All posts by Ken Reaveley
Below are all of Ken Reaveley's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Having retuned on 20th (Saturday) @ 22:30 to capture BBC 4 HD again, when I set the Panasonic HDD to record the Queen Mary programme on Monday 22nd @ 21:00, the programme never recorded. The counter stayed on 0.00.00 but the REC was on. Pressed STOP ' Message 'Programme Recording, did I want to stop it?' Pressed Yes, looked at the HDD contents, it was no surprise that the programme was not saved. Pressed record, selected continuous - same result. Tried 107 Same result. 102 worked ok at 18:30, but ran through 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 all ok. Also tried with recording to stop at displayed time and 30min time block. No recording made.
Went to tuning menu BBC 4 HD 106 on Ch 32 562Mhz and BBC News HD 107 on Ch 34 578MHz Signal Strength & Quality all at10. Saw that Network set as Com 78 National for both of these. 101-105 where on South East or London. Checked all of C32/34 - 109, 110,111, 112, 115, 205 same Network. Tried recording on these - same condition - would not record, Tried all the other non HD channels same result will not record. Rescanned for Kent, same result, Rescanned for London, same result, Rescanned for Best Signal, same result. Checked Panasonic TV, same info on these channels. So I can watch, but not record any of these channel on Freeview. Actually I only want BBC 4 HD and BBC News HD. Freesat channels on HDD records ok. Anyone having the same issue of not being able to record these channels on Freeview in South East England or anywhere else. If not I have some strange fault on my HDD. Still doing it today 23rd @ 10:00.
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Ken Reaveley:
Tried a further re-tune. Still will not recording channels 32 & 35 on Com78 National others o.k!
Tried 2 initialization to factory Reset and Shipping Condition, which included a full re-tune.
Still will not record channels 32 & 35 on Com78 National others o.k!
Puzzled
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Yesterday morning I tested using OTR 107 BBC News HD, 205 BBC Children's HD and other HD/SD channels using this Com7/8 National Multiplex and they ALL started recording!. Tested 106 BBC4 HD at 19:25 and it worked using OTR and it was recording!
Tested 107, 207 and a couple of SD channels - still working.
Hope others who were having similar issues are now working,
Here is the BBC link which gives news on engineering changes. BBC - Click here to return to the top of the page - Help Receiving TV and Radio
There was no updates on any other issues which this retune through up.
Radio & Television Investigation branch have a website, and this link provides their contact details, BUT no e-mail though for quick response.
R&I Investigation Service
03709 016 789
PO Box 1922 Darlington DL3 0UR
Radio & Television Investigation Service - About Us
Hope this is resolved for us all.
Maybe someone connected with Freeview Delivery Service could explain what signals were embedded in channels 32 & 34 to prevent PVR's from recording.
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Here we go again in ME13 9HY Faversham.
After the mess-up in January when BBC4 & BBC NEWS HD and other channels moved MUX's Freeview have done it all again, but now its even worse!
What is the point. Tried re-scanning on Kent then to London NO BBC 4 HD on 106 and No BBC News HD on 107.
Just tested the Panasonic HDD recorder, and its not recording again, just like it did in January, when Freeview 'upgraded' everything.
What a waste of time and money this service is!
It is supposed to be a Joint BBC / ITV service, but if you can't even see the BBC programmes, then the service is not good enough.
it a pain, At least I grabbed Tuesday's showing of 4472 on BBC 4 HD, because I couldn't see it now.
I cannot believe this company is re-organising its channels and frequencies yet again, and we are told you will have to get a new Ariel. the one I have is only 4 years old.
Is every time they re-turn, we all have to buy new Ariel's?
So more Telephone calls and emails to Freeview.
Yes I have looked at the links which says it tells what is happening, it as clear as mud.
This service is second rate.
More hours wasted trying to restore where everything worked before the engineers got their screwdrivers out at Bluebell Hill.
