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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.


Mrs Black: Its difficult for anyone to assist you without knowing your location (pref: post code or one from nearby) as this will enable your signal levels to be assessed plus have knowledge of the transmitter you are receiving from.

It could possibly be that your TV requires a reset (or default setting) to be carried out before another auto-tune, so maybe you could indicate the brand / model of TV in question.

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J
Connecting it all up | Installing
Tuesday 17 April 2012 8:09PM

Carole: If by Freeview box you are referring to a Freeview PVR then you cannot record anything onto it, as it only records from its own internal tuner.

If though you are not meaning as was mentioned, then what recording device are you referring to?

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John Winch: You should also be aware that if the signal being received is on the verges of being excessively powerful then this usually shows up on HD reception first even although that in many cases SD appears to be OK, and although you have not said as such, but if you have any type of booster in line then try by-passing it.

Another test you could also try is by using a set top aerial then manually tuning in Ch21.

By the way Rowridge is indicated as being only located 14 miles away, and at that distance its easy to receive an excessively high level of signal from a transmitter with an ERP of 200Kw such as Rowridge.

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Richard: When you say "community aerial" are you meaning dish? as a community (or communal) aerial is used for Freeview reception and not satellite, so if you are "not" meaning dish then that aerial connection is of no use for Sky.

Another point to note is that you cannot record or playback anything on a Sky+ box unless you pay a subscription to Sky, as only then will Sky unlock access to the recording side of the box, as otherwise the box will just operate like any other Sky box.

The other thing to keep in mind being that you really require to have two feeds from the dish for satisfactory operation of a Sky+ box.

On the plus side you should be able to receive non-subscription HD channels such as BBC / ITV etc.

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Esther: As far as what to do is concerned, it would be of assistance for anyone offering advice to have knowledge of your location, (pref: post code or one from nearby) as the signal levels expected in you area could then be assessed as its possible that you might be receiving a signal thats excessively powerful, and that alone can block reception.

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J
Feedback | Feedback
Wednesday 18 April 2012 1:40PM

Alasdair Frew-Bell: As you will obviously realise that although everything might appear as OK with your own electrical equipment it could be a neighbours device that is causing the problem, with the interference spikes either radiating directly from whatever or being injected into the mains supply.

A simple test is if you have a small portable radio with VHF and long waves, tune it away from BBC radio 4LW turn up the volume slightly and sit it close to a power socket, as if its mains borne interference then this will usually be revealed by pops and crackles being heard.

If though its a radiated problem, then tune to FM but not on any station so that you only hear the white noise, (hiss) and with the radios aerial pulled up carefully listen for any noises being superimposed over this hiss.

By the way, you do not require the radio being placed close to a power socket, although in many cases it helps.

You should also carry out a signal strength check on the offending channels, as if they are on the weak side they will be more vulnerable to interference.

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John Winch: Just to clarify as I see I omitted to say, that an excessively strong signal can block reception by overloading the tuners input circuitry, and this overload block usually showing up first on the HD channels.

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dave sanders: The channels you are missing would be purely commercial enterprises and not connected in any way to the licence fee, and with these commercial interests not being willing to contribute towards the running costs involved of any additional multiplexes, basically as they do not consider that the returns expected from the smaller area's covered by the transmitter would be sufficient enough to justify the running costs involved.

This is just really the same type of thing as a larger department store chain not being willing to open a branch in a smaller town, i.e: simply because the financial returns expected would not make it a viable proposition.

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Coverage maps
Wednesday 18 April 2012 8:58PM

ivan: I can see one possible reason for the problem, that of an excessively high powered signal blocking the tuner as you are only 7 miles away from the transmitter and as you say using a roof mounted aerial.

If you have a set top aerial to hand try a re-tune with that plugged into your TV, or even just try a short piece of copper wire (about 12") pushed into the inner cup of the aerial socket.

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loungelizard: Hannington looks the most likely for your location albeit that the commercial muxes are indicated as poor, carry out a signal test on BBC1 for purposes of noting the channel number seen associated with the indication and if its Hannington Ch45 should be seen, also try this test on ITV3 and is this case mux Ch41 should be indicated.

If neither of the two channels mentioned are seen come back with the numbers you do see and they can be cross checked.

By the way I realise that you have your aerial vertically mounted, but if a signal is strong it will still be picked up no matter what the polarisation might be, especially if not line of sight.

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