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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.


Richard S: I would try a test by connecting one of the TV's that presently isn't picking up PSB2 (ITV1 etc) whilst on the outdoor aerial over onto the indoor aerial, then after having blanking out the channels already stored on it, done by removing the aerial and carrying out a scan without it, and then carrying out the second scan after having reconnecting it.

If by doing that you see that ITV1 etc has returned, then that's liable to indicate that the signal received in its other position from the outdoor aerial is slightly too strong on that particular Mux channel and is blocking the tuner, this requiring a simple attenuator to be placed in line with the TV, that is unless your distribution amp is one of the variable types.

The second part of the test being, that if you now find that COM3 (ArqB Mux Ch40) has vanished then that's because it is only transmitting on low power until October 12th and the indoor aerial isnt picking it up properly because of this.

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Richard S: Just in addition to what I mentioned. If the results of the test turn out as was suggested, when you then return the TV back to its original position do NOT carry out a re-scan as you will already know that ITV1 etc is stored in its memory, and indeed because of this it "might" work, however if not then you know it will again as soon as you take measures to slightly reduce the signal.

As COM3 (ArqB) will obviously not be there just add it by using the "add channels" facility on the TV, as that wont scrub whats already stored.

You have to always remember that unless TV etc are all of the same brand their sensitivities can be totally different, this why some will work and others not even although on the same aerial.

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Richard S: I think I may well have misinterpreted what you were meaning in your original posting, insomuch that when you mentioned the TV's on the loft aerial couldn't get COM3, I didn't realise that this was in "addition" to them not receiving PSB2 either, as I assumed it was only COM3 that was the problem on these sets. Anyway the test you carried out of by-passing the distribution amplifier proved interesting by this action having enabled you to receive PSB2, as that could indicate the signal is indeed possibly over powerful, however the puzzling bit of this being, that if it was powerful then I would have expected that the TV's on the loft aerial should have been able to receive PSB2, the fact that they don't suggests that some other factor must be in existence, what Mux Ch23 signal level is shown on them?

I have to say though, that the reception predictor on the post code provided indicates your position as being able to receive from a number of sources, namely Hasland as well as Belmont, although these being indicated as less than the 100% rating seen from Chesterfield on Mux Ch's 26 - 23 - 29 (HD service), although SDN (Mux Ch43) - ArqA (Mux Ch46) - ArqB (Mux Ch40) are all listed as being variable (as you are experiencing) this improving slightly by coming out of variable on Sep11th, then being fully OK from the12th of October.

I would like though if you could try a Mux channel check on a TV that is connected to "each" aerial, the channels to use being Mux Ch25 and Mux Ch60, these corresponding to Belmont and Hasland's PSB2.

Regarding the distribution amp in the loft what model is it?


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Richard S: Another addition, could you also verify that the Mux channel numbers in question are actually being seen as these numbers whilst on the signal checking screen, and not just being referred to from the transmitter list.

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John hewitt: Stamford is a Freeview "light" transmitter and as such only provides PSB multiplexes, these being Mux Ch47 (BBC) - Mux Ch41 (ITV) and Mux Ch44 (HD service)

It should be said though, that Waltham (or even Belmont) reception is possible in "some" spots within area's where Stamford would have been the only station expected to be received.
(Ch47 BB) 

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DavidHufton: Re your 3:25pm query yesterday, yes! its almost certain that the two Mux's referred to are from Hasland, although the BBC one you didn't want (Mux Ch57) may well now be found stored somewhere up in the 800 ranges.

Its possible that the Humax did reject Mux Ch26 during auto-tuning "if" its been slightly too powerful, so your action of manually tuning it is the correct procedure, as tuners (some anyway) are more likely to respond better to a fixed command, this also applying in reverse situations where signals might be a bit on the weak side.

This kind of problem is already widespread across many areas, and wont really calm down until the switchover process has finally been completed, unless that is someone is purchasing a new set that doesn't have area selection facilities attached to the tuning menu, as dependant on location, they might also have to carry out manual tuning to obtain the correct Mux channels for their area.

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Chrissy: There is a trick method you could try to eliminate stations other than Waltham from being received during an auto-tune.

What you do is first of all take out the aerial and carry out a re-scan without it, this for purposes of blanking out anything stored, then you carry out a second re-scan whilst carefully watching as the progress indicator starts to creep (hopefully!) along the indicator bar, then as soon as it passes about Mux Ch50 immediately replace the aerial lead and let it scan the rest of the way. This procedure allowing only channels above Mux Ch50 to be received, which applies to all of Waltham's multiplexes anyway except one, namely Mux Ch29 ITV3 / QVC etc.

Of course the point is that you might not actually get this in the first place, as its on low power until the 12th of October.

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Chrissy: Just to emphasise, after the first re-scan do NOT replace the aerial until the position mentioned, that being Mux Ch50 or immediately just after, as you want to catch Walthams ITV1 etc on Mux Ch54, the remainder being Mux Ch's 56 - 57 - 58 - 61.

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Doug B: Just purely for information purposes, reception of MuxA/SDN (Ch31) is indicated on the trade predictor as being poor at the location given, with this state continuing right through until April 2012 when it then picks up until sometime after June, as then its forecast as dropping back off into the variable category as far ahead as 2013.

Predictors (even trade ones) cannot ever be 100% accurate as they cannot fully cater for local conditions, but Mux A certainly doesn't look promising as its only this Mux on its own that stands out as being unreliable.

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J
Diagnostics - old version
Thursday 1 September 2011 1:06PM

raymond Bell: Many people living in areas where both stations can be picked up experience this problem, and unless your box has a region selection facility in the tuning menu then the only way of avoiding this is to first of all blank out everything stored in the memory, this done by carrying out a re-scan without the aerial being connected, then once done re-connected the aerial and manually tune in the channels required using the add channels facility.

Waltham being Mux Ch's 29 - 54 - 56 - 57 - 58 - 61.

(Note: Ch 29 is presently on low power)


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