All posts by Michael Perry
Below are all of Michael Perry's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Briantist:
As I worked for Network Rail for a time, all our company supplied phones worked on GSM-R as well as 'standard' GSM. The service was allocated a specific part of the spectrum and is for exclusive use by train operators, track and signalling providers, etc. One key feature is that it allows a signal control centre to directly contact a train driver so they can be warned of any problems on the line ahead. In the UK, the masts are all alongside the tracks so that reception on board is maintained, even in tunnels! Especially important for some such as the Sudbury Tunnel running under the River Severn between England and Wales near Bristol and Chepstow. AFAIK, it is planned to be in use until at least 2025(the rail industry is often reluctant to change what works well already!).
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Kevin
You asked if your problems could be related to 4G work. As you're using Crystal Palace which transmits in the lower end of the UHF band it would be highly unlikely to be anything related to 4G. Channels 60 and above are now cleared of DTV signals to make room in the spectrum for the forthcoming 4G signals. At present CP transmits on 22, 23, 25, 26 and 30, with 29, 33 and 35 to come next year. So any 4G signals are well outside that range. Plus the only 4G signals in the 800 MHz+ range are test signals in small selected areas only and for a short periods. (The EE 4G signals are in the 1800 MHz range, well away from DTV signals.)
If, when 4G starts, you get problems due to the 4G signals, @800 will supply one filter to affected households. Free. Any additional ones needed (?) will have to be purchased yourself, but I'd be highly surprised if you need one.
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It is worth checking the planning requirements for where an aerial and/or satellite dish may be mounted, the rules can seem quite strict. Please see: Planning Portal - Satellite,TV and Radio Antenna for what is required/allowed/not allowed.
As a rough guide, if you only have an aerial it can be up to 1m long and can be on a pole or elsewhere. If you then add a dish, only one (either aerial or dish) can be up to 1m long and the other must not be more than 60cm. A dish can be chimney mounted with restrictions on how high up. No more than 2 such devices can be attached to a property. There are special rules for listed building and conservation areas.
I suggest also asking your local planning authority as some have more restrictive rules.
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Tasha
The item sent to you by @800 is a filter and not a booster. Its job is to remove any 4G signals from your system so it does not interfere with your TV viewing.
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Can someone explain why there are so many instanced of the wrong region being transmitted reported on this website? Many of the transmitter specific pages are reporting transmitter news about wrong region. Is it a fact that someone got is it wrong when making a distribution setting so many transmitters are giving incorrect regional services?
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Mark
Oxted has always been a problem area due to the hills the town is built on. (I worked for Radio Rental in the area and had many instances of reception problems to contend with.) Some can get reasonable reception from Reigate or Heathfield, but not both. A lot depends on exactly where in the town you are located, nearest is not necessarily the best. So an accurate post code is need, but one that is only nearby might not help due to the steep hills.
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liz:
Further to what JB38 says, a Sky box cannot be connected to an aerial for terrestrial (ground based) TV reception, it can only be connected to a dish system for any TV reception that will always be satellite based. So it cannot be used for Freeview reception but it may be usable for FreeSat reception, which is not quite the same.
However, you can use it to view the 'free to air' programmes available via the Astra satellites that Sky use, such as BBC1, BBC2, ITV, etc. Look at freesat - Subscription free HD Satellite TV through a Digital Box to see what you could get.
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KMJ, Derby
Does the satellite based back up service apply to terrestrial Freeview services? If so, I presume it is used when the normal terrestrial links are themselves undergoing maintenance?
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Bertie
The Digital switchover of UK television transmissions was completed on 24th October 2012. So you could not have been receiving analogue TV after that date. So I don't follow your question, do you mean that digital TV reception from the Duncraig transmitter (a 'Freeview Lite' service) has failed? I suggest checking the Reception Map, Terrain Plot, etc alongside your question above. Judging by the large solid hill between you and Duncraig, I'd suggest you would be better served by a satellite service, either FreeSat or Sky (paid for by subscription).
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Tuesday 30 July 2013 4:35PM
I used to live in Sywell Road, Coleview and had almost equal signal strengths from both Mendip and Oxford transmitters. A lot depends on where you are as the lumps and bumps can make a considerable difference. Parts of West Swindon are unlikely to get good reception because of the Old Town hill shielding but some areas further north may have better reception. In the Stratton and Blunsdon areas you may be better off as long as you are not on the side of a hill sloping away from Oxford. Note that Oxford carries South Midlands programming and Mendip carries BBC West/HTV West.