All posts by Dave Lindsay
Below are all of Dave Lindsay's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Irene: Find out which UHF channel (equivalent to frequency) your Sky box puts out its analogue signal by following this procedure:
How do I change the RF output channel on a Sky Digibox? | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
The recent change means that Winter Hill now uses C49 and C50. Perhaps your Sky box uses one of these channels (or one nearby) and it is one of these signals that is causing poor picture when you view your Sky box on a TV in another room.
Try changing it to C47 - this may be unused at your location, if it isn't then post again and I will make another suggestion. You will then need to retune the analogue part of your TVs.
The issue with poor reception on Freeview may be a different one and not connected with any interference from the Sky box. The reason I say this is because there were no changes (on 10th April) with the Storeton transmitter.
The issue with poor reception on Freeview may be down to the TV tuning to signals from another transmitter. Moel-y-Parc in Wales is roughly in line with Storeton, albeit that your aerial is vertical and it should be horizontal for it.
The channels from Storeton are all within the first 30% of the band, so unplug the aerial once it gets past 30%.
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derek Angelis: It probably depends on where exactly you are as to you chances of success.
Unfortunately the Commercial broadcasters don't have a Public Service obligation and so only pay to have their services carried from the largest transmitters (largest by viewer population). See here for an explanation:
Londonderry (Northern Ireland) digital TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
The hilly terrain means that there are pockets that can't receive (well) from the main station, and hence the reason for the relay being installed.
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maurice newhouse: You made a posting on a different page yesterday to which I replied:
Freeview signals: too much of a good thing is bad for you | Digital switchover | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
Obviously you shouldn't feeding the incoming aerial feed into the RF output socket, so something is amiss.
If your aerial points north eastwards then it is directed to Winter Hill and so you should select north west region, if such a setting is available.
The signal strength screen usually gives the UHF channel (frequency) of the tuned channel, so should be able to check whether it is tuned to Winter Hill, or another transmitter.
Check the following five services and see that they are tuned to the Winter Hill channels:
BBC One - C50
ITV - C59
ITV3 - C58
Pick TV - C49
Film4 - C55
You might be picking up Moel-y-Parc whose five channels are 45, 39, 51, 52, 48.
Or Storeton Wales which only broadcasts the first two on C57 and C53, respectively.
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Mandy Wallace: If your receiver has manual tuning then COM4 (ITV3, Channel 5+1 etc) from Bluebell Hill is C45 and from Dover it is on C55.
However, I'm a little puzzled by what you say that you "thought" you were using Dover. On looking at the Streetview photos all the aerials appear to be on Dover, which is due east rather than Bluebell Hill which is west north west.
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John: You certainly won't ever receive them from the Hertford relay transmitter. See here for an explanation:
Londonderry (Northern Ireland) digital TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
You may be able to receive the full service from Crystal Palace, or perhaps Sandy Heath, although the latter carries different BBC and ITV regions.
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paul bond: I answered that question above!
See Sunday 17 March 2013 1:20PM.
One possibility is to use Belmont as your main transmitter, and feed the West Runton signal into a separate set-top box, for use when regional programming is being broadcast.
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Sally Clayton: It sounds like there is some source of interference in the form of a noisy electrical appliance that cuts in by timer. It could be in a neighbour's house.
See here for a suggestion to someone else encountering a similar issue:
Feedback | Feedback | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
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Hugh Blackburne: I imagine that the likely answer is that the "other" multiplexes are on higher power owing to them not having as many other transmitters around Huntshaw Cross.
That is, the BBC (spends more money) on installing more transmitters and this may explain why the power of the Huntshaw Cross transmitter isn't as great as the others.
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Alistair Steele: You're not alone in reporting an issue:
FM, MW and LW radio broadcasting | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
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DIANE MATTHEWS: The Digital UK predictor suggests that you may be able to receive from Ffestiniog transmitter. However, it only carries Public Service (PSB) channels and this is not likely to change. See here for why we now have a two-tier terrestrial television transmitter network:
Londonderry (Northern Ireland) digital TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
For that reason, in order to receive anything more than is carried on the PSB multiplexes, you will have to use satellite, e.g. Freesat.
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Peter Webber: It is carried on COM6, and therefore is broadcast by 81 full-service transmitters, including Tacolneston.
