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All posts by Chris.SE

Below are all of Chris.SE's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.


David Meager:

Hi David, we do not transmit anything, this is an independent helpsite. If you are talking about the LCN channel numbers in your EPG, then see Channel listings for Industry Professionals | Freeview for which channels are on which multiplex.

The two that you mention are on different multiplexes, are you missing others listed on the same multiplexes?
Depending on when you retuned last, channels LCN numbers between 24 & 54 changed in November (much to the anger of a lot of viewers) (see Updates and alerts | Freeview for details).

There is no "Local" multiplex transmitted from Midhurst, and the NI mux is only in Northern Ireland. If any channels on the SDN multiplex are missing then there could be another issue. You shouldn't have any problems receiving the six main multiplexes at your locale if your aerial system is ok.
If you are missing other channels not on the Local or NI muxes, post back with some more detail so we can provide further advice.
PS. Not the best of ideas to post house numbers on a public forum ;)

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QVC
Sunday 10 January 2021 12:15AM

Lesley mooring :

QVC is transmitting normally (for me and no doubt many others). As you haven't provided a full postcode, or said which transmitter you get your signals from, you could be anywhere in the country and one of 1100+ transmitter could have had a temporary fault or having Planned Engineering.

QVC is transmitted on the SDN/COM4 multiplex. See Channel listings for Industry Professionals | Freeview for which channels are on which multiplex.
If it's a transmitter issue the you should have lost other channels on the same multiplex.

If your signals aren't back to normal, post back with more details.

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Stockland Hill (Devon, England) transmitter
Monday 11 January 2021 3:24PM

Richard CL:

Firstly, it is not the same commercial groups responsible for the possible addition of TV or Radio services to transmitters and those for the installation of better broadband services.

Secondly, I'm well aware of the poor broadband in many rural areas (living in a rural area myself) BUT you only need a 2Mb/s connection in most cases to be able to stream SD TV and an even poorer connection to stream radio, in fact if you have any sort of internet connection you should be able to stream radio (all providing you aren't trying to use data for lots of other apps at the same time). The primary limitation with streaming is possible data limits if you are on a legacy broadband package. In which case get on to your ISP and negotiate a better deal or use one of the many comparison services available to find one.

If you don't feel there is enough being done/planned to improve rural broadband in your particular area, speak to your local authority who may be able to advise what plans they have in place, and failing any improvements that they are initiating, speak to your MP about Broadband improvement in your area.
As far as any improvement to Terrestrial DTV, ask your MP why has the Vaizey plan been totally forgotten by government? They had ample opportunity to have it/most of it implemented whilst the 700MHz clearance was taking place. The cost of doing it now is likely to be higher.

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(45/2349061670)
Monday 11 January 2021 3:40PM

PHILIP ENGLAND:

I'm afraid many pages on this site haven't been updated by the site owner who still has a business to run (AFAIK) as well as this free help site, there have been 1000's of changes at transmitters in recent times.
In particular, if you want up-to-date information about DAB(+) use the following sites -
DAB Digital Radio - Pure, Roberts, Stations, DAB, Evoke, In Car, Online, Portable, Digital Radios, Highway, One, Station, Sony ukdigitalradio: Home
Digital One multiplex
Sound Digital multiplex
Now Digital (local DAB multiplexes)
A bit more technical and worldwide - DAB Ensembles Worldwide | Latest News & Updates
Regulation and licences - Radio broadcast licences - Ofcom

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Glen Wood:

Hi Glen, as pointed out by StevensOnln1, the COM7 multiplex which carries Freesports is a lower transmission power than the other multiplexes. Are you just interchanging the TVs in the same place or are they using different aerial outlets?

It may be worth you doing a check on 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.

See what signal strengths (if any) and quality you are getting for the multiplexes shown in your TV's tuning section (try that with both sets), this might indicate potential issues with your aerial or downlead.
Also check that your downlead looks undamaged 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.

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David:

To be clear, COM7 does not have that "long" a future. It is and always was a temporary multiplex and will close by the end of June 2022 if in the meantime when the 700MHz is auctioned, no MNO has either bought the centre frequencies where COM7 resides (allocated for SDL usage) and given the 3 months notice required by the current licence having had equipment designed and commissioned to enable their use. (Suitable handsets also need to be available).

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David:

Should have added that Kingsweston is quite strong on high ground in North Bristol, you can almost get it on a bit of wet string!
As far as Mendip C55 is concerned it might be worth you doing a check that your aerial seems intact and is pointing in the correct direction (not moved in recent high winds) 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.

Problematic connections, water ingress etc. can seem to affect reception of just an individual or several multiplexes.
If you've changed/moved anything in your installation recently, HDMI leads near unscreened/poorly screened flyleads/aerial leads can cause interference especially to C55.

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Glen Wood:

Just re-reading all the above information, I see one thing that hasn't been mentioned. Do you have any HDMI connections to the set? If so make sure the HDMI leads are well away from the aerial leads and flyleads especially if those aerial/flyleads are not the high quality double screened type.
HDMI can cause interference especially to C55 (for some reason). I'm not aware of any definitive research that indicates whether particular makes and models are more vulnerable than others BUT I suspect that could be the case. Be interested to know if that's the problem you have.

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Chris:

I certainly wouldn't rule out what StevensOnln1 says, especially as you suspected it as a possibility, keep an eye on things and see if they get worse when the weather is bad - plenty of rain etc.

However, there is another possibility, are you sure you were tuned to Midhurst during this period? You can pick up several transmitters at your location and predicted reception from Midhurst is not that good except for the BBCA/PASB1 multiplex, although the Freeview predictor and BBC one don't quite agree as the BBC one suggests it's just the D3&4/PSB2 & ArqB/COM6 multiplexes where you might have variable reception!

That said there is an Alton very low power relay transmitter very close to you. Even with the aerial pointing at Midhurst you may well get signals from Alton on a retune if Midhurst signals are down (or even a mix from a variety of transmitters in the wrong (weather) conditions.
Now, Alton is currently listed for Planned Engineering with "Possible service interruptions", what's more it is a relay of Hannington which is also listed for Planned Engineering with "Possible weak signal", so if the relay relies on an off-air signal then it may not receive one if Hannington's signal is that low!
You might also get signals from Crystal Palace, Reigate, Guildford and Rowridge! All less likely as they are in different directions.

Check your aerial is correctly pointing at Midhurst - bearing 127 degrees, slightly E of SE. It's rods should be horizontal. Alton is at a bearing of 155 degrees, almost SSE (but would have rods vertical).

Check in your TV's tuning section which UHF channels it's tuned to for each multiplex.
For Midhurst they are C48, C35, C36, C29, C34, C33 in the order BBCA/PSB1, D3&4/PSB2, BBCB HD/PSB3, SDN/COM4, ArqA/COM5 and ArqB/COM6.
For the Alton relay C41, C44, C47 for PSBs1-3 only.

If you want to check which programmes are on which multiplexes see Channel listings for Industry Professionals | Freeview and note there is no Local or COM7 multiplexes (nor NI & G-MAN) from Midhurst.


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Glen Wood:

Well I'm so glad it's solved. I really should have thought to mention the HDMI issue before. I've certainly made a mental note that Philips TVs are susceptible!

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