My high gain aerial can't get all the Freeview channels I expected
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV You need a "wideband" aerial rather than a high gain one (see all about aerials). Also, if you use a signal booster in the setup, this can cause problems with digital signals.
Can I suggest that you try the following:
1. Check that all the connectors are OK, in particular that there are no stray wires and that both the outer shield and inner wire are connected;
2. If you are using any signal boosters, turn them off;
3. Check to see if you have anything like a VCR connected via a UHF fly lead - sometimes these can changed to use channels such as 68.
4. If you have a wideband aerial, if you can try raising it up an additional metre;
See also all about aerials.
All questions
In this section
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
J
jb383:05 PM
Piers: I dont really think Waltham can be classed as a local transmitter when its approximately 17 miles away, however I suspect that the aerial installer was thinking along the lines that when Waltham goes on high power the signal you receive could be too strong and that the booster will need to be backed off slightly.
That said though, it is possible for transmission patterns to change to the detriment of a particular reception area when power is increased, but I really dont think that was what he was referring to, as unless the trees across from you are of the evergreen type then they presently wont have that terribly much of a block on your signal, but however this could well change when they grow leaves again.
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Thursday, 13 January 2011
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Piers7:38 AM
Loughborough
jb38: Interesting comment, thank you. We watched TV last night and we lost the BBC signal once during the whole evening. I noticed another channel (More4) break up slightly once too. Generally though, things are better than they were. We get 101 stations on a scan and we can watch them all with a reasonable picture. It's not perfect and it has cost us £330 to get to this stage but I suppose it's the best we're going to get for now.
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Piers's: mapP's Freeview map terrainP's terrain plot wavesP's frequency data P's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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jb385:03 PM
Piers: To be quite honest about it I wouldn't really consider what you have reported to be in any way out of the ordinary when you are receiving digital signals from multiplex transmitters presently operating on a much lower power to what they will be doing come switchover time.
The other point is, and without wishing to appear as a prophet of doom! but even when Waltham or any other station does go on high power an occasional glitch is something that can be expected when receiving digital terrestrial TV, albeit of course these being absolutely minimal compared to what is presently experienced. (hopefully!)
Satellite TV signals are about the only ones that have a reasonably high immunity to interference, with about the only thing that ever does being very heavy rain clouds such as experienced during a thunderstorm, although even that effect can be made somewhat less severe simply by using a slightly larger dish such as the types fitted by Sky etc in Scottish installations.
The channels you mentioned are on MUX1 & 2 and out of interest I would be interested to know what the signal strength / quality is on both of them, these being Ch49 (698Mhz) and Ch23 (490Mhz)
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Friday, 14 January 2011
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Piers12:37 PM
Loughborough
jb38: Thank you for your comments. I appreciate the limitations of the system. It seems to work well enough - certainly a lot better than before all the new kit went in. The aerial supplier gave me a list of "signal levels" for the installation as amplified. His list refers to channels as D1 to D6 with the following results: 63.3, 62.1, 62.5, 59.6, 58.6 and 60.2.
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Piers's: mapP's Freeview map terrainP's terrain plot wavesP's frequency data P's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb389:43 PM
Piers: Re: the signal levels provided by your installer, although all being about the 60% mark they would appear to be reasonably good by the fact that they don't have any large variations between each of them, this rather indicating that your reception across the six multiplexes is quite evenly balanced even although Mux's 5&6 on your list are transmitting on a very much lower power than the rest, especially when compared to Mux1.
However that said, the aerial supplier should really have given you two readings for each Mux (D1-6 on your list) as the ones they supplied are only signal levels and there is always a quality indication attached to a signal level, the quality really being of prime importance as its the aspect of the signal that can really determine just how free of glitches your viewing will be, the quality indication always preferably being about the same or higher than the signal reading, for example on my own set up the signal is 65% with a 95% quality indication on three of the four Mux's I can receive, one of (3 on your list) hovering at reception threshold level and with virtually no signal from Mux's 5&6 on your list, this due to a combination of their low transmitting power coupled and my screened location.
Anyway I feel that come switchover your set up should be fine, but just for your own record you should carry out a signal level check on each of the six Mux's, as the signal strength shown usually always has a quality bar running parallel to it, this facility generally being accessed from your set up menu in the tune section, although you do not require to actually tune to see the scale.
Mux channels concerned being 49 -23 -26 - 33 - 45 - 42 (before switchover).
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Wednesday, 19 January 2011
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Piers12:20 PM
Loughborough
jb38: Thanks for this. How do I test the signal without special equipment?
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Piers's: mapP's Freeview map terrainP's terrain plot wavesP's frequency data P's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb384:53 PM
Piers: All digital TV receivers (both Freeview and Freesat types) have this facility built in and which is usually accessible from the set-up menu.
It should be emphasised that although this signal strength / quality facility is associated with the tuning menu you do NOT actually require to tune anything to view it so you wont upset any settings that might have been made, but once on the scale some TV's allow you to notch up the channels one at a time whilst observing the changes whereas on other sets you have to back out, change the channel, then go onto the tuning menu again, i.e:- different brands have different procedures.
I only really suggested you do this for "before and after" switchover reference purposes, as its almost guaranteed that the difference in reception will be quite significant for most people, although when you already receive 6 MUX's it rather indicates that are in a reasonably favourable area for Waltham so the difference you notice wont be just so dramatic as it will for others presently suffering from less fortunate levels of reception.
Have a look at your TV's user manuals as the procedure will (or should!) be mentioned there.
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Thursday, 20 January 2011
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Nikki2:11 PM
Haywards Heath
Hi,
I wonder if you can help me - I've just had a guy round (sent via BT Vision) to check why I am only receiving 14 channels when up to a few months ago I had 33.
He had a look and said he thinks the booster isn't working (it has a crack in the box) and that I should get a new one.
He unplugged the aerial from the booster and showed it at about 23% signal and then he plugged it in and said it was now around 60% but it should be more like 100%.
I just want to make sure that I am buying the right thing and whether it's worth it, or should I just wait for the switchover?
I was told on the phone that it isnt happening until Dec 2011 & that the signal will massively improve then. I'm currently getting a signal from the Heathfield transmitter (my postcode is RH16 3JH).
Any advice on exactly what I should or shouldn't buy to improve the situation would be greatly appreciated,
many thanks
Nikki
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Nikki's: mapN's Freeview map terrainN's terrain plot wavesN's frequency data N's Freeview Detailed Coverage
B
Bernie3:57 PM
Hi Very interesting thread. I am new to this digital TV problem having only just connected up a couple of Freeview set top boxes to existing TVs. I can get digital channels but the quality is inconsistent and sometimes doesn't work at all. I'm assuming I need a new aerial and additional sockets and have had a quote for this work £300 plus VAT. Then I read the posts here and saw the comment that the signal will be improved at digital switchover. Phase one of this is due end of March this year. So should I hold off with the new aerial as the signal will be stronger at end of March?
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Bernie: Probably yes, but I can't say for sure without a postcode.
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