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Cecilia Jones: If either you are using a communal aerial system or two aerials combined on different transmitters, you may have difficulty.
Communal aerial systems may need adjustment to allow through the new frequencies for PSB1 (BBC standard definition) and COM5 (Pick TV etc).
On your road there are a number of houses with an aerial on Winter Hill (North West) and one on Moel-y-Parc (Wales). This combination may now not be feasible owing to the new lower frequencies of PSB1 and COM5 from Winter Hill.
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Cecilia Jones: You appear not to be in a good signal area owing to the fact that the signal path is low to the ground for two miles because of the slope upwards. It is also obstructed by the ground in at least two places. There are lots of trees on the slope as well as buildings such as the High School.
The other clue are the large aerials on Winter Hill in your locality. There is something on the pole that your aerial is mounted on; a mast-head amp perhaps?
Do you have another receiver such as that in-built into the TV that you can try?
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Sue: If you have not done anything with the Sony with regards retuning since 10th April then it should be as before. Only PSB1 (BBC One etc) and COM5 (Pick TV etc) have changed channels, so ITV, ITV3 and Film4 (among others) should still be present. If they are not then you have another issue unconnected with the change of 10th April.
Where does the terrestrial aerial feed go? Does it go into the Sky box and out then into the amplifier in the loft so the Sky box is available to all TVs? Or does it feed directly into the amplifier?
Is the amplifier connected directly to mains electricity? That is, does a wire come from it whose other end is plugged into the mains? If not, is there a separate power supply for the amplifier?
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dms: Or can you receive the full service, including North West programming, from Storeton?
All transmitters carry HD; it is the Commercial services that aren't available from all.
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Sue: I should add that the issue isn't likely to be one where a filter will be required. There are 800MHz 4G tests, but none of these are anywhere near you and so 4G is not a possible cause.
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karen moore: This is not an aerial issue as you are receiving the signal.
The issue has come about due to the difference of the picture format of Freeview and Saorview.
Freeview's pictures are encoded using MPEG2 and Saorview's use the later MPEG4 format. For this reason, some Freeview standard definition receivers don't have the capability to show Saorview pictures. Freeview HD receivers have MPEG4 decoders built-in and so will work with Saorview.
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Catherine Meek: If the question relates to a another BBC One and ITV region replacing your native ones then the reason must be that your receiver has tuned to another transmitter. Knowledge of your location, and possibly transmitter your aerial faces, would allow a suggested workaround which may involve unplugging the aerial lead during the part of the scan that the unwanted transmitter broadcasts.
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karen moore: Or, of course, a Saorview set-top box will work.
But if you get a Saorview HD box hoping to use it to pick up Freeview HD as well, then be aware that it will not.
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Alan Hibbert: C59 from Winter Hill is the highest channel and therefore found last during the scan. The answer is probably that the receiver finds channels from other transmitters before getting to Winter Hill's by the time which its tuning memory is full (for C59).
The answer is usually to have the aerial lead unplugged for part of the scan to prevent it from filling the memory with the ones you don't want, so as to leave room for those you do.
Have the aerial out until 50% and let us know if it does the trick.
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Mike Thomas: BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru are available on Freeview in Wales. The answer is surely to feed the audio (via the L+R phonos probably) out of a set-top box into a hifi or speakers.
The "basics" from Llandrindod Wells are the Public Service channels. If they had no Public Service obligation you would likely not have them. See here for an explanation:
Londonderry (Northern Ireland) digital TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
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andy: The "full" set of Freeview channels comprises of those from the Public Service Broadcasters (PSBs) and those from the Commercial (COM) broadcasters. Whilst the PSBs have an obligation to provide a Public Service, the Commercial ones do not. As such, the latter stick the largest transmitting stations (largest by viewer population). See here for a further explanation:
Londonderry (Northern Ireland) digital TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
In some parts where the Skipton transmitter is available, other full-service transmitters can be received, albeit that these are generally North West region rather than Yorkshire. The full-service transmitters that might be possible are Winter Hill and, near Lancashire, Pendle Forest (there may be others).
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Sue: You are only a few hundreds of metres from the Littleborough relay transmitter, which on the tower further up your road.
I would suggest that your TV may have decided to use the BBC signal from it rather than from Winter Hill. The signal strength screen usually gives an indication as to which UHF channel (equivalent to frequency) it is tuned to. Do this for BBC One. Littleborough broadcasts on C27 and Winter Hill is on C50.
