All posts by Chris.SE
Below are all of Chris.SE's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Damon:
Just to add what Steve has said, you are surrounded by mobile phone masts, at least 8 within 1.5km, but there is one carrying at least Three and EE signals directly on the line between you and the transmitter, which I'm guessing is the most likely culprit.
As Steve says, contact Restore TV and get the Free Filter(s).
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Ross:
We don't know Ross. Arqiva never provide the details of the work being carried out or how long it may last as some it it will/can be weather dependant. There has been similar extended works on many transmitters (mostly main transmitters) and from what we have gleaned in some cases is that it's likely to be work on the structure of the mast and it's stays etc. to ensure it's not corroding and likely to come down in severe weather.
This sort of work involves working close to the antennae and so involves reduced power or short breaks in transmission for safety reasons.
Bearing in mind your previous posts, I would contact RestoreTV again and tell them you are still having problems despite the filter and hopefully they'll send an engineer free of charge to sort it out.
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Ray G:
As per a number of posts recently where reception from the Hemel Hempstead transmitter had been affected, there have been a number of new/upgraded phone masts which are now operating in the 700MHz band which are the most likely cause of your reception problems. You are surrounded by at least 7 and there are 3 in the direction of the transmitter which could be the likely culprits.
Your postcode should have been sent postcards from Restore TV about this possibility, your existing filter will not block the 700MHz band signals, the new Free filter will block 700 & 800 bands,
you can check here -
https://restoretv.uk/post…ure/
Contact Restore TV 0808-1313-800 and request a Free Filter. This should be inserted before any amp/splitter.
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David Piper :
Have you been in touch with Restore TV as advised?
THEY own the problem!.
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Steve Donaldson:
It doesn't seem curious to me. There are multiple MNOs in the area all with multiple cells.
It makes perfect sense for a particular one of them to be upgrading in a given area and several sites being affected. I would think that in the early stages (if as I recall seeing elsewhere) there will be initial testing whilst they check coverage and test equipment and so signals may come and go especially if initial testing is done at low power.
Whilst we've often thought that the highest channels nearest the 700MHz band are the ones to be most likely affected (eg.C46 here currently), we have seen a number of instances where lower channels have been affected but apparently not the higher ones. This could be due to many factors, eg. local landscapes affecting propagation of different frequencies, signal reflections, possible intermod products, particular installations being more susceptible due to cable lengths, where the connections/joints may be and so on. As you know RF can be very much a black art at times and situations can be very complex. Trying to analyse any given one is likely to be an extremely complex matter and unless you have a lot of spare time and are somewhat of a very knowledgeable geek when it comes to RF, it's probably rather pointless. Just fit the filter and it should solve the problem as we've seen many times. If not, then Restore TV should send an engineer which we've also seen and some people have had a new aerial etc. fitted.
IIRC EE and Three are the two operators with purchased allocations in the 700MHz band. In David Piper's case, he's just on the periphery of indoor coverage of 5G from a Three cell to the north of him and just within indoor coverage of 5G EE most likely from a cell to the south of him. There's no EE 3G coverage, so they have switched that off. Three do not appear to have yet done so there, so maybe they are still testing 5G. Some of these MNOs are also doing what they are calling 4G+. Note - just because it's 700MHz it doesn't have to be 5G, it could be 4G and/or 4G+ if I recall the OFCOM agreements correctly.
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Steve Donaldson:
See my post https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Hemel_Hempstead/PGSTART830/irt1117910#b1117910
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Steve Donaldson:
Update/more info to add to my previous post.
O2 did also acquire some of the 700MHz band and they had the lowest frequencies of the allocations in the 700MHz band.
I had previously observed that O2 hadn't been as quick in a number of areas in their 5G upgraded. They are only predicting Outdoor 5G coverage in the Hemel Hempstead area at this time.
Also note that with all operators, it's the UL signals that are lowest frequencies in the specific allocations.
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David Males:
We do know why, it has been explained in several posts here and you should have received a postcard from Restore TV. As Steve has already said - contact Restore TV for the new filter to be fitted before your masthead amp.
If you'd like a little more detail then see the post I made, which I referred to Steve Donaldson and visit
https://restoretv.uk and read all the information there.
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Brigitte Barnes :
Unfortunately extended engineering work has been going on with many main transmitters. We know that some of this work involves the maintenance of the mast structure including its stay cables etc. Disappointingly, Arqiva do not publish the details of the work taking place, nor it's duration as much can be weather dependant and involves working close to the antennae so sometimes reduced power is needed for safety reasons.
The channels you mention are carried on the SDN multiplex, but as you haven't given a full postcode we can't comment on your predicted reception of that (or the other multiplexes). Nor can we consider the possibility of interference from a new/upgraded phone mast. Have you received a postcard from Restore TV?
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Monday 2 September 2024 9:57PM
Damon:
"London" has many Relay transmitters as well as the main Crystal Palace one.
We really need a full postcode to be certain, but it is likely that you are receiving from the Hemel Hempstead transmitter. If so, your aerial is likely to be pointing roughly NNW with its rods vertical.
Also, if so, see my reply to Lionel Hayward prior to your previous post.
If you aerial is pointing differently, please advise which way it is and which way the rods are and confirm your full postcode. We can them check whether you might be having interference issues from a new/upgraded phone mast.