All posts by Dave Lindsay
Below are all of Dave Lindsay's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
arwyn: Without knowledge of your location it is totally impossible to give guidance on reception as predicted signal levels cannot be checked upon.
The operative word in your message is "cheap"!
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Jonathan Evans-Baldwin : You have alluded to whether these TVs are all fed from the same aerial or whether they use separate aerials.
If they use the same aerial then presumably there is a powered amplifier. If this is the case and the Chagford transmitter is still on air then suspicion must fall on the amplifier; either it has failed or there is no power to it. The fact that the amplifier's light is on does not necessarily mean that it is functioning.
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Me: In answer to your question of 4:56AM, because different frequencies (and hence different signals) travel differently. The reason being that there are objects in and around them which refract, reflect and so on to degrees which differ by frequency.
The end result is that in one spot one channel can be good and the others not so. This was easier to see in the days of analogue, particularly if you ever used a set-top aerial. The trick was finding a spot for the aerial where all channels were good.
In response to your posting made at 12:52PM, I very much doubt you will be able to receive from Reigate. What makes you think that it's Reigate?
If you can receive from Rowridge then be aware that it uses all Group A channels, and that, as such, you would be much better off with a Group A yagi than a wideband yagi. See here for an explanation:
Rowridge Transmitter
With a yagi, the lower the frequency the less gain and hence the less directivity. A wideband yagi is a greater compromise than a Group one.
Rowridge's COMs are stronger vertically (it broadcasts all channels horizontally and vertically).
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m newhouse: The issue of receivers 'forgetting' channels when they are powered down usually happens where they have run out of tuning memory. The forgotten channels are picked up last during the automatic tuning scan and also the signals from other transmitters have been picked up before. The trick is usually to prevent a receiver from storing the signals from other transmitters so as to have enough room for the wanted one.
Without knowledge of your location (preferably in the form of a postcode or nearby postcode such as that of a shop) and transmitter it isn't possible to tell whether this may be the reason for your difficulty.
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CCob: The only exact answer is to try it out.
However (I speak as someone who isn't an aerial installer) it would seem not too bad. Digital UK suggests you might be in with a shot and Streetview shows aerials pointing to Wenvoe (have you looked around at neighbours' houses?).
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CCob: You can always try it and see what you get. As I say, I'm not a professional so wouldn't want to go too far as I don't have experience.
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Brian newmanh: Possibly not, without using satellite.
Ridge Hill broadcasts BBC One West Midlands and ITV Central West.
It also carries ITV West, which is relayed from Mendip (you may have to resort to manual tuning if it defaults to ITV Central). However, it doesn't relay BBC One West as well, unfortunately.
Whilst predictors should always be taken with a pinch of salt due to many factors affecting reception which cannot all be taken into account, Digital UK doesn't "think" you will be able to receive BBC from Mendip.
The terrain plot indicates that Cam Peak is the difficulty:
Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location
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AJR: Obviously your TV is tuned to Crystal Palace for BBC London. What do you mean by "can no longer"? Have you tried tuning to Bluebell Hill?
It's not too surprising that it has tuned to Crystal Palace as it is only 11 degrees off the bearing of Bluebell Hill.
Fortunately Crystal Palace's channels are in the first third of the band and Bluebell's are higher up, so just have your aerial unplugged for the first 30% of the scan (so as to ensure it doesn't 'see' Crystal Palace's channels).
Once you've done that, confirm that all channels are tuned to Bluebell Hill by observing the signal strength screen on the following:
BBC One should be C46
ITV should be C43
BBC One HD C40
ITV3 C45
Pick TV C39
Film4 C54
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wayne: When you run the automatic tuning scan, start it off with the aerial unplugged and plug in at 56%.
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Sunday 28 April 2013 7:50PM
roger: Have you confirmed that your receiver is tuned to the correct transmitter for BBC services?
Bring up the signal strength screen. If your aerial is directed to Brierley Hill then it should be tuned to UHF channel 60.