All posts by Timbo
Below are all of Timbo's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.Hi Brian. Just reading about aerials, and it got me wondering about mine. A few years ago I fitted an Antiference XG10EW aerial, but no indication on the box as to what group it belonged to (I know it's a Class2), only that it's for UHF channels 21-68, so I guess it's a Wideband, and should be adequate for the Sudbury switchover in July? It's worked very well so far here in CO14 8AW, where we're a bit on the edge of the best reception!
| link to this comment |
Hi Brian. I hope your recovery is going well. Just a quick question: I believe Sudbury will transmit in 8k mode after DSO (2k at the moment). I have a Goodmans GDB6 box, which I understand can only handle 2k mode. Would it then be obsolete after DSO? Or would a firmware update enable 8k reception?
| link to this comment |
My question re 8k mode seems to have been answered by Brian in his post this morning - Sudbury transmitter group switchover begins | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice My Goodmans box is not on the list, so I guess it will still work. I'll find out tomorrow! (CO148AW)
| link to this comment |
After today's retune, I am pleased to report that my Goodmans GDB6 digibox can handle 8k mode, as well as all my other DVB receivers. Strangely though, the BBC channels show an average 63% signal strength (about the same as before DSO1), but all other channels show a significant increase (e.g. Dave 15% to 52%). I'm in a 'marginal' Freeview area, but can still get 70+ TV and radio channels. Now looking forward to DSO2!!
| link to this comment |
Liam: It's my understanding that the COM channels (SDN, ARQ A, ARQ B, and NEW 7 & 8) will go full power from Sudbury on 27th June 2012, but the present muxes should show a small increase in power on 20th July 2011.
| link to this comment |
Maybe I'm lucky, but I've just done a rescan on my Freeview DVD recorder, connected to a standard Yagi aerial in the loft, and got 66 TV and radio channels, almost as many as off the hi-gain wideband aerial up on the chimney! And I'm using standard coax cable to a CRT portable TV (the cable's only 2 meters long which helps). I don't know what the signal strength is, as the Toshiba doesn't give that info, but it's excellent quality.
| link to this comment |
Here in CO14, all muxes showing an average 50-60% signal strength, except Mux 2 which I'm not receiving at the moment. Not really surprising as Mux 2 is right out on the 'edge' at 850MHz, so the switch to Ch41 should make a big difference.
Can anyone tell me what the digital power output was from Sudbury around 3 years ago? Back then I got all channels, some (BBC) at 100% signal strength.
| link to this comment |
Sudbury (Suffolk, England) Full Freeview transmitter
Wednesday 20 July 2011 9:33PM
Walton On The Naze
Wednesday 20 July 2011 9:33PM
Walton On The Naze
Good result after switchover here. Receiving 102 (TV & radio) channels via the wideband chimney aerial, and an impressive 58 on the Yagi loft aerial. Signal strength 60-80% average.
| link to this comment |
Dave W: Just to add to jb38's reply - ArqB is due to switch to Ch63 on 16th November 2011, with a power increase to 2.2kW which may help you.
| link to this comment |
Thursday 17 February 2011 10:41AM
Walton On The Naze
Will the digital power output from the Sudbury transmitter be increased at any time before switchover?, i.e. will full (100kW) power tests be carried out on certain dates? If they are, it would be helpful to test reception strength. I currently get around 60 Freeview TV and radio channels here in CO14 8AW, but most are border-line signal strength.