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Help with TV/radio stations?
In this section
Thursday, 19 April 2012
Clive: What transmitter is your aerial directed to and which you are attempting to receive from?
If you don't know, they what direction does it face and is it horizontal (elements flat) or vertical (elements up/down).
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Clive2:52 PM
Tonbridge
Hi Dave
The aerial is vertical and is pointing ESE which would make it Tunbridge Well transmitter I would think.
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Clive's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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sparky2:55 PM
sparky:
Hi jb38/Dave
Just an update on the continuing saga of the London switch over.
Yesterday (18/04/12) the big day arrived and it was as feared,the digihome displayed all channels as very weak signal-no recording at all,I did another factory reset with the aerial disconnected and then but I was able to receive the commercial channels and record some of them(I didn't try them all), the BBC channels remained as weak signals.
I thought that as this was taking up an inordinate amount of time and trouble I would invest in a new terrestrial receiver and bought a Humax t2 dtr.
Well,when I installed it, (this is on the multi band aerial) at first the commercial channels came up OK and it was possible to record them,the BBC channels appeared but with random pixalation -not possible to record them,later as the weather grew rather dark even the commercial channels were pixalating..
I tried the set top aerial but no signal at all even when the weather cleared some what,I then put an amp on the multi band all the channels appeared but the BBC still pixalating,I then changed the amp for a bigger output one(about 12db) and the channels all appeared and were recordable (even the BBC ) that is until the weather closed in and began raining they then reverted to pixalating/weak signal.
Before this change over I never suffered any weak signal/pixalation , some progress!
To me this indicates a weak signal from the multi band(levels are about 51% strength 100% quality without amp 80% /100% with),it's weird that the commercial channels work OK on this signal but the BBC do not.
I did read somewhere that although they have increased the power of the digital transmitters the actual range has been halved this would put my location on the boundary of the range.(I can't find the article again though)
I suppose I could try elevating the existing aerial or try a mast head amp or a bigger aerial(although the one I have has about 60 elements,Ill probably end up with something like Jodrell bank! or even just use cable.
By the way one further problem,I don't think I mentioned that I also have a Humax freesat machine,the remotes are identical and they operate both machines (the t2),I have looked through the manuals to see if the codes can be changed but can't see anything any ideas.
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Clive: I concur that your aerial would appear to be on Tunbridge Wells. With a month and half to go before switchover completes there is probably little point in spending money making changes to your aerial system.
However, I will say that Tunbridge Wells is traditionally a Group B transmitter. That means that the channels used for analogue (including analogue Channel 5) are in Group B which is the middle third of the band.
Consequently, aerials that are fitted, particularly older ones, will be Group B ones, them being much more sensitive over the middle third of the band and dorpping off above and below Group B channels.
The services that you're not picking up are on C61 which is the highest channel and well out of Group B.
As an example, see the trace here: Gain (curves), Again
Here, the yellow "C10B" gain curve drops off to nothing by C61. I stress that this is simply an example to illustrate a point. Your aerial may not be exactly as that shown but TV aerial (yagi types) have much the same sort of gain curve.
Try manually tuning to C61 if your receiver allows. It may give a signal strength reading when you do this and may say that there is a signal but that it's too low for your receiver to use.
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jb384:32 PM
Maureen Cunningham: I presume that you are using a set top aerial? as the code info provided suggests that you are virtually under the mast.
Are you able to view programmes EPG 30(5*) - 31(5 USA) - 38(Quest)? as these are on the same multiplex as programme EPG 10 (ITV3)
If though you cant get any of the programmes mentioned then if you TV or box allows it, carry out a "manual" tune on mux Ch25 the transmitter that these programmes use.
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Clive5:09 PM
Tonbridge
Thank you for your response Dave. I will take a look and see if I can manually tune to C61.
In the meantime, can I ask, if this fails to correct the situation, will it all come right after the switch over date?
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Clive's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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jb385:21 PM
sparky: Getting back purely to the question of the results you obtained when trying out the set top aerial, and in particular to the fact of you stating in an earlier posting (6th April 11.36pm) that you sat it behind a closed aluminium blind and it as only when you nearly covered it with baking foil that the BBC picture started to break up, this alone indicates that the "multi band" aerial you refer to is not very efficient, as if it was then your reception of the BBC would most likely have been completely blocked by the level of signal being fed into the tuner on your PVR.
What exactly is the multi band aerial being referred to? the only other thing I feel that you do suffer from and possibly due to your elevation, is night time variations in signal strength due to atmospheric reasons, although I feel that you would be better "not" using that type of aerial and going in for something like a log 40 or just a DM log, as although the latter mentioned is wide-band as are all logs, this one is fine for group "A" reception as well as being excellent for mounting in exposed and windy areas by being a rugged device.
Now though that you have a Humax box then you will be better able to judge variations in signal strength, or more importantly "quality" changes,
For reference, this is the two aerials referred to.
DM log
ATV`s Choice Of Aerials for digital TV
Log 40
Online TV FM DAB Aerial sales
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Clive: The problem should hopefully be rectified at the second stage of switchover on 13th June.
If it is too weak a signal, then the transmission will be stronger.
If the issue is that your aerial is Group B, then all services after switchover will be within that group, and so it won't be a problem after switchover.
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Iain5:35 PM
Hi jb38 sorry for the delay in contacting you back the model number is GU26BLK2
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Clive5:39 PM
Tonbridge
Dave, wow that's a relief as my Sony VTX-D800U box won't seem to allow me to manually tune to C61.
Thanks for your patience and help, I think that, rather than keep troubling you, and as I can still receive the missing channels on analogue, I shall wait for the switchover to solve the problems. ;-)
Cheers.
Clive
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Clive's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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