26 PM
Neil: As it happens I decided - for the sake of my dear old mum, who has been stuck watching English programmes she doesn't really enjoy or understand for the past 3 days - to get it resolved once and for all and called an engineer out this afternoon. The receiver box was okay and the problem apparently stemmed from over-growing trees on blocking the path of the signal - something that has happened before and is common around this area. That means having to move the dish from it's already high position to the even more elevated roof of the block of flats where she lives. Has ended up costing me way more than I expected but I've been told that once moved, we won't have that particular problem again. Anyway, many thanks to both your good self and Steve P for your time and advice. Much appreciated.
link to this comment |
N
Neil Bell8:50 PM
Tony Riz I'm glad you got it sorted.
Neil
link to this comment |
Friday, 10 May 2013
S
Steve P7:23 PM
Me too.
Now about that famous mamma's cooking.....
Though I suppose there must be some Italian mammas who are awful cooks?
link to this comment |
Saturday, 11 May 2013
I
ian from notts8:33 AM
Nottingham
Tony Riz- How close are the trees ?
I would be a little worried if trees are able to disrupt a dish over 30ft up the side of a block of flats ?
link to this comment |
ian's: mapI's Freeview map terrainI's terrain plot wavesI's frequency data I's Freeview Detailed Coverage
D
d12:31 PM
is there no receiption in the tottenham area, last nite 10pm sky went off. Had 36 now 29, is it still connected or is there a fault. As this has happened a few times throu fixtures in the area causing it to go off everyday 11am til 5pm, was fixed but what is the problem now. They should give advance warning that sky will be off from... to ... Any help I know your one of the best. Thanks
link to this comment |
C
C Taylor12:54 PM
Kilwinning
I contacted your engineer today 11/5/13 to say I had no signal just to let you know It is now working fine I think it was the weather very wet and windy C Taylor Post Code ka13 6jj Account no 621259455981
link to this comment |
C's: ...
P
Peter Cooke4:25 PM
Leicester
Dear Brian,
You are using the wrong spelling of the word 'metres' on your new Freeview Advanced reception section. You are using 'meters' which is a device to measure something, or the arrangement of the number of words in poetry. Also 'Kilometer' has been used on the horizontal axis of your graphs, it should be 'Kilometre' to represent distance.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Cooke.
link to this comment |
Peter's: mapP's Freeview map terrainP's terrain plot wavesP's frequency data P's Freeview Detailed Coverage
MikeP
5:25 PM
5:25 PM
d
I am assuming that you receive Sky using a dish and not via any cable or broadband service. Satellite signals are 'broadcast' from the satellite in orbit above the Equator and arranged to provide reception across the whole country, so it is not specific to one area and is unlike terrestrial TV that is broadcast from a transmitter on the ground. So I do not understand you question. Please give more details of location and equipment.
link to this comment |
S
Steve P5:43 PM
C Taylor I don't know who you think you are leaving a message for but it's in the wrong place. This website has nothing to do with broadcasting except to discuss it. No services, engineers, etc.
link to this comment |
S
Steve P5:46 PM
Dear Peter
You can't even spell your own surname in the standard modern usage, so why berate Brian for the US (kilo)meter ?
And as Brian is so thick skinned that he has never corrected the gratingly awful affect/effect error I doubt hee will care.
link to this comment |
D
d7:39 PM
Hey Mike P, don't think yoour to clever, obviously where did yoou think satelite come from. It wasn't a geography question...
link to this comment |
S
Steve P8:13 PM
d
So why do you think Tottenham sky special?
link to this comment |
Sunday, 12 May 2013
D
D Matthews8:30 AM
Bampton
D Matthews: OK now got my freeview sorted. Has cost me though. Complete new coaxial cable, aerial, time, lots of grief from her indoors. This is the 2nd lot of buying the so call upgrade stuff. Nothing is free veiw about as i see.
link to this comment |
D's: mapD's Freeview map terrainD's terrain plot wavesD's frequency data D's Freeview Detailed Coverage
L
linda9:06 AM
we keep losing the signal on input 1 but input 2 appears good. we re-set each time and it works for a while. is this a problem with the LMB? can we replace the LMB with one purchased from Amazon? HTI Quad LMB?
link to this comment |
J
jb3810:54 AM
linda: Although there is always a possibility that it could be the LNB but in most cases its not, however to help determine whether it is or not try swapping the two inputs over on your box, if the fault changes from LNB1 over to LNB2's signal check indicator then its either the cable / connector at fault or its indeed the LNB port, if however it remains on LNB1 then unfortunately that indicates a defect on LNB1's tuner, most unlikely though!
Leaving the two box inputs swapped over you can verify if its the LNB or not by simply swapping the two connections over "on the block", because if it is the block at fault then the fault will show up again on your boxes LNB1 input, if though it doesn't then unscrew each connector in turn from the coax and check for any signs of water having gained access, drying out with a tissue as necessary, then after having ensured that all strands of the braiding have been pulled back over the cables outer cover and screw the connectors back onto the coax then onto the LNB.
Further advice re: blocks etc dependant on findings.
link to this comment |
Can I use my Freeview box to pick up Saorview channels in North West Ireland? (Donegal)
The nearest transmitter from Saorview is quite close on aranmore island i think. But to get any signal from East is very unlikely past Errigal Mountain.
link to this comment |
francis: Maybe or maybe not.
Freeview HD receivers definitely work with Saorview. Some Freeview standard definition receivers will show Saorview pictures.
