All posts by Dave Lindsay
Below are all of Dave Lindsay's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Lesley: There is the possibility at switchover that "may" mean that you have to adjust the output of your Sky box, this being that a digital signal may have come on air on the same frequency you are using for your Sky box. This, as I say, is a possibility but you should go step by step.
If you have carried out an automatic tuning on the analogue side of the TV, the Sky box may have been put under number 1 if that is the only analogue signal to be found, as well it might. I would just leave it under analogue number 1.
Failing that, unplug the incoming aerial lead to the Sky box and then try again with tuning the TV. Then plug the aerial lead back into the Sky box. Then go back to the TV and see what the picture from the Sky box looks like. If it is snowy, then you know that there is a new digital signal coming down your aerial lead on the same frequency and you will have to change it using the instructions above.
Knowledge of your location (preferably by post code or nearby post code, such as a shop) will be helpful in working out a new channel to use, should you find that it is interfered with by a digital signal.
Obviously always ensure that the Sky box is powered on and not in standby so that it is putting out an analogue signal.
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Keith Myers: Without knowing your location my answer is more speculation than it may have been had I known your location.
Firstly, ensure that BBC One is tuned to Heathfield which is on UHF channel 52 by looking on the signal strength screen.
But there is a possibility that the signal after switchover is too strong, with this manifesting itself as being too weak and/or too poor quality a signal.
See Freeview signals: too much of a good thing is bad for you | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
In general terms, the closer to the transmitter that you are, the more this could be the case. A booster in particular could be increasing the signal too much.
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Malcolm Wood: The wonders of modern technology!
I hope you get it sorted.
Maybe the guys at ATV could advise you as to what might be your best choice aerial and any tips.
I did a plot using Megalithia with Eastbour South Tower and your location:
Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location
Click the link below the plot to view a map of the line between the two points. Unfortunately the houses on your road appear not to screen the unwanted signal.
Obviously as you're on a slight inline it makes it a bit more rough. But it does suggest that you are a little above the height of the broadcast antennas.
There is a tenth to two tenths of a mile before the ground drops for which there appears to be clear line of sight beyond and up to the Eastbourne transmitter.
So you are relying on the clutter on that tenth to two tenths of a mile to block the unwanted signal.
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Veronica Wells: If you are using a set-top aerial in your bedroom, then by their nature they can be hit and miss.
Take the set downstairs so as to connect it to the fixed aerial for the purpose of tuning it. Then, having tuned it, take it back upstairs and move the aerial to best effect.
If having taken it downstairs, and it still puts ITV3 on logical channel number (LCN) 3, then this sometimes happens where a receiver is not set for UK. Even if ITV1 is not picked up, ITV3 should still assume LCN 10 if the country setting is correct.
For the frequency/UHF channel number for ITV1, whilst on that channel, bring up the signal strength screen on the downstairs TV to see what it is tuned to.
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Peter: Maybe there is a disused roof-top aerial on Heathfield whose cable runs down the building and for which you could route into the loft and feed into the distribution amp.
As I say, I'm not a professional, but I understand that there are certain regulations with regards aerial systems that serve multiple dwellings. I understand these require appropriate earthing as well as electrical isolation between the outlets. I can't be any more specific than that.
I urge due caution; obviously I'm not saying that a particular aerial "will" work.
I did this plot using Megalithia, assuming your aerial to be 18m of the ground:
Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location
As you can see, it would appear that you probably have line of sight (or near so). Only mile closest to you could have an obstruction on it as it is an incline.
For this reason, I wonder if a XB10B may be suitable:
ATV`s Choice Of Aerials for digital TV
The distribution amp will allow you to fine tune.
The higher the gain, the narrower the acceptance angle.
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David: The two main factors that increase the likelihood are:
1. Proximity - the closer you are, the stronger the signal that is in the air. (Obviously the more off line of sight you are, the less likely that you are going to get too much signal, e.g. if you are in a valley but not very far from the transmitter).
2. People who upgraded their aerials because there old ones weren't sufficiently sensitive to pick up the low power pre-switchover signals may find that their aerials are now too sensitive. These would "tend" to be further away than those who aerials were sensitive enough.
Again, distance isn't everything. People can live close but with obstructions and without line of sight.
The point is that the difference between the pre-switchover digital and post switchover digital is big.
Digital reception is about thresholds. So you need enough level of signal to get a picture (the lower threshold) and not too much as to exceed the upper threshold.
Those who, before switchover, had sufficient signal level (to be above the lower threshold), but which was below the upper threshold by an amount greater than the increase in strength (before vs after) will therefore be OK.
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albert: May I ask you what the make and model number of your receiver is? There are some that have known issues that will prevent them from receiving this channel from Hastings transmitter.
If it turns out that you have an affected device, then I'll explain what the problem is.
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matty: Heathfield C47 is BBCB which carries the four HD services (including those of ITV1 and Channel 4), therefore non-HD tuners will be unable to receive it.
A "HD Ready" TV means that it will show HD pictures, but does not have the means to receive them over the air.
"Full HD" means that the TV has a HD resolution of 1080p. Its presence adds no qualification to reception of HD signals over the air.
Where a set has a "Freeview HD" logo on and has DVB-T2 in its specifications, then it will be able to receive C47. Standard definition broadcasts use DVB-T, so if in the spec it only says this, then it won't pick up HD.
C42 shown above is incorrect and I've posted a message to the site owner so it may be corrected. COM4/SDN remains on C48 at low power until 27th June when there will be a retune.
If there is a booster, then it may be able to be removed. It may or may not allow reception of COM4 on C48, you may have to wait until 27th when it will be on C42.
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John Baillie: Click the words "HD Ready" for an explanation.
You've probably bought them thinking that they were "ready" to receive HD when it comes on air. What it means is that they can display HD pictures but don't have the means to receive HD signals off the air.
A separate HD tuner box will be needed for each one I'm afraid.
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Friday 15 June 2012 11:35AM
kaz: As I you've gathered, SDN is shown above to be on C42+ which is incorrect as it is on C48 now and will go to C42 on 27th. Until then, it is doubtful whether you will be able to pick it up.
Perhaps the Sky box puts a signal out on or near C44 which is preventing reception of it on the TV. In order to discount this possibility, connect the incoming aerial lead directly to the TV (or set-top box receiver if that's what it is). Then try again. If you successfully tune in C44 and then you loose it once you've connected the aerial lead via the Sky box again, then suspicion must turn to that.
If there is a booster (before the TV), then try removing it and then try again manually tuning to C44.
D3+4 being tuned to Bexhill really needs fixing because receiving from a direction other than to which the aerial is pointing could leave the viewer liable to poor reception at some or all the time.
Removal of any booster will reduce signal levels and therefore may make it less likely to tune to Bexhill in error.
Failing that, if the set has manual tuning, then you can run the automatic tuning scan with the aerial unplugged for part of the scan to miss out Bexhill. As this will also miss out some of Heathfield, you can use manual tuning to add them.
Try plugging the aerial in at 53%. You will probably pick up BBCA and possibly D3+4 and you will have to add the rest.