All posts by Chris.SE
Below are all of Chris.SE's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Francis James Blackwell:
Try unplugging the aerial and doing an automatic tune which should clear all previous tuning as no channels will be found. Plug the aerial back in and repeat the retune, hopefully all channels will be correctly restored.
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Owen:
Hi. The change for C51 to C33 was Feb.12th this year. COM7 is unlikely to be going anywhere just yet, I assume you saw the post just before your first one.
It would depend on the gain of the Group W that you have (and your predicted reception - need a full postcode for that) as to why you aren't getting much luck with C48 or C55. Similar could apply to a Group T but it's gain may tail off enough at C55 to be a pain and there are supposedly only a couple of makes of K groups that do quite well at C55 but really you need to look at the gain curves for any aerial you contemplate.
If you are installing your own then experimenting is a bit easier. Make sure you have a good quality downlead (double screened).
Right at the end of my previous post, there was a link to the Channel listings. Sometimes the software running this site makes a hash of it and you have to manually "re-assemble" it.
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David Warner:
Did you have a good read of my previous long reply to you on Tuesday, 2 June 2020, especially the bit about trees and multipath reception. I'm afraid you are just going to have to experiment a bit (maybe will all the things mentioned).
The tropospheric ducting may have subsided enough by this evening, but some could/might return midweek, other than that, we aren't expecting any changes to the COM7 signal.
Oh, btw, COM7 from CP could be the 84kW I mentioned previously (not 43kW as mentioned in various places) there could be several errors in OFCOM documents, and the question has been asked!
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Francis James Blackwell:
It sounds like/I assume, you are not getting COM7 for some reason. StevensOnln1 asked you "Can you receive BBC News HD on 107, which is also on COM7?" which you haven't answered. Considering your general location you should not have any problems receiving it.
What sort of aerial do you have, where is it, how old is it? Is it still intact and pointing in the correct direction (roughly fractionally South of due West), rods horizontal? Does the downlead look undamaged, how old is it?
One of the things that can cause issues with C55 reception is HDMI leads which can radiate interference to C55. Make sure if you have any such leads they are well away from any aerial leads and flyleads.
In fact it might be best to check if this is an issue by removing/disconnecting them altogether and plugging the aerial direct into the TV and try tuning C55 again.
Also check all you coax plugs, connections, flyleads etc, unplug connectors check for corrosion or other problems and reconnect them. Flyleads can be a common problem, try swapping them.
If you are still having problems after that, we'll need more information about your installation, aerial, any booster/splitters, aerial sockets, flyleads, devices (PVRs etc) and a full postcode to look at predicted reception.
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Brian Smith:
Interesting, with your set-up then yes I see the sense of having an aerial pointed at Bexhill, that should certainly give you reliable reception of the PSBs.
No reception predictors are 100% accurate at all locations, but the Freeview Detailed Coverage Checker shows some surprising variations around your postcode for Hastings and Heathfield, especially the COM muxes.
You supposedly have line-of-sight to all 3 transmitters, but of course that won't take account of any local trees that may be on line-of-sight. As for the "best" or "most likely" transmitter, I haven't always found rhyme or reason behind the suggestions, especially if there's little to choose between PSBs1/2 from one to another yet markedly better on the COMs and that transmitter isn't the "most likely" even taking distance into account!!
If the Freeview/DUK predictor is anything to go by, going from one end to the other in your postcode, the BBCB HD mux from Heathfield MIGHT be more unreliable. The BBC doesn't give a prediction for Heathfield for some parts of your postcode, yet COM6 from Hastings is always good!
My thoughts are also that I would expect Hastings to have less problems with Tropospheric Ducting due to direction, it being closer and vertical polarisation BUT practical experience at a location is more important. If you've had little trouble with Hastings, I would tend to say stick with it especially as you have a loft aerial. Maybe the only times you've had a problem is when there's been Planned Engineering at the transmitter.
Hastings is a Group A transmitter, these lower frequencies tend to propagate better than the higher ones, Heathfield being a Group B.
As far as aerials is concerned, for Hastings or Heathfield, I'd recommend a Grouped aerial rather than wideband, but depending on the manufacturer and the gain curve for a specific aerial, some Group Ks may be worth a look. In both these cases we'd be talking a quality Yagi-18 as minimum, more complex aerials depend on your loft space and things like metal flues, flashing, water tanks, solar panels & etc. Don't waste your time/money on tri-booms and similar.
For Bexhill, yes a small log may be just the job.
You may wish to buy locally, but for some interesting information about (specific) aerials have a look at
ATV aerial gain tests : all the gain curves - A.T.V. Poles, Brackets, Clamps & Aerials and
Wideband / grouped TV aerials - A.T.V. Poles, Brackets, Clamps & Aerials
As far as any attenuation goes, one needs to be on the spot. has your amp got variable gain, that'll be helpful if it has, but in any event, invest in one of these, they are an invaluable tool Coax TV Aerial Attenuator Adjustable Variable Between 0-20 dB Reduces signal | eBay (eBay item 310039226920). There are F-connector versions available if you prefer.
