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All posts by Chris.SE

Below are all of Chris.SE's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.

C
Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmitter
Friday 25 October 2019 12:04AM

Helena Mountford:

Perhaps it might have been sensible to add that unless you have a Group T / Wideband aerial you may have difficulty in getting those Local multiplexes that have moved to UHF 21 & 24 and had a power reduction. The other mux is on UHF40 which you may be getting with an old group C/D aerial, but it'll also depend on where you are as predicted reception at your location may have changed. Whilst we know there are some errors in the DigitalUK documentation regarding the Local multiplexes, not being in your area I don't know what the differences are between the G-MAN and L-MAN multiplexes, there may indeed be nothing on UHF57.

We'd need a full postcode to offer any sensible advice on your best course of action.
Providing you don't have Satellite or Cable TV you might get free help by contacting the Freeview Advice line on 0808-100-0288 where they could offer to send an engineer to replace your aerial with a Group T / Wideband which is what you'll need to have satisfactory reception of all multiplexes after the retunes next year BUT you may have to wait until the BBC multiplexes move next year if you aren't predicted to get those local multiplexes any more.

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Anthony Williams:

Trying to find out if there are any faults or engineering affecting the transmitter is like trying to get blood out of a stone or look for a needle in a haystack I'm afraid. If the problem continues all you can really do is search their website and phone or email them.

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C
Now Thats What I Call Music
Friday 25 October 2019 12:55AM

M irvin:

Now 80s LCN83 is on the COM8 HD multiplex. Without a full postcode we can't offer any immediate advice as we don't know what the DigitalUK checker About us | Freeview will say what your predicted reception will be from which transmitter at your location. This can sometimes change when multiplexes move UHF channel, the other possibility is your aerial may not receive the new UHF channels very well..

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John:

I assume from what you've said your neighbour's issue is with the same HD mux. It's strange that it affects that one the way it does and not the others. I'd doubt it has anything to do with vortices, it's most like this is due to multipath reflections and digital TV transmission is usually more resilient than analogue was. Large metal objects like aircraft make good signal reflectors!

The cure, if possible, will most likely be down to how much time (and money) you might be willing to spend on the problem. Moving the aerial and/or having a more complicated and direction aerial installation MIGHT solve it, but it may not.
First thing to consider trying would be is there a location for an aerial where you still have line of sight to the transmitter but the house shields the aerial from reflections from the aircraft?
Do you know what type and make of aerial you have at present?

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C
Clermont Carn Saorview transmitter
Friday 25 October 2019 11:48PM

Denis:

Well my assumption was based on the "I presently have ........" rather than perhaps "we have ........" not that I don't suppose it changes any technical input so far.

Just for clarification, you mention mux channels 51 & 60 - that I take it is from Divis, COMs 7 & 8. I'll have to read your previous posts again, I don't recall you having any issues on the ground floor with the other Divis muxes and that I assume is where the aerial is currently pointing.
I wouldn't be considering any "combiners/diplexers" that are channelised because (I assume you'd noticed when looking at the DigitalUKChecker) the temporary COMs 7&8 muxes are due to move in Q1 2020 to UHF 55 & 56 but also their power is going to reduce from 12.4/12.66kW to 8.913kW each. I don't know about SV1 & SV2 but I'd guess they've got to be moving from 52 & 56 sometime next year, possibly Q1 when COM8 moves??

As an aside, in case you hadn't spotted, if you hover over a channel number in the predicted reception area of the DigitalUK Checker, it gives the transmission mode and the power. At Divis as you know the PSBs are 100kW, COMs4-6 are 50kW.

How many UHF inputs does that Multiswitch have?

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C
Now Thats What I Call Music
Saturday 26 October 2019 12:55AM

Barry:

Without a full postcode we can't see what the predicted reception (of the COM8 multiplex in particular) is at your location. With the change in UHF channel at the retune for Emley Moor on the 23rd you may not get it as well as before BUT it sounds more like you have a problem with cables or coax connectors in the other room.

Check all you coax plugs, connections, flyleads etc, unplug connectors check for corrosion or other problems and reconnect them. See what signal strengths and quality you are getting for the multiplexes shown in your TV's tuning section. Also check that your downlead looks undamaged and that your aerial seems intact and pointing in the correct direction.
Problematic connections, water ingress etc. can seem to affect reception of just an individual or several multiplexes.

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H Wright:

Without a full postcode we'll not be able to offer definitive advice as we can't see what the About us | Freeview gives for the predicted reception at your location BUT
This does sound very much like a case of TOO MUCH signal, the lower UHF frequencies tend to propagate better and so you'll likely be getting them a bit stronger.

Are the gains on your masthead amp or distribution amp adjustable? If so, turn them down and see what it's like. Failing that, bypass the distribution amp and feed just one outlet and see what results you get. I'm assuming the masthead amp is not readily accessible and if it's not gain adjustable and bypassing the distribution amp solves the issue if it's not adjustable, then I'd suggest inserting an attenuator before the distribution amp.

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C
Now Thats What I Call Music
Saturday 26 October 2019 9:47PM

Barry:

Yes, NOW80s and Forces TV are both on the COM8 mux, but I'd expect you to be having issues with other channels on the mux see Channel listings | Freeview such as 5STAR+1 (LCN56), PBS America (LCN91) etc. As already mentioned problematic connections, water ingress etc. can seem to affect reception of just an individual or several multiplexes.

If the problem in the lounge is the same with a different flylead, I'd expect the problem to do with a bad connection in or at the wall outlet. It won't have anything to do with the mains lead or the amount of screening on the coax.

As far as the predicted reception goes, the DigitalUK checker About us | Freeview won't work with locations or partial postcodes.

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steve byles:

Without a full postcode to see what the About us | Freeview gives for predicted reception at your location, it'll be difficult to offer definitive advice.
I can find no reported faults on the Redruth transmitter, and there's currently no Planned Engineering.

The two channels you've mentioned (Pick & Talking Pictures) are on two different multiplexes - ArqA & ArqB.
Could you be more explicit about when it's really bad? How many times and how often is this happening?

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C
Movies4Men
Sunday 27 October 2019 10:52PM

frank westrip:

I can only guess from your previous post that you think this site has something to do with the broadcast of this and other channels. It does not, it's an independent help site for those with reception problems, it has no connections with any broadcasters or channel owners.

Sony have renamed Movies4Men to Sony Movies Action and they have made changes to many of their channels, see Help | Freeview
Sony Movies Action is on the SDN multiplex except in Wales, where it is not available.

Sony also made changes back in June when many of their channels moves to Local Multiplexes and so are only receivable in areas that have a Local multiplex on LCN (channel) 7 or 8 see Help | Freeview

See also this post about Sony changes True Entertainment | free and easy
So if you have any problems with Sony channels, complain to them.

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