Because Littleborough's channels are all low (low frequencies) and Winter Hill's are high ones, during the scan, have the aerial out for the first 50% of the scan. This should also miss out BBC Wales and ITV Wales from the Moel-y-Parc transmitter, which is what you were getting.
Try it and let me know how you get on. If there are any other issues I may be able to suggest something.
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Dennis: It appears to be the case that Sudbury's COM channels 58, 60 and 56 are not as good as the Public Service (PSB) ones. This is particularly on your side of the transmitter.
Refer to the Sudbury transmitter page on this site. "Nick" from Hollesley finds all the COM channels hit and miss with the PSBs being strong.
If the picture is lost, or is breaking up, I wouldn't retune as this will achieve nothing positive. You will only ever get the same result, or else loose the channel completely from your receiver. The receiver, having stored C58, will lock on to it if it is available, providing the best picture possible.
The thing with digital is that there is signal strength and signal quality. A receiver requires the strength to be above its minimum threshold in order to resolve a picture (providing it is of sufficient quality).
The question is: is your difficulty resulting from the strength dropping to below that needed for your receiver or is the strength still there but instead the quality is diminished?
Make a note of the strength at different times, i.e. when it's not working and when it does work, and see if there is a difference. Also, compare the strengths of C60 (Pick TV) and C56 (Film4).
Don't compare strengths between different receivers as the meters aren't worthy of comparison. Only compare different channels with the same receiver.
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Kevin: How are the two TVs fed? Is it from one aerial and a powered amplifier/splitter? Normally I would suggest that suggest that the first suspicion is that the amplifier may have failed. However, a 800MHz 4G test started that day, which I wonder if it might affect you:
at800 West London 4G tests
If you are using an amplifier, don't assume that just because the light is on that it is functioning as it should. The light being on only tells you that there is power to the device.
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andy: YouView is an on-demand system which incorporates a Freeview (terrestrial) receiver.
Freesat "free time" is an on-demand system with free-to-air satellite channels. All channels which are on Freeview PSB muxes (i.e. those you have available from the Skipton transmitter) are on Freesat.
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PaulN: I've Googled various terms and not been successful in finding information on RT transmitter engineering works.
www.rtenl.ie which is the network operator does not appear to give that information.
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Dennis: In addition to the caution that you may be unable to receive 56, 58 and 60 reliably at your location, it is worth pointing out that your aerial that was installed in the days of analogue may not be best suited to picking up 56, 58 and 60.
The four analogue channels were Group B (the middle of the band), of which 41 and 44 are in. However, the three COM channels are in the top third of the band, Group C/D. Thus the sensitivity of a Group B aerial on higher channels may not be sufficient.
If you are still using a Group B aerial and the issue is the signal level dropping (and not the quality being lost) then a signal amplifier may help, or of course so too may a replacement aerial. If it is quality that is being lost rather than strength then no amount of amplification will right that.
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Jackie: If you are receiving from Sandy Heath transmitter then if your aerial has not been replaced from the days of four-channel analogue you may need it replacing. The reason being that it is less sensitive on the higher frequencies that ITV3, Dave, Pick TV, Film4 and others use.
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john abram: Because they are the only signals being transmitted by the transmitter you are using.
See:
Londonderry (Northern Ireland) digital TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
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ColinB: Have you confirmed that for BBC One her receiver is tuned to UHF channel 50, which is Winter Hill?
Haslingden is on C26 and is on roughly the same bearing, albeit vertically polarised.
I don't quite understand as you make reference to "switchover". This occured in 2009 and the frequency of BBC services changed 10 April this year. If there was no retune required on 10 April then she cannot be tuned to Winter Hill.
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ColinB: If it does turn out to be tuned to Haslingden then just have the aerial lead out for the first 30% of the scan to avoid picking it up.
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john: It's probably due to the tuner running out of memory. The clue is that the ITV channels are picked up last during the scan (i.e. on the highest frequency).
It probably results from signals from other transmitters being picked up first, filling the memory.
Without knowledge of your transmitter is not possible to say whether this might apply here.
Based on your previous postings, you are probably using Winter Hill whose ITV signal is on the highest channel. The answer may be to have the aerial lead out for the first 50% of the scan. If, having done this, you are missing some other channels then try getting the aerial lead in a bit sooner.
