All posts by Michael Perry
Below are all of Michael Perry's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Ade Langford:
Yes you could try to amplify the signals, but be care not to overdo it. Where you live is not far from where I used to live off Coleview Road and reception from Oxford should be reasonable. You could try a log36 log-periodic aerial, such as this Online FM DAB TV Aerial sales (other suppliers and types are available).
If you have an amplifier already you may not need it with this aerial, but if your strengths are not over 60% then you might need it in the cables *after* your 4G filter (so that it does not amplify the 4G signals as well).
Ideally you should aim to have between 60% and 85% on all multiplexes, including the HD ones if at all possible but without overloading the SD signals from the more powerful multiplexes.
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Andrew Palmer:
Check your system, especially the aerial cables. There is no known problem reported currently with the transmitter and others are not reporting similar problems so it is most likely something in your own system.
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John Cone:
I presume that your aerial is a Group C/D for Sudbury? Tacolnston needs a wide band aerial to get all the services, or preferably a log-periodic type. But you may find that Tacolnston is unreliable as it hardly serves Sudbury, we can't tell for certain until you supply a full post code.
The reason for the difference is that different tuners have different sensitivity, so you TV tuner has greater sensitivity than your PVR. Plus, as stated earlier, you are in a poor area for Tacolnston signals unless you are very lucky. Have a look at Which Freeview channels does the Tacolneston transmitter broadcast? to see the coverage map for Tacolnston and Which Freeview channels does the Sudbury transmitter broadcast? for the map for Sudbury.
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Stephen:
You are only 22 km from the Sutton Coldfield transmitter so should be getting very good signals. In fact they may be too strong and that is known to cause the type of problems you're experiencing. So please will you check what the signal strength is reported as by your TV set for each of the multiplexes used at Sutton Coldfield. You should check channels 43, 46, 40, 42, 45, 39, 33 and 35. Then report back here.
If the signals are greater than 85% it is definitely possible your have too much signal. If that is so, then search for 'too much of a good thing' on this website where Briantist has given guidance about how to resolve that problem.
If, on the other hand, your signal strengths are below 50% then you probably have a problem with your aerial cables. In that case, check them for integrity and make sure that water cannot enter the cables and that all the connections are in perfect condition.
It is not the transmitter else over a million viewers would be complaining!
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Mark:
You're on;y 11 km from the Midhirst transmitter so it would be unlikely that you need a large, high gain aerial. In fact that could cause more problems than it solves.
The best solution is to use a log-periodic aerial. You could consider aone from Amazon here "Raptor" 4G/LTE ready Log Periodic Digital HD TV Aerial: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics
Note that how many elements are needed depends on how good the signal reception actually is. So it is often better to start with an aerial with good gain and if the signal; is too strong then insert an attenuator into the down lead just behind the TV set's aerial input socket - but do not put the attenuator directly into the socket as it will cause damage! Best to use a short flylead between attenuator and TV socket.
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Johnny5:
It's highly likely that the box's power supply has failed or is in the process of doing so. All you can do is disconnect it from the mains supply for at least 15 minutes, to let it cool down and clear all the data. Then plug it back in but do not bring it out of standby for at least 5 minutes. The turn it on and find out whether you have any programmes available. If you have then be ready to perform that again at some time as that suggests power supply problems internally. If you don't get any programmes then it very much looks as if the box has failed.
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James Fraser:
We ask for a full post code so that the system this website uses can determine which transmitter is best suited to the precise location indicated by the full post code, you may have noticed the small blue boxes underneath some posts that have given the full post code. They contain the technical information we need to judge whether there is a problem and advise on remedial actions.
That it is part of the Falkirk Royal Mail delivery area is irrelevant to us contributors - but the information about transmitters and reception most certainly are useful and is only available when a full post code is given.
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Stephen:
Your signal strengths are too low, hence the break up problems. You need to correct the aerial fault that is causing it, try having you aerial repositioned so it is aimed more accurately at the transmitter, or replace the aerial with a higher gain one, or fit an aerial amplifier in the cable. Ideally you want between 60% and 85%. Because the signal is weak, you are not seeing the low power multiplexes.
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William:
If you have a quad LNB feeding two separate satellite boxes (or a sat equipped TV) each will work independently allowing you to view different programmes on each screen.
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Wednesday 8 February 2017 6:13PM
Susan Kinsey:
Further to that said by MikeB, have a look at the small blue box that should have appeared below your posting and is entitled' digitaluk trade'. That contains information about which transmitters are possible at your location. It suggests you should tune to channels 39, 42 and 45. That will enable you to watch a number of services, but as Ludlow is not a 'full service' transmitter you will get the main PSB services such as BBC, ITV, Ch4, etc.