All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
phil: Your problem is most likely down to the engineering work which is presently being carried out at the Caldbeck transmitter, a notice warning of "Possible weak signal" having been posted on the engineering page, a weak signal causing drop out in some areas dependant on the level normally received.
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fozzy : Pleased to see that retuning on the alternative aerial has enabled you to capture the hitherto elusive channels. However, as far as tuning ranges are concerned, I'm at a bit of a loss to understand exactly how Mendip comes into the equation? was this station mentioned anywhere in the tuning menu? as the frequency range you stated would only capture two of Mendips multiplexes.
Re your query on the tuning range to use, if you want to use this facility rather than just leave the auto-scan on normal, then Winter Hills channel span is from Mux C31/ 554.0Mhz (COM7) to Mux C59 / 778.0Mhz (ITV1).
If the TV tuning range was found to have been set to scan between 746.0Mhz and 842.0 Mhz (the latter being outside of DTT's range) then this would indeed have excluded a large number of channels from being stored, options such as this being my reason for suggesting a reset being carried out (which also involves tuning) rather than just a normal retune, as reset would have cancelled the tuning range restrictions before the auto-tune
Apart from that, now that more is known about the system you are using, what type (make / model) of tuning stick are you using in the PC?. And on the subject of aerials, what types of aerials are you using?
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Walter raybould: The following three channels, namely (106) BBC FOUR HD - (110) 4seven HD and (113) RT HD are also transmitted on Winter Hills COM7 multiplex, if you are able to view same but not (108), then this is inclined to suggest that your TV requires a retune to update the EPG data.
Although its always best to carry out a complete auto-retune, as this action deletes everything already stored in the tuners memory prior to the retune, however to save upsetting anything already stored in the programme guide the result desired can sometimes be achieved by simply carrying out a manual retune on Mux C31 / 554.0Mhz.
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Gareth Jones : The problem referred to is basically caused by Al Jazerra (108) now being broadcast by the COM7 (HD) multiplex whereas hitherto (on 133) it was COM6, this changeover creating a twofold difficulty for a number of viewers *dependant on their location* as only a number of main stations covering larger populations actually transmits the COM7 multiplex.
Unfortunately the latter statement in the aforementioned applies in the case of BlaenPlwyf, i.e: this station does not have a COM7 multiplex.
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Walter raybould: If you have already carried out a complete retune (auto-tune) on your TV and yet are still unable to view Al Jazeera on (108), including BBC News HD on (107) or RT HD on (113)? all broadcast by the COM7 transmitter, then can you view BBC2 HD on (102)? (not just 2) if not, then this indicates that the TV you are using is *not* capable of receiving HD transmissions, i.e: of the HD ready variety.
If though on the other hand you *are* able to view BBC2 HD on (102) but not any of the others mentioned, then this is inclined to indicate that rather than receiving Freeview from the Winter Hill transmitter (@ 22mls) you are receiving it from the Storeton relay transmitter (@ 7.5 mls), COM7 (which carries Al Jazeera etc) not being part of the transmitter line up at Storeton.
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john: On the assumption that you are referring to a Sky boxes RF modulator? C36 or C37 would appear as being reasonably safe from being interfered with by Freeview transmitters.
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Walter raybould: Thanks for the update, the content of confirming that you are indeed *not* receiving Winter Hills COM7 transmitter. As far as reception is concerned, DUK's reception predictor indicates excellent reception of all channels in your area, however, the terrain indicator does show that the signal path from Winter Hill as running close to the ground from around one mile or so prior to your location, something which in certain circumstances can cause problems with reception from lower powered transmitters, COM7 radiating on only 25% of the power of the other Multiplex channels.
Taking this into consideration, although nothing appears as being received from COM7, it might be the case that it is, but at a level under that necessary for reception.
The usual way of testing for any traces of a signal is by selecting the "manual" tuning facility on the TV followed by entering the multiplex channel number of the transmitter in question, this being C31 in the case of Winter Hill, the important thing being to pause after entering the number, i.e: *not* pressing search or scan, because on most TV's or boxes if any traces of a signal is being received, the strength / quality level of will appear on the indicator bars.
Apart from that said, it might still be the case that the communal aerial is facing towards the Storeton transmitter, and which as previously mentioned does not transmit a COM7 signal. If you have a good view of the aerial? Winter Hill is located at an angle of 59 degrees whereas Storeton is at 195 degrees, although the somewhat easier way to tell which transmitter the aerial is facing towards is by its mounting polarity, this being horizontal for Winter Hill (elements flat), whereas with Storeton it's vertical (elements pointing up/down).
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john: What you have mentioned did cross my mind after having posted my reply, however it doesn't really make any difference to the situation, as the RF output signal from the DVR is virtually the same as that from a Sky boxes RF1/2 output sockets, i.e: a modulated AM signal.
By the way, the two channels mentioned were chosen after having checked the Mux channel numbers used by the three Freeview stations indicated as being receivable at your location, namely : Divis - Carnmoney Hill and Black Mountain.
However, should by any chance you still get interference using either 36 or 37, if you have a normal aerial looping through the DVR? (as done with Sky boxes) see if the situation clears up if you remove it.
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terry: Yes, as its listed on the planned engineering page under "possible service interruptions", this situation having been applicable since 7/3/2016.
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Wednesday 2 March 2016 11:56PM
nick : There's no chance of receiving AlJazerra (108) in the Suffolk area anyway, simply because said programme is now broadcast on COM7 which is not part of the multiplex line up at Sudbury.
Of course even if it was, only viewers with TV's or boxes capable of receiving HD transmissions could view the channel as COM7 is an HD multiplex, whereas previously when it was broadcast on COM6 anyone could, COM6 being a standard SD transmitter.