The nearest mobile masts are those on Conquest House, others are over 1.5km away and none on the line-of-sight to Hastings or Heathfield.
Hope that all helps.
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Roy:
There was never any final decision by OFCOM to close COMs 7&8 this June, Arqiva wanted a later date, and a lot of websites, this included hadn't corrected their information. There's also a lot of inaccurate information about COMs 7&8. Have a read of this more factual info -
Sandy Heath (Central Bedfordshire, England) Full Freeview transmitter | free and easy
The Channel 4 losses are commercial decisions by them!
What the BBC intends to do remains to be seen, there's supposedly some sort of review gong on now? with a decision in November? Haven't checked for myself.
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Rupert:
As per my post Sunday, 10 May 2020 on the previous page (83) of this transmitter section (but with COM8 omitted because of closure) -
Listing the correct UHF multiplex channels for Black Hill in the order PSB1-3, COMs4-7, Local -
They are C46, C43, C40, C41, C44, C47, C55, C30 (C meaning UHF channel).
I haven't checked every miniscule detail on this site, but AFAIK none of it is currently being maintained by the site owner who hasn't had time with all the changes resulting from the 700MHz clearance programme and broadcaster changes moving multiplexes etc. Even Engineering updates do not always appear, as the previous automated scanning of the BBC information doesn't work correctly due to changes on the BBC site, which made it even more difficult than before to obtain transmitter information manually. I for one have criticised the BBC, as have others, for this ridiculous change.
Updates to information are provided by the regular contributors in posts here usually in response to queries from posters, but sometimes when there are major changes. As already advised Platform management | Freeview is the place to go for the latest "information" (usually) rather than a technical query or help with reception issues.
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Rupert:
Here's the up-to-date list for the UHF multiplex channels at Craigkelly in the order PSB1-3, COMs4-7, Local -
They are C27, C24, C21, C29, C31, C37, C55, C32 (C meaning UHF channel).
As per my other reply to you - I haven't checked every miniscule detail on this site, but AFAIK none of it is currently being maintained by the site owner who hasn't had time with all the changes resulting from the 700MHz clearance programme and broadcaster changes moving multiplexes etc. Even Engineering updates do not always appear, as the previous automated scanning of the BBC information doesn't work correctly due to changes on the BBC site, which made it even more difficult than before to obtain transmitter information manually. I for one have criticised the BBC, as have others, for this ridiculous change.
Updates to information are provided by the regular contributors in posts here usually in response to queries from posters, but sometimes when there are major changes. As already advised Platform management | Freeview is the place to go for the latest "information" (usually) rather than a technical query or help with reception issues.
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Just in case anyone misses it - a reminder that since the 700MHz clearance retune, and Arqiva's decision to close COM8 for commercial reasons -
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, & Local
C47, C44, C41, C33, C36, C48, C55, & C39.
Whether you get satisfactory reception of COM7 or the Local multiplexes will depend on location.
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Saturday 27 June 2020 7:17AM
Brian Smith:
First, to answer most of your questions (certainly with any accuracy), we'd need a full postcode to look at the predicted reception. Just because a transmitter is higher power doesn't mean you'll receive it any better, especially when it's further away. In fact reception might be awful and you'd need more than an amplifier!
There may be a small hill locally on the line-of-sight.
I don't see any advantage in using Heathfield UNLESS reception might be better than Hastings, they transmit the same multiplexes.
Are you not getting satisfactory reception from the Hastings transmitter? What is the aerial you currently use?
When you mention the Bexhill transmitter, do you mean the one on Conquest House otherwise known as Bexhill UHF? This transmitter is a "Light" transmitter and only carries the 3 main PSB multiplexes, not the main 6 multiplexes. What do you want to do with this aerial, is it only for a second set?
If it's to connect to your main system, you can't just couple aerial leads together, you'd need some sort of diplexer or splitter in reverse both of which will have insertion loss and could compromise the signals sufficiently to make them unreliable - it depends upon the predicted reception.
As far as mobile masts are concerned, there is almost certainly bound to be some on Conquest House and there are others nearby, there may be some close to you, but we need that postcode. There's certainly no 5G (700MHz) yet, but you might need a 4G filter if you amp or receiver is getting overloaded with signal which could make the TV reception a bit "deaf".
As far as aerials go, Hastings is a Group A, vertical polarisation.
Heathfield is a Group B, horizontal polarisation.
Bexhill was a Group B but is now technically a K, Horizontal polarisation, but you might get adequate reception with a Group B or even a bit of wet string as you are quite close.
For all, Groups K, T, or Wideband would do if they have the right gain characteristics, again depending on predicted reception..