All posts by Dave Lindsay
Below are all of Dave Lindsay's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Andrew Vincent: Based on the predictions, you at your location it is anticipated that you will have excellent reception, even now. The pre-switchover power of Pontop Pike is 20kW which is the post-switchover power of quite a few main transmitters, so it isn't "low" as such. The 20kW is the power of all standard- and high-definition multiplexes.
Perhaps it could be too high a signal level that you have, the effects of which appear the same as that of too low a signal, but affecting HD reception before any other. If you have a booster, then try removing it. If you have a booster so as to distribute the signals to more than one room, then try bypassing it, connecting the incoming aerial feed to the room feed where your HD TV is and then try watching the HD services.
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David Parkinson: I was thrown initially because you've posted on the page for the Poole transmitter. I gather that you are receiving from Rowridge as you talk about reception before switchover and Poole didn't transmit digital before switchover.
A look at Streetview shows aerials pointing at Rowridge. After switchover Rowridge transmits horizontally and vertically.
The transmission power of the Public Service Broadcaster (PSB) channels (BBC, ITV1, C4 etc) is 200kW horizontally and vertically. The transmission power of the Commercial (COM) channels (ITV3, Pick TV, Yesterday etc) is 50kW horizontally and 200kW vertically.
Thus, re-orienting your aerial to vertical should improve the COMs.
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Dave Lindsay: Further to the above posting, check that your receiver is tuned to Rowridge for the PSBs and not Canford Heath or Poole transmitters, both of which are in nearly the same direction (albeit that they transmit vertically only).
For each of the following bring up the signal strength screen and confirm that they are tuned correctly:
PSB1 | BBC One | Rowridge=C24 | Canford Heath=C45 | Poole=C57
PSB2 | ITV1 | Rowridge=C27 | Canford Heath=C46 | Poole=C60
PSB3 | BBC One HD | Rowridge=C21 | Canford Heath=C42 | Poole=C53
For example, BBC One should be tuned to C24 and not C45 (Canford Heath) or C57 (Poole).
These relay transmitters do not carry the COMs so you probably don't need to check them.
If you find any tuned incorrectly, then run the automatic tuning scan through and unplug the aerial when it gets to 30% or past C30 (if it gives UHF channel numbers during the scan). This will have the aerial unplugged whilst it scans the channels used by Canford Heath and Poole.
See this list and identify which multiplexes (groups) you are missing:
DTG :: DTT Services by Multiplex
PSB3 is the HD one.
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Emma: There is no such thing as an aerial that will work everywhere. However, see:
TV Aerials for Boats and Caravans
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ann: According to the Channel 4 website it isn't scheduled for rebroadcast soon:
My Kidney and Me - Channel 4
However, it is available on 4od.
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adrian whittemore: Magnetic north moves slightly over time.
According to Digital UK, at your location Sandy Heath is at 349° and Crystal Palace is at 170°. These would appear to be your main possibilities.
Other clues may come in the form of neighbours' aerials; where they are pointing as well as their size and elevation.
Crystal Palace broadcasts London BBC and ITV regional programming. Sandy Heath carries BBC East (Cambridge) and ITV Anglia (West).
For information and ideas as to aerials, see:
Sandy Heath Transmitter
Crystal Palace Transmitter
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adrian whittemore: Obviously obstructions such as trees can have an effect; these are not taken into account with any predictions.
See also:
North Magnetic Pole - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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J.Haworth: See this explanation, which applies likewise to the Over Norton transmitter:
Durris (Aberdeenshire, Scotland) full-Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
5* is available on Freesat or you "may" be able to receive it from another transmitter.
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Geoff. Dixon: Mains cables aren't designed for carrying signals as they are not screened:
Welcome to Ban Power Line Technology
If people require a broadband connection where there isn't one, then they should use WiFi or a Cat5 cable.
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Wednesday 8 August 2012 4:36PM
Andrew Vincent: You should have better reception after switchover, no doubt. There are those who use Pontop Pike who are unable to receive the digital signals now because they aren't powerful enough; as far as HD goes you are in that bracket.
Perhaps you are only just receiving the standard definition channels and the HD one isn't quite good enough; the HD mode tends to suffer from poor reception before the standard definition ones.