All posts by Richard Cooper
Below are all of Richard Cooper's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
John dakin: Hi, John. in order to receive CBS Drama now, you need to have two things: (1) a transmitter that transmits the COM7 multiplex (group of channels) to the aerial on your home and (2) a Freeview HD (high definition) set top box or an HD television set. It is not possible to recive CBS Drama if your local transmitter doesn't transmit the COM7 group of channels and quite a few transmitters don't. CBS Drama is no longer available for people to watch who have standard definition (SD) Freeview televisions or set -top boxes. Hope this answers your question, Richard, Norwich.
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Roger Forshaw: Hi, Roger. Ofcom says that you should report the problem to the BBC after checking your installation in your home is all OK. You could do this via the BBC website.
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John Powers: Hi, John. Radio (and tv, which are also radio) signals at VHF and UHF frequency signals are difficult to receive at low levels near sea level (or river or canal) level unless the aerial used is raised to sufficient a height to pull them in, which can mean attaching an aerial supporting pole to a sturdy part of your boat. Your original mini antenna might actually have worked if you'd mounted it on such a pole! I have successfully used a set top aerial 24 miles from the transmitter before the transmitter's digital power levels were increased at the time of digital switchover in the early twenty-tens! Richard, Norwich (low lying!)
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Pete: Good Morning, Pete. The Salisbury transmitter transmits the public service broadcasting number 2 multiplex (PSB2 or D3+4) on Channel 60 minus at a frequency of 785.8 MegaHertz. This multiplex carries channels: 3 ITV (Meridian (South Coast micro region)), 4 Channel 4 South ads, 5 Channel 5, 6 ITV 2, 13 Channel 4 +1 South ads, 14 More4, 15 Film4, 24 ITV4, 28 E4, and 33 ITV +1 (Meridian south coast), so if you're not experiencing any issues on these SD channels, then it is unlikely that you're suffering from any 4G interference. The HD multiplex, called PSB3 or BBCB is on channel 53 from Salisbury, which is on 730 Megahertz, which is well below the 800 Megahertz band used for 4G and so 4G couldn't interfere with your HD channels from Salisbury. If you are having trouble with the SD channels I've listed above, you can get a FREE filter from an organisation called at800. Here is a link to it:-
at800 | 4G & Freeview | 4G interference | 4G Filters | 800 MHz
Since a number of correspondents in Salisbury have been having lip sync problems on HD channels, I'd strongly recommend that you read the excellent posts from both MikeP and Paul Bevis above on my computer. Paul seems to have had some joy in reporting the issue to the BBC by telephone on:03700-100-123, selecting option 2, then option 1. Hope all of our advice has been of some assistance, Richard, Norwich.
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George: Here is the telephone number you need with options choice numbers from their menu. This is the BBC's number for reporting reception problems:-
Telephone: 03700-100-123, selecting option 2, then option 1, I think, but listen carefully to the options and choose whatever is most appropriate for you. Hope this helps, Richard, Norwich.
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Andy Parrett: Hi, again Andy. The red flickering light on your booster is probably a tired neon or LED, but the fact that it's glowing red is an indication that power is getting to the electronics of the booster. I found it interesting that removing the booster altogether resulted in no channels at all, which is at least an indication that it was/is needed with your current aerial. On the topic of an aerial engineer, do you not feel confident about installing a new aerial yourself? I used to think I hated heights as a child, but once up on the roof with my Dad, I was surprised that I was actually OK. That was on a chalet bungalow too and Im just a fraction taller now, aged 62! Aerial contractors tend to charge a fortune, both for their cheap and nasty 'contract' aerials, chosen for their own eompany's economy and then for labour and V.A.T. If I were a little younger and not suffering from left side weakness, I'd have offered to come and give you a hand, because I've always enjoyed tackling that type of project! Typical Hughes salesman, trying to sell you a Freesat setup, when all you went in for was an F-to-F connector!!! I had a bit of stuttering during 'Neighbours' an hour ago, so it looks as if atmospheric interference is back, after a welcome respite of almost THREE WEEKS! BTW, Don't hughes have their own aerial engineers any more? They used to have them! Richard, Norwich.
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Chris Stewart: Hi, Chris. As you move North and West of Aberdeen you come into the range of Meldrum and going South you get into the range of Durris - see Briantist's coverage maps of these DAB transmitters on this UKFREE.TV website. This would suggest that the issue is local to the Dyce/Bridge of Don district and indeed the Balgownie transmitter locality as the result of a fault that has developed on the Balgowrie transmitter. It's a pity that Des (above post at 1:58 p.m. after having reported a transmitter fault), wasn't taken seriously. Maybe it's going to be a case of 'numbers that count',i.e. the more listeners that complain, the greater the probability of something being done? Richard, Norwich.
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Des: Hi, Des. I note that you are probably only around 11 miles from the Meldrum DAB transmitter on Smithy Croft to your North/North-West, so this would now strongly suggest that the problems people are having in Aberdeen city centre are a result of a fault on Meldrum, rather than on Balgownie (Bridge of Don0, after all! I am saddened by the response you had from the BBC. I am currently urging listeners to 'vote with their 'hands' by picking up their phones and ringing the BBC helpline. Richard, Norwich.
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Sunday 26 June 2016 6:39PM
Norwich
Mike Martin: Hi, Mike. BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service are on the BBC National DAB group of stations
(multiplex), which is on Channel 12B on DAB, whereas BBCRadio Scotland is on the Aberdeen local group of stations on channel 11C, frequency 220.352 MHz. For residents towards the North West of Aberdeen city centre, the recommended transmitter is currently Meldrum, which transmits 12B at 10,000 watts but 11C at 8,500 watts. I notice that Dyce is not listed as a location where good reception of the local Aberdeen multiplex is reliable, although there are plans, I believe, to put it on to the Redmoss transmitter, known for carrying A.M. signals to Aberdeen, and much nearer than Meldrum, which is up at Smithy Croft. I don't know when this is likely to be done, but some say before the end of September. Try ensuring your aerial is pulled right up and the radio is preferably upstairs and near a window. Try doing a manual tune to channel 11C on 220.352 MHz FOR BBC RADIO Scotland. Hope this helps, Richard, Norwich.