All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Angela Thompson: Re : Freeview people insisting you are covered by the Crystal Palace transmitter. If you click on the duk (digitaluk trade) link seen in one of the blue boxes under your 5.17pm posting, this clearly shows the reason for this being said, insomuch that Crystal Palace is the only station where every multiplex transmitted by the station is predicted as being receivable in your area, albeit with only the main PSB (BBC1/ITV1/HD) transmitters indicated as reliable, the five COM channels having the status of variable, the local L-Lon channel as poor, the most likely reason for this being that the signal path reaching your aerial suffers from a line-of-sight obstruction at around 1 mile or so prior to your location.
It should also be noted (which you will no doubt see) that Hemel Hempstead's PSB transmitters are predicted as not being receivable in your area, likewise Hanningtons COM4/5/6, albeit that the latter's PSB1/2/3 as well as COM7/8 "are" indicated as being good, Hannington located at 42miles/243 degrees with the transmitter radiating on horizontal polarity.
By the way, if your aerial is facing towards Hemel Hempstead, then its elements will be pointing up/downwards, whereas with Crystal Palace they would be positioned horizontally (flat).
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Angela Thompson: Also meant to say, that considering reception is predicted as being so variable in your area, it would be prudent to make one or two enquiries with others in your locality to ascertain what like their reception is, as I am of the opinion that Freesat is the only mode virtually guaranteed to provide reliable reception in areas such as yours.
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Angela Thompson : Yes, a satellite dish is required, as a Freesat installation involves exactly the same procedures as that used for Sky, the only difference between the two systems being that of the box connected on the end of the coax.
As far as Freesat receiver boxes are concerned, an excellent relatively low cost reliable box (at just under 50) which I can personally recommend (two of having been used in my household for around 18 months now - fault free) is the Manhattan Plaza HD-S, this of course purely being a receiver, and although Manhattan does manufacture a twin tuner recording version of the box, I would generally advise keeping to Humax brand devices on the grounds of reliability.
However, on the subject of possibly opting for reception from Crystal Palace rather than Hemel Hempstead, it does have to be admitted that there is always a possibility that C.P might well provide better reception! albeit though with an element of iffy as far as reliability is concerned, backed up by the fact of DUK's reception predictor only indicating the main PSB channels (BBC / ITV etc) as good, all other multiplexes listed with the status of variable / poor, in other words possibly erratic.
By the way, a rooftop check (via Google earth) of aerials in C/ Gardens revealed about an even number of them either facing towards HH or CP, the other thing that was noticed, as indeed mentioned by yourself, being the number of satellite dishes in use, many of likely being used for Freesat reception rather than Sky, as both systems are externally identical.
Signal checking etc. Although many viewers loathe having to make contact with a neighbour or whoever for the purpose of enquiring about TV reception, which in some cases is quite understandable!, but though unfortunately its the only way of finding out if others located nearby are also experiencing similar problems with freeview reception as yourself, and from which station?.
Further advice / assistance as required.
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Angela Thompson: Although I am obviously pleased to know that the situation has now been resolved, I am however rather intrigued as to exactly what could have been pressed on your box that rectified the problem, therefore I would be most obliged if you could furnish me with details of the brand / model number of the box in question, as this info would then enable me to check details of said box, of course, that is should I have the manual for same. Thanks / jb.
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J T Webster: CBS drama (71) along with other programmes such as Talking Pictures (81) / Vintage TV (82) are transmitted on a multiplex called COM7, if you are able to receive BBC HD (101) as well as the two latter mentioned and yet not (71), delete everything stored in the tuner by carrying out a retune on your box *after* having first removed the aerial connector, reconnecting the aerial on completion of followed by a second retune to reload all programmes available back into the tuner.
If though BBC HD (101) is receivable by not either of the two mentioned, then for some reason or another you are not receiving COM7, and although being only 4 miles away from the transmitter its noticed that part of the Barry area is indicated as being a reception dead spot, likely to result in a low signal level being received as COM7 is a lower powered transmitter, therefore, in order to be able to assess your reception possibilities a post code (or that of a nearby shop/ post office) will be required.
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Brian Taylor: Yes, that's most likely to be the case, as the fuse used for car audio equipment is usually powered via the ignition switches circuitry, whereas the receiver's memory back up system is fed from a fuse associated with a constant (non switched) supply, such as directly from the battery.
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J T Webster: Thanks for the update re post code, your location indicated on the reception predictor as being able to have first class reception of COM7 from the Wenvoe transmitter.
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Angela Thompson: Yes, I have it thanks. However, as far as your initial difficulties in using the box is concerned, it's almost guaranteed that you were not in any way whatsoever to blame, as a high percentage of Bush brand boxes (virtually all models) can be notorious for suffering spells of locking up / freezing, whereby the only way of escaping same is by disconnecting them from the mains for around a minute or so followed by carrying out a first time installation, a procedure which I suspect was carried out by your friend.
Although, when working OK they are certainly capable of producing excellent results as far as picture quality etc is concerned, but it's the aspect of their unreliability that somewhat spoils their otherwise good performance, and so without wishing to appear as a "Prophet of Doom", I would strongly advise keeping the receipt in a safe place.
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Roger: Unfortunately it wont, as Talking Pictures (81) is broadcast by one of the additional HD transmitters installed in some stations under the name of COM7, Stockland Hill, as well as a number of other stations, not being one of them allocated for this upgrade.
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Wednesday 7 September 2016 8:06AM
Andy: Aerials of the portable variety are seldom successful even when used in line-of-sight situations such as applies to the location given, and if no signal is found using one "known to be operational" aerial then its unlikely to be nomatter what brand of aerial is tried.
However, the best method of signal detection is to "manually" tune the TV into one of the Mux channels used by the station, this being 24 (BBC) where reception from Rowridge is concerned, (@14mls / 235 degrees) the main point about the test being "not" to press search or scan after entering 24, because if anything is being received the strength / quality of will appear on the signal indicator bars, needless to say, this is the time to try moving the aerial around whilst observing the screen for any signs of a signal.
It should also be noted that this transmitter radiates on both horizontal and vertical polarities, the latter in some area's providing a better signal, and so try the aerial with its elements facing up/down, that is if they are not already fixed into that position.