Saorview pictures are encoded using the MPEG4 standard whereas Freeview standard definition pictures use the earlier MPEG2 format. For this reason, many Freeview SD receivers don't have the capability to resolve MPEG4 pictures. In such a case the signal will be received, albeit with no picture.
link to this comment |
Wednesday, 15 May 2013
O
Omhie10:21 AM
hi Have an old Sky box (Amstrad drx280) no phone connected I dropped the Sky subscription. Just recently having constant problem with 2 or 3 specific channels (rest OK) giving no sat signal or broken picture output. Problem gets solved with a reboot. I do not leave box in standby but switch off power. Is this fault fixable? Thanks in advance for any feedback.
link to this comment |
Thursday, 16 May 2013
J
jb386:53 PM
Omhie: The fault mentioned is purely coincidental, as the problem is caused by the voltage being fed to the tuner dropping off as the box heats up, this being due to the electrolytic capacitors used in the power supply having dried out though heat.
To be quite honest about it, its not really worth repairing this type of fault unless the person doing so is an electronics enthusiast, because the labour costs would exceed the value of the box.
link to this comment |
Friday, 17 May 2013
J
John McKenzie9:20 PM
I live afew hundred yards from the perth transmitter. uring the last few weeks there has been people working on the mast. Now I get a disturbed signal and a faily regular and loud 'clunk' coming through my TV. Whatever they've been doing, it ain't helped my signal. Living so close to the transmitter I've never had trouble getting a signal before. The digital antenna I have is fairly new and works well.
link to this comment |
J
jb389:46 PM
John McKenzie: Nothing is indicated on the engineering notice board as far as any work having been taking place at the relay, and as yet no other complaints have been made.
If you are located close to the mast then you should try a test with one of these old set top aerials connecting into your TV, or alternatively try a short length (about 4 feet or so) of bell type wire or similar pushed into the middle of your TV's aerial, the reason for this type of test being to see if reception improves with a slightly weaker signal.
link to this comment |
Saturday, 18 May 2013
I
ian from notts9:21 AM
Nottingham
Omhie, jb38- I'd guess that means a trip to Ebay for a new Skybox (single or double feed?) or a Freesat box ?
link to this comment |
ian's: mapI's Freeview map terrainI's terrain plot wavesI's frequency data I's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb3811:50 AM
Omhie / Re:- ian from notts: Well yes, provided that anything purchased was not bought under the "no returns" or "sold as seen" label, because power supply problems in Sky boxes nearly always involve a temperature dependant time factor before the fault shows up, this in practice meaning a few hours or less in some installations whereas days in others depending on where a person might have installed the box, obviously the problem appearing much sooner if the box is installed within the confines of a Hi-Fi cabinet or similar.
By the way, there isn't really any advantage in anyone purchasing a twin LNB input Sky+ box unless they are intending to take out a Sky contract at some point in time, as a Sky+ box only works like a standard box without a contract being in force.
link to this comment |
C
Clint7:43 PM
Redditch
Just a quick suggestion.
It would be nice if you could download/print a complete table list of Freeview channels being broadcast by a certain transmitter. It would be useful when retuning to check you've got every channel that you should be able to get.
Thanks
link to this comment |
Clint's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Clint: I'm unclear why you can't. Just go to the transmitter page and press print in your web browser of choice...
link to this comment |
Sunday, 19 May 2013
I
ian from notts8:26 AM
Nottingham
Omhie,jb38- yes mate, only put the feed as its not stated which it is?
twin feed boxes are easier to get hold of tho?
link to this comment |
ian's: mapI's Freeview map terrainI's terrain plot wavesI's frequency data I's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb3810:41 AM
ian from notts / Omhie: My only reason for stating that there was no advantage with purchasing a twin feed Sky+ box if not intending to take out another subscription was that its hard drive would (at times) be running away for no useful purpose but causing the box to consume about 25% or so extra power over that of a standard Sky box, an aspect that would bother some people with any device thats powered up 24/7.
I purposely did not mention anything about the dish, or feed from, because that aspect did not come into the equation, but though if it then I would strongly advise that a twin feed be fitted as this would enable any twin tuner PVR to be used whether it be for Freesat or Sky+ purposes.
link to this comment |
C
Clint9:50 PM
Hi Briantist,
You can do that but it's not really in an easy to read manner (e.g. their not in channel number order), not to mention using a lot of ink printing out the whole web page when you only want the channel list.
It would be good if it was done in a table format. That way you could order them (e.g. channel number, channel name, multiplex/frequency) in whichever way you wanted then you could print it off.
link to this comment |
Tuesday, 21 May 2013
M
maureen 6:39 PM
I have lost reception on both BBC and now itv channels .was fine until a couple of days ago.sky TV in the other room is fine on all channels.i have tried retuning but still no good
link to this comment |
J
jb388:03 PM
maureen: Advice on queries of this nature can only be given when the person requesting assistance has indicated their location, this preferably being in the form of a post code or one from nearby such as a shop / post office etc.
It would also be of assistance if info on the aerial system being used was supplied, e.g: whether its loft or roof mounted or possibly a communal system such as used in apartment blocks.
link to this comment |
Friday, 24 May 2013
J
john Alexander7:44 PM
Hi i have a second hand sky dish and box with a viewing card but need to change the address on the card to my address in order to get BT sport channels.I have my broadband with BT.I have no account with sky.Can you help?john
link to this comment |
D
dennis10:09 PM
john alexander....From the current bt broadband adverts,it seems as if BT Sports
is free for 12 months with their broadband,and if so you should be able to
watch it on your PC,but has to be paid for
on Sky via a card upgrade.I am not an
authority on this,so like you I will hope
to see a more definitive response.
link to this comment |
Sunday, 26 May 2013
J
Jill Rowan11:22 AM
Was wondering if it was woth buying a cheap sky+ box to just receive freeview on a tv we are struggling for signal with normal ariel - we have a freeview viewing card on another set
link to this comment |
Select more comments
Your comment please!