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All posts by Michael Perry

Below are all of Michael Perry's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.

Black Hill (North Lanarkshire, Scotland) transmitter
Tuesday 24 May 2016 4:53PM
Trowbridge

Alexei Romanov:

Yes it can be caused by too much signal! That's why we contributors ask people to tell us what the reported signal strength is on the multiplexes they are having problems with.

Please check the actual strengths reported by your TV set and give make/model of same please. Note that we are asking for strength readings and not quality figures.

In you case, I conjecture that you may have too much gain in your amplifier. Too much signal is not a good thing, it was not good in the 'old' analogue TV days and is even worse for digital signals, expecially the HD ones.

We await your strength figures, etc.



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Alan:

No, it will not work in France. Freeview is transmitted from ground-based transmitters in the UK and the signals do not normally reach any part of France (except perhaps a small area around Calais Port). Further, a Freeview box needs an aerial and not a dish.



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Andrew:

If you put your full Post Code into this site you will get some blue boxes shown, much like those beneath other posts (but they don't always show!). The digitaluk box will tell you which is the best transmitter to use, which channels/frequencies the multiplexes are using and what type of aerial is needed plus the direction it should be aimed.

Looking at the channel information near the top of this page, I suggest you need either a log-periodic or a Group B yagi. The log-periodic will be best as that will not only cover the existing transmissions but also those in the foreseeable future. The receptor rods (not the main support boom) need to be mounted vertically for Carnmoney Hill and aimed at that transmitter. How many elements it needs depends on where you live in relation to the transmitter site, so again a full Post Code will help.



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Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmitter
Wednesday 25 May 2016 1:19PM
Trowbridge

John G:

you will need to wait until the engineering work has been completed, no date/time is given for that as yet.

Only once the work is finished should you recheck your reception. DO NOT retune your TV whilst the work is being done.



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pick
Wednesday 25 May 2016 1:21PM
Trowbridge

Idris New:

Pick is transmitted on COM5 from 80 Full service transmitter - as stated at the top of this page.



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Feedback | Feedback
Thursday 26 May 2016 2:15PM

Kathy:

We need more information to stand any chance of offering a considered suggestion. need to know where you live by giving a full Post Code (not your address), what TV you are using and whether you have an outdoor aerial or maybe on a community aerial, etc.



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Phil:

To offer any useful advice we need a full post code so we can check the reception possibilites from other transmitters.



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Kingston:

If you click on the digitaluk trade banner below your post, you will see that they recommend trying the Fishguard transmitter for preferrence, but that Presely is a possible alternative.

Fishguard is a Freeview Lite transmitter and only the BBC A multiplex is thought to give reliable reception, BBC B and D3&4 being variable. Presely is a full sevive transmitter reception being expected to be good for all multip[lexes apart from ARQ B.

Fishguard will require a Group C/D aerial with rods vertical whilst Presely requires a Group B mounted with rods horizontal.

Looking at the reception map and the terrain plots it would appear that Presely is probably the better option.

As for what type of antenna/aerial you need then I suspect that good quality Yagi will suffice (but avoid the scam of a 'digital' aerial as they all receive the signals the same way) but you might consider a log-periodic type. How much inherent gain is needed is difficult to determine, but as the ARQ B signals are possibly suspect then a medium to high gain type is probably better, though you may need to add attenuators if the signal is too strong and giving break-up - especially on the HD multiplex.





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Belmont (Lincolnshire, England) Full Freeview transmitter
Saturday 28 May 2016 1:54PM
Trowbridge

Dave:

For Freeview, your signal strength should never be 100%! It is better if it is between 60% and 80% but with quality as high as possible. On Freeview, a strength of 100% is almost certain to give picture and sound problems as it is too strong.

Freesat does not come from the Belmont transmitter but from a group of satellites in geo-stationery orbit above the Equator, roughly over East Africa. A dish is required for such reception, so I assume from your post that you have a dish and suitable Freesat receiver. Again, 100% signal strength is not ideal and is very rare, but the quality should be as high as possible (noting that a stronger signal may actually reduce the quality!).



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A. Burgess:

You are allowed to site a dish on the face of a house nearest the road, even if it overhangs a public right of way - provided that it is well clear of any passing pedestrians and does not cause any danger or risk to people passing. So it needs to be well above head height of the tallest expected pedestrian and it is commonly taken to meant the lowest part being at least 2.4 metres (8 feet) above the ground. If you already have an aerial then you are allowed one dish as well, but no more than that.

Regarding the scaffolding, there is no legal requirement for the neighbour nor scaffolders to consider your TV reception at all. If such scaffolding is to be erected on the actual boundary between the properties then the Party Wall Act applies, see Preventing and resolving disputes in relation to party walls - Detailed guidance - GOV.UK for some useful information. If your satellite or terrestrial reception is affected then it is your resppnsibility in law - but it is always worth talking to the neighbour before any such work is started and come to an agreement between both parties about costs involved in remedying a temporary disruption due to the building work.

Hope that helps?



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