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ColinB: The signal strength screen usually gives the tuned UHF channel (or frequency).
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alanhughes: The Storeton transmitter broadcasts, in the direction of Wales, Welsh regional channels. I suggest that it might be these transmissions which you are picking up.
If there is manual tuning, use it. Winter Hill's channels are:
PSB1 | BBC One etc = C50
PSB2 | ITV etc = C59
PSB3 | BBC One HD etc = C54
COM4 | ITV3 etc = C58
COM5 | Pick TV etc = C49
COM6 | Film4 etc = C55
You may have to run the automatic tuning scan through with the aerial unplugged in order to "blank" what is currently stored. If this doesn't work you may have to look for an option such as first time install, or on some models you can delete individual channels.
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ColinB: Having established that the TVs are tuned to C50 (for BBC), is there a Sky box or some other box that may be outputting an analogue signal and that this is set to C50 or near to?
Connecting the incoming aerial feed directly to the TV is a quick way of discounting that as a possibility.
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ColinB: If any of the TVs only give tuned channels in MHz, then C50 is 706.0MHz and C26 is 514.0MHz.
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Tim Hayward: Have you had your Group B aerial replaced with a wideband one?
COM channels, which are those you're having difficulty with, are on C/D channels from Hemel Hempstead.
See:
Aerials, TV Aerial and Digital Aerial
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Adam: Which transmitter are you using?
If it's Nottingham (Kimberley) then Sutton Coldfield is on roughly the same bearing, albeit that the former is vertically polarised and the latter is horizontally polarised.
Whichever transmitter you are using, always check to see that all channels are tuned to the desired transmitter as there may be a number of possibilities at your location.
Based on Streetview photos of Papplewich Lane, Waltham is (mainly) used in the area. Aerials for it are horizontal and it is south east from you.
Check the UHF channel or frequency given on the signal strength screen on each of the following:
PSB1 | BBC One | C61 | 794MHz
PSB2 | ITV | C54 | 738MHz
PSB3 | BBC One HD | C58 | 770MHz
COM4 | ITV3 | C29 | 538MHz
COM5 | Pick TV | C56 | 754MHz
COM6 | Film4 | C57 | 762MHz
On 29th May, as part of the clearance for 4G services, PSB1 will move to C49 (698MHz).
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Jackie Jones: If the set has a manual tuning facility then try it. From Winter Hill BBC standard definition services are now on UHF channel 50.
Do you also have Pick TV on the upstairs TV, which also changed channel and is now on C49? Do you have Pick TV on the downstairs TV?
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m.e.thomas: I would suggest that you may be within the area of the 800MHz 4G test:
at800 South East London 4G tests
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Steveeboy: The reason why Nottingham is required is probably because there are areas where Waltham isn't. This is likely to be due to the terrain, which blocks reception from Waltham.
As with any transmitter, there are places of overlap. Study the coverage maps on this site for the two transmitters. You will probably find that the gaps correspond to drops in the terrain.
The main, high power transmitters are horizontally polarised, except for Rowridge which, since switchover, uses mixed polarisation. The majority of relays are vertically polarised.
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Harry Gallagher: Freeview is the name of the terrestrial system in the UK. This means that it is broadcast from transmitters on the ground, and for this reason a satellite dish cannot be used for it.
However, there are free-to-air services available via satellite (i.e. non-subscription). As KMJ,Derby says, you can get some free-to-air services with your Sky box and no subscription card.
Other possibilities are "Freesat from Sky" and "Freesat".
"Freesat from Sky" information is here:
FREESAT from Sky - Call now to order
Be aware of the dagger footnote(!): "For security reasons Viewing Cards may be inactivated from time to time. In this situation, if you wish to continue to receive all the encrypted Free to View channels, you will have to purchase a new viewing card at our then applicable standard charge."
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Steveeboy: There are two properties that are important in a TV aerial: directivity and polarisation.
The DM Log aerial (Blake DML26WB) is good for touring:
TV Aerials for Boats and Caravans
It is wideband, and so is suitable for reception from any transmitter.
Those who have their aerials horizontal when signals are vertically polarised have not got them set for best reception.
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george clarke: If he is using a communal aerial system then it might require adjustment to allow the new channels for COM6 (Film4, Yesterday etc) and PSB3 (HD services). This is because they use channels which haven't been used before and communal aerial systems are sometimes fitted with filters that only allow through the channels in use by the designated transmitter.
