All posts by Colin
Below are all of Colin's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
I think I just need a good moan. I get my signal from the Storeton transmitter on the Wirral and, today, all the channels on one mux have gone (listed on the transmitter page as MUX COM4 SDN.
There's something trying to get through as, every few minutes,a bit of the picture comes onto the screen and then goes off.
Looking at the signal strength. it's zero with an odd burst of around 30% (momentarily only - more like a pulse).
Only started today and usually reception is fine.
BBC reports no problem with the transmitter as done the page for the transmitter!
As I have both a digibox (connected via a DVD recorder) and a Digital TV, I retuned the TV and now there's no EPG for the channels on that MUX and the channels numbers have been omitted.
It would happen on the last episode of Frost on ITV3 wouldn't it!!!
We had some high winds overnight but why should that only affect one MUX?
All channels from all the other MUXs are fine. Good signal, good quality.
Nothing much I can do I suppose.
A second analogue set with it's own aerial pointing at Winter Hill picks them up fine so obviously the problem is with the Storeton transmitter and that particular MUX strength/signal.
Writing this in case anyone else is tearing their hair out and fiddling with the boxes although if anyone knows what the problem is with Storeton and if/when it will be cleared, I'd be obliged if they could tell me (before I go out and get my aerial moved to Winter Hill).
Thanks.
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Hmmm, just looked up at my roof and I'll swear my aerial wasn't pointing in that direction earlier this week. Maybe that's the reason why some of the programs are not being received (although many are still at 100%) as we had high winds here too.
Great, my Freeview aerial in now a weather vane!
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Thanks for the information. Yes it was the aerial. The recent high winds (and a rusty pole which was crumbling and made the fastening a little loose) had deflected the aerial quite some distance
Both my Winter HIll and Storeton aerials are rather old (Winter Hill being around 30-odd years old and the Storeton one about 12 years old). The pole was, I think,installed when ITV came out around 1956 so it lasted quite well :).
All signals now at 100% on both aerials after the local aerial man (who I've known for over 20 years) replaced the rusty pole, checked everything over and refastened/repositioned the aerials.
He advised "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" and that both my aerials are quite suitable for use and working well at 100% signal and strength.
Thanks anyway. I'll bear you in mind as he is getting near retirement age now.
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Well, problem solved. Rusty pole had allowed the aerial to move a little in the wind - just enough to lose the lower power signals. Aerial man fitted new pole and refastened the two aerials and everything back to 100%.
My apologies to Storeton, not their fault at all!
The aerial doesn't have to be out much to cause problems.
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Noticed that there has been some work done recently. About that time, the BBC Digital (and others sharing PSB1
BBCA) tends to lose signal and strength when it's raining to the effect that it's coming up "no signal, check aerial" All the other programmes are coming through 100% signal and quality although COM6 ArqB seems slightly lower than normal but picture & sound OK bar a little blocking and occasional stutter.
I first suspected water in the co-ax but why is only that group affected if that's the case?
Any thoughts appreciated before I get someone up on the roof.
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I checked and BBC was on K28. I retuned and it was still on K28!
I did a manual tune for K26 and all I got were the likes of E4+1, Dave, Pick TV, Really, Challenge and a number of adult programs.
I do also pick up BBC from Moel y Park.
The aerial is pointing to Storeton (I have a second aerial for another set/room that points to Winter Hill.
I'm a little confused as this page seems to say Storeton should be 28 for BBC - or am I misreading something?
According to this list (above these postings) I am getting the correct things - BBC on 28 and Dave etc on 26?
I think I must be misunderstanding something here.
Same results with/without signal booster and only when it rains. It's fine in dry weather.
Thanks for you patience
Colin Hill
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Well, it's still doing the same thing. Losing the one mux when it rains!
Must be water getting into the connection but why only the one mux? Same signal strength and quality on all the others regardless of weather. Most odd.
Good job it was dry for the Olympics.
Colin Hill
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Colin Hill:
The indoor aerial picked up nothing at all on anything.
I used a different make of box (HD box usually in the bedroom) and connected it up and it got the signal fine on DTV (while the usual setup was getting a very poor signal in both strength and quality).
The original setup has a recorder in the loop so may be either the older digibox or the recorder - or maybe the connections between them that must be causing the problems?
No idea why it should only affect the one mux why only when it rains though!
At least I know what the weather is!
Thanks for the help. Hopefully it will be OK now. Wish I could make sense of it though.
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Wednesday 7 December 2011 2:59PM
Liverpool
Does anyone know if there is some work being done on the Storeton (Wirral) transmitter this week or any damage?
The signal for all the Com4 channels seems to have virtually gone with just an occasional pulse getting through for a few seconds. Generally it's showing zero signal strength and 20% signal quality now (usually nearly 100%).
It has been very windy overnight but all the others groups seem fine.
Normally get a good signal on Com 4and the page reports no current reported problems.
Postcode L18 9SX