All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
chris: Just to add to what has been said, the fact that you are having this type of problem at only four miles away from the transmitter can mean that its an aerial positioning problem, that is in the horizontal sense and not height, so try moving it a few feet either way in the loft whilst at the same time making sure its always pointing at 21 degrees, as indeed as was previously mentioned by Tim.
Try a signal strength / quality check on Mux Ch41 (BBC1) then the same on Ch44 (ITV1), as both of them should be very similar if the aerial is positioned correctly, a loft mount aerial generally being perfectly satisfactory at this distance (and further!) provided that no major obstructions exist between it and the transmitter.
Also make sure that the aerial isn't facing into a water tank, or even sitting along the side of one unless its about 4 feet away, or a little over a metre in metric terms. Another thing that can seriously reduce a loft aerials signal is if its correct alignment position means it facing through a number of adjoining properties walls.
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Gary: You cannot split leads between an LNB and the receiving device, this applying whether it be Sky or Freesat, as the connections between both have to be totally independent of each other.
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Tim: I did suspect that there must have been some dastardly local obstruction in existence, or the powers that be wouldn't have found it necessary to build what is in effect a fill in transmitter.
The only thing you can really do is to make sure that your loft aerial is actually mounted vertically and not positioned horizontally, likewise its not mounted facing into, or running parallel to a water tank, at least with it not being any nearer than about a metre or so away from it, and finally the aerial not sitting anywhere near to power cables. (with same separation as with water tank)
Another procedure that frequently brings results is to try moving the aerial as much as possible to positions either side of its present one, which if your post code reasonably reflects your true position should presently be pointing at approx 200 degrees for the Dartmouth transmitter.
Any movements made to your aerial should be carried out whilst the TV is showing the signal/quality strength indications on one of the channels, in your case either Mux Ch41 or 47.
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Jim J (NG14 6**): You possibly wont receive them very well anyway in your area, as these two channels are remaining on low power(4Kw) until November 23rd.
(Digital UK's trade view shows no reception being possible on them!)
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Tim: You did mention in a much earlier posting (Aug 9th @10.18) that clearing out the Freeview channels and retuning had no effect, so it was assumed (possibly incorrectly) that you were acquaint with the tuning menu.
The Mux channels referred are the two normal (HD left out) multiplex transmitter channels used for Dartmouth's main BBC & ITV Freeview services, Mux used to distinguish between a transmitter channel and an electronic programme guide one, referred to as EPG.
Any adjustments made to the aerial should always be carried out whilst observing what is happening to the signal condition as far as its strength /quality is concerned whilst doing so, these indicators accessible via your TV's set up menu / tuning / signal check. (or condition)
Your original complaint may possibly only be due to the signal received being very low, this making it vulnerable to all sorts of problems during a 24 hour period, and what I suggested was simply to enable you to check on this.
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Tim: Its roughly at the same distance away as Dartmouth Hospital but inland and uphill near to the Waterpool Road / Jawbones Hill triangulated area, that is where they join Crowther Hill road, thick bushes / trees in the area!
I very much doubt if you would see it though, but if visiting that end of town have a look at where the "vertically mounted" aerials are facing, that obviously giving you a pointer as to where to look.
Finally, if I could just add to what I had previously said about aerial positioning, I omitted to mention that loft aerials signals can be seriously reduced if the aerial is pointing into a wall that is not an outside one, meaning into adjoining properties, this having even more of an effect should any of them have loft conversions, as that can bring the erratic into the equation caused by peoples movements.
Possibly wont apply in your case, but thought it worth mentioning!
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Paul : Nottingham presently transmits on Mux channels 27(main BBC) - 24(main ITV) - 67(SDN) - 21(HD services) - 63(ArqA) - 59(ArqB), the latter three mentioned operating on low power (40w) until September / October of this year when they then adopt their final frequencies & powers.
Anyone living in an area where signals can be received from more than one source will always have auto-tune problems unless their box has an area selector incorporated within the tuning menu, and in my experience not that many have, so manual tuning is always required.
Needless to say, anyone who has to use manual tuning should always resist the usual temptation that many have of carrying out a re-scan as soon as they might lose some channels, as this never helps! as all it does is require further frequent scans to recover them, as if they had left things alone they would have returned of their own accord.
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Paul: Correction - The latter three NOT including Ch21HD, it should have been Ch67(SDN) that I included.
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Dean Morris: Well at least you have given it a fair trial.
As a matter of interest have you purchased another box? as I noticed (just) that you were looking at the Labgear FV300, and which I tried to check on, but the manual is useless as it gives the minimum of technical spec.
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Tuesday 16 August 2011 1:08PM
Briantist: Thanks for the link Brian, the PDF being stored away for future reference as it makes interesting reading, especially from section 4 onwards.