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george clarke: With the Freeview system, Yesterday is logical channel number (LCN) 19; Film4 is LCN15.
However, as he does not have anything on LCN15, I suspect that he won't have Yesterday on LCN19.
Try a manual tune on UHF channel 39, if the TV has a manual tune function.
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Sue Medlicott: Because the Commercial licensees do not have an obligation to provide a Public Service, unlike the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.
See here for an explanation:
Londonderry (Northern Ireland) digital TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
Unfortunately the fact that you live at the bottom of a drop would appear to rule out direct reception from Mendip which would give you all the channels. The vegetation on the top of the hill may also make your pretty much non-existant chances even slimmer.
There would appear to be no other full-service transmitters that you may have a shot with. You can, of course, always consult with an installer who knows the area, but it doesn't look promising at all.
Probably your best bet is to look at installing Freesat.
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Duke: It would appear that you are receiving from Rowridge which does not have any reported issues and no one else has posted about having any issues.
If you are using an aerial system which has an amplifier (powered booster) then the amplifier may have failed or its power supply cut. This may apply to a communal aerial system.
In such circumstances you should generally avoid retuning. You can't retune the TV until the signal comes back and you won't know the signal has come back until you have successfully retuned. Had you not retuned then the set would be tuned and you would simply turn on your set. Retuning in such circumstances is akin to shooting oneself in the foot.
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Clare McNeil: I really wouldn't be so concerned. Surely there are more important things that "might" happen to worry about, such as if one still has a job in six months time.
If there is interference from 4G services at 800MHz then worrying about it will make no difference.
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Clare McNeil: My point was one of getting things into perspective from the point of view of the likelihood of each happening, the likely detrimental effect and the ease of enacting a solution.
I imagine that in most cases where interference is an issue that a filter will cure it. Only in extreme circumstances will a filter not rectify the issue, this being where the interfering signal is so strong.
Filters have been sent out to addresses where interference "may" be an issue. Understandably, this may provoke concern among recipients, but at the end of the day the other alternative would have been not to send them out automatically, leaving those who are affected (having turned on the 4G masts) to ring up and request a filter.
As I guess it will say in what you have received, the organisation that is carrying out the test is "at800". They say that if, during the test, viewers experience interference that they should ring them. An engineer will visit to find out what the issue is:
at800 Brighton 4G test
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Clare McNeil: I hope that we have allayed your concerns and put your mind at rest.
Should you have an issue when the test starts and the filter doesn't cure it, or you would like assistance fitting the filter, then at800 are the people to call.
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Toni B: Perhaps it is a combination of the trees and the traffic on Lymington Road, which intersects the signal path. I offer the latter as a possible explanation of why the reception varies at different parts of the day.
I say this because, in the direction of the transmitter, the ground rises before the water. See the terrain plot:
My Freeview | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
Imagine if the transmitter were beaming out light. The line between it and the receiving aerial is likely to be obstructed by objects on the ground. Vegetation and traffic change over time and so their effects on reception may change.
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pete: No. The UK now has a two-tier terrestrial transmitter network. This is because there are two types of broadcaster.
The Public Service Broadcaster (PSB) channels transmit from the Weymouth relay. There are over 1,000 other low power transmitters which serve about 8.5% of the population which also only carry PSB channels.
As well as Public Service Broadcasters, there are now Commercial broadcasters (COMs) which have no obligation to provide a "Public Service", only make profit. For this reason they only broadcast from the largest transmitting stations and are therefore not "missing" from any transmitting station as it is their choice as to which they serve from.
For a further explanation, see:
Londonderry (Northern Ireland) digital TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
It is doubtful that you may be able to receive the full service (from another transmitter). As well as having inferior coverage due to not being carried from all stations, there are some who can only receive PSB stations reliably even though they are using a full-service transmitter. This is because the signals aren't as good as well as the frequencies they use being reused by transmitters in closer proximity than the PSB frequencies are reused.
The COM channels from Stockland Hill share frequencies with the COM channels of Rowridge, so at your location you "may" find that this rules out reception of the full service from the latter. That said, Rowridge's channels are vertically polarised and Stockland's are horizontally polarised.
