All posts by Mike Dimmick
Below are all of Mike Dimmick's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Brian: Don't forget that switchover 'ends' at Belmont, Oliver's Mount and relays tonight.
("Ends" because while Mux C and D switch mode and move to final channels, they only get a 3 dB power increase, not to final levels until 23 November, due to the clash with Tacolneston.).
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Mark: To confirm, do you mean Multiplex A on C30 and BBC One analogue on C31, or do you mean LCN 30 "5*" and LCN 31 "5 USA"?
If you can't get 5* and 5 USA, but you can get LCN 10 "ITV3", the problem is most likely to be in the box itself - do a full reset/full retune/first-time installation.
If it is a problem on the actual frequencies, either there is something in the area also transmitting on C30 - perhaps a Sky box whose RF output has been set to this channel, or another device with an RF modulator such as a VCR - or simply low coverage.
The Digital UK trade predictor shows good reception on Mux A - C30 - at your postcode BH15 2BU, but poor at BH15 2AX. It looks like line-of-sight to the transmitter is blocked by higher ground at 2AX than at 2BU, which could explain the problem a little, although the other multiplexes aren't shown as significantly different.
The engineering work is to build a new mast, which has been erected to the west of the transmitter. I wouldn't expect the tiny difference in direction to have much difference between the two sites, though.
Is your installer orienting the aerial with horizontal polarization, rods going side-to-side? You're expected to get better results from vertical polarization AFTER switchover completes, but only after 18 April next year. Right now Rowridge transmits nothing on vertical polarization.
You should get very good analogue signals from the Poole relay, but it won't start broadcasting digital until 7 March and will then be a 'Freeview Light' transmitter, not broadcasting the commercial multiplexes at all.
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obsidian eclipse: Off at shortly after midnight tonight, i.e. the early hours of the 17th, and potentially off and on periodically until 6am. Relays may take longer, see Digital UK - Relay transmitter switching times for details.
Most likely is that, because ITV1 analogue is replacing BBC Two analogue at all relays (BBC Two switches off), it will happen at an ITV1 programme junction. At sites where no analogue channel swap was required (e.g. Sandy Heath), BBC Two was turned off at the end of the final programme scheduled.
BBC Two has Chilean Miners until 00:20, then TOWN until 01:20. ITV1 has The Grudge until 00:20 then 'The Zone' (QVC) through to 02:25, so the logical cut-over point would be 00:20, though don't rule out 01:20.
After that, Mux 1 could go at any point.
Belmont DSO 2 is also tonight, and there is also a retune at Tacolneston to release C61 (which Waltham BBC A will use), so there may need to be some co-ordination between the sites, as Tacolneston is taking frequencies that Belmont currently uses.
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Brian: Also there is a retune at Tacolneston; Mux B on C58 moves to C66 and Mux C from C61 to C68. This is to protect against Waltham BBC A on C61 from tonight, and Waltham BBC B on C58 in two weeks.
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Mark A.: No, Wolfbane's *digital* predictor does not show Haywards Heath, because at the moment, HH does not transmit digital. It will do, from 30 May/13 June 2012 - it is a relay of Heathfield.
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Ben Hughes: The pre-switchover HD service is on the same power level it has always been on.
In your area, you're expected to be practically certain of having reliable reception. Check that you aren't overloading anything. If you have a booster, remove it. You could also try adding an attenuator to reduce overall signal levels (you could well need one after switchover).
Also check for possible sources of impulse interference. Keep your phone well away from the PC and the cables. Check whether the breakup occurs when the central heating thermostat or controller switches on or off. If it does, a cable upgrade to satellite-grade cable may be worthwhile.
The broadcasters' definition of 'reliable' is 1% errors over time. Nothing is totally guaranteed. Still, it's more likely to be too much signal than too little.
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J Darnell: Yes, the main part of your switchover ends tonight. It is expected to be complete by 6am.
Arqiva A and B will still be on restricted power from tonight until 23 November, but will be on final channels and modes, so you should not need to retune again unless you find you can't get those services.
The power restriction is to protect viewers of the Tacolneston transmitter near Norwich.
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Jamie: The Sheffield transmitter is not a good option for you. You should get better results from either Emley Moor or Belmont. If you want the Leeds news service, the aerial should point roughly north-west to Emley Moor, from which you should get good results now, including HD.
If you want the Hull news service, the aerial should point roughtly east to Belmont, which completes switchover tonight. Retune after 6am. You may not get the Arqiva A and B multiplexes - shown as Mux C and D above, except that Sky Sports move from Mux B to Mux D at switchover - until after the power increases in November.
My best guess is that your aerial actually points to Belmont and is getting the BBC A multiplex from there, although it does raise the question of where it's getting BBC Two analogue from, since that no longer transmits from Belmont or Sheffield. If it's notably weaker than BBC One, it's probably from Emley Moor.
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Tuesday 16 August 2011 2:04PM
H Allen: All relays are 'Freeview Light' until further notice. The operators of the commercial multiplexes, which carry ITV4, refused the offer to broadcast from more sites than they already do, saying it was too expensive.
If they ever do, they are likely to choose large relays that cover a lot of population. Hagg Wood covers around 1,200 homes and I believe that is gross population, the number that *could* get a service from the transmitter, not those that *have* to.
Do check with Digital UK's postcode checker to see whether you could use a main transmitter after switchover.
Ofcom are consulting on the renewal of the licences for Arqiva's two multiplexes. See Ofcom | Television Multiplex Licence Renewals - it closes on Friday.