Changes to UK Free TV
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV The purpose of the site is to provide independent (from the broadcasters, infrastructure companies and Digital UK) information about the choice people can make to watch free to air television services in the UK.
Having many years of technical, managerial and communications experience - and particularly after seeing at first hand the failure of ONdigital to communicate the technical difficulties - I thought the would be plenty of people who would need straightforward technical digital TV assistance.
When the site launched the only form of "feedback" was a personal email service, but on 7 October 2005, I introduced a direct commenting service. This has on the whole been very successful and popular - over 88,000 comments have been posted since then.
Many people have assisted people from all over the UK and around the world, and these contributions have made the site a lively and helpful place.
However, 28,500 of these posting are mine, and it is taking an increasingly large amount of my time.
In addition, the number of occasions where personal attacks are being launched on me and my professional knowledge, or I have to deal with uninformed and incorrect answers being given to people has increased.
The main upshot of this is that I spend very little time doing the "top line" site tasks, such as writing articles, upgrading the database information, adding in new sections such as the radio transmitter and YouView pages and so forth.
Whilst I appreciate that visitors can reasonably think that "in a democracy we are free to discuss pros, cons and preferences", this site is not a democracy, UK Free TV is my project.
Therefore I am proposing that:
1. Certain sections pages will be closed to further comments. I really do not have the time to spend going round and round in the same loop discussing same things, such as with the tedious digital radio haters. Such discussions add nothing to helping out people with their reception issues and will be moved to a holding page or deleted if they are insulting.
2. Some sections will be pre-moderated. Comments will not appear until I approve them.
3. Off-topic comments will be deleted or moved. For example, questions posted about Freeview reception in Jersey posted on the Winter Hill page. I will normally move them to the general purpose Feedback page.
4. I will then will have the time to improve the resolution and accuracy of the transmitter coverage pages, upgrade the radio transmitters section and provide information about the upcoming local TV, IPTV and YouView.
I will instigate these changes shortly.
Bold indicates changes made from feedback.
9:19 PM
Wrexham
Brian - If you removed the director and reflector elements from a Yagi the dipole would also get a very weak signal.
Both are radio telescopes. One refractor, one reflector!
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steve's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
9:25 PM
So what category would you put log aerials they don't have a reflector are the still yagi aerials?
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9:41 PM
Wrexham
Tom - I think the othrs are more expert than I am, but as I understand Log Periodics they are a variant of the Yagi in which different elements perform different functions at different frequencies. So the elemnet behind whichever one resonates at the desired frequency plays reflector.
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steve's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
12:06 AM
Mark Aberfan Aerials
Thank you for the reply. The reason is we can't get freeview from Heathfield but can from Hastings and we would still like to use our old analogue Panasonic DVD recorder(won it when they cost £700)we've still got about 16 months before change over and I have just purchased a wide band aerial before prices go up when the rush to switch starts, our faithful narrow band Labgear aerial (purchased for BBC2 from Dover about 40 years ago)is beamed on Heathfield and still gives good results and another down cable is out of the question!
Thanks' again
Alan
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4:54 PM
You throwing the toys out of pram... I'm of coursing joking but it takes someone with a set of balls to start an enterprise such as this and you're doing a bang up job. Don't panic another year and a bit and you can retire. Keep up the good work and chin up...
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Jordy: Thanks... But then they will start upgrading the whole network to DVB-T2 and providing the local TV services...
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7:32 PM
You must have the patience of a saint, Briantist. I spent much time helping people out on the Oxford page; however few took the advice, continually insisting their setup isn't to blame (people in denial); I even received abuse. So I gave up in the end.
I see you having to deal with a Robert Feal-Martinez on the Oxford page. That's the type of person I mean. How the heck do you put up with these nutters, Brian? Seriously.
I would suggest that if people want help, they MUST include their postcode, plus details about their aerial location. And should confirm they have read and followed "Freeview reception has changed". Otherwise their posting would be deleted.
Furthermore, if anyone does become tiresome, rude, or disrespectful, then their IP address would be blocked giving them a "banned!" message when they visit the site.
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J/P: Yes, you do need an awful lot of patience.
As for Mr Robert Feal-Martinez, I would suggest you visit Carpenters Arms Motel for the night and don't pay the bill on some spurious grounds and see how HE likes it. People like that, given that they own a business and charge people for their services should know better.
I'm really sorry you were abused, I do try and ensure that abusive posts are deleted.
There is a facility for blocking people by IP, it does allow them to view the site, but does not allow them to post.
Your comments about "Freeview reception has changed" and the postcode is a good idea, I can't think how many times I redirect people to Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice Freeview intermittent interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice and ask them for their postcode.
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1:17 AM
People ask for 'digital aerials' because so many people say they sell 'Digital Aerials'.
And some of them are major manufacturers! In the past I've seen their sites / brochures explain that a 'digital aerial' is one with a balun!
Must dash. I've got to go and fit a BSB Squarial for someone's DAB...
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woodface: I quite quite work out if I find a "digital aerial" or a "gold HDMI lead" the most objectionable.
I guess it proves P. T. Barnum was right.
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