All posts by Chris.SE
Below are all of Chris.SE's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Dale:
As you can see from the post before yours, the transmitter is listed for Planned Engineering, so there maybe interruptions to transmission which are usually brief.
I hope you didn't retune whilst you had no signal as this may have cleared your correct tuning. You cannot tune to signals that are not there or can't be decoded.
I trust you have the channels back now.
Prior to this have you had any regular interference problems with any other multiplexes?
Your postcode should have had postcards from https://restoretv.uk/post…ure/
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nick horrex:
I'm totally surprised that someone from Blake has said that logs aren't good at rejecting signals from the rear, they are, and very low/no sidelobes, they are also good at impulse noise rejection, good cross-polar rejection and they also have a flatter response and considerably less wind resistance!
Perhaps you were talking to someone from Sales, just wanting to flog you a more expensive aerial, they're at least 10 & 20 more depending on the number of elements!
I suggest you get back in touch, ask for technical support and ask them if they can email you the polar diagrams for the DMX10K-F and the BLA-LP56K
In the meantime have a look at this from ATV Aerials and TV
Their XB10 range is almost identical to Blake's DMX10s
https://www.aerialsandtv.….jpg
Compare to this
Aerial polar response diagrams A.T.V. Poles, Brackets, Clamps & Aerials
You will note the absence of sidelobes and low rear rejection for the LP in this second graph top LH plot.
You will find similar information from multiple sources (not just the sellers) if you bother to do the research. Frankly, you have no idea exactly what your homebrew aerial performs like unless you have had it professionally tested. It could have a very peaky response, have particular problems with 602MHz - C37 etc.etc.
You have been bleating on about the C37 problem for months and months, so long I've lost count. Yet you seem unwilling to take the simplest of steps to eliminate possibilities, the free Filter to eliminate Mobile signal interference. The problem may go away and your home brew could continue to give years of service. If it doesn't then my next choice would be a decent well made LP as already suggested, but you try what you like.
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John Raw:
As you may have noticed from the post before yours, Hannington is listed for Planned Engineering, so reduced power or brief interruptions to service may occur. Do NOT retune.
No specific faults have been reported.
As you haven't given a full postcode, we can't check your predicted reception to see if you're in a poor signal area or something specifically that gives poor reception of the HD multiplex, or even interference problems maybe from a new/upgraded mobile phone mast near you.
Having said that,, there seems to be work going on at several mian transmitters that's been affecting the HD multiplex judging by reports we've seen.
Unfortunaely Arqiva don't give details of the work taking place or how long it may last.
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Ben:
Hi. Automatic retuning when you have pixellated pictures/sound breakup or no signal, is never a good idea if you were correctly tuned to start with. You cannot tune to signals that are not there or can't be decoded. The usual results to clear the correct tuning and sometimes mistune you to weak signals from another transmitter which may disappear.
The UHF channels (and frequencies) are in the very top section of this page. The best way to manual retune is to first clear the current tuning by unplugging the aerial and doing a full automatic retune, no channels should be found.
Plug the aerial back in, and then manually tune each of the UHF channels.
The Oxford transmitter is currently listed for Planned Engineering but you shouldn't have any problems being so close to the transmitter unless there is a brief period of service interruption.
For the sake of clarity - Oxford's UHF channels which are C41, C44, C47, C29, C31, & C37.
That's in multiplex order PSB1/BBCA, PSB2/D3&4, PSB3/BBCB HD, COM4/SDN, COM5/ARQA, COM6/ARQB.
C means channel, if you hover over those numbers it tells you the frequency if you need those.
The Local multiplex is on C22 in your area.
Tell us how you get on. If you still have problems with pixellation, look through the tuning section for Signal Strength and Quality (or Error) figures and post those for each UHF channel.
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Ben:
The big mistake is you have wasted your money on a booster. The signal strength dropping when it's in use is typical of the result of tuner front end overload. Take it out of circuit. As a side query, why did you get an F-plug device, surely your connections are coax?
First thing I would try is swap any patch leads. The one you normally use to connect from the wall socket direct to the TV, they can go faulty, swap that for another one. I'm assuming your wall socket normally connect direct to the TV, ie. you don't have any other devices in-line such as a PVR etc.
You need to check with your neighbours again as to whether they are actually watching the HD channels. Many don't bother because they have to make 3 key presses instead of one eg. 101 instead of 1, 102 instead of 2, etc.
Also they may have some occasional pixellation with ITV channels but ignoring it and perhaps not mentioned it.
There could still be a problem with the distribution that's affecting your outlet and not all/many of the others, that's why checking more exactly with the neighbours is important.
