All posts by Mike Dimmick
Below are all of Mike Dimmick's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Mal: Is that an *actual* channel scan or is it being downloaded from some website? The necessary information is all carried in the Network Information Table on all multiplexes, in the terrestrial_delivery_system_descriptor. However, a lot of PC software doesn't actually read the descriptors and instead downloads the information from a website.
The exception is that PSB3's descriptor is a t2_delivery_system_descriptor instead - because it is carried on DVB-T2, not DVB-T. This confuses several boxes.
COM5 is actually on C67, 842 MHz, but it was advertised that it would be on C56, 754 MHz.
To convert from a channel number to a frequency: Subtract 21, multiply by 8, add 474.
If the transmitted descriptors are wrong, you could try telling the BBC - go to BBC - Help receiving TV and radio , enter your postcode in the upper right under 'Diagnose your problem' and follow through the wizard. The people really responsible are DMOL DMOL | Home Page but they don't have any customer services facilities.
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Jack Sukerman: I'd look for any other equipment, such as a Sky box, that has an RF output on C66, C67 or C68. You will need to retune that to a different channel - perhaps down at C21. If you're not using the feature to distribute the box's output to other TVs, turn it off entirely if possible. Or, simply don't pass the aerial signal through the box.
If you don't have anything like that, check that the cables are waterproofed and that the cable run is as short as possible - losses along cables are greater at higher frequencies. Water in cables increases the losses further and again higher frequencies are affected more than lower ones. If cables can rub against bricks or tiles, the insulation may be letting water in directly; if not, check that all connection points outside (including the aerial) are sealed, and any covers are on the bottom side so that any water that does get in can drain out.
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Alex B: Bit of disagreement on Mux A/SDN's current mode. DUK's installer newsletter says it should have changed to 8K mode, the postcode checker still shows it in 2K mode.
The installer newsletter shows FULL power - 100kW - for SDN, and Ofcom show no restriction after today.
Ofcom's licensing information shows ArqA at 26 kW and ArqB at 25.7 kW until 28 March 2012, which DUK's installer newsletter say is to avoid interfering with Salisbury.
(References to these documents are in my earlier post.).
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David: There is no mention of DVB-T2 and only the Freeview logo is shown, not Freeview HD. I'm sorry, it looks like it isn't compatible. You would need an additional Freeview HD box, but it's unlikely you'd be able to record from it.
I'd get in touch with them, see if you can return it.
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jordan: Mux 7 and 8 are several years away and still might not actually be licensed for digital TV, although that's looking more likely.
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k w wild: The Wrekin is no longer transmitting on C53 or C57. It moved to final channels this morning.
Chances are you actually have too *much* signal. Anything you do to correct this may well stop the West Midlands services working, though.
For best results from Cefn Mawr you need a SMALL aerial oriented vertically - elements going up-and-down - pointing roughly south-south-east (158°). For best results from Sutton Coldfield you need a horizontally-polarized aerial pointing east-south-east (116°). For The Wrekin, a horizontally-polarized aerial pointing directly south-east (133°) would give the best results.
Using grouped aerials, you would use a C/D for Cefn Mawr, a Group B for Sutton Coldfield, and a Group K or wideband for The Wrekin.
You may find that switching to horizontal polarization and aiming the aerial somewhere between Cefn Mawr and The Wrekin gives best results; signals from Cefn Mawr should be stronger without significant aerial gain than from The Wrekin. If not, you may have to consider combining two aerials, one vertical, one horizontal.
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Pedro B, Brian G: Have they *ever* worked? If so, go to BBC - Help receiving TV and radio , enter your postcode under 'Diagnose your problem' and follow the wizard. If you keep saying 'no' to 'Does this answer your question?' you eventually get to a web form where you can report it.
If they have never worked, please see What does "Full HD Ready" actually mean? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice to check whether you have compatible equipment.
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k w wild: This site is not always entirely up-to-date. The Wrekin, Bromsgrove and Lark Stoke all had a change yesterday to get the commercial multiplexes onto their final allocations of C41, C44 and C47. These channels were previously used by low-power multiplexes at Sutton Coldfield; after Sutton Coldfield's DSO last week, The Wrekin/Bromsgrove/Lark Stoke could all move to the final channels.
Digital UK's installer newsletter describing the changes at The Wrekin can be found at http://www.digitaluk.co.u….pdf . Posts on The Wrekin transmitter page on this site confirm that the changes did happen.
If it works on an indoor aerial, the problem is too much signal from the main aerial. The relative amount of interference should be the same on the indoor aerial as on the rooftop aerial (may be slightly different as the two will have different amounts of cross-polar rejection). If you have an amplifier (sometimes called a booster), remove it. If not, or if that doesn't help, add an attenuator.
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Steve P: The Wrekin no longer transmits on C24 or C31. SDN moved to C41 yesterday morning. Mux A stopped using C24 at switchover, taking over C31 from Mux 2.
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Wednesday 28 September 2011 1:16PM
Dave Jenks: Do you have the latest firmware? It was broadcast over-the-air on 4 July 2011; if you don't have it you can get it from
Welcome to HUMAX [UK]
. The version numbers are also listed at that page.
Freeview HD equipment *should* prompt you for the region to select when tuning for the first time. If this box doesn't, check with Humax support. You might be able to get it to prompt again if you select Factory Default from the Installation menu, rather than Automatic Search.