All posts by Dave Lindsay
Below are all of Dave Lindsay's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Dr. John Pritchard: I was looking at the tower you mention on Margate Road. Whilst we obviously can't say for certain, it may be a pretty safe bet though that it will carry 800MHz 4G, particularly as it's so high up and therefore well-place to serve a large area.
This got me wondering whether it is home to a Tetra base station, but according to Ofcom Sitefinder, there are Airwave's base stations elsewhere within a few miles of you.
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Anne: Unfortunately not. This is because the operatores of the Commercial networks (those that don't broadcast from Dumfries South) don't wish to spend the money because they don't consider it worth their while. See here:
Londonderry (Northern Ireland) digital TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
Unless you can receive the full service from Caldbeck, then you won't ever get it.
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Keith Ballard: The Commercial networks do not have as great a reach as the Public Service ones. This is never likely to change, see:
Londonderry (Northern Ireland) digital TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
Most viewers in West Sussex that can receive from a full-service transmitter get all the channels.
If you are using Rowridge and you're having difficulty with the Commercial channels then you might benefit from switching your aerial to vertical polarisation as they are stronger vertically. This will also help with rejection of Crystal Palace's signals which use the same frequencies, but which broadcast only horizontally.
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ANDREA: For a start off, there's a button on the left of your keyboard called "Caps Lock". Please press it as typing in capitals is considered rude.
In answer to your question, by law anyone who receives a TV signal must have a TV Licence. A TV Licence does not guarantee availability of any TV signal, nor does it provide technical support in cases of difficulty.
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Steve: Your aerial should be mounted vertically for best reception of the Commercial (COM) channels from Rowridge.
The COM channels don't have as wide a coverage as the Public Service (PSB) channels. In some cases a new aerial will be required to pick up the COM channels; existing aerials (those installed in the days of four-channel analogue) will work for PSBs.
However, Rowridge is unique as, since the change last April all six channels have been broadcasting horizontally and vertically. The PSB channels are 200kW horizontally and vertically; the COM channels are 50kW horizontally and 200kW vertically. Generally speaking, existing aerials on Rowridge will work and will just need switching to vertical polarisation if reception of COMs isn't good.
Dave and Pick TV are carried on COM5. A full list of Freeview services by multiplex (PSB/COM) are here:
DTG :: DTT Services by Multiplex
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Dr. John Pritchard: The 4G filters that are available will also filter out tetra as they only allow UHF channels 21 to 60 through. All of those I've seen online are the SAC AE5100.
An advantage of changing to a system with only one aerial is that you need only one filter, to be fitted before the amplifier. You have already removed the possibility of interference being picked up in the cables by using WF125. The lowest price I've seen so far is about £8 including delivery on eBay.
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brian wilkinson: The UK now has a two-tier terrestrial television transmitter network. The Commercial channels only broadcast from the larger transmitters:
Londonderry (Northern Ireland) digital TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
If you can receive from Winter Hill, Pendle Forest or one of the other full-service transmitters then you might be able to get all the channels.
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jane: If there is a signal amplifier (booster) within the aerial system then this could have failed or it could be without power.
An amplifier without power or which has failed is likely to give no signal out, even when there is one going in. Don't assume that even though its power light is on that it is in full working order; the light merely indicates that there is power to the unit.
Try bypassing the amplifier, if you can.
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Thursday 21 February 2013 9:07PM
Mazbar: I've looked at it and I'm struggling to fathom the worked example on the ATV site!