All posts by Chris.SE
Below are all of Chris.SE's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
dave williams:
How are you checking the signal in the room? Are you checking at the exact same location as the recorder?
If you modem/router is set to automatically choose a wireless channel, it may have changed channel and picked one the recorder cannot use. You need to check which channels the recorder can use, check which channels are clearest at your location (ie. not what the neighbours are using) and set the modem/router to a specific channel and the recorder to the same. HTH.
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Simon Vines:
We need a full postcode to see what the Freeview Detailed Coverage Checker is predicting for your location, and which Transmitter(s) and multiplexes you might receive.
That said, if you get your signals from the Hannington transmitter, that is currently listed for Planned Engineering with "Possible weak signal". It's generally not a good idea to retune when you have lost signals or have weak signals as this just usually clears correct tuning. You may have to repeat retuning when the signals are back to normal.
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alan:
Are you talking Freesat, Freeview or Sky?
If you are talking Freeview, you need to be able to receive the COM4/SDN multiplex, see Channel listings | Freeview
To see if can receive the Freeview multiplex we'd need a full postcode to see what the Freeview Detailed Coverage Checker predicts for the transmitter(s) and multiplexes that you might be able to receive.
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Paul Smith:
Have your HD channels returned? I can't find any reports by Freeview or the BBC about any faults affecting the Glossop transmitter which is what I'm assuming you receive (or other nearby ones that you might receive!).
There has been some very variable Tropospheric Ducting around which can affect individual frequencies at different times and come and go. See Effect of tropospheric ducting on Freeview | Help receiving TV and radio
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H.Porcher:
I chuckled as I read your post, pretty well agree with most of that. Though you should watch the Daily Coronavirus Updates from the government. They are generally very informative and at least you don't get the distortions of reality that you find on some programmes and social media.
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Thomas Fairweather:
I'm not sure why you've addressed your comment to me, although I suspect you meant John Simon Knight but in any event you conclusion/assumption is not likely/necessarily correct. You need to discover what is going on first, there was not information in his post. We don't know how long it's been happening and there could be an installation problem etc. hence my suggestions/questions. The cause of his problem my have absolutely nothing to do with 4G, generally you need a $G mast very close to you to get a problem.
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Gerald Taylor:
First to point out that both the Keighley and Keighley Town transmitters are currently listed by Freeview as on "Planned Engineering" with "Possible service interruptions". (As an aside I also noted that the Keighley transmitter has had a number of instances of essential engineering and some faults in recent months!). Also note that this is a "Light" transmitter with only the 3 main PSB multiplexes.
To see which channels are carried on which multiplexes, see Channel listings | Freeview
I don't know who exactly you have been talking to, but I would have expected any reputable TV or Aerial installers to know that the transmitter was listed for Planned Engineering and where to find that information AND how to contact either the BBC, Freeview - the public facing organisation in the UK for terrestrial TV, or Arqiva - the UK company that do virtually all the transmitter maintenance, about any transmitter issues.
When a transmitter is off-air or on low power that you have no signal (whether it be fault or maintenance), it is not a good idea to retune as all this will do is clear existing correct tuning and you have to retune again when signal returns, this might have been a cause of loss of channels for extended periods if you didn't retune a second time.
There are several relay transmitters in your area, but the Keighley transmitter is not listed as a transmitter to serve virtually all parts of your postcode with any reliable signals, neither by Freeview nor the BBC. Although reception predictors aren't always 100% accurate, there are more reliable predicted signals from 2-3 relays, and 2 main transmitters depending on exact location. Reception of transmitters and multiplexes depends on topography.
I noted from Street View of your postcode that there's aerials pointing at a variety of transmitters (I didn't see any pointing in the Keighley direction though) quite a few of them were at each of the two main transmitters, but a lot at probably one of two relay transmitters. The main transmitter aerials will have the rods horizontal, whereas the relays will be vertical.
You are predicted to get reliable signals for all multiplexes from the Bilsdale (main) transmitter but that is Tyne Tees region and I'm guessing you'll want Yorkshire which is all the other transmitters.
Whilst you are predicted to get good reception from Emley Moor (main) transmitter for 5 or 6 of the 6 primary multiplexes (depending on exact location, the 6th ArqB may be variable to poor), you are predicted to get 6 multiplexes from the Idle relay, the main PSB multiplexes better than Emley, but the COMs 4-6 may be quite variable, not as good as Emley.
