All posts by Thomas
Below are all of Thomas's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
I too have been getting intermittent pixellation and freezes; quality dropping (sometimes far enough to make it say 'no signal') on channels like Quest, TView and Challenge. There has been a little wind, but not really strong enough to blow the trees around, so I doubt it's the aerial wobbling.
Oddly, the HD Mux has been really strong of late, 100% signal strength and quality...
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I find that the HD channels from Emley are much quieter than their equivalent SD versions. What you describe sounds like some kind of automatic gain control in your TV; if this is the case there should be some setting to turn it off.
In a few movies I recorded from the HD channels over Easter, there are huge variations in the sound level... sometimes I have to have the volume up to almost maximum to hear anything, then suddenly it booms out and I need to turn it down! I don't have any kind of volume correction or auto-gain set on my TV.
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We all know wind can interfere with Freeview reception by blowing the aerial around, but is it normal to have different channels affected in different ways? For example, the HD Mux from Emley Moor (C39) doesn't seem to be affected by the wind unless it's really strong. However, one of the other muxes (C43) seems to be extremely sensitive - one tiny bit of wind, and channels such as Challenge pixellate or sometimes say No Signal.
Is this something to do with transmission power or mode?
(Sorry to double post but it wouldn't let me edit my previous one)
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Since yesterday, been getting no end of trouble with C43 (Mux A) which carries channels such as Quest and Challenge. Not only are they unwatchable due to pixellation and freezing, but my Freeview TV keeps putting these channels in the 800s instead of their normal place. A different Freeview box just seems to ignore these channels completely, even with manual tuning!
One thing I have noticed is that the C43 is no longer reporting the network as 'Yorkshire' - the field is just blank. This is probably what is causing my TV to place the channels in the 800s instead of with the other 'Yorkshire' channels. Have they done any changes to the transmitter that might cause this?
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Can a masthead amplifier be damaged by leaving it unpowered for any length of time, or by switching it on and off regularly? Does it need time to 'warm up' after being off for a while?
I like to switch off non-essential mains devices when not being used, such as the masthead amplifier when nobody is watching TV overnight. After switching back on, I find that Freeview reception seems to have gotten worse. It could just be a coincidence, but do you experts know any better?
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On days with high pressure, the Inversion Effect can mean that Sutton Coldfield's transmissions reach as far as Yorkshire. Since Sutton Coldfield's analog frequencies are the same as Emley Moor's digital ones, the analog signal from there can interfere with your Freeview reception.
This also works the other way round; Emley Moor's transmissions spilling into Sutton Coldfield's area. After switchover, the frequencies will be different and this will no longer be an issue.
Note that there have been high winds in many parts of the UK over the past few days, so a rooftop aerial may well be blowing around and losing signal - particularly if it's mounted on a long pole.
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Just rescanned my TVs and Challenge has been moving around - first to channel 20 and then to channel 800! This has happened on all my TVs. The older box also registers TPS on 801 now.
None of the other channels are affected - are they doing some tests or maintenance with this channel at Emley Moor?
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I have heard that as work takes place in preparation for switchover, viewers with Freeview may experience unusual effects such as certain Muxes disappearing, channels moving around in the EPG, and weak signals.
If after retuning you are still having problems, try using another TV/Box and aerial to make sure it's not just a one-off problem with your system.
If the problem persists with multiple boxes and aerials, and it has not improved after 24 hours, post it here on the relevant transmitter page and/or notify the relevant broadcaster.
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Graeme, is something being built near your location, or are plants/trees growing near you now? Depending on your dish location, trees and new buildings could be blocking the signal where they weren't before.
Also with the recent high winds, is it possible your dish was moved out of alignment? Has the LNB perhaps been damaged?
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Friday 8 April 2011 6:33AM
Leeds
Our signal from Emley Moor has suddenly gone very weak. It was working perfectly yesterday; now channels like Challenge and VIVA say 'no signal'. Analog reception has also gone rather snowy.
I haven't made any changes to my aerial system since yesterday, and there haven't been any high winds or anything. Emley Moor's status is 'working normally'; anyone else have problems?