Arqiva press release on Oxfordshire switchover
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV From Arqiva press office:
NEWS ALERT
Date: 28 September 2011
DSO completed for Oxford transmitter group
The Digital Switch Over process for the Oxford transmitter group, serving Oxfordshire and parts of Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, has been successfully implemented by Arqiva.
The public-service multiplexes are now being transmitted at full power from the main station at Oxford and, for the first time, from its five dependent relays at Ascott under Wychwood, Charlbury, Guiting Power, Icomb Hill and Over Norton.
The 'commercial' multiplexes (Oxford only) do not reach their final DSO powers until April 2012, as planned.
Following the analogue switch-off for BBC Two on 14 September, the remaining analogue signals for BBC One, ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5 ceased by 00:01 on Wednesday 28 September. The new digital signals entered official service at Oxford at 06:00, with the last of the relays completed by 12:33.
Help with Freeview, aerials?
In this section
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
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jb3812:03 PM
Suzanne: Normally I would just say to fit the attenuator and carry out a manual tune on Mux Ch59, which you could of course try, but not knowing the menu system on your TV its best to make a fresh start by using a factory reset after having fitted the attenuator.
As far as the aerial is concerned, I wouldn't alter anything at present, but an aerial known as a DM Log should be perfectly suffice for your situation, the aerial seen on the link.
Online TV FM DAB Aerial sales
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jb3812:16 PM
Suzanne: Or even the Log 40 seen underneath, but if the attenuator gives the desired result then I wouldn't alter anything, albeit that it does appear a little over the top for your location with reference to the transmitters, although its appreciated that it may well have been OK for the type of reception you were originally getting.
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Suzanne1:23 PM
Bicester
Exasperated!! Have just done a factory re-set as instructed with the attenuator in place, and still NO Ch59. The attenuator doesn't seem to have reduced signals at all on the other channels as I've checked the strength. All are displaying GOOD which is the highest level on my Bush DTV. So 100% of the green bars are glowing brightly..with the exception of ch59.
Oh what next to try..a new aerial I guess. As surely BUSH would design a Freeview ready TV if it could be fine tuned to take into account these problems of picking up signals. If that was the case, then it's functioning as it was intended - to provide all channels that are "available" for your area.
Thank you.
Suzanne
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Suzanne's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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Suzanne1:28 PM
Bicester
Just read my last posting back- the situation is obviously affecting my ability to make sense in the written form. Sorry guys, but I'm sure you can read between the lines..hope so ;-)
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Suzanne: I know I am coming to this conversation late, but just to check, you have eliminated everything on the Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice page?
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jb382:19 PM
Suzanne: This is basically why I mentioned about the benefits of a variable attenuator, as it has a high maximum of in many cases about 20dB.
Have you actually tried (for a test anyway) a set top type aerial plugged into the TV? I would try this to get an idea of exactly how strong your signal actually is, because if its really excessive then you will get some sort of results from using it, and if you do then the signal is liable to be at a level that Ch60 will not desensitize the tuner.
That said of course, taking it that Mux Ch59 can actually be received at a level that will resolve a picture where you are located.
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Suzanne3:00 PM
Bicester
Hi Guys..(again, sorry)
Brian, thanks for adding the link re: single frequency interference. I've read, digested and viewed the set up for channels and so it seems to indicate, I do suffer with single frequency problems as I'm only missing ALL the channels on C - ( Dave,Picktv, E+1, Really, Challenge and Sky news) So following the instructions to see which frequencies are not in use at my location, if Spare RF, is the meaning of this, as follows:C29 C64 C61, but I'm afraid that means nothing to me, as it doesn't explain what to do, if I'm to do anything.
If this is correct, I'm a little reluctant to buy more equipment ( indoor aerial) amplified or not amplified, Dbs , swivel and tilt or not to swivel and tilt, so amy options unless you know anything about what you're doing it's like walking through fog backwards.
So guys as I've established I'm missing the whole C line up on that grid from the link Brian sent me..what do you think next?
I need a lie down after all this digital mayhem ;-)) just joking! Thanks once again.
Suzanne
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Suzanne's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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jb383:58 PM
Suzanne: As said in my latest posting, try to get hold of an "ordinary" (not a fancy amplified type) set top aerial from somewhere and give a report on the results after factory re-scanning with that.
Also, although in the technical sense this might appear to be totally amateur, but you should also try what Chris.SE suggested in his 3.42pm posting yesterday regarding a piece of flex pushed into the centre of the co-ax socket, as trying this in areas where the signal strength is excessively high nearly always gives results of sorts, but wont in normal areas. (set top aerial best test though!)
Of course, only try a test re-scan "after" making sure you can receive BBC1 / ITV1 using any of mentioned, as there is no point if you cant receive them beforehand, but these type of tests are necessary in helping assess the strength of signal you are receiving, as indications from TV signal checks can be very misleading.
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Chris.SE5:54 PM
Mike: nice explanation
jb38: what do you mean - amateur, that's a totally professional way of assessing the signal strength in the absence of a signal strength meter :-o :)
Suzanne: Hi, I should have a lie down if it helps, and stop apologising ;)
If you don't have a bit of flex handy, try using just a 'flylead'- that's the short 1-1.5m coax lead that you'd have used to connect your old VCR to old TV, or aerial wall socket to TV etc. I can't remember which board, but someone had such a strong signal that worked for them!
I see you got a good explanation from Mike, hope you understood, you did ask :)
On the subject of changing your aerial - no point, attenuators & set top aerials are cheaper and all result in the same thing - less signal being fed to the set/box.
Briantist: single frequency interference is unlikely as Suzanne has no equipment, the only possibility would be next door's Sky box, even that's unlikely. Gross overload is the likely cause and jb38 gave a nice illustration.
So Suzanne, see what results you get from the wet string/flex/flylead test. If no joy, try borrowing a set-top aerial as suggested by jb38 - I wouldn't buy one because set-top aerials will suffer problems of people walking round the room & outside, cars etc. but it'll give us an idea of how strong the signals are. AttenuatorS will be the way to go, but the values are yet to be guestimated.
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Simon 10:04 PM
Buckingham
Dear all,
Sorry I've been away with work for a couple of days. tonight I've returned and the channels on C60 are unwatchable.
the signal strength is fluctuating between poor to very good and this is causing all sorts of skipping of the picture. I realise that atmospheric conditions play their part and that a large low pressure system has moved overhead in the past 24 hours, but would this not exclude the 'signal too strong' theory? (I still have no C59 at all)
None of my channels have had a 100% signal ever, and I'm thinking about putting my signal BOOSTER back into the circuit tomorrow if the channels remain unwatchable.
Any thoughts? Many thanks,
Simon
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Simon's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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