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Further to my post yesterday @ 23:35, I received a reply from Freeview at 11:10 today, and have just submitted a detailed letter to them at 15:00. (The letter contained 4 images which are not shown here).
I wonder if anyone else has had these issues since retune?
Received from Freeview 20-07-2018 @ 11:10
Thank you for your email dated 20 July regarding the recent retune event in your area.
I am very sorry to learn that your Panasonic recorder is failing to record again. I would advise you to contact Panasonic to see if they can offer any further technical assistance to help resolve this problem
I am also very sorry to learn that the retune event in your area yesterday was unsuccessful for you and that you are still missing channels.
Following a decision by Government, some airwaves used by Freeview are being reallocated to allow for the future development of new mobile broadband services.
Transmitters across the UK are being updated as part of a major engineering programme being carried out between now and 2020. Viewer support is being delivered under a Code of Service in line with Government policy, which can include aerial adjustment where necessary
Read more at www.freeview.co.uk/tvchanges
The changes to frequencies at Bluebell Hill should not require a change of aerial type. If you were able to receive all the channels before the retune event, you will have a "wideband" aerial type, which can receive all the frequencies used on the Freeview platform. This is dependent upon the aerial being correctly aligned and in good condition.
I previously advised you in May that you are not predicted to receive reliable digital signals from the Bluebell Hill transmitter. Click here to confirm prediction.
While reception is often possible in areas outside the coverage footprint' of a particular transmitter, the reception is likely to fail from time to time as natural variations in signal conditions occur. These variations are often due to changes in atmospheric conditions which affect the way that signals travel from the transmitters. Technical changes at transmitters or interference from those in neighbouring regions and countries may affect coverage patterns, which are planned and managed by Ofcom.
Where coverage is predicted to be variable, a local aerial installer may be able to offer advice on improving your reception. We recommend you look for a qualified and security checked installer who is an accredited member of a recognised trade body, such as the Registered Digital Institute at www.getmedigital.com or the Confederation of Aerial Industries at www.getmeviewing.org.uk.
If there isn't an installer near you, then you can look in the Yellow Pages or on the Internet. Alternatively ask at your local electrical retailer. There would be a cost for using an installer's service.
If you find that reception coverage in your area remains poor, you may need to consider alternative TV platforms, such as subscription-free satellite services.
While I appreciate that this is not the positive response you may have wished for, I hope that it explains the situation.
Additional information can be found on our website at www.freeview.co.uk or if you would rather speak to one of our advisors please phone 03456 50 50 50.
Kind Regards,
Dave
Viewer Support Freeview Advice Line
Transmitted to Freeview 20-07-2018 @ 15:00
Hi Dave
Thank you for your e-mail @ 11:10
Last night after e-mailing Freeview, I scanned for the BBC East Transmitter, same result.
Tried Rescanning for London Again, this time 106 & 106 came up on the EPG, and was displayed, but with no signal. Other Channels 108 Al Jazeera Eng HD, 109 Channel 4+1 HD, 113 RT HD all these displayed with No Signal, but 110 4seven HD was displaying.
Now I tried again to record 101 & 102 these did not record, as was the case with 104 and 105, BUT 103 could be recorded. Tried 110 and that recorded as well.
Tried the SD channels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 7 all recorded as did 81.
So why is my machine which was ok before your return, now working ok on SD and on only 2 HD channels?
I had this same problem before after your 21st January retune, but after a week it started working and has been fine upto the 18th July.
So between 12;00 and 13:25 I investigated the entire system using the record button and selecting continuous recording the following events occoured
For the following HD channels the REC ident is displayed but the counter does not run and therefore NO data is stored on the HDD.
These were displaying but NOT recoding this morning at 00:15 and their situation has not changed:- 101, 102, 104, 105.
