All posts by Chris.SE
Below are all of Chris.SE's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Bob B.:
Firstly, Sutton Coldfield was having Planned Maintenance last week with "Possible service interruptions" which is likely to be the reason that some muxes disappeared at some point.
Second, from what you've described I'd guess the BT box has a less sensitive tuner than the Humax.
Third, to clarify, COMs 7&8 are indeed the highest frequency channels C55&C56 at transmitters where they have finally moved to those SFN (Single Frequency Network) channels, but they are not due to move next year. See my recent post Black Hill (North Lanarkshire, Scotland) Full Freeview transmitter | free and easy for a bit more detail.
Reception of both Sutton Coldfield and Waltham transmitters can be quite variable depending on your location in Derby. This makes potential reception of the SFN channels quite tricky. We need a full postcode to check what the Freeview Detailed Coverage Checker is giving as predicted reception at your location.
There's another gentleman in Derby with similar issues with the SFNs and you may find the discussion on the Sutton Coldfield transmitter pages of interest.
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Steven :
Well, if you looked at the post previous to yours, you may wonder why/if there is some confusion. It certainly seems as that there is, not only by DigitalUK/Freeview but by the BBC Reception advice service.
As you have already discovered, retuning when there is no signal just loses the channels, it's not advised.
Long story short, as far as I can tell the Storeton (Granada) UHF channels are as listed in my post above which seems to agree with the Reception Advice from the BBC (the RTIS - https://www.radioandtvhel…uk/) - however according to them the BBC multiplexes are off air since 5.20p.m due to a fault YET the Storeton Wales multiplexes are fine !! Hmm. Freeview aren't reporting any faults (no surprise there!).
But The BBC also seem to think that the Welsh multiplexes are on C45, C39, C42 already rather than C57, C53, C60. I've also noted that C45,C39,C42 are those used by Moel-y-Parc, so whether they are or next Feb. are to become Single Frequency Networks (SFNs) is not clear!
Perhaps, when you get them back you can confirm which UHF channels those multiplexes are on. I've tried to check the Freeview/Digital UK data and there's clearly some new errors that at present as it's showing channels "Now" as 2020 with ArqB on UHF C30 and the Local (LIV) mux on C43 with no change in Feb. and I can't get any listing for Storeton Wales.
So it seems likely that the Storeton Wales transmitter(s) are off-air since 5.20p.m Sun 1st Dec. due to a fault, and maybe the Granada channels are ok, the BBC RTIS having got the two mixed up.
Next time you post, please provide a full postcode - the Coverage checker doesn't work on place names or partial postcodes, so we can't give the most accurate advice on faults or predicted reception.
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Mark:
Indeed there was a retune for Alston on the 13th Nov. & checking the Alston transmitter page, no others are posting with problems. I'm wondering if you may be inadvertently tuned to the wrong transmitter (weaker signal) for the D3&4 multiplex.
Try this first, unplug the aerial and do a full automatic retune. This should clear all previous tuning from memory as no channels will be found. Plug the aerial back in and do a retune - a manual one preferred if possible, for UHF channels C33, C36, & only C48 - if you have an HD tuner. Hopefully this will restore all your channels.
If you are still having problems, please post back with a full postcode as the Freeview Coverage Checker doesn't work with place names or partial postcodes. We can then see which transmitters and multiplexes may have any predicted reception at your location as depending on your location coverage may be variable and if you have a very old aerial this may not help.
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Hi Steven,
Glad everything is now working ok again. The BBC RTIS still seems to think it was Storeton (Granada) that was off-air (until 2.21a.m 2nd Dec.) rather than Storeton Wales!
Thanks for confirming the channels for the Wales multiplexes. This evening it seems that Freeview/DigitalUK have got their coverage checker sorted out and it's showing those channels for Wales with no further retunes. The move took place in Feb.2019
Whole sections of the database were offline over the w/e and there is now some consistency in what's being displayed compared to the various clearance pdf documents, both 2019 & 2020, so we can now clarify some of the confusion that existed prior to your Dec.1st post.
