All posts by Chris.SE
Below are all of Chris.SE's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
trish:
This is where I feel stupid, thanks js for putting me right. It sort of clicked somewhere so I googled - nothing - I'm finding googling more and more useless each day, too many ads and too many irrelevant results. Used another search engine after js told me, amd low and behold it was in one of the results. I did scan a list of channels before I posted earlier but stupid me didn't check the official Freeview list Channel listings | Freeview
So the simple answer trish, is don't select the channel! Now that sounds like too obvious a response, so I'm wondering if it's others who are selecting the channel on your set and using your data which may not be unrestricted. If you have an unrestricted data allowance (on broadband say) I wouldn't worry, unless it's a case of using bandwidth and messing other things up. Then have a look in your set's channel manager, you shoudl be able to either delete it (it'll reappear on a retune) or require it to have a PIN or make it skip it in the EPG (that probably won't stop it being selected directly) or something similar.
js:
Yes, as you say 58 is not COM8 it's COM4, how useless are the Freeview advice line these days!?
Now as for COM8 itself and what I've got (btw your memory must be good) I must admit I didn't pick up on your previous message over on the WH page >com8 is up and running on C56- 753.833MHz. >>I wasn't expecting that.<< I was thinking surely you knew it was going to C56 :o not twigging the C56-
Well when I looked the other day, and first tonight after you asked it said Programmes 56 (754000 kHz). I selected it and it gave me the same detail with 8MHz bandwidth. I had not retuned since the FEC change as all seems fine after it changed. I thought this is odd then after your last post. So I retune the mux, and guess what, it's now 753900kHz (still 8MHz BW). I've assumed it just doesn't display the correct offset and rounds the figure up BUT I also have C29 tuned from Stockland Hill and that shows 538100kHz for C29+ very odd as rounding up should give 538200kHz.
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imi:
Hi, rather than retype everything, I'll simply say it sounds like you may need a new aerial for which you can get free help from Freeview. But try this first if you haven't already Unplug the aerial and do an automatic retune. This should clear all previous tuning as no channels will be found. Plug the aerial back and repeat the retune. If you haven't got the BBC channels in their normal places or if they pixelate & break up periodically, read on.
Have a read of this first - Winter Hill (Bolton, England) Full Freeview transmitter | free and easy
see also Winter Hill (Bolton, England) Full Freeview transmitter | free and easy et seq. for a bit more info.
There's also all a full list of where to get the BBC channels at Winter Hill (Bolton, England) Full Freeview transmitter | free and easy as well as on the BBC link.
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js:
Who knows. The DUK database is a right mess in some places. Most Detailed Coverage Checker pages now show "Final prediction" as 2025 (including COMs 7&8). Some postcodes that I've put in, that don't have WH as the "Most likely" transmitter, but show reception from it, are showing a retune date as the Final Prediction on WH !!
None that I've checked are showing FEC 1/2 and none are showing 56- including the specific clearance documents for this years retunes !!!
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Chris Barlow:
Stewart Tindal:
I agree with js, in addition to which if your aerial is pointing NW at towards Rothersay, the rods should be vertical. If you are pointing E at Largs, the rods should be horizontal. but although it's much closer to you, it's also very low power and it's not predicted to give quite as good a reception as Rothersay presumably because of the terrain, so it might depend on exactly where you are in your postcode.
However if Largs gets its signal from Rothersay, then if Rothersay is faulty as Stewart Tindal seems to think, it might affect Largs.
Please also note that this is an independent help-site for people with reception and technical problems.
So whichever of the above, I'd suggest you post the information on your Facebook page, for each and everyone of you to phone Freeview on 0808-100-0288 and complain about the signal. It will be no good just one of you phoning, you all need to.
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Chris Barlow:
Forgot to ask which UHF channel are you getting your BBC signals on?
Also, | noted you have a mobile phone mast very close to you, do you have a 4G filter fitted?
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Stewart Tindal:
Why don't you READ my post -
Please also note that this is an independent help-site for people with reception and technical problems.
So I suggest you do what I advised and stop moaning here.
If you want some technical help fine, and provide a full postcode if you do.