See if any of your neighbours have aerials directed to Rowridge which is on a bearing of 84 degrees. Rowridge broadcasts horizontally and vertically now, albeit that the COM channels are better with the latter. The fact that someone has an aerial pointing to it does not necessarily mean that they can pick up all channels.
You may give consideration to Freesat, particularly if you are unable to receive the Freeview COM channels.
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Malc: Is this a channel which you had previously at this location and has disappeared? Is it one that you have lost since you moved?
Which transmitter are you using? Sheffield, with your aerial vertical, or Emley Moor with your aerial horizontal?
Do have the other Commercial channels Pick TV (11) and Film4 (15)?
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Jon Rhys: Did the deterioration coincide with the erection of a new building?
The Megalithia terrain plot also provides a map with a line linking the transmitter and receiver (click the link "view a map of area..." below the plot. The terrain plot shows that about a mile away the ground drops a bit:
Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location
The line goes through the east end of Bridgend Industrial Estate. This is what made me wonder if this is a new industrial building.
Looking at Streetview photos, it's quite clear that there are trees that may be difficulty for at least some residents. Add to that the fact that it is on a slope which means that the tops of buildings going upwards are higher.
It might be worth checking that they are tuned to UHF channel 42 for COM4 (ITV3) and not UHF channel 48 which is Mendip. Mendip is only nine degrees clockwise of Wenvoe.
If it is tuned to Wenvoe, they may be lucky and be able to receive COM4 from Mendip and the rest from Wenvoe. This may be a long shot but its free so it's got to be worth a try.
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Jon Rhys: It is not necessarily a building along the line, but one off at an angle to the receiving aerial.
The 800MHz 4G tests are certainly not an issue as they are a long way away.
Unless the receiver is tuned to the wrong transmitter or the desired transmitter has changed then nothing will be achieved by retuning. A receiver will lock on to the signal if it is there. Retuning cannot make a signal that is not there or is poor, appear or improve.
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Maurice: As you live in a block of flats, it may be the case that you are using a communal aerial system. If so then see if any of your neighbours have lost BBC services on Freeview.
Be aware that those receiving via satellite (Sky, Freesat etc) will not be affected, so try and ascertain that any who are not affected are actually using the terrestrial aerial system (Freeview).
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Jean: Looking at the location of Seven Sisters, I think it's doubtful that you will be able to receive the full service.
The UK now has a two-tier terrestrial television transmitter network. See here for an explanation:
Londonderry (Northern Ireland) digital TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
The difficulty you have is that you are in a valley and the signal is way above you.
Perhaps Freesat is your best bet for additional channels.
The only thing I can suggest so that your mother does not have more channels than you is, next time you are round her house, you untune the Commercial channels leaving her with only the Public Service ones (which are those you have)...
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Deehcee: As stated on the UKTV "About" page:
Who We Are and What We Do | About UKTV | UKTV Corporate Site
UKTV is "an independent commercial joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (SNI)."
BBC Worldwide is the commercial arm of the BBC and therefore not funded by the Licence Fee.
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Sheebs: You don't connect the two feeds into one; you use one or the other!
A recording device such as Sky+ or Freesat+ requires two feeds so as to be able to receive two different channels simultaneously. The two feeds are identical, so they can be used interchangeably.
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Matt De Luca: Because it carries only Public Service channels. See here for an explanation:
Londonderry (Northern Ireland) digital TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
It may be worth seeing if you can receive the full service from another transmitter. The power of Whitehawk Hill is greater than the former analogue.
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francis: Maybe or maybe not.
Freeview HD receivers definitely work with Saorview. Some Freeview standard definition receivers will show Saorview pictures.
Saorview pictures are encoded using the MPEG4 standard whereas Freeview standard definition pictures use the earlier MPEG2 format. For this reason, many Freeview SD receivers don't have the capability to resolve MPEG4 pictures. In such a case the signal will be received, albeit with no picture.
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Becky: I would use a AM (MW or LW) radio powered from batteries. Tune it away from a station and listen for any noise. Have it on at the start and end time and see if the start and end of the noise on the radio coincides with the TV signal breaking up, that way you know you are listening to the cause.
AM radios have a ferrite rod in which act as the antenna. They are most sensitive in the axis perpendicular to their length. Hence, if you hold the radio with it facing you, when the sound is the loudest you know that it is coming from in front of, behind, above, or below you (or somewhere on that axis). