All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Cpt Jack Torrents: HR2 covers too large an area for any element of accuracy, but using Kingstones post office as a marker you are predicted to have good reception from Ridge Hill @ 13 miles away, if that is you are receiving from it! as Peterchurch (@ 4 mls) and Hereford (@ 6 mls) are possibly also within range.
To check if its Ridge Hill you are receiving from carry out a signal whilst on BBC1, the Mux channel shown along with the signal strength should be Ch28, then try the same on ITV1, when in that case Ch25 should be seen.
Although there are a mass of dishes at the complex you mention its unlikely that they would create any problems with UHF reception, unless that is some experiments were being carried out, something that cannot completely be discounted considering the nature of the establishment.
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Clare C: Partially yes, as the box will still be able to receive without a card inserted except that you will not be able to view ITV programmes etc in some areas as well as other things like 5* / 5US etc, pull the card out and have a check to see what's missing, this demonstrating the situation when you cancel subscribing.
The "Free to view" Sky card costing £25.00, and going by my own one lasting for years, the card always having been obtainable from Sky themselves unless they have altered anything recently.
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Steve: Its quite impossible to say, as where you are located in relation to the transmitter has to be known, your post code enabling your reception possibilities to be checked out.
It should be said though when the Freeview service does start it will be on "light" basis, that is a PSB only station with limited programmes over that obtainable from a main station, and if this proves unsatisfactory then its best persevering with Freesat.
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CH: Although you have carried out an auto-tune its really a default setting one you require to carry out on that model, this being accessed from the installation menu, as although that particular model of Humax is of the older variety it has an extremely sensitive tuner, and as such is liable to have its memory loaded with data picked up from elsewhere and which can cause all sorts of problems.
Please note though! that although the manual for that Humax model indicates that its only configuration settings (made by yourself) plus channel lists that will be lost, I cannot guarantee that anything you previously stored in the hard drive wont be included, albeit that in theory it shouldn't as its not the hard drive you are re-setting.
As far as reception is concerned, reception from Crystal Palace is indicated as reasonably good except for ITV1 (Mux Ch22) this classed as variable, however the signal from the main Muxes from Sudbury are indicated as consistently better and so the Humax may well have picked these up, especially so where ITV1 (Mux Ch41) is concerned.
Once the Humax is factory re-set you could then carry out an auto-tune and see what comes up, however I would be inclined not to, but manually tune in ITV1 (Mux Ch41) from Sudbury and see if you get anything, as you are very likely to be picking up Sudbury on the near rear of your aerial, Crystal Palace @ 225 degrees and Sudbury @ 35 degrees.
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Martin Thompson: The problem you might be experiencing could be caused by the fact that you are forecast as having just about an equal level of reception from both Sutton Coldfield and Ridge Hill, with Mendip running as a close second.
Depending entirely on the TV / box you are using, they usually lock onto the first strongest signal picked up as they scan upwards from Ch21, this meaning that any station with lower channel number multiplexes will take the lead pushing any duplicate EPG channel numbers picked up into the 800 ranges, so have a check up there and see if there is another ITV4.
What I would do is delete everything stored by carrying out a re-tune without the aerial being connected, then once completed reconnect same and try manually tuning in the Mux ITV4 uses from each station in turn, noting the signal strength / quality in each case and saving the one that's the best, then using "search for extra channels" (or whatever its called on your device) to recover the remaining multiplexes.
ITV4 from :- Ridge Hill Mux Ch27 / Sutton.C Mux Ch39 / Mendip Mux Ch52.
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Simon: At only 17 miles away from Oxford its best that you leave the booster out of circuit for the time being.
To be perfectly frank about it, the only way you can verify if the software up date you carried out has been fully successful is to try and borrow another Freeview device purely for purposes of checking the levels being received between Mux Ch's55 & 59, as although these software updates can effect a cure, its unfortunately not necessarily always as effective as a device that was made correctly in the first place, and so if a secondary Freeview device indicates the levels as being reasonably similar then you know where the problem is.
You see its not just a negative offset problem but this applying along with an 8k signal although the box is listed as being 8k compatible, even the updated version of these chassis can give odd problems when on multiplexes that doesn't have an offset signal, these being exaggerated response to even the slightest signal glitches, or showing a blank screen when first switched on, having to notch up one channel then back down again to trigger it into operation, plus the occasional stuttering of recorded programmes.
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Briantist: Ah! I find that interesting, has this been the case for long? my only reason for asking being that when one of my more distant sons stopped subscibing to Sky he found that after a week or so his card stopped allowing him access to his local ITV service plus 5*, him then having to purchase the "free to view" card.
Would this likely have been caused by an operator error at Sky's base?
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Miky: After having pressed the "digital" button on the remote and used to down key to select "installation" have you tried pressing the select button "twice" to access the service menu lists? or its that you cannot even get to that point?
If though you have tried that, then completely disconnect the TV from the mains supply for about 5 minutes or so before trying again.
This being said taking it that you haven't activated the "access restrictions" menu at any time, if you have by any chance the default code is 1234, or if you have forgotten it then 0711 is the universal code.
Maybe you could mention the model of TV you have, as I am using a 42PFP5532D for reference.
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Bill: Maybe so! but Caldbeck which I assume you are referring to, is only transmitting on high power on its main PSB services, the commercial multiplexes reportedly on low power until 2012.
Main PSB on 100Kw, COM's on 15Kw, which at your approximate distance of 36 miles away could well be difficult to receive, if not indeed impossible in areas such as yours.
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Sunday 6 November 2011 7:15PM
seanw: Well, I have never seen 100% strength being indicated on a Sky box! still what you have reported doesn't really suggest the dish is the problem, albeit that the quality should always be level or slightly above the strength indicated.
If the engineer is coming on Tuesday there isn't really any point in trying anything else, and you just repeat to the engineer what you have said in your posting as he will carry out his own checks anyway.
It would have been interesting though to know what manufacturers name was printed on the underside of the box. (paper label)