All posts by Chris.SE
Below are all of Chris.SE's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Kate Mason:
The Mendip transmitter isn't currently listed for Planned Engineering and I can't find any current fault reports and the BBC haven't reported any problems with their multiplexes recently.
Classic FM is carried on one of the Commercial multiplexes (ArqA/COM5) see Channel listings for Industry Professionals | Freeview for which channels are carried on which multiplex.
Now, reception in your locale should normally be extremely good, however you could receive signals from Wenvoe (and only the PSB muxes from Carhampton) so check in your TV's tuning section that Quality is 100% and the Signal Strength is high for each Mendip multiplex - as follows -
Mendip's correct UHF channels are C32, C34, C35, C48, C33, C36, C55, C30. That's is the order PSBs1-3, COMs 4-7, Local mux. You probably don't get the Local Mux as you aren't in the correct area. (There's a slim chance you might get a Local mux from Wenvoe on UHF C37 but this will also be very dependent on the aerial set up in your building!).
Further advice, STOP retuning! There is no point in doing that, if there is a problem with a signal, whether it be due to Planned Engineering, weather conditions affecting signals, transmitter faults or aerial system faults then most times all it will do is clear the correct tuning. The only time you need to retune these days is if you get an on screen pop-up because a commercial channel has moved multiplex or a new one has been added (you may get an on-screen message that programme mapping has changed).
If you are not getting 100% Quality on all multiplexes virtually all the time (there's the possibility of some temporary disruption due to current weather conditions) then check with a neighbour if they are having the same issues and if so, complain to the building management that there's an issue with the system.
If you have problems with Internet radio as well it might be worth checking your TV's sound settings in case some thing else is amiss. Also check on a computer or other device, it could be your internet connection being poor.
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Michael :
The only way you can get a better idea of what is going on is by comparison of the C35 signal strength for the PSB3/BBCB HD mux with the other PSB muxes, namely PSB1/BBCA on C32 and PSB2/D3&4 on C34 using your lounge TV (since it always had a signal the set could decode).
If the lounge TV showed the signal being low and then increasing after which you can then get it on the bedroom TV, yes you could reasonably conclude that it is transmitter engineering.
Because both sets are Samsung, there's the possible suspicion that the signal feed to the bedroom is not as good as that to the lounge. One way of checking would have been to take the bedroom TV to the lounge and try it there whilst you had no C35 in the bedroom. If you then got it in the lounge that would suggest the bedroom feed could maybe do with some attention - check all your coax plugs and such first.
If you couldn't get it on the bedroom TV in the lounge then the bedroom TV would seem to have a less sensitive tuner for whatever reason.
Try that method of checking if you have any further issues and do post back if you have queries or need further help.
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jimmy smith:
I can't find any current fault reports for the transmitter and it's not listed for planned engineering and neither is it's parent transmitter as this is a relay transmitter.
However, current weather conditions might be causing temporary disruption to reception. This should clear quickly but may return later over the next day or two. Do NOT retune when you have no signal as this generally just clears your correct tuning and you'll then have to repeat the process when signals are normal and you can't be sure when that may be, so it could be rather hit and miss.
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Scott:
Without a full postcode to see what the predicted reception is in your locale it's almost impossible to say what the cause may be. As you haven't given any timescale on previous events it'll be a case of considering several possibilities.
When you say you've done all the things recommended does that include checking all you coax plugs and connections, checking the aerial looks intact and is still pointing the correct way?
Have you looked in your TV's tuning section to see what the signal strength and quality is for each UHF multiplex and compared the figures when good and bad?
If this is occurring at the same time of day for similar timescales each time then some electrical interference may be a cause. Has there been any new equipment or any changes since the problems started?
Most recently the current weather conditions have produced some Tropospheric Ducting which causes signals to travel a lot further than normal and so interference from other transmitters results.
Whether loss of signal or severe picture pixellation is due to interference, faults, engineering or weather you should never retune as this usually just clears your correct tuning and you'll need to repeat the process when signals are normal, and that may not be predictable so several attempts may be needed.
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jimmy:
Yes the heat has been intolerable. The predictions for Tropospheric Ducting weather conditions have indicated some quite variable and periodically strong ducting for a number of areas and even the BBC have listed warnings for disruption to reception for quite a few Scottish (relay) transmitters.
I'll try and get the site owner's attention drawn to the posting issue.
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Violet Iwanio:
Yes indeed it was as you can see from the Transmitter Engineering report, there was a fault.
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Keith:
Well Keith, you are completely wrong about power levels and coverage. StevensOnln1 has given you the explanation. Many people will have improved reception as a result of DSO, more reliable ghost and noise free being the two most obvious, as well as improved picture quality and sound, particularly so with HD.
As stated in response to you previous post, if you provide a full postcode so that we can look at the predicted reception in your locale as well as the make and model of your aerial, we may be able to offer some advise to mitigate your reception issue from Waltham, you may be in a problem area or have an inadequate aerial installation.
Also note, that over the last few days, recent weather conditions have resulted in some tropospheric ducting causing interference from more distant transmitters elsewhere in Europe or the UK, in the old B&W 405 line days we called it continental interference and it could completely wipe out reception even then!
It does seem to be occurring more frequently these days. Blame the EU if you like, but it's not their fault, it's much more likely to be due to the more extreme weather conditions we now get more frequently as a result of climate change.
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Keith:
Oh, forgot to include the following in my response above - the Waltham Transmitter has been listed for Planned Engineering recently with the likely effect "Possible Pixelation or flickering on some or all channels" stated by Freeview.
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Joyce Herbert:
Great! Movies is carried on the ArqB/COM6 multiplex. Your postcode should receive good reception from the Sudbury transmitter, aerial pointing at bearing 309 degrees - fractionally West of NW with the rods/squashed Xs horizontal using a Group K (or wideband) aerial.
Spotlight is no longer broadcast directly on Freeview, but is available as a streamed service (smart HbbTV needed with internet) via Vision TV on LCN264 in the EPG linked via the SDN/COM4 multiplex.
Although Sudbury is a main transmitter, it is not one that transmits the temporary multiplex COM7, or a Local multiplex.
See Channel listings for Industry Professionals | Freeview for which channels are carried on which multiplex.
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Thursday 22 July 2021 3:51AM
robert:
As StevensOnln1 says, without a full postcode, it's not possible to say which transmitter(s) you may be getting DAB signals from. There are a number of relay transmitters in the general Winter Hill coverage area.
The BBC have not reported any issues with the main multiplex at Winter Hill. If it's a commercial multiplex you've had problems with then it'll be more difficult to locate any fault reports.