No further retunes for Storeton Wales, it uses UHF channels C45, C39, C42
For Storeton Granada currently using UHF channels C28, C25, C22, C23, C26, C29 + C30 (Local) it shows there's one retune on 22nd April 2020 when L-LIV moves from C30 to C43 and ArqB moves from C29 to C30.
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Bob B.:
Hi Bob, just to mention to start that Sutton Coldfield is on Planned Engineering again this week with "Possible service interruptions".
Well, according to the Freeview Detailed Coverage Checker, you shouldn't have any problems getting all multiplexes including the elusive COMs 7&8. The BBC RTIS Advice about receiving TV and radio | RTIS also predicts good reception of all muxes.
I don't know if you noted from one of my posts how to look at the predicted coverage but I might as well repeat it, it may be of use to any others reading -
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 following page where available channels are shown in "tiles". Below the initial block there is a "down arrow" if not all are displayed. But if you are only interested in some 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.
If your communal distribution system is a "channelised" one, it's possible that the gain for C55 & C56 needs turning up a bit. Because of the way SFNs work, although there's been no change in the power at Sutton Coldfield, the received signal at your location may be less than it was as other transmitters have changed the COMs 7&8 to C55&C56.
Alternatively, the communal distribution system may have developed a fault, the aerial may have moved a bit or become damaged in recent bad weather etc.
However if, as I've understood it you also have a variable amplifier as part of your own distribution system, first switch it off and plug your Humax directly into the aerial socket and see whether you can get the COMs 7&8. That should confirm that your amp hasn't gone west, maybe losing gain at the top end or oscillating etc.! (I assume you've already checked all your coax connections and flyleads etc.).
Assuming all is ok with the amp, try tweaking it up a bit, watch the strength on the strongest UHF channels to make sure you don't overload any tuner front end - ie. strength going up and then dropping again as you are still turning amp gain up. Also of course watch for pixelation etc. Just because the strength may go into the 90's that's not necessarily a problem as things will vary from set to set (tuner to tuner), go by the results!
Whatever results you get, have a check with some of the others on the system to see if they are having similar issues. That would add strength to your case for getting the system checked over/repaired. Can't think of any other suggestions at present.
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Alan Batchelor :
Which channels are you getting the pixelation on?
You are predicted to get good coverage of all multiplexes from Hemel Hempstead, however, if you have become inadvertently tuned to any multiplexes from Crystal Palace, you won't get as good a signal if your aerial is set for Hemel Hempstead. Are the rods on your aerial vertical or horizontal?
Also, it would be worth you checking all your 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's tuning section, this may indicate any problems 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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Roy:
No problem Roy, was just wondering how you were getting on, it's interesting to hear what results you are getting. If the C59 filter isn't making any discernable difference then no problem. I'd still see if you can get a C60 one off At800!
Also worth mentioning that Sutton Coldfield has Planned Engineering this week with "Possible service interruptions"
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Bob B.:
Thanks for that bit of info about the DTRT4000. I've no personal experience with any Youview boxes, but as opinions and reviews about them are very mixed and quite a number of them seem to have deficiencies I just would not have expected (especially being made by Humax), I've no intention of buying one - unless I happen to see one being given away for a couple of quid then I might be tempted just to have a play with one!
Yes there are some sets/boxes where the "higher" signal levels seem to "upset" them, quite ridiculous IMHO, just shows what poor design the front ends are. Having attenuators handy is always a good idea, makes checking things out so much easier. Did you try turning your amp up for your set and/or T2 box just to see if it pulled them in?
Good luck with getting the communal system sorted! Let us know how you get on.
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Bob B.:
Oh well, as you say there is some hope! But with Planned engineering at Sutton Coldfield, it may be better to wait a few days and see what develops. See what your neighbours are getting as well.
Frankly, although the list of Planned Engineering just says "Possible service interruptions", based on past experience, I wouldn't trust Freeview or Arqiva to give accurate detail, and that there could be weak signals and/or some multiplexes periodically being off-air!
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Sunday 1 December 2019 8:49PM
Roy:
I don't know if you've spoken to At800, but they only do the Ch.59 & Ch.60 filters. The Ch.60 filter is a better filter with a sharper cut-off. The Ch.59 filter might reduce marginal C55&56 signals sufficiently to fall off the cliff-edge.
Any update on the situation?