All posts by Chris.SE
Below are all of Chris.SE's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.Pete:
At the moment several of us think that there's an issue at the transmitter probably with the antenna. If you are still having a problem, ring the Freeview advice line on 0808 100 0288 and complain that you have followed the retuning advice and still have a problem and also there seem to be a number of people complaining about reception problems from Carmel especially in a general Southerly & Westerly direction.
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John P:
Since the retune event on the 17th the UHF channels used at Kilvey Hill are 21, 22, 24, 25, 28 & 34 for the local mux. C27 is the HD(T2) mux. C37 is the local mux from Wenvoe.
I'm not familiar with your card & software, but based on the list you've posted, those are not all the correct channels.
Put your postcode into Digital UK - Coverage checker it will indicate predicted reception at your location. I assume you have a group A aerial set with vertical polarisation if Kilvey Hill is your intended transmitter, however with recent weather & propagation conditions, you could well be receiving channels from a number of other transmitters some of which might cause interference to channels you want. (You can of course use a Group K, T or Wideband aerial instead of Group A if you want!).
If you only want Kilvey Hill, you need to configure your system (however you do that) to receive
C21 (474Mhz) for BBCA, C24 (498Mhz) for D3&4, C25 (506Mhz) for SDN(COM4), C22 (482Mhz) for ArqA(COM5), C28 (530Mhz) for ArqB(COM6) & C34 (578Mhz) for the Local Mux. If your card will do HD (T2) then C27 (522Mhz) for BBCB (HD) mux.
Remember that C37 (602Mhz) is the Local mux from Wenvoe.
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Mr Derek Bampkin:
Put your postcode into Digital UK - Coverage checker to see predicted reception at your location. If it is good for the ArqB and SDN multiplexes you mention, then as you mentioned the weather it could be the recent propagation conditions. Is reception now OK?
Propagation is predicted to increase again next week, so there could be further problems.
However, the heat may have also caused connection issues with your system, so do check that all coax plugs and sockets are clean and properly connected. By unpluging them, inspecting and replugging - this will help remove any oxidation that may be present that could cause connection issues. Does your set get the HD channels - was reception of COMs 7&8 (C55&56) OK? Also check that your aerial is still where it should be and pointing in the correct direction and the coax is connected and secure - you may need to get someone to check all of that if you continue to have problems. (I'm assuming your TV set is OK!).
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MikeP:
I wasn't going to post in response to regis as yours seemed to cover it until my brain registered "block of flats" as I was about to close the page. I suddenly thought that as you correctly mention Ilfracombe is a Light Transmitter this could well be a customised installation & distribution system to receive Kilvey Hill to give more choice, and if it's a channelised system that could be why less is being received. On the other had an automatic tune may have just picked up the strongest channels, it depends on which ones are missing.
regis:
I would unplug your aerial and do an automatic tune - this will clear the set of any previously stored channels. Then do a manual tune of UHF channels 33, 36, (&48 if you have HD) which would be Ilfracombe and give you your local Westcountry news, then UHF channels 25, 22 & 28 for COMs 4/5/6 which would be Kilvey Hill and are unlikely to give reliable reception BUT that would depend on your block of flats installation which you'd have to contact your landlord about if you continue to have issues - you'd need to do that anyway if it's the BBC and main ITV channels that you are missing. Which way is the aerial pointing and is it vertical or horizontal?
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Michael:
Thanks for the update, yes I'm looking forward to reception updates from SouthWales.
Whilst you correctly point out that a Wideband, group T (or group K) aerial is now required, the first issue was with C48 which should be no real problem for a C/D (even ancient un-enhanced) group aerial. Pete's issue with C36 would be similar, but neither have complained about the other lower UHF channels.
IF the radiation pattern has been modified (quite possible as you suggest) the predicted reception for SA31 3NL (and direction) doesn't fit with that, and SA18 is pretty close & to the SE and I'd be extremely surprised if it'd been reduced in that direction. But then nothing would surprise me, I've come across some strange cock-ups with predicted reception over the years.
This current situation has been very strange.
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Pete:
Just had a thought, you haven't got any other "boxes/recorders etc" that have an RF output that might be set to a channel at or close to 36? If so, reset them to a channel above 48 or even above 56.
Derek Brabrook:
I expect you might have thought of that one, but I don't know if your system scans would show a non-digi RF signal. Might be worth checking if your neighbour isn't in that boat!
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Derek Brabrook:
Arqiva are telling me "There is no known technical issue following the clearance event on 17 July." They had the cheek to suggest using the Freeview advice line which I've told them is pointless with retune advice, do you have a wideband aerial, checked connection etc. I've got back to them with your postcode (again), I did have the cheek to ask if someone forgot to plug in a panel! I've asked them will they please investigate, so I'll get back to you if I hear more!
This is certainly a very strange situation.
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John :
I believe the time on our posts is GMT, whereas the Transmitter Engineering post with the off-air detail is BST, so hopefully everything is now back to "normal". Langholm is a relay off the main transmitter at Caldbeck where there has been Engineering work with possible service interruptions. This might well continue until the retune event on 31st July.
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Well that's great news Derek. I'm very keen to find out how/why & whether Arqiva actually did something or whether maybe the wind has shaken one of the panels and a connection happened ;) !!!
Michael: How's your received signal strength now compared to previously? Obviously depending on what the original cause was, it may not have changed much as it might have been primarily a westerly direction affected.
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Saturday 20 July 2019 6:50PM
Carmarthen
Roger mellie:
I'm afraid I agree with nobody & a human. BTW there's lots of Blue books, you don't seem willing to give much detail yet willing to criticise all and sundry and it comes as no surprise that you don't give a monkies about what any of us think.
Not that I agree with various bits of information that's on the Digitaluk Coverage checker BUT it's usually right when it says what the most likely transmitter is, but you seem to want to disagree with them for the SA31 3NL postcode where it clearly gives Carmel as the most likely transmitter and predicted reception is also better from Carmel especially the COM muxes, so how do you figure that Preseli is the "preferred" transmitter? I think you are just here causing trouble, so far your "comments" haven't really been constructive and what you claim to be constructive advise isn't really either.
Derek isn't the only one complaining about reception problems, now either Arqiva have changed the radiation pattern since the retune event - which doesn't seem to agree with their predicted reception, or there's some mysterious as yet to be identified fault. I think the latter, and I also agree that "advice" & "information" from Freeview that has been sought about this is as usless as a "chocolate teapot". They are dishing out standard "boiler-plate" responses about retuning advice, oh and I heard similar regarding Mendip when people contacted them about a new aerial where there are supposed to provide assistance.
Derek Brabrook: & Michael:
Is the situation still the same, you and neighbours not getting COM6?