All posts by Chris.SE
Below are all of Chris.SE's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Jools:
There is high pressure centered over the North Sea and the Tropospheric predictions do show that there is some quite strong tropo around, and there's currently predicted to be a lift affecting parts of the NE (coastal areas especially).
As the Freeview (and RTIS/BBC predictions) show variable reception of the SDN multiplex at your location (surprising as you are quite close although COM Tx power is only 1kW compared to 2kW for the PSBs) then with some tropo around, this is the most likely cause.
(I also noted that Freeview also predict variable reception for the ArqA multiplex as well, whereas the BBC/RTIS predict good reception).
It is never advised to retune if you lose signal - whether it be due to faults, engineering or weather, the usual effect is just to clear the correct tuning and you have to do it again (maybe a few times) when conditions are back to normal.
I'd suggest you do a manual tune on UHF channel 32 for the SDN multiplex which should save possibly losing any other multiplexes whilst tropo conditions remain which could be for a sew days - although they will be variable, don't always affect all multiplexes, and may only last for seconds, but maybe minutes or hours!
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Graham Armstrong:
As the Planned Engineering list hasn't yet been updated, it's quite possible but there occasions when I've not found it to be that reliable!
That said, however, there is high pressure centered over the North Sea and the Tropospheric predictions do show that there is some quite strong tropospheric ducting around, and there's currently predicted to be a lift which can be affecting parts of the NE and hence there may well be interference from other transmitters in Europe or the UK.
These tropo conditions could remain for a sew days - although they will be variable, don't always affect all multiplexes, and may only last for seconds, but maybe minutes or hours!
I would say that this is the most likely cause of what you are seeing, especially as you are some distance (46km) from Bilsdale (bearing 159 degrees - approx. SSE). I note that Pontop Pike is much closer (28km, bearing 298 degrees - slightly N of WNW) and the Freeview predictor suggests you'd perhaps get better signals from Pontop Pike assuming there isn't an issue with line-of-sight in that direction in your immediate locale. The other main difference being the Local Multiplex and hence the local news coverage centred perhaps more around MIddlesborough for Bilsdale or Newcastle for Pontop Pike depending on any preference you may have.
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Richard caywood:
Hello Richard. Apart from the information in the post before yours, I can also add that the Planned Engineering list appears to have been updated and Bilsdale is still listed with possible effect "Possible Pixelation or flickering on some or all channels" which generally implies it's because of reduced power.
PS. Did you ever get that Ch.60 filter??
Graham Armstrong:
You may also wish to note the update.
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Richard caywood:
Arqiva never give that level of detail unfortunately, added to which we've got the tropospheric ducting, signals coming in from Norway apparently!
How was your COM7 reception impacted by the C59 filters? The C60 filter was a better filter with a sharper cut-off.
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Richard caywood:
Those figures for COM7? Surprised you don't get it some of the time, but under current conditions perhaps not surprising.
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GARY LOVERIDGE:
This is a free technical helpsite, Arqiva do the transmitter engineering and Freeview do not have it currently listed for Planned Engineering and I can't trace any listed faults at this time.
Depending on your precise location, you might be able to receive 3 different transmitters and so you may not be correctly tuned to the right one for the direction that your aerial is pointing. To advise further we'd need a full postcode to look at predicted reception and also the direction in which your aerial is currently pointing and whether the aerial rods are vertical or horizontal. Any faults on the aerial installation could also affect reception of just one multiplex.
That said, however, there is high pressure centered over the North Sea and the Tropospheric predictions do show that there is some quite strong tropospheric ducting around, and there's currently predicted to be a lift which can be affecting parts of the East coast and hence there may well be interference from other transmitters in Europe or the UK. There were recent signals coming in from Norway.
These tropo conditions could remain for a sew days - although they will be variable, don't always affect all multiplexes, and may only last for seconds, but maybe minutes or hours!
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Briantist:
StevensOnln1:
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Yes I think Brian has got mixed up about the COM6 coverage, so there'll be quite a lot more that will get it (and watch it). It certainly isn't going to be "wokewatch".
Why are so many people hung up about how far "down" the EPG a station is, it doesn't seem to do Sky or the other stations any harm, never mind all those that watch things on Virgin Media, it's having the ability to key in 3 numbers in succession is the thing, I know the need for that does niggle a few but then again, most devices have the ability to set up "favourites" so you can end up doing it with a simple key press!
Most people I talk to don't give a toss how far down the EPG things are, the important thing for them is remembering the numbers of their favourites (and to that end the important channels having memorable numbers or one that's existed for a very long time) which is why so many were annoyed about the Freeview/OFCOM mess-up last November shunting everything above 24 to 54 up one when there was a much simpler and logical solution that would have complied with OFCOM's requirement. But then since when has Freeview or OFCOM used logic and common sense in things - very little in my eyes. Eg. having 4Seven now on 48, yes that's good logic - NOT!
As far as how long GB NEWS lasts - I'd guess a lot longer than Brian seems to be thinking. Judging by opinions I'm hearing. Most people are fed up with the way the current media including TV, reports the news, some very cleverly leaving the odd fact here and there out of a report which leads to a biased view which a lot of people don't pick up on immediately, never mind those (the press especially) that don't like the government for one reason or another and just report things in a way that mud is hurled at them in the hope that some will stick.
Most of the "anti-GB NEWS" mob seem to come from those quarters as well as political opponents of those that see it as a right-wing channel - and it's not even on air yet!
I'm looking forward to what I hope will be some refreshing straight forward presentation of "facts" with proper investigative journalism (something current journalists seem inept at) not half-truths or bias.
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Brian Butterworth:
Brian, didn't you ever watch Andrew Neil's interviews on the BBC? He had always done his homework and got all the facts before him so that he could ask the "right" "awkward" questions, whoever he interviewed.
I'm expecting that ideology will percolate through what GB News do, time will tell. Let's see what they offer once they've been up and running for a while.
I'm certainly not prepared to denounce and belittle the channel and it's presenters before they've even launched.
As far as EPG position goes, I didn't say that there weren't people that cared, they are in a minority IMHO based on many people I talk to. Those broadcasters that "care" are being small minded IMHO, nor btw do I think that a lot of BARB's figures are representative these days, simply because I don't believe they have a representative selection of viewers any more.
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Sunday 30 May 2021 1:46PM
Steve Hill:
(Or anyone local!) Whatever happened about the co-channel problems?