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All posts by KEVIN GARDINER

Below are all of KEVIN GARDINER's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.


I can't understand why folk seem to be always grumbling about the idea of having to pay a licence fee. THE LICENCE FEE WORKS OUT AT JUST UNDER 40 PENCE A DAY. And look what you get for it. The UK has the best television service in the world. Even if you don't watch the BBC at all, most folk are quite willing to pay a monthly premium to access SKY and other tv services, yet, you get some who complain about paying a licence.Trevor, if you think that points of view is somehow biased towards viewers point of view, then why not contact the BBC and complain about it. That's what they are there for. The BBC like viewer feed back and I'm sure they will take on board your grievance.

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Today, I noticed that last weekend something has changed with regards to the bit rate loss that I receive from the Sutton transmitter. The bit rate loss has always been a constant 700 - 800 bits for the main BBC HD multiplex regardless of the weather etc, and 400 bit rate loss for the new Com 7 multiplex. However, starting last weekend, the bit rate loss had dropped dramatically from 800 down to max 200 bits for the main BBC HD multiplex, but the bit rate for Com 7 has never altered. I can only conclude that either the configuration is being temporary altered for test purposes, or they are going to increase the ERP, or is the ERP of the BBC HD multiplex not 200kw as we are lead to believe. I think that my problem with receiving HD is ERP related, because the COM 7 multiplex ERP is 89kw and gives me 400 bits data loss and the BBC multiplex gives me 200 bits data loss when they alter it. As soon as Monday comes around, the BBC HD multiplex reverts back to 800 bits data loss.

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A new channel was launched today using the new local tv multiplex. QVC EXTRA is channel 57 in the standard Freeview channel line up. It will only be a temporary channel on this multiplex till its removed along with the "pop " music channel to make way for the local tv channel CITY 8 when it finally launches on November 3rd.

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K
Brierley Hill (Dudley, England) Full Freeview transmitter
Thursday 3 July 2014 4:46PM
Stourbridge

A new channel was launched today using the new local tv multiplex. QVC EXTRA is channel 57 in the standard Freeview channel line up. It will only be a temporary channel on this multiplex till its removed along with the "pop " music channel to make way for the local tv channel CITY 8 when it finally launches on November 3rd.


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Brian Perry, The fact that you cannot receive Freeview HD channels 101-105 , but can receive HD channels on 106-111 perfectly ok, tells me that its because channels 101-105 are broadcast at full power 200kw, where's channels 106-111 are on temporary low power at 89kw on the new Com 7 multiplex. And this would suggest that your tuner in your Freeview HD box maybe being overloaded by too much signal. The mpeg4 tuners for HD in some set boxes and TV's and PVR'S are rather sensitive to the signal input compared to the standard Freeview receivers. IAs for myself, i have perfect Standard Freeview reception, but i have a high bit rate reception on HD. I can receive all available HD channels ok, but my signal level is too high for perfect reception, so im going to have to replace my group E antenna with a log periodic which will give me a consistent level signal across the band with no extra gain, which will help lower the signal strength input, and hopefully lower my bit rate loss level I currently get. You need to let this site know roughly where you are located and what set up you have such as tv model, antennal set up etc. Then I'm sure someone on here will be able to help you resolve your reception issue.

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Kenneth, It looks like your problem is too much signal received at the tv set, because you have it connected to a in loft antenna through a signal amplifier. The signal strength at you location line of sight of Sutton Coldfield is around 63 dbuv. This signal strength is enough to receive all Freeview channels without the need for an amplifier. Disconnect the amplifier and see what happens. The fact that your wife can receive Freeview on her tv downstairs without any issues minus an amplifier makes me think its the amplifier causing your channel break-ups and channel losses.

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KEVIN THOMAS: when you moved into your present property 3 years ago, the signal strength from all transmitters transmitting the new Freeview format were on low power due to having to run along side the old analogue channels bbc1, bbc2, itv and channel4. It was not until September 21st 2011, that the full power digital switchover took place. I assume, that you switched to virgin cable before this event happened? you say that you house backs onto the Bartley Woods. if so, is your roof top antenna pointing through or in the direction of the woods? And is the antenna directors horizontal or vertical polarisation? If they are horizontal, then the antenna is pointed to Sutton Coldfield.However, from what I can see, the woods are blocking your view somewhat, so I would suggest re-aligning the antenna to point towards Brierley Hill mast instead vertical polarisation. You can receive all the standard Freeview channels from this transmitter. Brierley Hill mast is 5 miles from you at 292 degrees. It's a group C/D antenna required. If this does not resolve your reception issues, then I'd suggest you stick with virgin cable. There are some areas where reception via roof top antenna is not possible due to both geographical and technical reasons.

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K
Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) Full Freeview transmitte
Tuesday 2 September 2014 7:12PM
Stourbridge

JOHN HERBERT, On wed 3rd Sept all the multiplexes are staying on the same frequencies as before. The only changes that are happening are that some tv channels are moving to another channel number, and some radio stations are moving multiplex.

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K
Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) Full Freeview transmitte
Wednesday 3 September 2014 11:00PM
Stourbridge

John Herbert, the channel re-shuffle today is to make finding certain channels by genre more easier than before. As you know, on the main transmitters, there are 5 standard Freeview multiplexes, two are 24.1 mb stream and three multiplexes are 27.1mb configuration. The 24.1mb stream can transmit a maximum of 10 tv channels per multiplex and the 27.1 stream can transmit a maximum of 14 tv channels per multiplex, making a maximum of 62 tv channels being broadcast. However, due to number of tv channels being broadcast on a multiplex will effect the picture quality, especially the multiplexes broadcasting 14 tv streams. Both the BBC and ITV multiplexes transmit the fewest channels and have the higher bit rate per channel.
With regards to new channels coming on board in the near future. ITVBE has a reserved slot on channel 36. launch date is Wednesday 8th October, and a Christian channel TBN UK reserved on channel 65 is set to launch in January 2015.And Tru-tv + 1 is set to come on very soon on channel 69. Another reserved slot on channel 90 is CBS Action. On channel 126, pop gets a plus 1 service. With regards to any new HD channels coming on anytime soon. There's a reserved slot on channel 136. I can reveal that this slot is going to be reserved for the first HD plus 1 service, that being BBC 1+1. As of yet, i'm not sure of its launch date or whether its going to be a 24/7 service. This will depend which HD multiplex they decide to put it on.

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K
Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) Full Freeview transmitte
Friday 5 September 2014 1:18PM
Stourbridge

Latest news is that CBS ACTION on channel 90 is in current holding mould and will move to channel 70 on launch day Wednesday October 1st.

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