All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
john: The channel 1 you refer to has to represent an actual frequency, the question being, exactly what the frequency is? as the modulator is the reason for your problem. To help further clarify the situation, maybe you could indicate the brand model of the TV used in the kitchen, plus also the brand / model number of the modulator being used, these required in order to check the specs of both devices.
By the way, introducing an additional amplifier into the system is liable to make the situation worse.
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Walter raybould: Yes, C54/738Mhz is Winter Hills main HD transmitter. However, re "being on the periphery of Winter Hill", I wasn't really suggesting that this applied to your location, but just that as the signal path from said station is seen to travel close to the ground prior to your area, this is something which under certain conditions, can sometimes cause problems with the reception of signals from lower powered transmitters.
I do though think it best to have your communal aerial checked out, especially when no signal whatsoever was detected on the manual tune test, as the aerial input to the communal distribution amplifier "might" have been fitted with a filter to cut out reception of channels under C49, this being the lowest channel number used by Winter Hill prior to COM7 / COM8 starting transmission.
There is another little test you could maybe carry out now that you are au fait with the manual tuning test, that being to check for any traces of a signal from the Flintshire (Wales) Moel-y-Parc COM7 transmitter on C32, this station indicated by DUK's reception predictor as providing a slightly superior level of signal in your area, albeit if the aerial was facing towards it!, although it doesn't really matter about this as far as a signal trace test is concerned, as the signal is received on the reverse of the aerial.
Finally, if easily seen, it would also be of assistance to know the model number of your TV.
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GMAN73: These levels are perfectly OK, the advice given by MikeP was based on you having said that signal *strength* was 100%.
The signal path from Blackhill is seen to be obstructed at approximately 0.75 miles prior to your location, and this might be a contributory factor in not receiving any signal the COM7 transmitter, as no engineering work is being carried out at Blackhill, nor are any faults listed against it.
You should try carrying out a "manual" tune on C32/562.0Mhz (Blackhills COM7) pausing after entering the channel number, (do *not* press search) to see if any levels appear on the signal bars, if they do, try pressing search and check if they get entered in the EPG listings, e.g: 107 BBC News HD.
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GMAN73 : Thanks for the update. However, further checking around the rooftops in your area (via Google Earth) has revealed another possible reason for you not being able to receive COM7, being that numerous aerials in your location are seen to be facing towards the Rosneath transmitter and not Blackhill, COM7 not being transmitted by the former.
Rosneath is actually indicated on the reception predictor as providing a superior level of signal to that from Blackhill, likewise the communal aerial is likely to be facing towards that station, albeit that aerials on "some" properties are seen to be facing towards Blackhill.
An easy way to check which station you are receiving from is by carrying out a signal test on BBC HD101, as the transmitter Mux channel number its broadcast on is usually displayed on the same screen as the level bars, this being C40 if Blackhill, whereas C54 if Rosneath.
You could also carry out a visual check of the communal aerials mounting position, the aerial being mounted horizontally (elements flat) for Blackhill, whereas for Rosneath its vertical (elements pointing up / down).
By the way, Blackhill is located @ 18mls / 96%, with Rosneath @ 19mls / 296%.
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GMAN73: Rather than racing ahead and purchasing the aerial referred to in the link, which to be perfectly honest about it I feel would be a retrograde step, as these small amplified dome aerials are seldom ever satisfactory when used in a relatively distant location "unless" still line-of-sight with the station, which yours isn't.
Communal aerial distribution amplifier systems can sometimes be fitted with filters to restrict the reception of channels outside of a predetermined range, and this "might" be the reason for zero signal being indicated on your manual scan test, but though, I feel that your best policy would be to make one or two local enquiries (in and outwith communal block) to ascertain if anyone else is able to receive programme channels associated with COM7, e.g: 106 - 110.
However, going back to you having referred to a Virgin media hub, if this is part of your system? try carrying out another manual tune test on C32/562.0Mhz whilst the device temporarily disabled, as it's not exactly unheard of for these devices to cause problems with reception. Another thing to check being, that any HDMI cables are not running close to the aerials coax cable, this being another possible source of selective signal blocking.
Re; aerials. I would rate the aerial seen in the undermentioned link used in conjunction with a variable booster, such as Argos 107/1533 (page 549 / item 22) as being capable far superior performance over the aerial referred to.
Labgear Mini-Compact Log Periodic Aerial | TV Aerials & Freeview | Screwfix.com
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Dave Jenks: The reason for not being able to receive (108) Al Jazeera is basically due to this programme now being broadcast on one of the more recent COM7 HD transmitters, unfortunately this not being part of the transmitter line up at Kimberly.
The only chance you have of being able to view this programme is if Waltham (or possibly Sutton Coldfield) can be received in your area, a post code or one from nearby, e.g: Post Office required for checking.
Which Freeview channels does the Nottingham transmitter broadcast?
Which Freeview channels does the Waltham transmitter broadcast?
Which Freeview channels does the Sutton Coldfield transmitter broadcast?
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Dave Jenks: Yes, that is "if" the level the signal is received at is sufficiently high enough to be captured by the tuner.
The best way to check is by pausing (not pressing search) after you have entered either Waltham's C31 /554.0Mhz or Sutton Coldfields C33 /570.0Mhz into the manual tune box, as this procedure will reveal if anything is being received nomatter how low the signal might be (handy for trimming the alignment of an aerial!) whereas pressing search or scan immediately brings threshold limits into the equation, this being why that even although a signal is indicated on the manual tune test, the programme EPG number might not appear in the guide list.
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Imogen Arnold: Reception in your area is possible from both Emley Moor (@ 52mls) and Waltham (@ 31mls), aerials in your locality seen to be facing in the direction of both stations, the one chosen as providing the best signal being determined by the installer at the time of installation.
However, before dwelling on the type of box referred to, i.e: Freeview Play, you should have a read at the info provided in the undermentioned link.
Don't buy a Freeview Play box until you've read these five facts | Alphr
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Walter raybould: Well, if you can receive C56 at at level of even 50%, then that indicates that your communal aerial is basically OK for what its intended to do, as C56 is a low powered transmitter radiating on only 2Kw compared to C31 on 27.5Kw, the other six muxes radiating on 100Kw with the exception of C37 (COM8 HD) on 22.6Kw.
Taking the aforementioned into consideration is inclined to suggest that the communal aerial system is indeed fitted with a channel filter, although I would try a make an enquiry with someone who resides outwith the communal aerial system to ascertain that C31 can actually be received in the area, that is even although its predicted by DUK as being possible.
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Wednesday 9 March 2016 8:46PM
john : A snowy picture on an analogue TV, or at least a Freeview TV set on analogue rather than DVB, is always a sign of a weak signal, are you sure that the jumper lead connecting the DVR to the TV isn't faulty?.
On the subject of connections, what do you mean by "Sky via a booster"?, maybe you could clarify as to what method you are using to connect the RF outputs from both the Sky box and CCTV camera into the TV? or alternatively, is the Sky box coupled into the TV via either a scart or HDMI lead, and the RF output from the CCTV camera is being fed directly into the TV's aerial socket?
The latter method giving the choice of viewing Sky on the TV by using the "input select" button on the TV's remote control, whereas the CCTV camera can be viewed by setting the TV on analogue, then tuning same to pick up the RF output from the CCTV camera, remembering to store the channel its received on.
If though you are using the RF outputs from both the Sky box and CCTV camera, make sure they are not set on the same channel, as one will interfere with the other if both switched on at the same time.
Maybe you could indicate the model of CCTV camera in question.