menuMENU    UK Free TV logo Archive (2002-)

 

 

Click to see updates

All posts by jb38

Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.


Pauline: If you are referring to Freeview boxes (Digi boxes usually a Sky box term) then what you see is suggestive of either the aerial being uncoupled somewhere along the line between you and the aerial, or that you are in an area where no reception is possible, and is something which cannot be verified one way or the other as no location (pref post code) was given.


link to this comment
GB flag

chris: Strange to say, but Portwood is not indicated on the trade reception predictor as being possible on your post code, albeit that in real terms it might well be.

I would concentrate on Winter Hill though, (@ 22miles) as that will provide you with the maximum range of services when compared to Portwood which is Freeview "light" transmitter, with limited ones.

(Moel-Y-Park is also shown as fully possible from 21st of September).

link to this comment
GB flag

chris: To add as it seems to have been cut off, Moel-Y-Park is also shown as fully possible from 21st of September.

link to this comment
GB flag
J
Switchover starts in the East Midlands
Monday 22 August 2011 12:33PM

Helen: The reason for your problem is highly suggestive of your box not being capable of operating on the new 8K mode that is being used ONLY on the BBC1 etc Mux transmitter.

The thing is, that if this is the cause of the problem then come the end of the month they will all vanish, as then the other channels also go over to the 8K operating mode, this affecting quite a number of older boxes.



link to this comment
GB flag

Dave Everitt: Not having mentioned your location seriously restricts on what can be checked on, but if the TV gets the channels OK on the same aerial? but the box doesn't, then this could possibly indicate that the box is not incompatible with new 8K transmission modes that are being used at switchover, of course should this have occurred?

The only other possibility is, that the signal is too strong and is blocking that particular box, but once again unable to verify unless location is known.

link to this comment
GB flag
J
Do I need to buy a booster? | Installing
Monday 22 August 2011 12:55PM

donny: Basically yes! although indications suggest that you should be able to get all channels at present, but predictors (even trade ones) can be far from being accurate as local problem spots cant really be catered for.

It would have been interesting to know what channels you cant get though! (just a few!)

link to this comment
GB flag

Ray: I had a look at the trade reception predictor for your P/code and to be quite honest about it what's seen does not look very promising, as only BBC1 (Mux Ch63) and Arq A (Mux ch68) are presently indicated as being possible for reliable(?) reception, the remainder in the "variable reception" category.

This situation should (in theory!) be rectified come the 23rd of November, as then all multiplex channels are shown as possible.



link to this comment
GB flag
J
Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmitter
Monday 22 August 2011 4:51PM

Andy: Well you still amaze me with this! but having been involved with RF signals (TX/RX) for many years I am fully aware that areas do exist where touching an aerial socket with the proverbial wet finger can give quite unexpected results.

The only bit that gets me is, that the aforementioned unexpected results is usually when only the centre pin / wire is connected to the socket, whereas "if" your co-ax plug is connected properly that would effectively earth the screen around the inside core from picking up anything, the whole point of the outer screen, and I am quite sure that the LNB doesn't play any part in what you are receiving. (famous last words!)

Anyway, it still indicates that you are in a "chosen" spot for reception from Winter Hill @ 18 miles away, as the channels mentioned are from there, and so even although I would usually always advise satellite (Freesat) any day over terrestrial, satellite for 99.9% reliability of reception, in your case a standard log periodic aerial would likely give great results, a link for same provided. (any one of the three shown would suffice)

Of course it might just be easier (and less costly) just to replace the aerials co-ax.

Online TV FM DAB Aerial sales


link to this comment
GB flag

Mary: You can really up to a point adopt the same attitude with Freesat as you do with Sky, as Sky has one advantage over Freesat insomuch that you can use its RF output to feed a TV in another room, albeit watching the same programme, whereas Freesat boxes dont have built in RF modulators to do that.

But what you have said is correct.



link to this comment
GB flag
J
Freeview retune - the results | Switchovers
Monday 22 August 2011 9:06PM

marie: Yes, thanks for the update on the situation as its always interesting to know how people get on, plus of course its good for the reference book!

Quite a coincidence though regarding the store being the same one, I am sure that you appearing with a complaint associated with switchover re-tuning problems will really please them, not!!!

When I was on my travels to day I noticed that on Thursday Lidl's will be selling a 32" Freeview TV at £199.00, the problem is that although its boldly advertised as being "Full HD 1080p", unfortunately the spec doesn't back this up as it doesn't have an HD tuner, (which always states DVB-T2) this being something that is just guaranteed to be the causing them some real headaches! (I tipped the manager off though, but whether he will take any notice is anyone's guess!)

This being the kind of thing that catches many people out, between HD that's not, and 8k that isn't quite, the latter which "might" be partially responsible for your TV problem dependant on whether or not you are in a location where channel changes plus power increases have taken place, as if they have then its liable to be problem associated with 8k incompatibility rather than just a simple memory failure.

Although that's neither here nor there, as its faulty.

Keep me posted!

link to this comment
GB flag