In view of your opening comments about what you've been told by "TV installers" you are calling, I wouldn't trust any of them further than I could spit. I would do several things - 1) Check to see which way your aerial is pointing (and that it hasn't fallen over or got bits missing), 2) check which way your neighbours aerials are pointing, 3) talk to you neighbours to see how reliable their signals are, 4) Get a reliable recommendation from a neighbour or use something like Checkatrade.com to find a recommended and trusted aerial installer in your locale if you need the aerial changed/altered. Check their reviews and how well they know your locale.
I would suggest in view of the reception predictions that a good installer might try for reliable signals from Emley Moor, failing that from the Idle relay transmitter. The reason for the latter is that reception of the main PSBs is predicted to be better or at least as good as any of the other transmitters, and the 3 COM multiplexes (SDN, ArqA, ArqB) may be more reliable than Emley and aren't available from the other (all "Light") relays.
Here's a bit of tech info about transmitter distances, direction, polarisation (rods), UHF channels in the order PSBs 1-3, COMs 4-6, and Aerial Group.
(Note, closeness does not automatically imply better reception as power may be much lower).
Emley Moor (main - Yorkshire), 21km, bearing 152 degrees (~SSE), Horizontal, UHF 47,44,41,33,36,48; Group K (T or Wideband will do, needed if you can get COM7, but not always as good for the other channels).
Idle, 7km, bearing 33 degrees (slighty N of NE), Vertical, UHF 23,26,30,32,35,34; Group A
Wharfdale (Light), 18km, bearing 23 degrees (NNE), Vertical, UHF 25,22,28; Group A
Bradford West (Light). bearing 15 degrees (slightly N or NNE), Vertical, UHF 39,42,45; Group B
Bilsdale (main - Tyne Tees), bearing 33 degrees (slightly N of NE), Horizontal, UHF 27,24,21,43,46,40 also 55 for COM7 (COM8 on 56 is closing at all transmitters on 22nd June, retune needed as channels move). Group T/Wideband if you want/can get COM7, otherwise Group K recommended.
If you end up going for Idle, you may have to manual tune rather than automatic to get the correct channels as the 3 relays (and Bilsdale) are almost in the same direct from you and probably well within the beamwidth of the aerial and although Bilsdale is Horizontal polarisation, the signal might just be strong enough to receive with a vertical aerial.
If you really are pointing at Keighley (~NNW, rods vertical), reception is predicted to be poor, UHF channels are 40,43,46,29,31,37 and you could well get interference form Bilsdale on the PSBs.
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Lyn Sandell:
Dy Taylor:
Hopefully you will have all your signals and programmes back now. The BBC have reported several issues at the transmitter throughout the day with a fault and essential engineering causing it to be off-air or on reduced power.
If you retuned at all when you had no signal, and haven't retuned since, you will need to retune again.
Retuning when there is no signal usually just clears all correct tuning resulting in the need for a further retune.
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colin vick:
The Chingford relay requires Group B aerial rods vertical, bearing 48 degrees (~NW) and is restricted to the 3 PSB multiplexes. Also it's currently listed for Planned Engineering with "Possible service Interruptions". Depending on the aerial you have, as you are that close to it, be careful you don't get too much signal which can overload the tuner resulting in picture and/or sound breakup.
You location is predicted to get good reception for all multiplexes from Crystal Palace, bearing 189 degrees (fractionally W of due S), rods horizontal, but you will need a higher gain aerial than for the Chingford relay. The reliability of the COM muxes not quite as good as the PSBs, but you shouldn't notice this with a suitable aerial. You'd need a Group T/Wideband if you want COM7 (note COM8 closes at all transmitters on 22nd June, retune needed as channels are moving multiplex - see 22 Jun 2020 - Important channel broadcast changes | Freeview ) otherwise a Group A aerial will do.
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Friday 12 June 2020 11:51PM
Caroline poulter:
I'm afraid we need a full postcode to see what the Freeview Detailed Coverage Checker gives for predicted reception at your location. We've no idea which transmitter(s) and multiplexes you may receive, you may be in a poor signal area, you may have a problem with your installation.