All posts by KMJ, Derby
Below are all of KMJ, Derby's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Conor: The proposal is for the existing COM muxes to work as SFN on C22, C25 and C28. Freeview HD tuners will be required to view the service. There is also the possibility of additional COM services using the C31 to C37 frequencies, although whether such services would be national or limited to a handful of transmitters would depend on frequency availability and economics at the time.
| link to this comment |
Sally Ahmed: It could be the negative offset that this mux has, resulting in the frequency reverting to C28 and therefore off-tune on the occasions you have mentioned. The other standard definition muxes use exact UHF channel frequencies.
| link to this comment |
joeparkin: In the first instance I would check that the tuner has tuned in the frequencies for the transmitter that the aerial is pointing to. Bilsdale or Fenham frequencies could have been stored with the aerial pointing to Pontop Pike, for example. To check what group of aerial is in use it is often a matter of looking at the coloured plastic stopper in the end of the boom. Group C/D is green, wideband is black. It is worth mentioning that within a few years it is possible that all transmitters will be either group A or group K, so ideally replacing an aerial at the present time should only be done if absolutely necessary when using a group C/D transmitter. Yes, a wideband type could be fitted which would be suitable for future frequency changes at the transmitter, but such an aerial would also be liable to unnecessary reception of 4G or 5G mobile signals, which for some viewers could require replacing in the same way as a group C/D one will be.
| link to this comment |
Sally Ahmed: Further to the post of jb38 and myself above, when doing a signal check, observe the frequency that has been stored for the errant mux. If your receiver is one that does automatic re-tunes at set intervals it is possible that C48 from Sandy Heath is being selected, with resulting poor reception as mentioned. If this is found to be the case this facility should be turned off if possible.
| link to this comment |
Keith Morrell: You can receive all the channels listed as "Freesat" on a Sky branded receiver (or a generic satellite receiver, such as a Ross, for that matter). Those shown as available only on Freesat or only on FSFS will need to be added manually, as the channel concerned has not paid to appear in the EPG in question.
| link to this comment |
Stuart Owens: You were correct with your first understanding of the situation regarding M-Y-P and Winter Hill frequency changes. Once the 4G services are up and running C61 to C64 will be used for signals coming from the 4G masts, C66 to C69 for signals from mobile handsets to the mast.
| link to this comment |
Stuart Owens: C52 to C60 at present is used only for Freeview. However this frequency range is seen as being possibly at risk of interference from 4G signals using the C61 to C69 range. C60 being the most likely frequency to be affected (and C52 least likely), but this is particularly in areas where there is a strong 4G signal and a weak Freeview signal, where amplification is used and is more likely to be a problem if the 4G signal is coming from the same direction as a weak Freeview signal, where the Freeview signal is vertically polarised and where poor quality coax is used for the downlead or fly leads. The frequency range C49 to C60 could possibly be cleared in the future for 4G/5G use, in which case Freeview would move to lower frequencies and a new range of frequencies would then be potentially at risk from interference, chiefly C39 to C48. Regarding your last point, there are many radio and TV masts that also carry mobile phone antennae. Where masts are shared the likelyhood is that interference will be less of a problem as the Freeview signal would normally be stronger than the 4G signal in the target area.
| link to this comment |
Joseph : There are a number of possible reasons for loss of reception on C60. If your signals are being received at a level only just above the threshold for reliable reception, as the highest frequency this could be the first mux to drop below the reception threshold. However if you observe a good signal strength when doing a signal check, but the quality becomes poor when reception is lost, this could indicate that a reflection which is out of phase is being received on the frequency in question, or interference from an RF modulator of a Sky box or game console is being received which is blocking reception of C60. Another possibility is if there are any trees in the signal path C60 could be the first frequency to experience problems if the trees are wet or snow covered. Excepting the case of interference from an RF modulator, slight repositioning of the aerial could possibly provide a solution to the problem. I would certainly start by checking the signal strength and quality for each mux in order to look for clues as to the cause of the problem..
| link to this comment |
Mary: You have to switch to standard definition muxes for local news. This situation is the same for satellite viewers. Eventually, in the event that Freeview only transmits in DVB-T2, the correct local news bulletins will no doubt be provided on HD channels. The situation for satellite viewers is a little more complicated as there are so many standard def. satellite receivers in use. Possibly both Freeview and satellite viewers will be forced to buy HD receivers in the future!
| link to this comment |
Friday 25 January 2013 11:43PM
IAN: I wouldn't recommend it as antifreeze is poisonous, especially to dogs and cats who might be tempted to drink any pool of liquid that might form on the ground.