All posts by Dave Lindsay
Below are all of Dave Lindsay's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
nicola: I would get a variable attenuator, such as that which is shown on the other page entitled "Freeview signals: too much of a good thing...". These usually give you a range up to 20dB.
Put variable attenuator into eBay and some will come up.
I would try putting it on the feed into one of the boxes. If 60 or 70% strength gives 100% quality, then I would try it at that.
If it works, then you might try putting the attenuator before the splitter and adjusting so that both devices work.
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nicola: Watch out because some of the attenuators have F-connectors (which are the threaded and therefore need screwing together) and some have the coax connectors on (the sort you just plug in as found on the back of TVs and recorders).
The most commonly encountered type of connector used for terrestrial aerials are the plug in coax ones, so you probably want one of these. For example:
TV Aerial Attenuator Variable 0-20Db Freeview Digital | eBay
eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace
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John Randle: The multiplex that carries ITV1, C4 and others on Ch56 and Mux D (Ch52) are on lower power than the other multiplexes.
It appears that has always been the case, certainly for four or five years.
Try manually tuning to Ch56.
The power will increase on 21st March when switchover completes. Until then, you will have to keep manually tuning and see if it comes back.
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John Randle: You might find this page useful:
Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
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Norm De Plume: Indeed. Have you seen the 8% of Freeview marketing that promotes the fact that 8% of the population will only get the "Freeview Light" service? I bet not.
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Peter Broadey: Where is your aerial pointing? Is it at Mendip? If you are getting Welsh news then I guess that it is likely to be from Wenvoe (predictor suggests this).
The predictor suggests that you might be in a location where signal from Carmel will reach. Its three commercial (COM) multiplexes broadcast on the same three channels as Mendip uses for its Public Service Broadcaster (PSB) ones. As a result, Mendip's PSBs are poor with COMs are good. It would appear that poor reception of Mendip's PSBs is due to interference between COMs from Carmel.
This terrain plotter suggests that you have nearly line of sight with Mendip, albeit that the ground goes up a mile or so away from you:
Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location
One possibility is to look at mounting the aerial somewhere where it is shielded from Carmel (north west), but which faces Mendip (east).
If your aerial faces Mendip, then I suggest that by mounting it higher up, it has increased the signal from Carmel that you don't want.
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Dave Rogers: Newhaven will only carry the Public Service Broadcaster (PSB) Freeview channels but Whitehawk will carry them all, so you would probably be best advised to stick with it if you can. The signal strength will be increased at switchover, so hopefully it will make it more reliable for you.
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Dave Rogers: You will also get Radio 4 on Freeview, so you might be able to connect it up to your hi-fi to listen that way.
BTW, the full list of BBC national FM transmitters is here:
BBC - Help receiving TV and radio - Transmitters
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John Buchanan: I'm not sure how these popup messages work, but 4th April is when switchover starts at Crystal Palace. Perhaps either they are sending out the message incorrectly from Bluebell Hill or your TV has one or more multiplexes stored from Crystal Palace (perhaps in your 800s).
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Thursday 12 January 2012 3:24PM
Jane: If your new flat has a communal terrestrial aerial, then it may well give you Freeview. There is no such thing as an analogue aerial or digital aerial; in a relatively few cases new aerials are needed. Whether you can get the full range of channels depends on the area you are in. If you supply the location (preferably full post code) a check can be made as to the possible likelihood of what you will get.
You might be able to use the communal "Sky" dish for Freesat. I know that you can where the dish supplies one residence.
To the pros: Will the communal satellite system work for Freesat (as well as Sky's subscription service)?