All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Lisa: Well, its really the case that most people do not realise that when they select a channel and it doesn't appear that in 99.9% of the time its not because their TV or box has lost it, but only because that the signal has dipped under the reception threshold of their particular device, this level varying from TV to TV and box to box, but with me having unfortunately to say that Samsung tuners are not particularly sparkling in this respect.
As far as the booster is concerned, have a look in the Argos book page 650 and item 7 @ £11.99, as that should be ideal for your set up by it being a variable type offering a range of 0-20db, the higher end being somewhat excessive but at least it can be set to give best performance without being over the top on the main BBC & ITV channels, as if its adjusted too high you might see these two channels start to break up in the same way as they would on a weak signal, this being another misleading symptom when dealing with digital reception.
The only other alternative you have to this is upgrading your aerial, although I hardly think that the cost would be justified considering that you are receiving programmes on an adjacent channel perfectly OK, this as aforementioned an indication that the missing channels are just under the level and no more.
| link to this comment |
joyce: That model is technically unsuitable for this purpose on two counts, these being by it not being fitted with an HD tuner nor is it able to connect to the internet.
| link to this comment |
Heinz: Purely out of interest I was wondering what model of TV you had this work carried out on?
Of course the other thing is, that if they re-scanned the TV it could well be the case that Andrews TV is not necessarily located in a best reception area as far as picking up the commercial transmitters are concerned, especially the exceptionally low powered ArqB Ch50 that doesn't increase in power until June 27th.
That said though, "if" you see EPG12 (Yesterday) on the programme guide then they are receiving it and you are not, however if you do not see EPG12 then they haven't received it either, and so you could try retuning the TV yourself just in case you are in a better spot.
| link to this comment |
Lisa: Yes, please do, and I would suggest that you initially set it at about 20% above zero whilst on one of the muxes that although seen in the EPG programme guide is not showing a picture, then if necessary "slowly" advance it in stages with pauses between, until the picture comes on.
This of course said on the basis of you NOT having carried out any further re-tunes since these channels dropped out again.
| link to this comment |
Martin: As you are located at only 18 miles away from Sandy, then you have to consider the possibility that the problem is being caused by you receiving an excessively high level of signal that is peaking over the top at times and blocking your TV's tuner.
The other point is, that should you have any form of aerial splitter/ booster fitted then for a test it has to be by-passed, however if this does not apply and you are able to borrow a set top aerial then plug that in and give your TV re-tune, unless that is you know that the programmes are already stored in the EPG list.
Should you manage to receive reasonably OK by using a set top aerial, or even a short piece of wire (about 12 / 18") pushed into the middle of the aerial socket, then you require an attenuator to be fitted in line with the TV's aerials input socket.
I would be interesting to know what the signal strength / quality is being indicated at on your TV's check screen whilst on either BBC1 or ITV1, and are you using an outdoor aerial?
| link to this comment |
phil selvidge: Without knowledge of your exact location its impossible to check on the signal levels expected at wherever you might be located, however in over 90% of occasions a log aerial is usually suffice for reception in most places with myself being a particular fan of these type of aerials, as through experience I can say that if they do not receive a satisfactory signal then there is very little else will either.
By the way an aerial known as a Log 40 is a particularly popular aerial or even a DM Log.
| link to this comment |
John Hogben: Not necessarily so, as that channel (mux Ch50) is on exceptionally low power until June 27th, but because of the massive differential in power between Ch50 and the three main muxes, the main PSB muxes are likely to be desensitizing the tuner in the Digihome resulting in weaker signals not being received.
You should try a test manually tuning in mux Ch50 as sometimes a manual tune will pick up what an auto-tune one passes by, and indeed if when you enter the manual tuning screen where the mux channel associated with whatever you were viewing when you pressed "manual tune" will be entered into, you will (or should) find that as soon as you delete the number that's presently in the box and enter Ch50 into it, that the signal strength (if there) should immediately appear on the indicator bar, if it doesn't then the tuner is not receiving it.
| link to this comment |
Barbara Donaldson: Its impossible for anyone to offer advice on the possible reasons for your problem when you haven't mentioned your location, this in the form of a post code or at least one from somewhere close by. (a shop etc).
| link to this comment |
phil selvidge: Although being aware that the West side of Leicester does have areas where Waltham's reception can be difficult hence the reason for the Leicester relay (@ 2 miles / 81 degrees) away from you, but on having a study at the signal path between your location and Waltham (@ 21 miles / 52 degrees) I noticed quite a few patches of trees along the way including the somewhat closer by Braunstone Park, trees being a real problem for RF signals as even one tree smack right in front of an aerial can cause erratic reception, this even excluding the slight dip you refer to.
However as far as an aerial is concerned, if you had reasonable reception before the mishap then the Log 40 referred to would be ideal for your purpose, and indeed far in away better than an aerial with a sharper more focussed pick up angle such as these multi-element types which you may possibly have previously been using.
The other plus point about logs being, that as well as their construction offering much less of a wind resistance than multi-element types and likewise not putting the same strain on the support mast, on their technical side they are all wideband devices which is necessary for reception from Waltham, as its six mux channels span from 29 - 61.
Its obviously your choice on what you wish to do, but I would not hesitate in recommending a Log 40 as the replacement for your previous aerial.
By the way, keep in mind that starting tomorrow engineering work will be getting carried out at Waltham in the early hours of the morning and with ITV being liable to suffer from random periods of shutdown, the engineering work continuing next week when all Freeview channels are liable to be interrupted.
| link to this comment |
Sunday 27 May 2012 11:03AM
Matt: Well as soon as anything like that happens always carry out a signal strength / quality check on that channel and note the indications seen, as if zero strength and quality is indicated then the transmitter is down, but in most cases its always that the signal has dropped under the reception threshold of the TV or box in use because the signal wasn't running at a high enough level above the threshold in the first place, and of course the level is mainly determined by the receiving device, this being why some people finds that one device will work whereas another wont on the same aerial system.
You should really carry out a check when everything is working OK and make a note of the indications seen, keeping them away for reference purposes, then use this info to compare with the levels seen when the signal drops out, your Philips box being an excellent device for tests.