All posts by Michael Perry
Below are all of Michael Perry's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Terry Bannon :
Looking at the terrain plot information, on the blue box below your submission, there is a large hill between you and Beacon Hill transmitter. I suspect this has a lot of trees near the summit, the by-pass being mainly below that area so unlikely to affect your reception. It is more likely that the trees can be causing the variation, especially with the recent/current high winds.
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Keith:
I can see no reason why you would not be able to receive any Sky signals in your part of Ecclestone near St Helens. That neighbours can receive the signals suggests the 'tests' were not conducted properly. It may be worth talking to a local aerial supplier who knows your area better.
However, from what you describe there is a possibility that you have significant trees blocking your direct view of both the Winter Hill transmitter and the Sky (Astra) satellites.
Can you confirm whether there are indeed a number of trees in the general direction of the transmitter? It would also help if you enter your post code into this website when it asks. That will enable 6 little boxes at the bottom of your submission showing what the reception conditions are expected to be at your location.
The provision of cable services by Virgin is a purely commercial choice on their part. Do you have a fast broadband connection? If so, is it FTTC or FTTP/H? It needs to be at least 5 Mbps for any TV services via the web (more for HD services). It is rumoured that in a few years time more and more TV will be delivered via the web and that terrestrial transmissions of TV will cease to allow the currently used frequencies to be used for mobile broadband.
The potential 4G issue should have been resolved by you contacting At800 (their website contact is given as https://at800.tv/contact-us/) as they are responsible for resolving the issues you mention if they are due to 4G transmissions. They would have supplied a filter free if you were being affected, or likely to be affected, by 4G transmissions.
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Steve Kingett:
Please address your comments to That's Solent themselves at http://www.thatstv.com/so…nt/. This website is in no way connected with any broadcaster and is entirely independent.
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MikeB (and MartinW):
Sadly your suggestion of a second dish is likely to contravene Planning Regulations as only a single dish is permitted if an aerial already exists on any building unless prior planning consent is sought and granted. Look at Planning Portal - Satellite,TV and Radio Antenna under Satellite dishes. Most Planning Authorities are seemingly reluctant to approve multiple dish installations.
The fitting of an octo LNB is by far the best solution and gives the neatest appearance.
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Paul Bale:
Freesat is not operated by Sky/Mr Murdock. Freesat is exactly that - free satellite broadcasting of most services that are available on Freeview. Have a look at Freesat Channels - Free Satellite TV, HD and Radio Channels to see what channels are available free of charge via a dish with a Freesat box. This is not the same as what Sky purport to offer using their own box and the two should not be confused.
In moving out of London you have discovered that most of the country does not get the same degree of service as is available in London. The terrain in the area you live affects how well, or otherwise, signals reach you. In many areas where population density is less than in urban areas there are too few viewers to warrant the expense of commercially funded transmissions, so many areas have a 'Freeview Lite' service. Not all transmitters are yet equipped to transmit all the possible HD services and those that are require the use of equipment fitted with an HD tuner (not just be 'HD ready').
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Roger Depper:
Officially, Sky do not provide their services outside of the UK and do not recognise any address not in the UK as being valid for the provision of the Viewing Card.
There are ways round that involving the use of a valid UK address for the card to be sent to and then fowarded on, but there are questions about the legality of doing that.
To receive the Sky satellite signals means the use of a very large dish compared that for most of the UK, a 1.8 metre dish often being considered the minimum but it does depend on the exact location.
You might be better off trying Freesat or other more local satellite services - but you may have the live without the footy.
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M. Dugal:
TV sets do not 'transmit' programmes but receive the signal via your aerial for display on the screen. I assume you are saying that you do not get any channels shown?
To be able to assist we need a postcode of where you live (or that of a very nearby shop or post office, etc) so we can judge which transmitter you might be using.
As both of your sets appear to have the same problem, it is more likely to be a fault developed in your signal systems. Do they both connect to the same aerial? Do you have a powered splitter feeding both affected sets? Is there power still fed to that splitter?
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Michael Bicheno:
The one critical piece of information you have not given is your post code so we can determine which transmitter is best and what the reception conditions are as well as if there are any obstructions that may cause your problem.
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Kev:
I personally would be looking to get a TV with an HD tuner and Freesat. That way you get the best of both worlds with no subscription costs. You may lose some channels that are unique to Sky subscribers though. Some may suggest merely stopping the subscription but you lose the record facility and can only watch some channels in HD. You can test it by temporarily removing your Viewing Card and seeing what you get. That's why a newer TV will be better.
Make sure the TV actually does have a DVB-T2 tuner to receive the HD multiplexes as more and more channels are being transferred, it is more efficient and allows HD services and the addition of more later. Many TVs sold as being 'HD Ready' do not have an HD tuner! Avoid them at all costs.
I have an LG 32LB585V about a year old. It suits us admirably (I'm 70 and my wife is 76 - she'll kill me for saying!) and it doesn't dominate the room as it's not too big (my brother has a 55" and it's terrible to watch as it's far too big for the room. It's also mounted too high so we all get aching necks!). There are other makes and models that include Freeview HD and Freesat. None, as far as I know, have a record capability. For that you will need a 'set top box' with the facility built-in. They are available for Freeview or Freesat - but as separate boxes as I am not aware of any that do both Freeview and Freesat - unless others can enlighten us.
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Monday 4 January 2016 2:22PM
Dawn Turner:
There is engineering work being done at PontopPike transmitter at present and it is said there is likely to be weak signals during this work. They never say when it is expected to finish and return to 'normal'.
See the entries above and below yours on this page.