All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Floyd: With regards to you latter question, in theory yes! but though you have to appreciate the indications being seen on your Acoustic Solutions TV are not by any means accurate when compared to that indicated if measured using a proper signal strength meter, and so the only way of pinning your problem is by having a on-site investigation carried out by an experienced engineer armed with suitable measuring equipment, this in my opinion NOT being the person who was previously involved.
However, as this action would obviously involve a charge plus other hassle's (finding an "engineer") this whole issue could really be sorted out by yourself dependant on whether or not you are on friendly terms with your neighbours, this to the extent that any of them "who have previously reported good reception on your problem channels" would be good enough to allow you to retune your Acoustic Solutions TV on their aerial connection, although if you managed to arrange this then in the interests of accuracy it should only really be carried out whilst your reception is down, but if your TV proved as being OK on your neighbours aerial system but NOT when reinstalled back on your own apartment then its rather obvious where the problem is, i.e: the input feed from the communal aerial system.
That said, on checking back as early as June 2012 I noticed that you were having reception problems of a similar nature involving a brand new Goodman's GDR11, and so this coupled to the fact that parts of your area are known to experience poor reception from Sandy, hence why the local relay was provided, then I still have thoughts along the lines that this fact is the real reason for your problem.
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Rob: Well as far as replacement aerials are concerned, I would suggest that either a Blake DMX10A or alternatively a Triax Unix 52 group "A" aerial should prove as being satisfactory for your requirements.
That said, I have to admit that I am always slightly hesitant about recommending high gain aerials for use in reasonably distant non line-of-sight situations (such as applies in your case) for the simple reason that these type of aerials are "only" high gain when precisely aligned on the signal source, this being something which cannot really be guaranteed to last in non line-of-sight situations and where the signal being received from Crystal Palace is only being done so through diffraction (signal bending), this being due to the signal path from CP being affected from approx 20 miles prior to your location and completely obstructed from 5 miles, as seen illustrated on the undermentioned link.
In any non line-of-sight situation and especially so at longer distances, the angle that the signal is being received at can change slightly over the year through a variety of reasons including the atmospheric conditions prevailing at the time, but also to a greater extent through changes to the surface of the terrain, e.g: wet /dry, vegetation, man made structures etc, all of having an effect on the reflective properties of the ground.
When taking my previous statement into account with regards to high gain aerials, anything that causes a slight change in the signal angle reaching the aerials directors, the sole purpose of being to focus the signal onto the aerials "active" element, can result in these hitherto focussing elements partially restricting the signal, this being why that if an aerial that was installed early on the year is alignment checked late autumn its frequently found to require slight trimming.
Needless to say that this sort of thing is generally responsible for people with high gain aerials suffering from higher levels of picture glitching under adverse conditions over those who use lower gain aerials in conjunction with a booster, lower gain aerials having a wider acceptance angle thereby not being quite so critical where angle is concerned.
Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location
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Mands: On the assumption that you are using a twin tuner recorder as witnessed by two LNB inputs being seen, then the problem you are experiencing will likely be caused by a fault on one of the two inputs.
You should go into the signal check screen as this will reveal which one of the inputs is defective, or alternatively only have LNB1's input connected and check if you can view anything, if you can remove the feed going into LNB1 and connected the other coax into it, if this results in no picture being seen then this input is faulty.
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maryam: If you are receiving Freeview from the Winter Hill transmitter located at approximately 17 miles away, then I very much doubt if you would be able to receive anything using an indoor (set top) aerial.
What type of aerial are you presently using?
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maryam: As the signal path between Winter Hill and your location is indicating a clear line-of-sight which in theory should result in you having good reception, but to eliminate the possibility that your problem is being caused by the current wave of high pressure that is affecting reception for numerous viewers across parts of the country, it would really be prudent to make one or two local enquiries (neighbours etc) for the purpose of ascertaining as to whether or not others are also experiencing similar problems with reception from Winter Hill.
Further advice dependant on findings, although it would be of assistance if the model number of the TV involved was known, plus whether or not you are using a booster?
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Rob: With regards to boosters fitted in lofts, the transformers used in these devices are fitted with a thermal fuse (non resetting type) strapped to the windings just under the protective covering, and any time these devices fail its nearly because this fuse has tripped through excessive heat.
On the subject of combining aerials, yes you can combine any station provided that its mux channels are all within the same group, but are you sure that you are picking up Oxford? as this is not indicated as being possible to receive at your location, Hannington is though and it transmits BBC South, you should carry out a signal check on the BBC channel in question and note the mux channel being indicated, Oxford is Ch53 (ITV Ch60) and with Hannington's BBC being on Ch45 (ITV Ch42).
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RonC: RonC: The easiest way to resolve this problem is by carrying out a "factory reset" on your TV, this also known as "default setting" or sometimes "first time installation" and then "manually" tuning in each of the mux transmitters used by the station that covers your area, or at least the one normally received from.
However, although you appear to be located on the doorstep of the Newchurch PSB only transmitter its really a question of whether or not you normally receive ITV3? because if you do then you will not be receiving from this local transmitter but from the Winter Hill main station, and so can you confirm (or not) if you normally receive ITV3, as once this is known it will enable further advice to be given.
By the way, Drama is on the same multiplex as ITV3 and as such cannot be received from relay transmitters.
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maryam: If you can receive ITV1 or ITV3 then without even having to check I can say you are not being affected by any 4G testing that may or may not be taking place.
What to try depends on whether or not (1) BBC is seen in the programme guide, if it is but selecting it results in a blank screen then go into your TV's set up menu and select "signal information" and making a note of the strength / quality indications seen, as signal levels should be indicated even on a blank screen so long as (1) BBC is being seen in the programme guide.
However if (1) BBC is NOT indicated in the guide then once again go into the set up menu and select "DTV manual tuning" and enter mux Ch50 (Winter Hills BBC) into the box, but do NOT press search before having made a note of the indications (strength / quality) seen, THEN you can press search or scan and observing if any BBC channels are found.
I suspect that your problem is simply being caused by the BBC mux being received at a level under that required to produce a picture, and if it is then dependant on the results of the test (indications seen) you may well get over the problem by purchasing a behind the set booster.
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john: On the assumption that you recently carried out a retune on your YouView box? then there is no obvious reason for you experiencing problems recording Drama, as this programme is on the same mux transmitter as ITV3.
This raising the question, can you record ITV3?
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Sunday 14 July 2013 5:24PM
Steve R: No problem, but when you get around to checking your dish, should of course this prove to be necessary, then if the quality is seen to be lagging the strength the problem is usually in the right / left hand horizontal plane rather than in the vertical, this proven if the signal quality is seen to improve by lightly pressing on either the left or right hand side of the dish whilst someone is viewing the signal check screen.
Another method some people use when adjusting a dish in difficult circumstances is with the aid of a length of coax temporarily connect an old analogue TV into a Sky boxes RF1 output socket and tune (scan) the analogue TV to pick up the boxes modulator output channel, then use this to relay the signal strength / quality being indicated on the boxes check screen.
A bit more long winded, but a far more accurate way of doing things by taking away the element of hit and miss.