All posts by Chris.SE
Below are all of Chris.SE's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
David Chisnall:
It could be helpful for us to provide further comment if you can tell us which way your aerial points.
Does it point almost due E, compass bearing 84 degrees with its rods (or squashed Xs) vertical?
Or does it point almost due S, compass bearing 174 degrees with its rods/squashed Xs horizontal?
Which channels are you having problems with?
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Roger Goodland:
Hi Roger, I wasn't expecting to hear from you until you'd got the filter :D
Well those figures are as good or marginally better than before the filter, so good news and that everything works ok without any interference, that's great.
Glad to have been able to help you get it sorted.
Any future queries then do post.
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Roger Goodland:
Hi Roger. No I'd say it's about what I was expecting. It's a very good quality filter having seen its performance spec. a few years ago, so hopefully you shouldn't get any issues in the future.
If you keep an eye on this page - https://www.freeview.co.uk/help/updates-alerts
depending on what the changes might be, you can decide whether it's worth retuning at any given point.
What that page never tells you is if/when one of the commercial channels changes mux, usually between SDN/ArqA/ArqB, though unusually this month LCN69 LEGEND XTRA moved from the Local Mux to BBC_B and two new streaming channels (internet needed) LCN285 TRACE UK - a music channel and LCN286 It Is Written TV - a religious channel, both appeared on the Local mux. Another streaming channel LCN257 EuroNews appeared on SDN. Changes usually occur on the 3rd or 4th Wednesday of the month.
Note, the list of changes can include changes on the Manchester Local multiplexes only receivable in that area (LCNs 85-88 this time).
Hope that helps, cheers.
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Darren Brown:
Ah, this thorny old problem again. We did a thorough analysis of this almost a couple of years back. We did ask/suggest a couple of things to which we didn't get a response from you. The last post from me was -
https://ukfree.tv/extras/inreplyto/1050243
Now whilst I said what I did about the trees, it's possible that your reception of the SDN mux on C29 is sufficiently marginal, which if you recall is predicted to be the worst in your postcode, that the addition of some tree growth and the slight change in propagation conditions as dusk, is enough to make a difference, possibly coupled with some interference which wasn't identified.
I remember commenting about the lowish signal strengths and not knowing anything about your aerial installation. I didn't see any additional information about this other than it was put in by an installer. Where is the aerial located, is it external?
If perchance they installed a Group B aerial, it won't perform well for the SDN and ArqA muxes.
I did suggest you have a chat with neighbours whose aerials point at Pontop Pike - compass bearing 242 degrees (almost WSW) and those at Bilsdale - compass bearing 158 degrees (almost SSE) to see how reliable their reception may be. Did you discover anything?
Now, on the subject of interference, you did mention a 5G mast not too far away. I'm not too sure why we didn't pursue this, maybe at the time your postcode wasn't sent postcards by Restore TV, but just checking, it has now.
See https://restoretv.uk/postcards-not-sure/ and put in your postcode.
Dealing with this potential (even likely) issue first would be the next best thing before doing anything else.
Contact Restore TV and tell them you keep having intermittent interference problems (I wouldn't elaborate on when etc) other than its been for over about 18 months or so, and you understand that postcards have been sent (though you don't recall seeing one - or did you?) and say you understand they can supply a Free Filter to eliminate any interference from Mobile masts.
Let us know how you get on.
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Richie :
Hi again. Well it does sound as though your external aerial has probably had some water get into it and it's degraded, probably at the connections. That was a good idea trying the new one indoors at head height! Gives a feel for what might be going on.
79% signal strength is quite respectable, and DTV can tolerate quite low levels as long as the quality remains at 100%.
Your predicted reception from PP is very good, including the Local Mux on C33, so if you find things remain stable with the current signal strength and quality, then it may as well stay where it is. BUT do wait until you have a really wet day with buckets of rain coming down to see how a wet roof affects the signal before deciding what to do.
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Chris Williams:
Irrespective whose aerial it is, Preseli has been on Planned Engineering and therefore may be on reduced power or using the Reserve Antenna (lower down the mast) so signal to you may not be as good. If the aerial is pointing at Preseli, you wont' get a very good signal from Pembroke Dock as it's a very low power relay (10W) and is the opposite direction to Preseli.
The predicted reception from Pembroke Dock for that postcode is not that good anyway.
Predicted reception from Preseli of the COM multiplexes, one of which carries Sky Arts, is not as good as the main channels BBC/ITV/C4/C5 etc. So the Planned Engineering is probably the reason for the current problem.
Having said that, the postcode should have been sent Postcards from Restore TV about possible interference from a new/upgraded mobile phone mast.
See https://restoretv.uk/postcards-not-sure/
If it's her own aerial rather than a communal one, she could get a free filter. If it's a communal aerial then whoever is responsible for the system has to pay an installer for a Filter IF one is needed.
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Darren Brown:
Hi Darren. Considering the Signal Strength and Quality figures you posted previously, I'd say it was certainly worth trying, considerable cheaper than getting and aerial installer in!
As you only have the one TV a Single output would be best with a variable gain control, this will give you the maximum gain should you need it, or the ability to turn it down if you have too much signal which can also be a problem.
Plug the Restore TV Filter into the input to give maximum filtering.
There are so many sellers with so many rip-off prices, some without 4G/5G filtering, which is why I will make the following recommendation -
Search on eBay for eBay item number:394490949717 this is from the Official Philex shop -
Select 1 Way in the MPN box Price is 19.99 It's the SLX 27828V
OR the same item on Amazon for 22.03
SLx TV Signal Booster Aerial Amplifier, 1 Way Signal Distribution Amplifier with Coax Connections, 4G & 5G Filtering
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amplifier-SLx-Distribution-Connections-Efficiency/dp/B09SVF13LZ
You'll also need a coax lead similar to
Screwfix item 41720 2.39 You don't need the coupler, but handy if you need to do testing coupling coax plug to coax plug
Toolstation Product Code: 38887 1.49 2m is probably longer than you need.
You find similar leads on eBay, and a lot more expensive on Amazon.
Hope that helps.
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James Murdoch:
If perchance you retuned when you had no signal, the usual effect is to clear the correct tuning - you cannot tune to signals that aren't there or can't be decoded.
If the tuning for the D3&4 multiplex has been cleared, you won't know when the signal has returned.
To try and restore the multiplex,.do a MANUAL retune of UHF channel C25 only,
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Tuesday 25 March 2025 11:41PM
Roger Goodland:
Yes, I meant to say in an earlier reply about ITV HD annoyingly being Central News rather than West.
For some time there have only been 4 "regions" country wide for the ITV HD Local News. The way transmitters were fed meant there had to be technical changes for full regionalisation to happen.
That work and equipment changes was done some time ago, but the full regionalisation hasn't yet happened. We "think" that this may be something to do with existing contracts with advertisers.
Hoping the regionalisation will happen in the not too distant future!