All posts by Chris.SE
Below are all of Chris.SE's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
George Bunyan:
I assume you only need one UHF channel to use, presumably similar to just one being used with your analogue modulator. I would pick any channel above UHF C60 - well away and above any being used by Bilsdale.
If per chance you are thinking of combining an aerial signal with that for your upstairs TV, you should make sure the signal is not too large which could desensitise/overload the TV tuner and result in your aerial signals having problems.
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Jacky Davis:
I have to say considering your locale and distance from the transmitter I'm a bit surprised that you've still got a problem.
There's no reported faults or Planned Engineering at Mendip and the transmitter seems to be operating normally.
Have you looked at your aerial to make sure it looks intact and is still pointing in the correct direction which for you should be fractionally N of due E (compass bearing 85 degrees). Also check that your aerial downlead isn't flapping in the wind (assuming it's external).
Unfortunately the current high pressure weather system has also brought some "tropospheric ducting" where signals from distant transmitters in Europe or the UK can be received locally and cause interference to your wanted signals. This is the most likely cause of the problem, but should have now eased.
See the post before your about manual retuning especially as in your location, in normal circumstances you could receive 3 main transmitters of which Mendip is the only one which is West region.
The main message is IF your set was correctly tuned to start with, then do NOT retune if you lose signal, whether this be due to a transmitter fault, a fault on your aerial system or weather conditions.
If you need further help post back again with specific detail about the particular difficulty you are encountering.
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Brian Richardson:
We need a full postcode to look at the predicted reception in your locale to be able to offer some more constructive advice.
What type of aerial do you have? Please describe if you don't know a make and model, otherwise a link to a similar looking aerial would always be good. Do you know roughly how old it is?
If it's a Yagi type, does it have a coloured plastic plug in either end of the boom?
Do you have any distribution amp/splitter, make & model if known?
When you say you've checked your aerial connections did that include coax condition - no damage to the sheath, any water ingress? Did you check continuity of the core?
Have a look in your TV tuning sections for signal strength and quality figures.
Post the figures for each mulitplex. Do you get COM7 UHF C55 ?
The correct UHF channels for Pontop Pike In the multiplex order PSBs1-3, COMs4-7, Local are -
C39, C42, C45, C32, C34, C35, C55, C33 .
Reception of the Local mux is very much location dependent.
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Edward Slater:
I assume when you say you've checked the cables that includes continuity of the coax core.
Unfortunately the UHF channel list on the Nottingham transmitter page isn't fully up-to-date. The Local multiplex was moved from C50 to UHF C44 during the 700MHz clearance.
The correct UHF channels for Nottingham In the multiplex order PSBs1-3, COMs4-6, Local are -
C27, C24, C21, C33, C36, C48, C44 . It's vertical polarisation.
There is no transmitter in the country transmitting on any channel above C48 other than the temporary COM7 HD mux on C55, not broadcast from Nottingham.
If you have signal on C50, I don't suppose you have any analogue modulators from older equipemnt running ie old Sky boxes, Games consoles etc. If so shift them right to the top of the band.
If not, you need to find out what this signal is. It could be saturating your front end and desensitising it so C48 signal is weakened.
What does your TV tuning section show for signal strength and quality for all the multiplexes?
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David:
Whilst you've posted on the DAB transmitter page rather than the Ridge Hill Freeview one and presumably not read any other advice there, as it so happens, my previous response here is mostly applicable although some is less detailed than on the freeview page.
Although it makes reference to some tropospheric ducting last Easter, unfortunately there is/has been some "temperature inversion/tropospheric ducting around with the current high pressure during the last 24hrs or so.
You don't say how long you've been having the problem, so it's not clear if this may be the cause or just a factor.
To offer more detailed constructive advice, we're going to need a full postcode to look at the predicted reception in you locale as there are many parts of the surrounding area that aren't predicted to get good reception (from Ridge Hill & sometimes from at least 2 possible other transmitters).
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Terry Davis:
I'm afraid we'll need a full postcode to be able to check the predicted reception in your locale, as although you may get signals from the Oxford transmitter, you may also receive Mendip and some relays. There are no reported problems or Planned Engineering listed for Oxford or Mendip.
Other than that, I would check that your aerial seems intact and pointing in the correct direction and that your downlead looks undamaged (especially if it is old) and is secure and not flapping in the wind.
Have you checked the connections behind your TV?
I'd check all your coax plugs, connections, flyleads etc, unplug connectors check for corrosion or other problems and reconnect them. Flyleads are a common problem, try swapping/changing them.
Problematic connections, water ingress, Aerial misalignment etc., can seem to affect reception of just an individual or several multiplexes.
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Nick Vandervell:
To add to what StevensOnln1 has said, different people will be affected differently depending on their location and which way their aerials are pointing. This will affect the channels that they may get in such conditions. In any event these conditions don't always affect several frequencies and/or at the same time. Problem interference can last seconds, minutes, sometimes hours or longer. The important thing (unless you want to go dxing) is to NOT retune.
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Simon Lutman:
You may find some of the information in this post useful Bilsdale (North Yorkshire, England) DAB transmitter | free and easy
You should also get reception of Block 10C from Sutton Bank and Olivers Mount and 12B &11D from the latter, and Bilsdale Quarry which also has 11A.
Arqiva's plan was to get a further temporary mast very close to the original mast up and running in January which should help improve your reception. I've not seen any updates on that of late, and of course it will be weather dependent. If you are still struggling, you could try ringing the dedicated Bilsdale Helpline 0800 121 4828.
Let us know how you get on.
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Chris:
We need a full postcode to look at what sort of signal you are predicted to receive, otherwise we have no clue which transmitter you may be getting signals from and which way your aerial should point.
Have you looked at your aerial to see if it looks intact? Is it chimney mounted or loft mounted?
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Wednesday 12 January 2022 11:23PM
Irene Lindsay:
Several weeks ago there was quite a lot of intermittent disruption to TV reception as a result of weather conditions at the time causing "tropospheric ducting" where signals from distant transmitters in Europe or the UK can be received locally and cause interference to your wanted signals.
Last week for example there should have been no problem with reception, did you have a problem then?
On Monday this week, the BBC have reported a fault on the Angus transmitter -
From 2:06:41pm to 2:11:40pm on 10th Jan 2022 BBC A Slightly reduced power due to a fault.
Is your reception ok now?
Do you have any distribution amp/splitter in your installation feeding several TVs?
If you had a loft install when DMSL (Restore TV/at800) fitted a free replacement aerial as a result of the transmitter changes that were part of the 700MHz clearance program, then you probably receive a good signal in normal circumstances, though we'd need a full postcode to check that.
Have a look in your TV tuning section for the signal strength and quality for each of the UHF channels for each multiplex and if any of those are not showing 100% quality then post the detail for all the multiplexes.