All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Nick: The reason for not making any comment as such was because I didn't really feel that I could add anything constructive to the conversion over what's already been said, because this problem you are having with channel 60 is in my opinion basically outwith your control, as although the six multiplexes used by Sudbury may well be radiating from the same mast and with their ERP powers being identical (at the mast anyway!) this does not necessarily mean that they are all going to be picked up at anywhere near to the same levels as each other.
Have you as yet made any enquiries with neighbours as to whether or not they can receive Ch60? as I have my doubts that they will unless they are fortunate enough to be positioned slightly better as far as picking up any Ch60 signal troughs are concerned, that is should they exist!
The other point being you having mentioned trying tests using an old group B aerial, now by it having only nine elements then its bound to have a wider pick up angle and something which is a good thing in most problem areas, but though by it being group B then its efficiency starts to tapers off above channel Ch53, not exactly the best when your problem channel is Ch60.
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db23: It would have been of assistance to know the model of Sagem involved, but with problems such as mentioned its by far the best policy to carry out a factory reset and then start afresh, especially when you haven't actually recorded anything.
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Colin Hill: On checking back on a reply I made to you on July 10th I notice an error in the channel numbers given in my reply concerning Storeton's and Winter Hill's BBC mux numbers, and I therefore apologise for any confusion caused by this error as what you found on checking "is" correct as Storeton's BBC is Ch28 and with Winter Hill being on Ch62.
However as far as the possibility of your problem of one mux dropping being caused by water contamination in the aerial connection, odd things like that are not exactly unheard of but have you tried a test with either a set top aerial or alternatively a short piece of wire connected into the aerial socket? as if on that test you managed to get a picture of sorts on all muxes but still not on the one that drops when on the proper aerial, then that would exclude anything connected with your installation as being the cause of the problem.
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Elaine: First of all make sure that its BBC from Blackhill that you are receiving from and not Craigkelly which is also possible to receive in your area (having knowledge of) you can check this by carrying out a signal test on your TV or box whilst on the BBC, as the transmitter channel number associated with the strength / quality indicated should also be shown, Blackhill is Ch46 whereas if Craigkelly Ch27.
Should it be Blackhill then what levels are being indicated? as what you have complained could suggest that its not terribly far above the reception cut off level whereby the slightest drop in strength will cause the signal to drop out, and so for comparisons try that test when the channel drops out as the signal will still be there but just at a lower level.
Of course "if" on speaking terms, it wouldn't go amiss to enquire with a neighbour just in case they might also be having problems, and which at this time of the year could possibly be caused by atmospheric conditions allowing the reception of distant stations to interfere with local ones, as Blackhill has not to my knowledge reported any problems with the transmitter.
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Rowland: Not necessarily so, as although the three transmitters all radiate from the same mast and with very little difference in the height between radiation elements, the signal paths from the elements are not necessarily received in an orderly fashion with roughly the same strengths, this being for a variety of reasons such as deflections / obstructions etc, these variations in the levels received applying with reception from most multi-channel transmitting stations albeit not really being noticed by anyone unless they are of a higher magnitude triggering the necessity for some signal checks to be carried out.
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Jonathan Currah: Try removing the aerial and then carrying out a rescan, as on most equipment (exceptions apply) this will blank out the channel memory, then after reconnecting the aerial again manually tune in the channels provided by KMJ,Derby.
If by the way the aerial out procedure has not blanked out all the channels stored, then carry out a factory reset (sometimes called default setting) and this will, then carry out the manual tune.
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David: By all means have a try if you wish, but if you study the coverage area map (by clicking "map" at the right hand side of your posting) you will no doubt see that reception of the Dover transmitter is not shown as being achievable anywhere near to Calais, as reception is only shown as being possible (in theory) from the coastline level with Wissant at the most Northerly point (not seen unless image expanded) and then downwards past Boulogne-sur-Mer, but once again only near to the coastline areas, and so if anyone can receive it in Marquise its purely through good fortune and possibly only because of Marquise being located slightly closer to the coverage area limits compared to Saint-Inglevert let alone Calais.
That said, contrary to the zero coverage seen obviously there will always be little pockets of reception dotted here and there, but I wouldn't invest in any of the more expensive boxes as you could well be wasting your money, as should it be found that reception was possible at any time in Calais then its only likely to be because of freak weather conditions, and as such could disappear as quick as it came.
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June Benson: Just for information purposes, although Sunderland is maybe your local transmitter that will be changing over the Freeview on September 12th, but on a quick check of the area I see that there are quite a few aerials in Grindon Terrace pointing towards Pontop Pike and which is already transmitting a full Freeview service albeit on low power until September 12th.
I mention this as come September 12th when the switchover takes place the Sunderland transmitter will only be what's commonly known as a Freeview "light" PSB only station with a limited number of channels, whereas Pontop Pike is a full service station with considerably more channels, and so you should take this into consideration come the 12th, although your aerial "would" require to be altered to suit Pontop.
By the way if you look up Grindon Terrace from the General Graham street end its the aerials facing to the left across the rooftops that are pointing towards Pontop Pike.
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June Benson: Just a small addition, although changes are taking place on September 12th its basically only as far as the BBC is concerned, as its the 26th before the remainder fall in place, this applying to both Sunderland and Pontop Pike.
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Monday 13 August 2012 6:15PM
Rowland: Yes, its always the best policy to make local enquiries just to ensure that the problems being experienced aren't being caused by a fault in your own aerial system, the only thing to remember being is to ensure that your neighbours TV is on the same EPG channel as yours and that their aerial is facing the same direction as yours (which being NW is Gartley) and is mounted vertically.
Also in the case of your own TV make sure that any test being done is actually on Gartley's BBC on mux Ch58 and not Ch28 which is Durris, as the latter does indicate (in theory) as providing a better signal, verification of the mux channel being achieved by carrying out a signal condition check and where the mux number will be displayed as well as the strength / quality.
By the way, my only reason for emphasising the checking of the mux channel number is because Freeview equipment starts the scan at channel 21, and with Durris being on Ch28 if an auto tune is carried out your TV could store Ch28 (if receivable) in EPG1's position and place Gartley up in the 800 ranges because of it being on a higher mux channel.
Finally although your aerial is pointing in the wrong direction / mounting angle for Durris it would be interesting to know if anything was being received from Durris, simply done by when on the "signal condition" check screen just using the channel up / down buttons to inch the channel numbers downwards towards Ch28, also try Ch25 (Durris ITV) as well, these instructions being applicable to most Panasonics manufactured in the last four years.