All posts by Dave Lindsay
Below are all of Dave Lindsay's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
RayM: I should expect it to be any time after midnight. It is intended that the digital transmissions are all up and running by 6am.
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sue2201: I can't advise on Freesat boxes, but as far as Freeview (terrestrial) is concerned, when switchover happens, the signal will be stronger and therefore should not be intermittent.
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Mark Peterson: I cannot agree with your assertion that the Technisat technical helpline is not very helpful. I think that they were simply stating fact.
I have looked at the specification ( HDFV [0006/4940] - TechniSat Digital - en_XX ) for the model you refer to and it would appear that it only has one tuner in it. This means that you cannot watch one programme that is being broadcast whilst recording another using the in-built tuner. It will allow you to watch a recorded programme whilst recording another. So Technisat are quite correct.
However, this does not prohibit you from recording one channel using the Technisat box whilst watching another channel using the TV's in-built tuner. Simply feed the incoming aerial into the Technisat box and then connect its aerial output to the TV's aerial input.
If you still want the Sony HDD/DVD machine available for recording over the air programming, then you can daisy-chain its aerial connections as well.
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Ronan: No, Kilkeel is broadcasting only the four analogue channels (no digital). At switchover it will broadcast "Freeview Light"; that is Public Service Broadcaster multiplexes only.
On Wednesday 10th October BBC Two analogue will be switched off and BBC standard definition TV and radio channels will come on air. Two weeks later on 24th October the other three analogue channels will go off and the other digital services (UTV, ITV2, C4, E4, More4, C5, HD channels and some others) will come on air.
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Jeremy: I would stay as you are and use the loft aerial on Blue Bell Hill.
Be aware that being so close to a high power transmitter you may find that you have to higher signal level than your TV can cope with. You may need to fit an attenuator. See this page:
Freeview signals: too much of a good thing is bad for you | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
I wouldn't bother trying for Crystal Palace in order to get HD because I think that you won't receive it at your location. CP does transmit HD, but its HD is at lower power than the standard definition channels. It was shoehorned in to provide HD services before switchover. HD is not part of the normal Freeview offering before switchover; Crystal Palace is one of four exceptions.
You could, of course, go for Crystal Palace at switchover on 18th April, but then Blue Bell Hill's switchover will only be ten weeks away.
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Scoval transmitter is primarily vertically polarised with an ERP of 32W.
The horizontally polarised signals from Scoval are at 132W and are radiated from lower down the structure and in the direction of the Clettraval relay on Uist, as explained by mb21:
mb21 - The Transmission Gallery
The Ofcom documention further confirms this as it says that Scoval VP is at 290m whereas HP is at 258m.
The radiation patternclass at the top of this page says it is the HP one. Is there a VP one?
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Dan: See here:
Television Aerial Boosters / Amplifiers, Splitters, Diplexers & Triplexers
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Chris Edwards: The TV Licence does not guarantee reception of TV signals, nor does it provide for support to rectify any issues! If it did, then it would be higher, and I certainly cannot agree with that.
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David: I think that the most likely answer is no. Switchover is coming in April where the power of signals will be increased to the equivalent of current analogue ones.
If channels are missing, I would try manually tuning (where equipment allows) to see if they can be added that way.
If the aerial is pointing and Crystal Palace (and is horizontally polarised), then manually tune to channel 22. If it is directed at Hemel Hempstead (and is therefore vertically polarised), manually tune to channel 55.
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Thursday 16 February 2012 3:59PM
des drumm: Further to Mike Dimmick's posting, I had a look at the Saorview coverage map which shows the locations of transmitters: Coverage Map | SAORVIEW
Whether you can or can't receive from any of these stations depends on the terrain.
Holywell Hill is on channel 30 horizontal at 20kW with a second multiplex pencilled in on channel 25.
Letterkenny is on channel 53 vertical at 2kW (with a future multiplex on channel 57.
Ballybofey transmitter is about 11 miles from your location, but is only at 100W. It is vertically polarised and transmits on channel 47 with a future multiplex on channel 44.
The Saorview coverage map shows green where the signal is predicted as being available, but it doesn't allow selection of individual transmitters to see which is best in particular locations!
PS. For those soles inclined, Comreg has published technical parameters of TV and radio transmitters, although TV3 does not appear to be on the list:
Technical Parameters - ComReg