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All posts by jb38

Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.


G.S.CLARKE: These two programmes you have mentioned are broadcast on different transmitters this being why one is OK and the other isn't, the one not Yesterday(EPG19) being on COM6 mux Ch47 and with Dave(EPG12) being on COM5 mux Ch44.

If you have not tried to retune, and for a programme dropping out should never be done anyway as all that's achieved is to lose everything already stored, then you should select "Yesterday" and carry out a signal strength check on it, as the signal will still be there but sitting just under the reception cut off threshold, note whatever it is and try the same test on "Dave" then compare the the two levels, as although the latter might appear to be OK its received strength is possibly not that far above that of Dave.

As you have not provided a post code (or one from nearby) your reception possibilities cannot be checked on, and so just in case you are in an area where an alternative transmitter can be picked up when you carry out the signal strength check note the mux channel number associated with the level indication, Yesterday mux Ch47 and Dave mux Ch44.

Further info provided dependant on findings, as I haven't noticed any transmitter problems having been reported as yet, although there is always the possibility of interference from some other transmitter using the same channel being the cause of the problem.

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G.S.CLARKE: I already replied to the earlier posting you made under the heading of "Updated - changes to Freeview channel numbers this week on September 19th 2012", and in which basically asked the same question.

What I wondered was whether or not you can view ITV4 (24) or Film4 (15)? as these two programmes are on the same mux transmitter as Yesterday whereas Dave is broadcast on different transmitter, and with this being why one programme is OK and the other isn't, Yesterday (19) being on COM6 mux Ch47 and with Dave (12) being on COM5 mux Ch44, however should you be able to receive ITV4 & Film 4 but still nothing on Yesterday (19) then carry out a "first time installation" on your TV or box, or if this is not an option then a "factory reset / default setting", checking if Yesterday has returned after completion.

If though on the other hand you cannot receive these programmes then you should carry out a signal strength check on the muxes concerned, this done by going into the tuning menu / manual tune and entering Mux Ch47, but do "NOT" press scan or search, as on most equipment as soon as the channel number is entered the signal strength / and quality of will appear, make a note of whatever it is and try the same test on mux Ch44, likewise noting the indication then comparing the two, as the latter reading may well be higher.

Further info dependant on findings.





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Jim McLachlan: If you can receive Film 4 (15) and ITV4 (24) then Argos TV is on the same mux transmitter (COM6 / ArqB) and so you should try carrying out a retune on your TV/box and that might correct your EPG list, but remember Argos TV only operates between 6PM and 11PM.


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James Goldburn: That "F" connector although being identical to a Sky or Freesat connection is dedicated for use only with a Virgin box and is of no use for anything other than that, which as you have already mentioned would involve a subscription fee.

As no post code (or one from nearby) has been given its not possible to access the Freeview reception predictor for purposes of assessing the signal strength in your area, as depending on your location there "might" be a chance of you being able to use a set top aerial, although under normal circumstances this is not really recommended as movement within the living area can still cause signal glitching problems, other than that then a loft or normal outside aerial (not necessarily roof mounted) is the only options you have left.

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Sarah: If your TV normally runs on an indoor aerial then there is no reason why it should not still be doing likewise unless your TV or box has carried out an update auto-tune and lost everything already stored.

The problem is that the GL8 postal code area is a little vague for accuracy as far as determining where you are liable to be receiving your signal from, as two main stations are possible as well as five relay transmitters, the main stations being Mendip (@ 34mls) and Ridge Hill (@ 30mls)

If though you were able to view either ITV3, Dave or Yesterday then this will eliminate the relays from the equation, and so with the main aerial connected into your TV / box carry out a "first time installation" (this sometimes called "factory reset" or "default setting") and see if that brings in anything.

However should nothing be received by this action then go into your TV / boxes set up menu / manual tune and enter Ch61 (Mendips BBC) into the mux channel number box but do "NOT" press search or scan, because most equipment will indicate the signal strength that the mux channel is being received at, make a note of the indication then change the channel number in the box to Ch28 (Ridge Hills BBC) likewise noting the reading and comparing this with Mendips indication.

The point about this being, that if you see signal strength being indicated and yet on a scan nothing is picked up, then it means that the signal is at too low a level to be captured by the tuners memory.

Further advice dependant on outcome of checks, but just to eliminate another possbility, if you dont have any success with the aforementioned procedure using the main aerial, then try it again using the indoor one.

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SteveD: Have a look in your TV's user manual / specifications and check under tuner if DVB-T2 is seen listed, because if its only DVB-T then its not capable of picking up an HD signal, or alternatively this aspect can be checked out if you provide the model number of the set.

However if you have seen the TV listed as "HD Ready" then this only means that its capable of producing HD images and "not" that it can actually receive them via an aerial, the HD images being from an external device, e.g: HD set top box coupled into the TV via the HDMI input.

The "HD Ready" definition being something I disagreed with right from the start as it was just bound to cause confusion amongst potential purchasers of these devices, and indeed already has done to many!

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J
Diagnostics - old version
Tuesday 30 October 2012 5:21PM

Ann: If all was working perfectly before Virgin was cancelled this was likely because the signal was feeding through the V box and out to the kitchen TV, now that's gone you will require to purchase a 2 way splitter which has three connection sockets on it, the aerial going into the common input, and a jumper lead connected between one of the splitter outputs and your main TV, then a second jumper lead between the splitters other output and the wall socket which you indicate feeds through to the kitchen.

If the signal deteriorates by doing this then a two way powered splitter is required, as this gives both TV's exactly the same level of signal, these type of devices obtainable from Argos and such likes.

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KR: Just to add to that already said, you are located at approximately 2 miles away from the Nottingham transmitter and because it mostly uses lower channel numbers than Waltham its very likely that you are picking it up during an auto tune rather than Waltham, which by the way is on occasions problematic as far as reception is concerned because of work going on there, albeit engineering updates not as yet seen published.

Anyway, you would be best to manually tune in Waltham's channels rather than hope for the best during an auto tune, and so if your TV has the option of a "factory reset" or "first time installation" then carry this out first to blank the tuners memory out of everything already stored, beware though with a first time installation as on some equipment an auto tune will immediately start using that procedure, if it does cancel it before it picks anything up as you want to select "manual tune".

Once manual tune is selected enter the channel numbers one at a time, scanning and storing as required until all muxes are stored.

Waltham's channels being / 61 (BBC) - 54 (ITV) - 58 (HD if used) - 29 (SDN/ITV3 etc) - 56 (Pick TV) - 57 (Film 4)

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J
Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmitter
Tuesday 30 October 2012 8:43PM

John Ovenden: A Humax allows you to manually add up to 5 minutes to the end time of any programme being recorded by pressing "menu", then press OK on the top icon of the five seen running down the left hand side of the screen, followed by scrolling down to the bottom of the list and pressing on "recording end time".

The point to remember being that this action will take the recording mode out of being fully automatic in operation, albeit under normal circumstances this is neither here nor there.

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J
Rowridge (Isle Of Wight, England) transmitter
Tuesday 30 October 2012 9:06PM

Geoff: Of course the obvious question would be whether or not anyone else in your immediate vicinity is suffering from similar problems?, and although the engineer carried out a comprehensive check within the boundaries of your property, but should it be known that the problem is also suffered by more than yourself then did the engineer have any facilities for carrying out a mobile check? this starting from about 30 yards or so from the boundary.

These type of tests are essential for determining the source of what you are in effect complaining of, that being wideband RF interference.

The other point I wondered about was whether or not this problem is noticed to be affecting FM or DAB reception? should you use either, or is it just restricted to the higher UHF bands?

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