All posts by Richard Cooper
Below are all of Richard Cooper's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Richard.: Hi, Richard on Skye. Scoval transmits at two different powers and polarisations, depending on which mux you consider. On multiplex PSB1, the group of channels which includes BBC1, BBC Alba and BBC4 where you are, Scoval transmits at only 32 watts power whether the aerial is polarised horizontal or vertical. On the other hand on multiplex PSB2, which is the group of channels that includes STV, Channel 4, Channel 5, itv2, etc., this multiplex is transmitted at 132 watts power with horizontal polarisation but only 32 watts with vertical polarisation. Finally, the PSB3 mux, which includes the HD services for the main channels and also the channel called Film4+1 and a couple of red button services, this transmits at 132 watts power at horizontal polarisation but only 32 watts at vertical polarisation. I believe I've now answered your question. I'd be inclined to set my aerial at horizontal polarisation or maybe experiment by rotating it a few degrees on the slant 'on the huh' as we say in Norfolk, and see which works best across the whole range of channels you can get from Scoval. Richard, Norwich, on the Isle of Eaton (NR2)!
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MikeP: Hi Mike. Thank you ror your comments. I hope you didn't mind my replying to Alan when he'd addressed his post to you, Mike! I didn't mention aerial groups in my initial reply, because I didn't want to overload Alan with too much information in one go - I was going to come to that later, but you beat me to it! Richard, Norwich.
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Andy Fraser: Hi Andy. The power of SDL from Hannington is 4.6 kilowatts (4600W), which is only 200 watts less than Digital One (D1), so you can assume that SDL's coverage area is very, very slightly less than that of Digital One, so why not ask someone who is in a greenish yellow area, such as Salisbury, Wilts, Oxford or somewhere in South London, what their Sound Digital reception is like? I'd choose Salisbury because places to the North and East of Hannington will probably pick up Sound Digital from transmitters nearer them! I'm sure that Briantist will get around to updating the web pages of DAB transmitters that transmit SDL eventually ! Give the poor man a break! Richard, Norwich.
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Andy Fraser: Hi, again Andy. According to my reference sources other than UKFREE.TV, Basingstoke, Odiham and Hungry Hill don't transmit the D2 stations at the moment. It would be useful if you could give me either the name of the town where you are situated or at least the beginnings of your postcode. I will perfectly understand if you do not want to give me your full postcode, but just the start of it would be very helpful so that I can use my various sources to see if I can locate another relatively nearby transmitter that does carry D2 stations. I look forward to hearing from you again soon so that we can further develop strategies for you to be able to receive Planet Rock on Sound Digital at your location. I can be online on this site for a little while longer this evening to take your enquiries further with you. Get back to me soon if you can please. Richard, Norwich.
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Andy Fraser: Hi Andy, Just realised you had already said you were in Fleet. According to the BBC reception website, you can also get DAB signals from one or more of: Membury, Berks or even Wrotham in Kent, both of which carry Sound digital stations on VHF Band III, Block 11A, otherwise known as Channel 11A, even though these transmitters could be further away than those you listed earlier. You should see if your DAB radio will do a manual tune to channel 11A. Make sure aerial is right up and radio is preferably on the first or a higher floor and near a window. I'm assuming you're not using a loft or outdoor aerial.. Hope this helps, Richard.
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Jan Davies: Hi, Jan. Well done that girl! I was only using Mike Brown's tx site yesterday to find a list of Classic FM fm transmitters! Looks like Andy might be able to pick up something from Guildford or Toot Hill, which would be nearer for him than Wrotham! Richard, Norwich.
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Andy Fraser: Good Morning Andy. I'm glad you've had a chance to read Jan's and my posts. I was so glad that Jan found Mike Brown's map of D2 transmitters and was pleased that although Guildford might be weak for you that it is a possibility in addition to the also weak Hannington. If you don't have an external aerial instead of the inbuilt telescopic (pull-up) aerial I can make some recommendations if you're interested, You'll need to decide whether you wish to pull in signals FROM ALL DIRECTIONS or from a specific direction, e.g. Hannington OR Guildford - you can't have both without an aerial rotator and they are enormously expensive!!! Let me know what you reckon - omni-directional or directional. For your information, a directional aimed in a particular direction will do really well at picking up from a specific chosen transmitter, whereas an omni-directional will pick up from all around you, leaving your radio to decide what's best for it on the channel/multiplex you're tuned to.m Are you averse to putting an aerial up in the loft or on the house, or would you rather have one kicking around in the room where your radio listening is done? Maybe you need a 'radio shack' in the form of a garden shed?!!!
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Roger: Hi Roger. From what you've just stated this morning it would seem that the problems are either broadcaster or transmitter site related, although, according to Paul Bevis's post from Thursday lunchtime, Freeview is denying that there's a problem on Salisbury, so could it be the feed from the broadcasters to Salisbury? I think I would first of all, get in touch wit the broadcasters, informing them of your issues, and then, if you see no improvement, I would contact the transmitter company Arqiva. If you go the Arqiva website and look hard enough, you can find a phone number, although the organisation doesn't like members of the public contacting it, however it is your right to do so! Hope this is of assistance, Richard, Norwich.
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Martyn Johnson: Hi, Martin. There doesn't appear to be any new transmitter specifically for Driffield, whether for Freeview TV or for DAB digital radio. Where did you get this info from and when did you think the Driffield transmitter was going to go live? Richard, Norwich (June 2016).
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Friday 24 June 2016 9:31AM
Norwich
Alan M. Smith: Hi Alan. This is Richard instead of Mike. Hope you don't mind! Digital UK suggests that your best transmitter is indeed 'The Wrekin' and Sutton Coldfield is not listed as one of the alternatives. The alternatives listed are:- Winter Hill near Bolton in the North West and Moel -Y-Parc between Wrexham & Rhyl in North Wales if you are after THE COM7 and COM8 multiplexes. The prognosis given suggests that you'd get good reception of 107 channels & 15 HD channels from Winter Hill and 106 channels & 15 HD from Moel Y Parc. Moel -Y- Parc doesn't transmit the True Entertainment channel in Wales. Remember that The Wrekin is West/SouthWest of you, Moel - Y - Parc is roughly North West and Winter Hill is roughly North, so if you wish to use one of the alternatives to The Wrekin, the least you'd need to do would be to re-orientate the direction to which your aerial points. Hope this is roughly what Mike P would have said! Richard, Norwich.