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All posts by Michael Rogers

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


The new Huntshaw channels on 30,31,32,34,35 and 37 are all working well. The re-tune procedure can be frustrating, depending on the TV tuner. If the automatic option is selected, lower-frequency channels may be saved before the Huntshaw ones - most likely from Caradon on 21,22,24,25,27 and 28, some of which might work, others not. It is worth performing a "factory reset" and to then ignore the tempting automatic option and to manually tune in channels 30,31,32,34,35 and 37, each in turn. If some of these already produce a stable picture, a new aerial should not be needed, just a retune. A Band A aerial (and possibly new coax) might be required if signal strength of *all* these channels is unsatisfactory. Double check that channels 30,31,32,34,35 and 37, and not others, have been saved before seeking payable advice...

Brian:some of the programmes listed under each mux recently moved.
The page remains nevertheless very helpful.

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Let's hope they will be more competent this time round! Last time, some viewers found they could get a line-of-sight to the Freesat satellite. For others this was not feasible due to obstructions etc. The Ilfracombe relay erp was increased to help "override" co-channel interference from Carmel. After a while, it went quiet again, so I assume most found a solution. This time many will have the broadband option. This may be what is at the back of the minds of 5G planners :-)

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CHRIS ALLSEBROOK: Check my above posting. It could well be that your auto-retune saved some of, or all, the lless optimal channels (eg Caradon instead of Huntshaw). Auto-tuning only works well when there is no other transmitter in range. Otherwise manual tuning is the convoluted, but more reliable option.

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Jack, Channel 34 from Huntshaw is a weaker channel. We now have a passing atmospheric high-pressure event, which often affects propagation at television frequencies - eg on Sky News. When weather changes again, things should return to normal (whatever that is...). If you know how to retune quickly, when channel 34 breaks up, you could try channel 24 from Caradon (or any other Arqiva-A multiplex within range). Some TV tuners allow multiplexes from different transmitters to be stored, but many do not. If disturbance becomes too regular, you might wish to consider Freesat, which would be less temperamental if you have line-of-sight to the satellite position at 28 east. (If you do that, don't remove your Huntshaw aerial. Bruce Wallis is no longer available to save us if a lump of rock hits the satellite :-) PS : good luck with the advice line; they don't always have local details to inform their advice.

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Philip Oakley: The interference is most unlikely to be linked to the Huntshaw retune. I would look closer to home. Wander around with a portable radio and try to triangulate the source. With the expansion of broadband, many of us are blighted by interference from overhead VDSL phone lines, and from many modern devices, or from bad connections in the local electricity grid. Triangulation should help narrow down the possible source.

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jb38 and Sue, the "predictors" are not infallible, just indicative. They tell me that I can't get Huntshaw, but that is where I get all six multiplexes from. As previously posted, on July 17th Carmel, inland from Swansea, will retune three of the six multiplexes onto the same frequencies as Ilfracombe. As there were co-channel interference issues last time that occurred, it will be, er, interesting to see what happens this time :-) If you are able to *manually* tune your receiver, you should be able to ascertain for sure which transmitter is serving you.

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Preseli remains on the same channels as hitherto - 43, 46, 40, 42, 45 and 39, as listed by MikeP above.
On channel 48 you might find BBC in HD from Ilfracombe.
I would suggest you retune *manually* to the Preseli channels.

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When formerly stable reception falters, it could be due to retuning of the Huntshaw transmitter multiplexes, or others, as Ofcom moves all the higher multiplexes lower so as to facilitate the future of 5G mobile phone coverage. (NOt that we are likely to get 5G...)

Most TV-set inbuilt tuners now prioritise "automatic" tuning of receivable channels. This can lead to the tuner saving whatever it finds from any transmitter. Once it has stored a given multiplex, it will ignore a better signal from another at a higher frequency. It is therefore highly recommended to check this, or the digitaluk, website and to write down the multiplex channel numbers of the most likely transmitter(s). Then check the TV-set menu/handbook for the *manual* tuning option (NOT the automatic one). In many sets this option can be not easy to find. Then manually store each of the six multiplexes (only three if on a relay) in turn. This can be tedious, but worth the effort! If on the Bristol Channel coast, eg Ilfracombe, it will be advisable to check again on 17th July, when the Carmel retune might conflict with the three Ilfracombe multiplexes... If interference ensues, the best option might be Kilvey Hill (Swansea) for all the main channels, with the Ilfracombe relay manually added for BBC and ITV Southwest news. We will know more post 17th July :-)

the best compromise might be Carmel in South Wales, which, as posted, is changing its channels on 17th July.

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That figures! If former LCN 48 ( including Movies for Men) was implied, strangely it is now not available in Wales. See http://www.digitaluk.co.u…ngs. A bit sad, given the number of dubious channels offered by Freeview... With a dedicated Group-A antenna you just might get LCN 40 (with Movies for Men) from Huntshaw Cross on the SDN multiplex (channel 32: 562MHz). But if you have line-of-sight to the satellite at 28E, Freesat might be worth considering. Good luck!

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Sadly, channel reallocations have resulted in the loss of some popular channels. Other channels of lesser public service character survive. Surely nothing to do with commercial interests? Has "Freeview" lost its way? For full channel listings, see Digital UK | Channel listings

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