All posts by KEVIN GARDINER
Below are all of KEVIN GARDINER's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
K
Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) Full Freeview transmitteThursday 30 October 2014 4:35PM
Stourbridge
I am aware that engineering work is currently underway on the DAB radio multiplexes.However, I have noticed that although the TV multiplexes are not effected in any way regards to their ERP's, the sound on most of the HD channels is being effected. I'm not sure whether they are working on changing the sound configuration in some way, or whether its just a temporary alteration whilst they are working on the DAB multiplexes. The difference that ive noticed is that the sound level on broadcast is normal, but when you record a programme and play it back, the sound level is low and fluctuates both up and down. I've tested my soundcard audio settings on my laptop and they are fine as I can play all my previous recordings ok. and I can play back standard Freeview channels perfectly. As far as I can see, all the HD channels are effected except ITV1 and BBC3. And today, I tested out the standard channels and all were perfect both in audio and video recording a data stream just over 15,000 kbps, except today, when the data stream for the PSB2 multiplex was on reduced data stream of just under 5,000 kbps.
The above problem has been going on since around 15th October and although engineering work has to be untaken to ever improve the quality of our television reception, I believe that not all engineering work to be carried out is advertised to the public if it doesn't have any effect the reception due to decreased ERP Also, to make a comparison, I also tested reception from Brierley Hill, and exactly the same reception problems prevail. Has anyone else experienced, or are currently experiencing the same problems as myself?
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K
Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) Full Freeview transmitteFriday 31 October 2014 5:22PM
Stourbridge
Braintist, Thank you for your expertise in trying to explain what may be the causes of my Freeview HD audio issues that im currently experiencing. I 've decided to give you an update as to what's going on today. Today, I re-checked the audio status of all the HD channels on both multiplexes and found that the problem still exists. i.e. reduced audio level on play back of recordings, or reduced audio level with unstable, fluctuating levels. The channels with stable but reduced audio levels are ITV1, CBBC, BBC NEWS and channels with normal audio levels after recorded playback are CBEEBIES and THE COMMUNITY CHANNEL. You outline that the cause of audio instability may be due to a temporary loss of use of the fibre optical cable feed to the transmitting station, and they are therefore, having to revert to a back up system using Interstat 907 satellite in-put feed instead. This may well be the case Brian, but something doesn't seem right because, I've also noticed that BBC2's audio reverts back to normal straight away after the channel shuts down and shows a loop of programme clips throughout the night. If they can revert back to normal audio, then why do they need to use a satellite feed if no engineering work on the tv multiplexes is currently taking place? A bit of a mystery I think.
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K
Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) Full Freeview transmitteSunday 2 November 2014 12:22PM
Stourbridge
js: My problem doesn't concern what audio track is being played back after a recording. The audio track that gets recorded is the actual audio track of the programme that is broadcast. The audio issue has been on going since around 15th October. All HD channels are effected except ITV1. CBEEBIES AND COMMUNITY CHANNEL. Their audio level is perfect. The rest either have a stable audio track with a lower play back level, or have an un-stable audio track with variable audio levels. BBC2 has a variable audio track during broadcasting hours, but reverts back to normal audio level as soon as the daily programme schedule ends. This alone proves that something is going on with the HD multiplexes audio streams. Briantist mentioned that there could be a fibre optical feed fault going on at the transmitter site, and that they are currently reverting to their back up facility I.e. the use of Intersat 907. If they can revert back to normal audio level after shut down, then why would they need to use INTERSAT 907 back-up?
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K
Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) Full Freeview transmitteSaturday 8 November 2014 7:35PM
Stourbridge
JS: Thank you for the very informative link in your reply to my audio problem. The audio problems that folk are reporting in that blog are exactly what I'm experiencing. And the start date of this audio issue started on or around 14th October. I'm beginning to think that the audio codecs have been tweaked a bit, or that something's going wrong with their decoding somewhere. However, the problem is not on every HD channel. Channels ITV1,CBBC, CBEEBIES, BBC3 AND BBC NEWS AND AL JAZEERA have loud problem free audio ON PLAYBACK. All the rest have stable quiet audio playback or clicks and variable audio tracks. I use a laptop PCTV dongle to receive and record my tv programmes. I know that the problem has nothing to do with my laptop audio settings as I can play any recording prior to October 14th perfectly. The dongle company are investigating what's going on at this time. So far, they sent me audio and video codec keys to re-activate them. However, they haven't made any difference.They have asked me to send in files of recordings with good audio and files of bad audio since the 14th October. plus a technical log from the application. So far, they are mystified. This problem must be effecting a lot of viewers besides myself? And I hope that Aquiva put this audio fault right. I can't understand why they have altered the audio as it was perfect the way it was. And I do think that not all engineering work is reported as going on if it doesn't effect the ERP, or effects the stability of the received picture. There is something going on with the HD multiplexes audio output.
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K
Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) Full Freeview transmitteSaturday 8 November 2014 8:29PM
Stourbridge
JS: Also, even though I know the audio codec is mpeg1/2 format, I decided to make a comparison of standard Freeview to see if it was also was effected, so i made recordings off each of the 5 multiplexes and found the following. All multiplexes working fine with stable, loud recorded audio with a stable bit stream of 15,200 odd kbps, except PSB2 multiplex ,which has a reduced bit stream of around 4,500 kbps for some un-known reason. This has been the case for about a week to my knowledge.
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I performed my monthly channel re-scan to see or find any new tv or radio stations on Freeview. Today I performed a manual multiplex signal frequency channel check, and I can re-veal that the COM8 HD MULTIPLEX from Sutton Coldfield is on and in test mode as of today. There are no test cards or channels on but there is a constant carrier. From this, we can conclude that there'll be an extra 6 HD channels coming our way sometime this year.
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Yes, I think it was. Although engineering work has been under way recently, from what ive noticed at my end, the ERP of the PSB2 multiplex ITV1 etc, has been the only multiplex operating on reduced power. As of an hour ago, all multiplexes are operating at full power now. The HD multiplexes are operating ok also. We'll have to wait see what transpires, now that COM 8 multiplex is transmitting a carrier.
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As of today, the com8 multiplex is up and running. It came on on Tuesday 16th April, but it was on transmitting a carrier.Today, they are transmitting two HD channels so far. One is channel 111 QCV +1 and QVC BEAUTY HD on channel 112. The multiplex is being transmitted at just under half the ERP of the main multiplexes 89kw for the time being along with COM 7.
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Friday 5 September 2014 9:04PM
Mike P., lol. That was what I meant.