All posts by Gordon Ormston
Below are all of Gordon Ormston's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Hi David
Thanks for your comments, re-tuned using all options but whilst all ITV channels are still OK the BBC channels are breaking up. 'Loss of tuning' was a bit misleading, I meant loss of picture and BBC tuned in correctly to ch50. 'digitaluk' suggested the signal too strong as situated within 5km from transmitter. If thats the case I can't be the only person affected and begs the question was this not taken into account during the planning stage?
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Hi Dave
Thanks for your reply. Have double checked and BBC definitely tuned into ch50. Am I right in thinking that on the final changeover on the 27th the same problem could occur with the other channels. Please explain what's involved in attenuation.
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Hi Dave
Sorry to bother you again but I have spent most part of today trying to resolve the reception problem without any success. To recap I had no problems at all receiving BBC broadcasts prior to switch over even without a booster, only used a booster because some of the commercial channels were sometimes a bit weak. Following change over and re-tuning BBC reception has been constantly poor with lots of pixellation and intermitant breaking up of sound signals to the extent the programmes are unwatchable. Have followed your advice by removing the booster and fitting a 12dB attenuator. This has resulted in nil signal strength and nil quality on ch50 and ch55 and very week signal and quality on ch42 with pixelation and intermitant loss of sound. Removing the attenuator makes no differance to ch50 or ch55 but much improves reception for ch42. Changing back to the booster resulted in variable signal strengths between 0% and 47% for ch50 and variable quality up to a max of 36% but mostly well below 20%. Similar variable signal strength and quality for ch55 but much more stable signal strength of 73% for ch42 with 100% quality. The loft aerial is not of the high gain type and I have made no changes other than re-tuning several times. I know from what you have said in other posts that attenuation should have worked and would be grateful for your further advice. Is it possible to make contact with whoever is responsible at the Dover transmitter to let them know people are experiencing problems.
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Hi Dave
I can only pick up a signal on the three remaining analogue channels by using a booster and then the image is very snowy, nothing with or without an attenuator. A set top aerial does not work at all on any channels. Not sure what you meant about your last option 'loosing some signal by leaving a gap on the aerial unscreened' ? As with Andrew Walker there has been some improvement with the BBC channels over the weekend but still well below an acceptable standard and still need the booster to pick up the signal. Where do you go from here surely somebody has to be accountable?
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Hi Dave
Many thanks for your detailed explanation. Prior to switch over we were able to receive the majority of the Freeview signals without any problems but a couple of the commercial channels were not always 100% reliable hence the booster. I am still able to view the mainstream commercial channels OK but suspect that may change after the 27th. Having carried out the tests you suggested I became less convinced our problem was due to higher BBC signal strength and your conclusions make a lot of sense. I will wait until after the 27th to see what happens before I decide what to do. I am in the meantime most grateful for your time and trouble in helping resolve the issue.
Regards
Gordon Ormston
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Hi Dave
Thought you may be interested in hearing whats happened since the second phase of the Dover switch over on the 27th. Now receiving the mainstream commercial broadcasts on ch51 (previously ch42) and Yesterday/Film 4 on CH48 (previously ch55). All signals are of good strength and so far quality is excellent. Also Pick and Dave on ch59 OK. However can not pick up signals being broadcast on ch55 (ITV3, ITV2+1 and Quest).
More importantly still getting pixelation and intermittent loss of signal on ch50. Have checked the signal strength again and is only going up to a max of 40% and the quality is very poor.
Does the foregoing suggest that its not an aerial problem and could be the way the BBC signals are being broadcast.
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Thursday 14 June 2012 8:48PM
Hi
Before the switch over in the Dover area yesterday I had no problems whatsoever in receiving all the usual channels on my Sony Digital TV. Following the switch over I am having problems with all BBC channels. ITV and most of the other channels are still perfect. I have re-tuned numberous times to no avail. The problem is constant image pixellation, broken sound quality and frequent loss of tuning. I have spoken three times to 'digitaluk' and despite their best efforts they have no idea why this is happening. Prior to switch over no problems receiving digital signals and nothing my end has changed can you help? Tried fitting an inline booster, this improved the tuning issue on the BBC channels but not the pixellation and sound problems.