All posts by MikeB
Below are all of MikeB's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Denis Mitchell: I hate to point this out, but this site has nothing at all to do with the BBC, and hence your insight is totally wasted. If you contact the BBC, on the other hand..
The same goes for the fans of True Entertainment - again, just email the actual channel.
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Dr. S. Day: As you point out, there seems to be no transmitter problems, etc, so the problem is likely to be at your end. If you are tuned into Winter Hill (click on the various links for find which transmitter, etc), your only 13km away - so you should be getting a very strong signal (is it too high?).
Check if other people in your block are having the same problem. Since its a communal aerial, if it is a problem with the block system, it shouldn't be just you. Also check the aerial lead - is it fitting properly, etc? I would normally suggest buying an aerial lead from a pound shop, but try it. If everything is fine, then its the cable, if not, you havn't lost much.
Something similar was reported not long ago. The person changed the aerial lead, and it was fine. Might not be that, but its an easy change.
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Dr. S. Day: I think this might be one for the reception guru's, but there is one thing that comes to mind. If your TV had found Walton Le Dale first on RF channel 27), then that would explain no SDN, but it still wouldn't explain the loss of D3 & 4.
The only other thing it might be is that your signal is far too strong (strength should be about 75-80%, not 100%), and the TV is blanking out the other mux's totally - but I'm not sure that even makes sense. I think its time for JB38 or David Lindsay to have a think...
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Philip C: A full postcode would be really helpful, but there is something that stands out in what you've just written - the problem came back during a heavy rainstorm.
Atmospherics can cause problems, but there has been no other reports. On the other hand, if all your TV's/digiboxes are having the same problem at the same time (and they are all coming from the same aerial), then you probably have a problem with your system.
If there is a break/loose connection, then during rain moisture gets into the system, and messes up the signal. When it dries out, the signal gets better.
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Andy: I'm not surprised your 30 channels break up - your just 2km from the Exeter St Thomas transmitter. If you turn your aerial around to 74 degrees, you should get a full service from Stockland Hill. God helps those who help themselves.
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Joanne: I know this sounds strange, but try the TV in a different power socket. You can get a TV dead on arrival, but its unusual. To get two TV's of two different makes...
I dont know what make/model of tv you purchased, but the best thing to do is to try it in a socket which you know works, perhaps one where you already have a TV. The TV should automatically power up when you switch it on, if only for the first time setup, without the need for a remote. I know the remotes can be a pain sometimes - because its not difficult to put them into standby or switch it off - I've done this at work. And check that the power lead is connected properly at the back - Sony's sometimes have seperate power packs, so make sure the power is connected properly.
Ignore the aerial connection if you want - you just want to make sure the thing works. By all means plug in a DVD player, and select the source (you can again do this from the back of the TV - the remote isn't essential) - if that works you know the TV is fine.
Remotes should work OK, although make sure you take the batteries out of their packaging before putting them in the remote - trust me, this has happened.
The original socket could just be loose (but I'd get it checked by a electrician if it does seem to be the problem). My best suggestion is to try the TV you have now - if its works, you know its the socket.
If you try the TV in every room in the house, and it doesn't work, take it back and explain the problem. Where I work, the Technical Support desk would have a look, plug it in, etc, and try to found out what the problem is. We'd want to get it sorted out.
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Joanne: Ok - it sounds like you've been unlucky, and the TV has croaked. It does happen - one customer apparently had 5 different TV's in succession (2 Panasonics, 2 Samsungs and a Sony), all of which had a problem. The Sony was delivered, but although boxed and factory sealed, had no stand! Two members of my department drove 60 miles each way to fit one. The general consensus was that she was cursed, and that perhaps the sacrifice of some sort of livestock to the God of TV's might be in order! However, I'm not totally surprised that the problem should be with a Celcus. Its a cheap TV (with a horrible on/off switch) and not a great remote. My advice is to get your money back, and not to buy a TV from a supermarket or somewhere which has/had a catalogue (unless you really know what your looking for). Admittedly, I work for a store which is neither, but we do sell a TV brand which looks exactly the same as the back of a Celcus, and we dont generally recommend them. I also wouldn't bother buying a combi any longer - its only Toshiba (of the well-known brands) who bothers making them any longer, and the back looks horribly similar to the others - I havn't seen a decent combi for some years. I suspect that the combi you bought was about £122 (22in?), but I'm not sure your getting great value for money. Since most TV's are now smart, do you need a DVD? And if you do, you've probably got one spare. Personally, I'd go for a TV with a HD tuner (yours does not - its the panel which is HD Ready), Smart (again - no), with a decent brand name and good remote. For a 22in, our departments go to model is the Samsung 22H5600 http://www.johnlewis.com/…lack . Yes, its about £225, so about £100 more than you paid, but I know its going to work, I know its reliable (hence 5 year warrenty as standard), and a really nice picture. Its HD tuner means you can actually watch HD, and of course being smart, you can stream loads of stuff (which means you really dont need the DVD part). Its more expensive, but a much better set. Anyway, take the TV back, and then go to a proper shop, so you can see what you can get for your money. Brand names you've heard of cost more, but you'll generally get a better set.
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mick: They do put new ones on, but no broadcaster on Earth can afford to just show new programming (or at least programmes you'd actually want to watch) - there are more hours in the day than there is original content.
Of course you could subscribe to Gold, and pay to watch repeats....
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steven preston: Let me get this right - your Talktalk/Humax recorder is downstairs, but you want to connect a TV in the bedroom to the aerial.
Ok, assuming you've got an outside aerial, you could split the signal (easiest if your cable runs inside the house, and through the loft). Your nearest main transmitter is Rowridge, which is 52km away, but you might be fine without a booster. Someone is probably able to tell you how to do this better than I can, but its not difficult. Just buy a decent metal splitter (about a fiver).
You could even just put up a portable, but I wouldn't bet on it.
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Sunday 6 July 2014 5:31PM
PETER: Your problem may be a mixture of using the wrong transmitter, a fault within your system, or both. I also recognise the ' Even when I accept Kent, I end up with East Sussex' problem - I suspect you are using a Goodmans/Bush freeview box, which might be contributing to your problem.
If you click on the DigitalUK link next to your question, you'll find that Dover is predicted to be the best transmitter to use, which should be on a bearing of 68 degrees, with other transmitters being less suitable. Check that your actually using that transmitter. If you not, your signal is going to be relatively poor.
Goodman's boxes dont manually tune, so they pick up the first transmitter strong enough. Now that should be fine for you - Dover is on 50, while all the others are vaguely pointing a different way, but Bluebell Hill is on 46, and 66 degrees of the bearing, so its possible you picking that up first. You can take out the aerial for the first 30 % of the scan, but it is hit and miss.
Also check your system - you might have partial break or loose connection which tends to make things worse at particular times, and a change of lead, etc, might change things for the better. No signal means that the signal is too low to allow the tuner to pick it up. It could be a low signal because your tuned into the rwrong transmitter, or that there is a problem with your system.
I suspect that your using an incorrect transmitter, which just isn't really working for you in the evening, so find out what transmitter your actually tuned to first.