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Robert :
Ha, well, you have posted on the Warrington Analogue radio page, but never mind, I will assume you do really mean Washington, Tyne & Wear.
It will depend on exactly where you are, so if the information isn't helpful, you may be in a bad spot for one transmitter (or even many), need to use a relay etc., then you'll need to post back with a full postcode, preferably on the TV transmitter page that you think is nearest/best for you. You can then be given more precise details/options.
Depending on which way your aerial is pointing and which way the rods are - vertical or horizontal (polarisation) - there are several main transmitters you may receive and no doubt many relays, but I'll only list the most likely relays. The UHF channels for the multiplexes will be in the order PSBs1-3; COMs4-8; Local; but not not all main transmitters have COMs 7&8 or a Local multiplex. Relays generally only have PSB multiplexes.
You may not receive all COM or Local multiplexes depending on location and the correct aerial.
If you hover/click on the channel number, it should give you the frequency if you need it.
(All are Tyne Tees Region)
Pontop Pike - C39 C42 C45; C32 C34 C35; C55 C56; C33; No further retunes currently planned
Bilsdale - C21 C24 C27; C43 C46 C40; C55 C56; C30; Retune on 12th March PSB1 & 3 swap UHF channel
Fenham - C23 C26 C30; C25 C22 C28; ; C36; No further retunes currently planned
Newton - C21 C24 C27; No further retunes currently planned
Chatton - C41 C44 C47; C29 C31 C37; No further retunes currently planned
Fenham & Newton are Vertical polarisation, the others are Horizontal.
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nedbod:
That will depend on what type of aerial you need, whether it has to be high gain, very directional, low gain, medium gain etc. and whether it's going to mounted externally or in a loft.
Without a full postcode we can't advise what is more likely as the distance from the transmitters and predicted reception at your location will be the determining factors.
There are some very cheap aerials around (nick named baco-foil aerials as they are flimsy - but some sellers charge over the top for them - they may do in a loft installation, but externally are easily damaged) and very high gain aerials will tend to be more expensive.
If you are in need of a group A aerial because of the recent changes AND you won't be able to get COMs 7&8 at your location, ok. But otherwise you should have a group T, maybe an amplified Log-Periodic if you need more gain, sometimes a Group K may suffice.
Prices could vary from just under 10 to over 60 depending on quality and who you buy from - that's just the aerial - not clamps, masts, mounting kits, cable, installation, etc.
However, if you need a replacement aerial because of the changes and don't have Cable or Satellite, don't use a Landlord's aerial or a Communal one, then you can get free help from Freeview, ring 0808-100-0288
see Important changes to Freeview | Freeview but they are advising there could be long waits on the phone (it's free) because of current demand 26 Feb 2020 - Wait times for viewers calling the Freeview Advice Line | Freeview
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John F:
Hi John, oh how tedious. A few pointers for you, btw it's not a "Light" transmitter as it has the 6 main muxes.
If/when you phone Freeview try Option 3, it may be a different team of people, the other options will be very busy because of the current Winter Hill retune event 26 Feb 2020 - Wait times for viewers calling the Freeview Advice Line | Freeview
I don't suppose that if your set does automatic retunes, that it may have inadvertently retuned BBCB to the Hannington channel on UHF C39? The BBC reported this fault From 0:01pm to 0:21pm on 20th Feb 2020 BBC B HD - Off the air due to a fault, so it may have retuned? Hannington is in virtually the identical direction.
See Problems with Freeview reception? | Help receiving TV and radio put your postcode and house name/number into the boxes.
As it's one of the BBC muxes, you could try the Beeb on 03700 100 123 office hours, you're more likely to get some sense. If you ring out of hours, it goes to a general viewer number and you won't get the tech people.
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Friday 21 February 2020 11:47PM
Mr R. Tyson:
The BBC has done nothing to "break the system" . If you want to understand what all the changes are about see
What is 700MHz clearance? | Freeview
The BBC have some information for Winter Hill as well - Problems with Freeview reception? | Help receiving TV and radio
Click on "Engineering work affecting television services in the North West of England on the 19th and 20th February" for explanatory detail.
As js has already said visit Important changes to Freeview | Freeview for information about the free help.