This HD station was not broadcasting at 00:15, but is displaying now, but NOT recording:- 204
For the following HD channels the REC ident is displayed, the counter is running and the data is stored on the HDD
These were displaying and recoding this morning at 00:15 and are still ok now:- 103 &110
These stations were NOT displaying at 00:15, but are now displaying and recoding:-
107, 108, 109,111, 112 &113
This HD station was not broadcasting at 00:15, but is displaying and recording now:- 205
BBC 4 HD & SD 106 & 9 is not transmitting at the time of the test, but they are displaying the on-air time caption (No signal to test record)
The following SD channels were displaying and recording at 00:15, and are still displaying and recording:-
1, 2, 4, 5, 81, 19, 20
These SD Channels with programmes identified as being broadcast are not being displayed:-
11.12, 17, 23, 29, 32, 38, 40, 41, 43, 46, 48, 49, 65, 72, 73, 233
I never use them so their loss is not important, but they are not related to Channel 32 & 34 lists I collected in January, because their Network Name is Cambs & Beds on Channel 36 @ 594.00Mhz, with a Signal strength of 0 and a signal Quality of 3.5.
Investigation of HD Signal condition:-
Station 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110
Signal Strength 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Signal Quality 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Frequency (Mhz) 666.00 666.00 545.83 666.00 666.00 754.00 746.00 746.00 746.00 746.00
Channel 45 45 30 45 45 56 55 55 55 55
Station 111 112 113 204 205
Signal Strength 10 10 10 10 10
Signal Quality 10 10 10 10 10
Frequency (Mhz) 754.00 754.00 746.00 666.00 754.00
Channel 56 56 55 45 56
Network Name
South East 101 102 104 105 204
London 103
Com78 National 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 205
This data tells me that 101, 102, 104, 105 and 204 are on the same Channel 45 with the same Frequency 666.00Mhz along with the same Network Name of South East and these channels WILL NOT RECORD.
This has nothing to do with my HDD device.
It has to have some embeded code in within your transmission signals which has either been turned off or on so as to stop recordings to be made.
BBC 4 106 on Channel 56 and frequency 754.00Mhz now, (it was on Channel 32 in January), is the same as 111, 112 & 205 and during the tests these three channels are displaying and recording so I hope when I test 106 tonight after 19:00 it will display and record.
BBC News HD 107 on Channel 55 and Frequency 746.00 now (it was on Channel 32 in January), is the same as 108, 109, 110 & 113 and during the tests these all five channels are all displaying and recording.
You wrote in your e-mail I previously advised you in May that you are not predicted to receive reliable digital signals from the Bluebell Hill transmitter.
The geographical distance from ME3 9RD Bluebell Hill Transmitter to ME13 9HY by road is 22.1 miles, so it is likely that the line of sight distance is about 20 miles.
So how is it, I am too far away for a decent signal?
When I lived in lived in Liverpool, our the Analogue Transmitter was at Winter Hill, some 33.8 miles by road, 25 miles by line of sight. Never had any issue with BBC1, BBC2 & ITV, 3 stations and plenty of power, now with multiple stations and less power, we have a poorer service.
This is image shows the coverage on from UK FreeTV Bluebell Hill Tx info, but there is no geographical overlay and no distance masurement, and it only relates to Com7/8 not the other Network Names I observe on my HDD during my investigation.
The site also illustrates the Channels available
Then when I used your site to check the channels I should receive after the retune, this was displayed.
This shows I should receive BBC 4 HD and BBC News HD.
So why is there a variation in your information and the information you site displays after I enter my post code and house name?
I downloaded this coverage data you recommended, but I guess it is clear to you, but as a visual aid advising me which stations I can view and record, it is not a great deal of help. It requires a good deal of time and knowledge to investigate all your, I assume Network Names, but only Com 7/8 appear in my list. So if I can't work it out, how are ordinary consumers who have no knowledge of such technical jargon supposed to understand what is going on.
Having forced us all to change in January when 106 & 107 moved frequencies, they have been moved again. One poses the question, how much time and money this duplication of movement has cost?
Why wasn't this change done in one go, either then or now?
Now looking at this list it seems there are another 4 retunes in the pipeline, is that true?
