All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
John Hoyle: Purely with reference to the latter comment made by MikeB, should your problem be caused by any form of mains borne interference emanating from within your property then you can detect this with the aid of a small analogue portable radio.
All you require to do is select LW and tune it on either side of Radio 4 so as not to hear any trace of the programme and then turn up the volume higher than would normally be used, you can of course use MW if the radio does not have LW but the latter is best for detecting low frequency interference, but no matter which of the two is chosen place the radio in the same area as your central heating / hot water system or even just close to a mains socket or the cabling to, because should anything occur that interferes with the mains supply it will show up as a loud raspy type noise on the radio and with the intensity of the audio getting louder the closer the radio is placed to the source of the interference.
I fully appreciate your problem might be caused by some form of high frequency RF based interference, but if not then the procedure described is in most cases an effective way to suss out the source of the problem.
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Andy: When you say "good signal quality", have you observed this over about a minute or so (min) to be able to determine if any fluctuations are seen in the quality? as in practically every occasion picture break up goes hand in hand with intermittent drops in quality, these sometimes being of a rapidly occurring nature in areas surrounded by trees such as would appear to be applicable in your particular area.
The other point being, should you be using a communal aerial then you should check if anyone else is experiencing problems with their ITV3 reception.
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richard hughes: Just checked and yes! S4C now operates on a different transponder frequency, and being 10.979 (V) - 22.000.
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rob: No matter how old or rusty your dish might be provided that it hasnt been moved then all you require is the LNB replaced with a quad version (twin types no longer manufactured) and a second cable run from the new LNB to a Freesat PVR, the undermentioned link being to a grade "A" model manufactured by one of the most reliable brands around.
By the way, a complete quad kit only costs around £10.00 or so from a number of e-bay outlets, although obviously someone would have to install same for you.
noHumax FOXSATHDR500-G Freesat twin tuner 500GB PVR (Grade A) - HUMAX UK Direct Sales Website
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Peter: S4C is only transmitted from Welsh stations and Movies4men is only received in and around the Manchester area from the Winter Hill transmitter, the only way to receive both when not residing in the area being via Freesat.
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Kay Geldart: If your loft aerial is mounted vertically with the elements facing up and downwards then you will be receiving from the local Craigellachie relay transmitter and its STV is on Mux Ch49, if however the elements are positioned horizontally then you will be using the Knockmore transmitter with STV being on Mux Ch23 and so you could try manually tuning in STV using the info for reference.
As you also have a Sky box, then "if" you are feeding the aerial to the TV via the boxes RF in / RFout facility make sure that its internal RF modulator is "not" set on either of the Freeview channels mentioned otherwise its likely to wipe them out.
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john: As far as the signal level vaulting around is concerned, although the engineering work being carried out at Waltham could well be playing a role, however the effect of any temporary power reductions that "may" take place would appear worse at the receiving end if an aerial is not positioned exactly on the signal path, or in your case at 180 degrees from the Waltham transmitter, as signals received in many areas can fluctuate at the best of times but with this generally not being noticed if an aerial is perfectly aligned on the TX, because if not, then reflections of the signal from objects on either side of the signal path come into play to a much greater extent and with this resulting in a higher percentage of level changes being seen.
By the way, the work being carried out at Sutton C, or any station if it comes to it, apart from frequency changing is not even remotely connected with 4G, but more concerned with the additional local commercial channels coming into action next year.
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Paul Dennison: Although Dover would appear to be the main "full service" station covering your area, however indications seen on Digital UK's reception predictor would unfortunately suggest that your estate is located in an area where reliable Freeview reception can only really be achieved via the local (< 1mile) Burnham On Crouch relay station or alternatively the Rouncefall transmitter at approximately 6 miles away, the downside to both of these stations being that neither transmits commercial channels as they are PSB only transmitters.
As far as reception from other stations is concerned Crystal Palace is indicated as a series of variables with the exception of its HD service, Bluebell Hill's PSB channels indicating variable whereas its commercial channels not, and Sudbury being variable on all channels with the exception of poor on COM4 (ITV3), and although predictions have always to be taken with the proverbial pinch of salt as RF propagation is notoriously difficult to predict with any sense of accuracy, but the overall picture does suggest the area as being problematic.
I would therefore suggest that you try and make one or two enquiries with regards to reception in the local area but out with your estate, as this would at least give you an idea if the problems experienced are purely confined to your communal system or alternatively are actually widespread in the area, because if they are then its a bit of a grin and bear it situation as nothing can really be done to improve it.
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Friday 4 October 2013 5:59PM
john: I had a sneaking suspicion that you possibly resided in this type of situation, although its a bit unusual to have your own individual aerial installed.
However, although your post code is still unknown therefore I am unable to assess the chances of success, but dependant on the angle of Waltham in relation to that of Sutton Coldfield you "might" be able to receive a signal from Waltham on the rear (or near to) of your aerial.
To test this out go into your TV or boxes set up menu / manual tuning and enter "but do NOT scan" Walthams BBC mux on Ch49, because on most equipment if anything is being received the strength / quality of will appear on the signal indicator bar, if nothing is indicated then try Walthams ITV on mux Ch54, if still nothing then your Sutton facing aerial is likely to be positioned around 90 degrees or so from Waltham and which is an aerials area of minimum reception. (Ch49 be)