All posts by Chris.SE
Below are all of Chris.SE's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Marcus Pasmore:
To add to the above, if the problems continue, phone BBC Engineering Reception Advice (office hours) 03700 100123 They won't answer because of the current covid-19 situation but you can leave a message giving details of your issue, remember to explain the problem and checks you've done. Don't bother using their problem assistant it won't help with this issue.
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James Benneyworth:
Those two stations are on the ArqA/COM5 & ArqB/COM6 multiplexes respectively.
Sandy Heath is currently listed for Planned Engineering with "Possible weak signal" so it's probable that you weren't getting those two when you retuned, but then you should also be missing other channels on those multiplexes, see Channel listings | Freeview
But this may have depended on exactly what they were doing at the transmitter.
Sandy Heath's channels are C27, C24, C21, C33, C36, C48, C55, C56 in the order PSBs1-3, COMs4-8.
If you can carry out a manual retune, you can just try C36 & C48 for those two multiplexes, otherwise you may only be able to do an automatic full retune. You may need several attempts if there is still "weak signal", but once you have everything back, it's best not to retune when you lose signals due to weak signals or no signal, it usually just clears the correct tuning.
Also note C35 is a Local multiplex for Cambridge from the Madingley Light transmitter, which you may or may not receive depending on your location.
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Mark:
Possibly, but it may depend on your precise location. If you look at the coverage map at the top of the page, parts of Cumnock may not be covered due to the topography and you may only be able to get the Local Relay at Holmhead. To see what the Freeview Detailed Coverage Checker gives for the predicted reception at your location, we'll need a full postcode.
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Bob Milton:
Without and idea of where you are - full postcode needed - and which transmitter(s) you are predicted to receive, we can't answer the question. Retuning when you have lost signal is a bad idea as it just clears the correct tuning.
I assume you are talking about ITV SD channels, and you can still get ITV1 HD?
Many transmitters have Planned Engineering, there maybe Weak Signal or Service Interruptions and without further information we can't solve the problem.
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Marcus Pasmore:
This is beginning to possibly sound like some form of interference. Obvious candidates are central heating and lighting, the latter could be a faulty street light - but maybe 9.30 is a little late for that coming on - however it may need to be on for a while before it starts playing up, then there may be something visibly obvious - flickering etc.
Any form of discharge lighting in the house (or external lighting) fluorescent, compact fluorescent, some LED lighting can do this. Do you have any new electrical equipment, or something you don't always use that you are now? Anything with motors etc.
Check out those possibilities. Timing could point the finger more precisely. If it starts at exactly the same time each evening, it could be on a time switch.
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Gerald Purves:
Now what makes you ask a question like that?
The simple answer is Yes, but then it gets more complicated.
The Winter Hill (Granada) and Emley Moor (Yorkshire) are both quite big and fairly powerful transmitters.
If you are high enough and have a line of sight to either, then in theory you could pick them up.
Under Tropospheric Ducting weather conditions which can often occur with high pressure, see Effect of tropospheric ducting on Freeview | Help receiving TV and radio
This is when transmitter signals travel further and this "out of region" reception can occur, but more often that not it's from further afield rather than an adjacent region.
The more reliable way would be Freesat where all regions are available.
Other than that you can get some regional programmes (news etc.) on iPlayer but next to nothing on ITV Hub.
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Iain Girling:
Yes, Lark Stoke is currently listed for Planned Engineering with "Possible service interruptions".
It's not a good idea to retune when you have no signal, it usually just clears the correct tuning, so you have to repeat the process when the signals return.
If you haven't yet tried again and got the channels back, try again, maybe just before 6.pm. They don't usually work during the evening but it just depends.
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Trevor Dennis Childs:
Ripley is not reckoned to be within the service area for Emley Moor. In fact some parts of the area will not receive it at all, it depends very much on your exact location. Did you particularly want the Yorkshire region?
It sounds as though your TV may not be remembering the most recent tuning correctly, it may have tuned incorrectly to other transmitters that might be receivable, we'd need a full postcode the see what the Freeview Detailed Coverage checker was predicting for your location.
I suggest you try the following, unplug the aerial and carry out a full automatic retune - this should clear all previous tuning as nothing will be found. Switch the set off for 10 minutes.
Plug the aerial back in, switch on and carry out a manual retune if possible to each of the following UHF channels for Emley Moor in the order -
PSBs1/BBCA, PSB2/D3&4, PSB3/BBCB HD, COM4/SDN, COM5/ArqA, COM6/ArqB, COM7 HD, COM8 HD.
C47, C44, C41, C33, C36, C48, C55, C56.
Ignore C41, C55 & C56 if your set doesn't had an HD T2 tuner, I'd be surprised if you can get COMs 7&8 anyway.
If your set doesn't do manual tuning do an automatic one and check which UHF channels it tuned to.
Post back with your postcode and which channels it tuned to if the problems continue.
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All:
A reminder that since the 700MHz clearance retune -
Emley's Multiplexes & UHF channels are now as follows, in the order -
PSBs1/BBCA, PSB2/D3&4, PSB3/BBCB HD, COM4/SDN, COM5/ArqA, COM6/ArqB, COM7 HD, COM8 HD, & Local
C47, C44, C41, C33, C36, C48, C55, C56, & C39.
Whether you get satisfactory reception of COMs 7&8 or the Local multiplexes will depend on location.
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Tuesday 21 April 2020 5:56AM
Marcus Pasmore:
UHF Ch.40 is the BBCA/PSB1 multiplex carrying all the main BBC SD and Radio channels. Neither Free view or the BBC are currently reporting any problems with the Plympton transmitter and it's not listed for Planned Engineering.
As you have checked the other multiplexes and not seeing any problems with them it's highly unlikely to be a problem with your aerial installation, however it might be worth checking 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. Also check that your downlead looks undamaged (especially if it is old) 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.