So I going to have all this grief again and again until 2020.
This was not was promised when everyone was told Digital' is the way forward to the new world of Free to Air' television reception.
If we had been told, well actually, you may or may not receive all the top channels, you may or may not have to invest in more than 1 new aerial every few years and the weather and lots of engineering work will disrupt transmission even more than it did in the days of the analogue signal.
I re-tuned my HDD and selected London, but I don't know if the signals are being picked from Crystal Palace, Bluebell Hill or Sudbury, that is one item of data not displayed on the Signal Quality.
I vaguely hope that BBC4 HD 106 can be watched and recorded tonight and that BBC News will continue to be viewable and recordable, and I hope someone, somewhere will fix Channel 45, Frequency 666.00 MHz on the South East Network so the programmes can be recorded.
Final check a 14:41 101 NOT recording, but 107 is recording.
Please fix this.
Progress does not always bring the promised joy and happiness.
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From one Ken to another.
Fantastic Information Ken Collyer a Video <CTR><ALT>&<DELETE>
Worked like a dream when I followed your advice at 22:30 on Saturday. Set it to pick up Crystal Palace, seeing that Freeview tells me I am outside the Bluebell Hill Tx envelope at 20 miles (LoS) while Crystal Palace is 48 miles (LoS), but the Tx maps identify the opposite.
Now with 101, 102, 104 & 105 now on Channel 30 Frequency 584.83MHz (London Network)
All now all these and other channels are recording satisfactorily.
Thank you so much for this advice.
I received this feedback from Freeview, which gave the same information as Ken, but other information, so others might find it useful.
Thank you for your email dated 20 July regarding retune event information.
You have raised a number of points in your letter, which I will address below
To begin with, I would like to explain that the link I gave you for the coverage checker (detailed view) is designed to show a viewer the predicted reception from the available transmitters in your area at a glance. Green shading indicates a good reception, Amber shading indicates a variable reception and Red shading indicates a poor reception. However, this is only a prediction.
Please click on this link to see the consumer view for Bluebell Hill, which shows the channel names and which ones are predicted to be Green and Amber.
We can only comment on information provided on the Digital UK and Freeview web sites.
The Freeview web site postcode checker (here) only displays the channels that are predicted to be a good reception. Please note this is only a prediction.
Bluebell Hill and Crystal Palace have completed the retune events in connection with the reallocation of the airways and there is no more retune events planned for these transmitters. As we go around the country changing frequencies on other transmitters, there may be reception changes in your area, which might mean you will need to retune. We generally advise consumers of Freeview to retune regularly as there may also be changes made by the broadcasters e.g. (new channels launched, channels move to different frequencies, or channels change their channel number)
When you perform an automatic retune, your equipment may pick up signals from both Crystal Palace (London region) and Bluebell Hill (Meridian region, South East).
Picking up signals from more than one transmitter can sometimes overload the equipment, in which case I would advise as a first step, that you perform a manual retune by following this procedure:
Firstly, remove the aerial cable from the rear of your digital equipment and perform a full automatic retune, in order to remove all stored channels and information.
Once completed, replace the aerial cable and check that all the Freeview channels have been removed and if so, continue with a manual retune to Bluebell Hill using this guide.
8. Using your remote control, press the 'menu' button.
9. Select the 'set up' or 'installation' option. If you see picture icons, select the tool box, satellite dish or spanner.
10. Select 'manual retune' or 'manual search'.
11. If you are prompted for a code, try 0000 or 1234.
12. For BBC A type in 32 where it asks for a 'channel' number (frequency) and press OK.
13. Repeat steps 1-5 using the different numbers next to each group (a group is a bundle of TV services), to complete the manual retune. D3&4: 34, BBC B HD: 45, SDN: 40, ARQ A: 43, ARQ B: 46, COM7 HD: 55, COM8 HD: 56
14. Then press 'menu' or 'exit' to finish.
NB: These instructions should work for most Freeview TVs or boxes, but they differ, and you may have to speak to your manufacturer for help.
