All posts by Mike Dimmick
Below are all of Mike Dimmick's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
snapdragon: Probably too much signal. If you have a booster or amplifier, remove it or turn it down. If that doesn't help, add an attenuator.
Digital UK reckon that you will still have trouble with the ArqB multiplex, due to the nearby Repton relay using the same channel (C57) from 21 September.
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Gary: Did you do a full reset, not just an automatic scan? On the Humax boxes this is called 'Default Setting' - it resets everything (already-recorded programmes are retained) so you should make a note of any customizations before that.
You're very close to the transmitter, so you could have too much signal - same advice as for snapdragon, except that there's no sign of a channel clash for you.
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Gary: Yes, power levels on the COM multiplexes are low at Mendip due to channel clashes with Oxford and Huntshaw Cross. There is a retune and power up on the SDN (Mux A/COM4) and ArqB (Mux D/COM6) multiplexes on the 28th; at the same time, ArqA (Mux C/COM5) will move to ArqB's present location and power level.
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Hugh: Check your box's manual for how to retune manually, or see TV Re-tune . We need a full postcode to see which transmitter you're using and therefore which frequency to select.
I would expect the whole of multiplex D/ArqB to be missing - Yesterday, Film 4, 4Music, VIVA, ITV4, and a bunch of shopping channels. If you're just missing one channel, see if it's in the 800s. If so, see if the box is listed at http://www.digitaluk.co.u…tnit .
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Mike O'Pray: You posted it on the Sutton Coldfield transmitter page, and I replied to it there. The link in 'My Posts' doesn't take you to the right page of comments, it takes you to the latest comments for that transmitter. The correct link is Freeview on Sutton Coldfield TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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darrin: The Weymouth transmitter is 'Freeview Light', see Will there ever be more services on the Freeview Light transmitters? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice for more information on why.
Digital UK's postcode checker gives only a poor chance of reliable reception from Rowridge, using vertical polarization, once the COM multiplexes complete switchover on 18 April 2012. They will use the same frequencies as the services from Stockland Hill, which DUK predict will make those services unusable too.
The DUK predictor's aerial model is quite pessimistic, most real aerials do better, but I doubt it will be as reliable as the Public Service multiplexes you have now.
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Briantist: As part of the Competition Commission's inquiry, Arqiva had to submit Undertakings which basically say that they aren't allowed to discriminate between customers, and any new entrant would have to be charged the same as they would charge themselves for Network Access.
http://www.competition-co….pdf
An Adjudicator for Broadcast Transmission Services was set up to monitor Arqiva's behaviour: Welcome | Adjudicator for Broadcast Tranmission Services . Their 'Contact Us' link suggests it is three people working out of Ofcom's offices though!
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Mark A: No, it doesn't deserve a two-tier licence fee because the licence fee funds the BBC - and all their channels are on one of the three public-service multiplexes.
UKTV, which is a joint venture of the BBC and (now) Scripps Network Interactive and runs Dave, G.O.L.D., Yesterday and Really on Freeview, contributes money back to the BBC, reducing the licence fee.
The black-and-white fee should be scrapped. All transmissions have been colour for over 25 years.
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Victoria: Sorry, Sky will disable those features unless you keep paying at least £10 per month. They will also stop you playing back anything you have already recorded.
If you want recording and timeshifting features, you will have to buy a Freesat+ PVR. There is a slight difference in the channel line-up between the Freesat and Sky's free service - see Compare Freesat and Freesat-from-Sky TV | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Thursday 1 September 2011 1:56PM
Ken Moverley.: Bilsdale is yet to switch over, this will happen some time next Autumn. While that TV will not work after switchover, that may not be the source of your current problem.
The Belmont transmitter has just switched over in the last few weeks, so it's possible that signals from that are strong enough to confuse your TV. Some equipment does support 8K mode but can't handle a combination of both modes. In this case, you would have to add a Freeview box.
The prediction for Bilsdale is pretty good, so you should check that the aerial is intact and still pointing the right way. Problems on the lowest channels (and you don't get lower than C21) usually indicate a problem with the reflector, the elements at the back of the aerial.
The TV is also on Digital UK's list of equipment that can't handle a larger Network Information Table at http://www.digitaluk.co.u…tnit , but since that says the TV software would freeze when you retuned, I assume you had the software update that corrected that problem.