All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Chris Norton: Thanks for that info, the only reason for asking the question being, that on some Freeview devices the option of manual tuning isn't always prominently displayed in the set up menu, this giving the impression of auto being the only option, and by your HDX860 manual stating....once the "Tuning" menu is displayed select "Auto Tune" then press ENTER....doing so then resulting in another box asking the question....Do you want to start auto tuning - Yes - No...., I just wanted to check that clicking NO didn't result in a manual tuning option appearing.
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James lincoln : You cannot get a 100% signal level via an indoor aerial if, as you say, you reside in an extremely poor signal area, although all areas defined as being bad for reception has what could be classed as "hot spots" for reception, and I suspect that you might possibly reside in one of them.
As far as the height of an aerial is concerned, in areas known for bad reception the usual rule applying to aerials of "the higher the better" is frequently found "not" to apply, as in many cases the signal is far stronger lower down around the gutter level, this possibly being the reason why your roof aerial performs in an inferior fashion to your indoor same.
That said is provided that your roof aerial is not defective in any way, e.g: bad (corroded joint) where the coax is terminated in the aerials junction box, or that the signal from your roof aerial is not excessively strong as to cause overloading in you receivers tuner, this resulting in picture break up in exactly the same way as experienced with a weak signal.
And as far as the design of indoor aerials are concerned, they all work in the same principle nomatter what shape their elements might be, the only real difference between them being that some have built in amplifiers whereas others don't.
By the way, I speak not as an aerial installer, but a long standing engineer involved with non domestic TX / RX RF equipment, I do however get involved with domestic equipments / aerials etc as far as improvements are concerned.
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doug: Any query involving problems with reception "has" to be accompanied by a location, this preferably being in the form of a post code or one from somewhere nearby, e.g: a Post Office, as this info enables access to details of the transmitter (including coverage of) serving the area.
However, as you are connected into your own aerial system the problem has to be caused by a fault somewhere in same, as its highly unlikely that two boxes would fail at the same time, and although you haven't mentioned it as such, but if your two aerial outlet points are fed via any type of powered splitter?, try connecting the downlead from the aerial directly into the TV as the splitter could have failed.
That said is on the assumption that you have "not" tried retuning your boxes after having found no reception, because if you have? whilst the transmitter covering your area was either down, or alternatively was operating on reduced power for maintenance purposes, the action of retuning under said conditions will have cleared everything stored in the boxes memory, further retuning being required in order to load the channels back into the memory.
Further advice as required,
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doug : Now its been confirmed that a powered splitter is indeed being used, then your problem is likely to be down to failure of the devices internal power supply, bypassing the device instantly revealing whether it is or not.
Although as you will probably find out, if not already known!, bypassing the device requires a "female" back to back coax coupler, (approx 75p) as you will end up with two male connector plugs, this also applicable if screwed "F" connector plugs are being used, although in this case, a female "F" back to back coupler would be required.
As far as attempted cable theft in your area is concerned, the only thing that would affect your own reception (apart from a failed booster) is by someone removing your aerials downlead.
By the way, Crystal Palace would appear to be the transmitter covering your area, albeit that the line of sight from same is blocked at two separate locations starting from just under 4 miles out, this possibly being the reason why a booster is required.
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Matt HaLL: I would try resetting your TV, (not just an auto tune) as your problem is possibly caused by some form of gitch having occurred in its operating system, as neither I, nor any others known to receive Freeview from Waltham have experienced any problems with reception from that transmitter.
In addition to that said, Waltham is not listed on the engineering page with regards to any engineering work taking place at the station.
By the way, "first time installation" also (in most cases anyway) gives similar results to resetting the TV.
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Matt HaLL: Yes, as a manual reset completely deletes everything stored in the sets memory system including corrupted data, whereas a normal auto-tune doesn't.
I would also follow the advice given by Dominic Player, as that's another possible reason for your problem.
If though none of the aforementioned rectifies the problem, maybe you could indicate the model number of the TV in question, plus it would also be of assistance if the area you reside in was known, this preferably given in the form of a post code or one from somewhere nearby, e.g: the nearest Post Office etc.
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Matt Hall: Thanks for the update, pleased to know that the manual reset rectified the problem.
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Linda: Although not fully understanding as to exactly what you are meaning, as ITV+1 is on EPG 33, but though your best policy would be to carry out a fresh auto-tune on the box and see if this rectifies the situation.
However, should it not do, then the model number of the box plus your location is required, the latter given in the form of a post code or one from somewhere nearby, e.g: the nearest Post Office.
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Bob : In addition to, but apart from that said by Dave Lindsay, the question of which is the best station to use for reception is entirely dependant on your location within the Worthing area, as wide variations were found in DUK's predictions for reception between a couple of post codes used for test purposes, Whitehawk Hill being far in a way best for reception in the DN14 area, whereas not in the DN11 areas, none of the stations predicting good reception in that area with the exception of Rowridges PSB channels on vertical polarity.
Therefore, I suggest that the best policy would be to enter your post code into the reception predictor referred to and study the results. (Link for below)
Another point to note regarding aerials, as you are intending to mount the aerial on a wall bracket, then be aware that not all aerials lend themselves to being mounted on such brackets close to a wall, this being where log periodic aerials score, as they, in most cases can, and of course are ideal for reception of the channels used by Whitehawk Hill, (excl Vision V20 A2 20) that is should you reside anywhere in, or near to the BN14 area.
Digital UK - Coverage checker
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Monday 22 June 2015 8:55PM
Marlene grove : All satellite dishes have to be facing in a S/S Easterly direction nomatter where they are mounted, and your dish being mounted on the front of the building should not make any difference, that is provided the dish is not mounted at the same level as a downstairs window facing into a main road of only around 20 feet or so away, as high sided vehicles "might" cause intermittent signal blocking.
Unless this problem has been evident since you started using the satellite system, the more likely reason for the problem is that your dish has moved slightly out of alignment, therefore, go into the boxes signal check screen and observe the levels being indicated over a couple of minutes or so, both strength and quality should be reasonably stable with the former indicated at a minimum of 60%, with the latter (quality) preferably being higher, if though its under, then this is an indication that the dish is out out alignment.
It would have been of assistance to know what model of box you are using, i.e: a standard Sky box, or a Sky+ version.