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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.


Catherine: Judging by what you have reported is inclined to suggest that either the jumper cable between the wall socket and your TV is defective, or alternatively that your neighbours are possibly receiving Freeview from the local Ilchester Crescent relay transmitter and not Mendip, albeit that Mendip is indicated as being superior for reception.

I would therefore like you to carry out a signal check whilst on ITV2+1 for the purpose of noting the mux channel number shown along with the strength, because if the signal is from Mendip then it should be 48, whereas 42 if from Ilchester Crescent.

Try the same test on Sky news (same mux as E4+1) noting the mux channel number seen, Mendip being Ch56 and with Ilchester Crescent being Ch45, if though nothing is seen when you select Sky news on the EPG listings then try a manual tune signal check (using the procedure previously described) on each of the two mux channel numbers mentioned, giving an update on results.

If your communal aerial system is within sight then have a look to see if the elements of the aerial are mounted vertically (up and downwards) or horizontal, as that gives a clue as to the transmitter its facing, plus it would also be of assistance if you provided the model number of your TV, this to enable its menu system to be checked out should the manual be available.

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Full technical details of Freeview
Friday 10 May 2013 9:47PM

peter tovell: Even although you are located at just under 4 miles away from the mast you would appear to situated at a very low angle to it thereby being under the main beam, this type of location being highly sensitive to any changes that might have taken place in transmission and which always has knock on effect as far as radiation angles are concerned.

I would suggest that you try moving your aerial a fraction to the left or right, or even higher or lower, this frequently being found to rectify this type of problem.

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Diana Brennand: Its not really possible for anyone to offer advice on this type of problem without having knowledge of your post code, or at least one from nearby such as a shop / post office, as only then can access be gained to info on the transmitter that covers you area.

However you could probably rectify the situation by carrying out a signal strength test on the upstairs TV whilst its viewing BBC, the main idea being to note the mux transmitter number seen indicated along with the strength as this would then enable you to "manually tune" the downstairs TV into the BBC using the same channel as used by the upstairs TV.

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Dave Rice: If you are referring to reception from Winter Hill then many have experienced this problem, but though you should double check to make sure that the Samsung Blue ray is tuned to the same transmitter as the TV, this done by carrying out a signal strength test on the TV and noting the mux channel number being indicated along with the strength, then use the same procedure to cross check the mux number against that used in the Samsung Blue ray.

If the channel numbers are the same then the easy way to get over the problem is by fitting a booster on your aerial input circuitry, or alternatively use a two way powered splitter to feed both the TV and the Blue ray, because otherwise the aerial will require changing to another group.

Further info dependant on findings.

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Full technical details of Freeview
Saturday 11 May 2013 12:37PM

Chris: The problem you refer to is widespread and is in no way connected with your installation, as I reside approximately 14 miles away from the transmitter (Stamford area) and have been forced to retune my PVR's to record the BBC from Belmont (@ 51 miles) because of the frequent glitches spoiling recordings.

Of course it has to be looked at from the angle that the mux channel that the problems are occurring on is the "only" one involved in the retune on the 29th when it drops down from Ch61 to Ch49, and so it would be rather naive for anyone not to connect the two as the change involves slightly more than just pressing a few buttons. (Ch49 an) 

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Full technical details of Freeview
Saturday 11 May 2013 1:41PM

Toni B: In addition to the reasons explained by Dave Lindsay, all of being extremely valid! it would also be prudent to check if the aerial installed at the property is still mounted horizontally or has been swivelled around to the vertical position? as Rowridge transmits on both horizontal and vertical polarity, but with its "commercial channels" only being high powered on vertical transmissions, V 200Kw / H 50Kw.

I am of course not saying that this would cure the problems referred to as vegetation will interfere with RF signals no matter what the polarity might be, but if the aerial was mounted vertically it would give a slight edge in overall reception to that received on the horizontal plane.


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Dawn: No, as the recording / playback side of a Sky+ box is disabled by Sky at around the same time as your ability to view Sky's package channels, you could of course take out a new contract with Sky purely to enable you to retain that side of the box, but at just over £10.00 per month many consider it not worth the cost and usually decide to purchase a Freesat twin tuner PVR, these being 100% compatible with the dish.

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lez: On Sky+ boxes the serial number of the box is programmed into the card by Sky during the setting up process so that the card cannot be used in more than one box, you having experienced the result of this action.

Sky will only pair a card to a box if the person requesting same has a current contract with them, there being no way around this.

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Denis Turton: Well I for one would have been interested to know if anything was indicated on the signal test screen if you selected the "manual tuning" menu and entered the BBC mux channel number used by the station that covers your area into the box provided, but though with this action NOT being followed by pressing search or scan as by not doing causes the tuner to act like a form of signal meter free of threshold restrictions, and so I wondered if the signal strength would be indicated but accompanied by zero quality? or possibly with nothing at all being seen?

My only reason for being curious as to what might be seen being due to the fact that Samsung tuners do not really come into the category of being totally reliable devices, and the action of retuning could have triggered a problem within the tuner.

However as your area is unknown by you not having provided a post code or at least one from nearby such as a shop / post office, I am unable to advise with regards to the channel number to enter.

By the way, all said being on the assumption that your model does have a signal check screen?

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Emley Moor (Kirklees, England) transmitter
Saturday 11 May 2013 11:42PM

richard caywood: Go into your TV or boxes manual tuning menu and enter Ch44 into the box but do NOT press search or scan, as the signal level being received from Emley Moor's PSB2 should be seen on the strength / quality bar.

Further advice dependant on findings.

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