The building management may be wrong in their assumption, but we need to be sure you've eliminated any possible issues with your setup.
The interesting point I note here, is that your issues are with the multiplexes on the highest frequency UHF channels. This can be typical of cable or connection issues and it's important to eliminate any with your own setup.
The fact you are connected to wifi should make no difference.
Scrolling through the BBC channels and mentioning those figures isn't an awful lot of help, we need the figures from channels from each multiplex.
Here is what is usually an up-to-date list of which TV channels are carried on which multiplex -
Channel listings for Industry Professionals | Freeview
So you can select a TV channel from each, so eg. 1, 3, 101, 16, 11, 12, 7
Note the figures for each - we don't just want strength as that's not an ideal indicator though 100% maybe of concern for overload, but it's the Quality % (or error rate) which is more important.
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Chris:
Did you not read the reply I gave you earlier? Trying to do a comparison with David Austin in his situation is like comparing chalk with cheese. I suggest you read my reply to him as well.
It would be helpful if you answered about whether you have a 700MHz filter.
Also go to your TV Tuning section and look for Signal Strength and Quality (or Error) figures, maybe in a section called Signal Test.
If you post both figures for each multiplex's UHF channel, that can give a feel for any potential problems.
I assume that you have checked that your aerial looks intact, is still pointing correctly with horizontal polarisation and that the downlead isn't flapping in the wind?
Check all your accessible coax connections, especially the end of the downlead for corrosion or water.
Do you have any other devices between the aerial and the TV? This could include any distribution amp to feed several outlets, or pre-amp, or boxes like PVR's etc.
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Ben:
Forgot to mention to take NO notice of the "Here's how to fix it" link on the channel list page, it's BAD advice as it takes no notice of possible faults anywhere (including your system) or Engineering (and their "auto" check isn't always correct), the transmitter is still listed for Planned Engineering as per the post just before your first.
Clearing old tuning and doing a manual tune is always the best method of ensuring you are correctly tuned.
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Ben:
They are all "digital" channels! I assume you mean it's the HD channels that don't work.
If you only managed to load 25 channels with manual tune, it sounds a bit like you may have only tuned one multiplex. There's no good reason that an automatic tune would have found more TV channels than a manual tune of all the UHF channels. Actually it's normally the reverse. In cases where (for whatever reason, fault etc) where there may be weaker signals, the automatic tune cna miss then and a manual tune will find them.
Can you tell me which 25 channels it loaded, when you tried manual tune?
It's sounding like there could be some very intermittent connection here. Works (badly maybe) one minute, then not the next.
Did you try swapping/changing that flylead/patch lead from the wall plate to the TV?
Is there more than one socket on the wall-plate? If so are they labelled?
Without clearing your now current tuning, try adding a manual tune to UHF channel 47. This is the HD multiplex carrying the HD channels.
Select Home/Menu button. Scroll to Settings. Select Installation or Tuning. (what it shows is model dependant). Then Select "Manual Channel scan". Follow the menu and enter UHF channel 47 when prompted for the channel number.
Can you give the Strength and Quality/error figures for the TV channels I suggested before -
eg. 1, 3, 101, 16, 11, 12, and 7
Without some of this information we are clutching at straws here.
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Pierre Henck:
Pixellation on the picture can take multiple forms depending on how many errors are in the received signal whether they be due to transmitter work, faults, interference or inadequate signal etc.
We don't need pictures.
If you are talking about the Beacon Hill transmitter in Devon, it's not currently listed for Planned Engineering but the lists are sometimes not 100%.
However as you haven't given a full postcode we can't check your predicted reception or things like current faults if any.
Please tell us more about the installation. Has the landlord got an external aerial? Does it have a pre-amp fitted on the mast?
Is there a distribution amp/splitter to feed several outlets or does it just feed your one outlet?
Is the pixellation happening on all channels or just some? Please list some of the channels it's happening on.
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Friday 9 February 2024 4:19AM
Jay:
Whilst accepting that predicted reception isn't always 100% accurate, I've just done a few random checks for postcodes in Whittlesey and they all gave good reception for the BBC National 12B, D1 National 11D and even the SDL National 11A multiplexes, also the Local one on 12D Peterborough.
Even the 11C Cambridge Local mux (also carrying Star Radio) is also predicted to be received in parts of March which otherwise has good reception of the other multiplexes.
Not sure how you are doing your checks, you're not listening in a cellar surely!
Try manual tuning if automatic tuning is not finding them.
Block 12B: 225.648 MHz
Block 11D: 222.064MHz
Block 11A: 216.928 MHz
Block 12D: 229.072 MHz
Block 11C: 220.352 MHz