All posts by Dave Lindsay
Below are all of Dave Lindsay's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Chris Clement: If it is tuned to another transmitter, you might (depending on the design of the receiver) be able to delete the current channels and manually tune in the two or three required.
Or run the auto tune scan with the aerial unplugged up until 25% and then unplug it again when it gets to 65%. That way you will only have it plugged in for Alltwen (Kilvey Hill uses lower frequencies and Pontardawe uses higher ones).
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John Proctor: Have you confirmed that it is tuned to Emley Moor (Ch47 for BBC) as there are several transmitters that might be received at your location?
If it is tuned to Emley, then you might have too higher signal level going into your tuner:
Freeview signals: too much of a good thing is bad for you | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
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malcolm: Some boxes are not designed to receive the latest (post-switchover) digital signals. Those signals do not stop the boxes from switching on; they just won't pick up any channels.
Google Matsui DTR3 and you will see postings on the same problem you have; the thing won't power up.
It seems to be a regular fault with this model's power supply and people report that it can be fixed with replacement of a couple of components. If you know someone who is a dab hand with a soldering iron, it could perhaps be repaired.
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Gee: Like Adam B says, after discounting any issues with your aerial system (might be difficult, particularly high up), then trees would seem to be the logical suspects for poor reception during wind.
The BBC, Ofcom or any helpline is not responsible for removing or pruning trees that affect viewers' reception. It would also not be wise for you to take a chainsaw if the tree(s) aren't yours.
I had a look down your road on Google Streetview and there are a few talls masts and large aerials. One or two are on Waltham.
There are trees in your street that may affect reception of those on one side. There are also trees in the direction of Sutton Coldfield in and around the Weston Hotel. They could be the reason for the larger aerials.
The only solution might be to call in a rigger.
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John Proctor: Follow the link I posted for information on too higher signal level. It might be worth trying a variable attentuator.
The direction that the aerial is pointing in does not necessarily have bearing on which signals a tuner decides to go with.
Even if it turns out that it isn't too higher signal level that is causing the break-up and the TV to report low signal (which can be caused by too higher signal), it might still be worth putting a bit of attentuation in there.
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Jane Hill: When the analogue signal is switched off, the power of digital transmissions will be increased which will mean that they will reach further than before switchover. At present, they (digital signals) are at lower transmission power and therefore don't cover the same area as analogue.
The idea is that the coverage of the post-switchover signals will be about the same as that of analogue.
There can be no 100% guarantee, so the question that you pose cannot have a yes/no answer. The only time it can be answered 'yes' is when you successfully receive digital TV after switchover.
Thus, the answer to the question is that is it quite likely that you will receive digital TV after switchover. If you cannot, then a replacement aerial might be needed.
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Jane Hill: Do you presently receive analogue TV?
Is your aerial definately directed at Alexandra Palace transmitter as the Digital UK predictor suggests that both Crystal Palace and Alexandra Palace might be possible. I also looked on Google Streetview and some aerials do seem to be pointing at each one. The difference in direction isn't great (50 degrees or so) so it's not too easy to see from Streetview.
If you are on Crystal Palace then you will receive all the commercial channels as well. If you are on Alexandra Palace, then you won't receive the commercial channels, just the Public Service Broadcaster ones which are BBC, ITV1, ITV2, C4, E4, More4, C5 and a few others.
Crystal Palace is at 164 degrees and Alexandra Palace is at 117 degrees which means that Crystal Palace is slightly clockwise of Alexandra Palace.
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Jane Hill: It is also probably worth pointing out that Alexandra Palace, like many similar small relay transmitters, does not currently broadcast digital TV. This means that any attempt to receive digital TV now (before switchover) at your current location can only ever be from Crystal Palace for which there is a hill in the way.
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Brian: Lots of people have had the same issue with lack of reception of Arqiva B multiplex from Sudbury. See here:
Sudbury Arqiva multiplex B changes 16 November - retune required | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
You will have to wait until 27th June 2012 before it comes back again.
In the mean time, I suggest trying manually tuning to see if the programmes can be picked up that way. Sky News is carried on Arqiva A which will also not change to full power until 27th June.
For Arqiva A (Sky News etc) try manually tuning to Ch54 and for Arqiva B (Yesterday, Film4 etc) try manually tuning to Ch63.
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Thursday 29 December 2011 12:55PM
Chris Clement: If BBC is tuned to Ch23 and ITV1 to Ch26, then your receiver is tuned to Kilvey Hill. Alltwen's services might be in the 800s.
If BBC is 61 and ITV1 58, then it is on Pontardawe transmitter.
The likely reason for changing an aerial from a small relay to a main station/larger relay (where reception from such a station is possible) is so as to get the commercial channels (as the small relays don't carry them). In the days of four-channel analogue it didn't matter as far as viewer choice was concerned.
Today there are those who may be better served by relays (with what you might call a "normal" aerial) who will invest in a larger and more expensive aerial installation so as to pick up from the main station in order to get the commercial channels. There are also those who have no choice but to go with the relay.