You can use the same procedure for manually tuning to Crystal Palace. The channel numbers you will need are:
For BBC A type in 23 where it asks for a 'channel' number (frequency) and press OK.
D3&4: 26, BBC B HD: 30, SDN: 25, ARQ A: 22, ARQ B: 28, COM7 HD: 55, COM8 HD: 56
Please note that after re-tuning, you may need to re-schedule your planned recordings.
Once again, I am sorry to learn you have been inconvenienced,
If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to get back in touch.
Additional information can be found on our website at freeview.co.uk or if you would rather speak to one of our advisors please phone 03456 50 50 50.
Kind Regards,
Dave Viewer Support Freeview Advice Line
We alI know what to do when the Freeview Engineers get their screwdrivers out again.
Kind regards
Ken Reaveley
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Multiplex Com7 Channel 55 746 Mhz which includes channels 57, 67, 74, 78, 92, 99, 107 BBC News HD, 108,109,110 &113 and multiplex Com 8 Channel 754Mhz which includes channels 56, 64, 83, 84, 89, 91, 96, 106 BBC4 HD, 111, 112, 114 & 205 both from Bluebell Hill or Crystal Palace have again returned to No Signal.
Everything been ok for over a year. Both the 2013 & 2019 Panasonic TV's and the Panasonic PVR's affected. Earlier today the loss was over a wider range of channels when the signal strength had reduced, but by 1800 when I was fault finding again it was the above channels, but specifically BBC4 & BBC News HD which had lost again.
Did a auto scan on the 2019 TV at 1300- all came back except the Com 7 & 8 Channels. Did a manual search on the channels 55 & 56, then and again after 18:00. Did a manual scan on the PVR, but nothing was picked up on either device. I decided not to do full re-scan on the PVR, as I did not want to lose the channels 106 & 107 which have been lost on the 2019 TV..
Looked at the Bluebell Tx page, can't see anything amiss.
It is not sunny and warm, so no signal inversion.
Ariel System had a new amps installed at the mast head and in the aerial chain inside the house earlier this year, and everything has bee fine, even in thunderstorms which did affect the Freesat signal.
Either I have an individual situation which I have yet to fathom out, or something external has occurred which I don't know about.
Anyone in the same boat, or is it just me?
Location Faversham ME13
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Further to my post at 20:13, the HD channels on freeview have now gone on the TV and PVR and many of the SD channels, my wife looked at social media for the Faversham area and others were experiencing issues, one person said the TX at Bluebell hill was down, well there is nothing now. So anyone got a clue. Lets go back to analogue 405 / 625 days, never remember this sort of grief. So much for technology and its advancement - and it will only get worse with 5G taking our frequencies.
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Have not been able to receive BBC4 HD & BBCNews HD on Ch 106 & 107 for a week, one assumes again it is the Hot Sunshine, but BBC3 HD along with BBC1HD, BBC2 HD, ITV HD, C4HD & Ch5HD are all ok in the ME13 9HY Area, different multiplexes and more power, unless it is Bluebell Hill doing maintenance.
Anyone else having the same issue?
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Thursday 29 December 2016 12:10AM
Once again BBC4's signal is lost tonight, trying to watch James May's re-assembler about 4472 Flying Scotsman at 21;00. Will it be working tomorrow at 21:00 when 60103 (AKA 4472) Flying Scotsman on the SVR?
BBC 4 part of the Channel 32 Group @ 562.00MHz Channels 107 BBC News HD 108, 109,110, 113 124, 56, 67,71,77,81,82, 86 & 87 at least all displaying no signal. Kept retuning including London, nothing. So according to you post Bluebell Hill is experiencing weak signals, don't retune!
At least with analogue, you could still see a picture, even if it was a bit noisy.
So why are we fiddling with the equipment over Christmas Holidays, - just like the trains. We can't go anywhere and if we stay at home our Freeview signal is un-reliable. Great planning.