All posts by Chris.SE
Below are all of Chris.SE's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Chris Mellor:
The BBC aren't reporting any transmitter problems and the transmitter isn't currently listed for Planned Engineering. Note BBC2 & ITV3, Film4 are on different multiplexes so it's possible it could be some of the variable intermittent "Troposheric Ducting" that is around at present that's been quite strong in parts of the SW causing interference from distant transmitters.
(See https://www.bbc.co.uk/rec….jpg ).
It's never a good idea to retune when you have no signal as all that usually does is to clear the correct tuning, and you'll need to retune again when conditions stabilise (you might need to try more than once!).
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Jen yates:
Whether you are receiving your signals from the Cop Hill Relay transmitter or the Emley Moor main transmitter, neither Freeview nor the BBC are currently reporting any faults and the transmitters aren't listed for Planned Engineering.
It's possible it could be some of the variable intermittent "Troposheric Ducting" that is around at present that's been quite strong in some parts of the country causing interference from distant transmitters.
(See https://www.bbc.co.uk/rec….jpg ).
It's never a good idea to retune when you have no signal as all that usually does is to clear the correct tuning, and you'll need to retune again when conditions stabilise (you might need to try more than once!).
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Robert:
If you have 92% signal without the amp, you need to be careful that you don't end up with too much signal which can cause picture pixelation and sound breakup. If you need an amp, then one with a variable gain control would be best. You can also end up with misleading signal strength figures, the clue is sometimes when the quality figure starts dropping.
Whilst it's possible that your old amp might be faulty, did you move your aerial at all, even minor changes in position can make a difference? Or did you put any new objects in the loft, especially anything with metal, water etc. as this can affect signals?
The other possibility is It's possible it could be some of the variable intermittent "Troposheric Ducting" that is around at present that's been quite strong in some parts of the country causing interference from distant transmitters.
(See https://www.bbc.co.uk/rec….jpg ).
Not all frequencies are necessarily affected or even at the same time, and maybe only weaker signals such as COM7 might be affected.
See Channel listings | Freeview for which channels are on which multiplexes. This could give you a clearer impression of which one are being affected.
The "tropo" may continue for a few days, but predictions (like weather forecasts) can change!
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Jon collins:
AFAIK "Greatest Hits Radio" is the station broadcasting on 1152 from Langley Mill, at least that is still mentioned on their website!
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Jon collins:
Well further to my last - which is wrong - Greatest Hits Radio website for the West Midlands is out of date as they haven't removed the 1152kHz listing. OFCOM is also a useless site as I'd done a previous search and found nothing, but based on some further information I found, I eventually found that Bauer Radio which has been broadcasting "Absolute Classic Rock" on 1152 from Langley Mill have surrendered the licence, so yes, it's closed, all part of Bauer's cutbacks!
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YZ:
Yes you have been looking in the wrong place. You need to look here -
Planned engineering works | Freeview
There are 15 Meridian transmitters that have been listed for the w/c 03/08/2020 and Bluebell Hill is the 11th down that list.
Chris:
Did you bother to read the information that I posted, this has nothing to do with 5G, the 700MHz frequencies haven't even been auctioned yet never mind any 5G operating there. The small amount of 5G that is operating is in a totally different band, up around 3.4GHZ well away from TV bands. And this is not "Freeview" sold out to 5G clearance, this is a European wide re-allocation of frequencies subject to International agreements.
Try reading What is 700MHz clearance? and What is 700MHz clearance? | Freeview
The SE (as well as some other parts of the UK) has been affected this evening by some moderate Tropospheric ducting. Here's some links about "Tropospheric Ducting" -
https://www.bbc.co.uk/rec….jpg
Tropospheric propagation - Wikipedia
How does good weather affect my television? | Help receiving TV and radio
There's plenty more if you want to get technical, use your favourite search engine.
So if you read just some of that lot, you may actually learn something!
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Jon collins:
If you go to buy a DAB radio if you haven't got one, make sure it is DAB+ (DAB plus), as a lot of stations are now moving to this type of transmission. There are still too many radios which are only plain DAB being sold, especially in large superstores!
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Amy:
Have you retuned your bedroom TV since the 22nd June?
Now 80s (LCN83 in the EPG) used to be on the COM8 multiplex. When Arqiva decided to close COM8, it moved to COM7. You've implied you used to get it on the bedroom TV, so I assume it's got a T2/HD tuner.
Are you getting BBC News HD on 107 and BBC4HD on 106, they are also on COM7? If they are missing you aren't getting COM7 (UHF C55) on the bedroom TV.
For a list of which channels are on which multiplex, see Channel listings | Freeview
There could be several reasons if you aren't getting COM7 on that TV.
1st, make sure you haven't got any HDMI leads close to your aerial lead or any Flyleads, if say you've got a PVR connected, as HDMI can give interference to C55, especially if the aerial or flyleads aren't double screened.
2nd, you COM7 signal may not be as strong as the COM8 signal was and the bedroom TV's tuner isn't as sensitive. COM7 is transmitted at a lower power than the other multiplexes, and it may be marginal at your location. We'd need a full postcode to look at the predicted reception at your location.
3rd, you could have a fault on the aerial feed to the bedroom TV. Faults don't always affect all multiplexes.
I would check that your aerial seems intact and pointing in the correct direction and that your downlead looks undamaged (especially if it is old). Also check 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. See what signal strengths and quality you are getting for the multiplexes (groups of channels) shown in your TV's tuning section, they may indicate an issue.
Problematic connections, water ingress etc. can seem to affect reception of just an individual or several multiplexes.
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Friday 7 August 2020 10:45PM
YZ & Chris:
It has nothing directly to do with high pressure. Bluebell Hill has been listed this week for Planned Engineering with "Possible weak signal". Whilst there is a little bit of intermittent variable "Troposheric Ducting" around which may aggravate the situation, the transmitted weak signal which in some cases (location dependent) will seem like no signal will be the primary cause.
The Troposheric Ducting causes signals from distant transmitters to travel further so you can get interference from other UK or European transmitters. If this interference is strong enough compared to you normal signal, your receiver can have lots of signal but the quality will drop - eventually to a point where the receiver cannot decode the signal, or you actually receive the interfering signal.
Whilst the Tropospheric Ducting may strengthen later in the weekend or early next week (predictions can change) we won't know until Monday if the Planned Engineering will still be listed.