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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.


jb38

The distribution amplifier I was suggesting is designed for multi-room usage in homes and not just commercial premises. Many people I know use them as part of their home installation as it allows all TV, Satellite and radio signals to be made available in a number of rooms, depending on the model chosen. The advantage is you only need 1 dish, 1 TV aerial and perhaps 1 FM/DAB aerial, so not so unsightly as multiple fitments. The smaller ones from Labgear only cost in the region of £80, but as you say you have to add the cost of cabling. My fsamily have all done it in their homes already (we are all electronics engineers) and I plan to fit such in my new home (only been here 10 days so still unpacking boxes!).

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Ian Greenhaugh

Not if it isn't directly in front of your Freeview aerial. Dishes do not radiate anything so it does not create interference. The frequencies used for satellite are very different from those used for Freeview so that will not be any problem either.

I assume there is a reason for asking?

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I strongly suspect that the figures Ofcom have dreamt up of how many aerials will need to be replaced is a gross underestimate. Those with Group C/D aerials will need to replace them and the current cost is often around £150 for the work to be done professionally. There are many main transmitters that radiate in the C/D group so almost all the viewers in those areas will need new aerials as few will have selected a log-periodiic design.
Plus yet again the views of normal viewers are being ignored and they are expected to retune again (not all TVs or boxes auto-tune) all for the benefit of the mobile phone companies with no benefit for the viewer.

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As an experienced TV engineer for many years and Technical Training Manager (now retired) I think there is a misconception, at least in Charles Stuart's offering, as the 600 MHz band is well utilised for Freeview transmissions - especially the HD services. The frequency range from around 450 MHz all the way up to high in 700 MHz range is currently used for Freeview and Freeview HD multiplexes.
Selling off the band above 700 MHz means that the required services have to be crammed into ever more crowded spectrum. To do this many services have reduced 'bit rates' meaning poorer results that are more susceptible to problems.
Further, the concept that TV 'broadcasts' can be transfered to the internet is seriously flawed as the service is not likely to be as widely available as is RF transmissions and many will not have a fast enough service to watch TV without constant buffering. The Government's requirement is for a 2Mbps service and that is no good enough for TV. OfCom are clearly being driven by the commercial desires of the mobile phone companies and ignoring the wants/needs of average TV viewers. As a regulator, they fail the 'customer comes first' test in my opinion.

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Film 4 +1
Sunday 23 November 2014 9:04PM

mark phillips:

It is available from many transmitters - but you need a TV set or set-top box with an HD capable tuner of the DVB-T2 type. These are found in sets that are true HD capable and able to received Freeview HD. It has to be said that Film4+1 is actually broadcast in SD mode but an HD tuner is needed to get it.

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Full technical details of Freeview
Wednesday 26 November 2014 10:22AM

Iain:
The local transmitter is a 'Freeview Lite' one and so only brioadcasts the PSB services and not the commercial ones. Elsewhere on this site is an explanation why this is so written by Dave Lindsay, a regular contributor to this site.

Chance of getting more services is probably zero from this transmitter. If the Ofcom plan for beyond 2019 happens then you may get more via some internet connection if it is fast enough.

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It is everything is working fine | Knowledge base
Wednesday 26 November 2014 10:27AM

Briantist:
I was shown your new layout on my laptop and didn't like it at all! Plus some of the more useful elements, such as the "Most Popular" listing was missing!

Please ensure that we retain these features on all devices.

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Briantist:
I have issues with the design as it's being offered to non 'smartphone' users and looks to lack much of the content we normally expect (I use a Windows 7 Pro laptop). Your method of determining what device is being used may fall foul of the fact that Android is not only used for some smartphones but for tablets, pads, etc. They would normally be able to show the 'traditional' layout perfectly well because of the reasonable screen size whereas a small screen of a 'smartphone' needs some more appropriate layout. And do bear in mind that not everyone has the very latest versions of the smartphone or OS.
Worth the experiment, but needs more work I suspect.

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Connecting it all up | Installing
Thursday 27 November 2014 8:06PM

Martin Everett:

One way is to obtain a SCART multi-adapter. Perhaps something like this: MULTI SCART ADAPTER: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics - other versions are available.

Else it depends on what sockets are available on the equipment, make and model numbers would help.

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Philip:

Sky transmissions are not available in Nigeria - it's far too far ourtside the 'footprint' of the signals from the satellites. No dish of any size will receive the signals so there is no point in thinking about what box to use (it would have to be a Sky supplied box anyway and they do not supply outside of the UK).

Likewise the FreeSat signals and ceratinly not the terrestrial Freeview transmissions.

You will have to enjoy the Nigerian broadcasts.

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