All posts by Chris.SE
Below are all of Chris.SE's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Roy:
1st, this may be of interest - today, More4+1 has moved from BBCB/PSB3 mux to COM7. So some space on BBCB - speculation!
2nd, to follow any changes at Sutton Coldfield (look for it in the detail) -
Go to Freeview | All your favourite TV shows, all in one place and all for free scroll down the page to the box "Check Freeview at my home" and enter your postcode and house number/name. Scroll down the new page where available channels are shown in "tiles". Below the initial block there is a "down arrow" if not all are displayed. If you are only interested in a particular group of channels click on that button on the top row.
If you scroll down just after half way down the page, there is a button "Detailed view". If you click on that it will show the predicted reception of transmitters and multiplexes that may be receivable at your location on another new page. Transmitter distances and aerial directions etc are given at the top of that page.
If you hover over any given channel number a pop-up box will show you the transmission details, power etc.
| link to this comment |
Buster:
This site is not responsible for the transmitters or broadcasters, it's an independent help site.
According to Planned engineering works | Freeview there is Planned Maintenance -
"Granada Winter Hill Main Possible weak signal"
| link to this comment |
Roy:
I'm not sure what you looked at, but there is no change to the power being transmitted by COMs 7&8 at Sutton Coldfield between now and 2020 and thereafter on current planning, they remain at 56.162kW.
You may be affected by reception changes at your location due to other transmitters moving their COMs 7&8 muxes to UHF55&56, but as I don't have your postcode, I can't confirm that one way or the other.
Reception using a loft aerial will normally be worse than an external one (using like for like aerials) due to the attenuation produced by the roof, often more when wet. A Group T will be fine in years to come. It's always possible that you'd need a filter for 5G if there's a very close 5G transmitter in your line of sight whatever aerial you use (if 4G experience is anything to compare with).
| link to this comment |
Forgot to say, I did have a screen pop-up today saying that Programme mapping had changed .....
| link to this comment |
SteveK:
There is Planned Engineering this week at Heathfield according to Planned engineering works | Freeview
"Meridian Heathfield Main Possible weak signal"
This is probably due to a fault last Saturday with the BBCA/PSB1 mulitplex. Any of the multiplexes could be affected by the engineering work.
Your signal strength should recover in due course.
| link to this comment |
Keith Willshire:
Normally you should have no problem with reception from Pontop Pike according to the Freeview Detailed Coverage Checker, but this week there is Planned Engineering work according to Planned engineering works | Freeview
"Tyne Tees Pontop Pike Main Possible weak signal"
It's possible that your Set Top Box doesn't have as good a sensitivity as your TV so whilst the signal is weaker you aren't getting a picture, but that might not be the case.
I would check all you coax plugs, connections, flyleads etc, unplug connectors check for corrosion or other problems and reconnect them. See what signal strengths and quality you are getting for the multiplexes shown in your TV and Set Top box's tuning sections, this might indicate potential issues with your aerial, downlead or flyleads etc. Also check that your downlead looks undamaged and that your aerial seems intact and still pointing in the correct direction.
Problematic connections, water ingress etc. can seem to affect reception of just an individual or several multiplexes.
| link to this comment |
Phil Hodgkiss:
Just to be clear "Freeview" is the whole platform of Digital TV you get through an aerial ;)
IIRC there was some planned engineering at Emley Moor a while ago, but there've been no faults or engineering reported in the last 5 days. Retuning when you have lost signal and not been prompted by on screen messages is usually not a good idea as it clears correctly tuned channels.
I think the first thing to check is that you are getting your signals from Emley Moor as according to the Freeview Detailed Coverage Checker that is your most likely transmitter with Belmont a close 2nd with the exception of the temporary HD muxes COMs 7&8.
From your location for Emley Moor your aerial should be pointing 333 degrees (approx. NNW). If it's Belmont then it should be 80 degrees (a fraction N of due E). The aerial rods should be horizontal for both these. Also note Belmont does have planned engineering this week with "Possible weak signal".
There are also some more local transmitters in pretty much the same direction as Emley Moor, but require the aerial rods vertical (they are Sheffield and Chesterfield) not that it will necessarily mean you don't inadvertently pick up a signal from them, but neither is predicted to give good reliable reception of all 6 multiplexes.
If you happened to retune at the "wrong" time you may be incorrectly tuned to one of the weaker transmitters, but before dealing with that, I think it's worth checking all you coax plugs, connections, flyleads etc. Unplug connectors check for corrosion or other problems and reconnect them. Also check that your downlead looks undamaged and that your aerial seems intact and pointing in the correct direction.
Problematic connections, faulty flyleads, water ingress etc. can seem to affect reception of just an individual or several multiplexes.
If all that seems OK, unplug the aerial and do an automatic tune, this should clear the set of any stored channels. Now reconnect the aerial and again do an automatic retune. Hopefully this will restore all the correct multiplexes and channels.
If you still have problems after that, post back with as much detail as possible about your aerial installation and exactly which LCNs (programme channels) you are getting.
| link to this comment |
Hi John,
You've confused me. I think you've misread the graphic! We are in the "Interim 700MHz Plan (Freeview HD in Centre)" period at present, and that shows UHF 55 & 56 between the Uplink and Downlink blocks. This is expected to continue until 2022 or until such time as OFCOM auction the SDL block and announce anything different.
Also, you might not pick up UHF55&56 with your group B aerial (perhaps not enough gain especially as COM8 is only on 51kW).
I assume the results are with it still pointing at EM. I'm wondering if pointing your group W at EM and trying for COM8 will work as it might have less gain at UHF56. COM7 isn't moving to 55 until Q1 next year, as you know it's currently on 32.
I cannot be certain where this D3&4 mux on UHF22 is coming from. Bilsdale is not planned to use UHF22, nor are any of the other transmitters that you might normally get, but that signal strength does suggest it's Bilsdale. They could be doing some testing even though there's supposedly no Planned Engineering there this week, in preparation for the retune on the 13th. D3&4 is due to move to UHF24, but I'd guess they can't use that to test as it would cause interference with Idle using UHF24 for PSB1 moving to UHF23 on the 13th.
Don't forget to experiment with your Group B (& later perhaps the WB) to EM direct to TV and via one, then both amps to get a better understanding of any quality fluctuations. That Quality result for EM BBCB is odd!
| link to this comment |
John:
Just re-reading the above, I'm finding it odd if you're not able to get COM8 on UHF56 if you used to get the Local Mux when it was on UHF56 before the last retune.
| link to this comment |
Tuesday 5 November 2019 2:20PM
Andy:
StevensOnln1:
According to Planned engineering works | Freeview for week commencing 04/11/2019 -
"STV North Durris Main Possible weak signal"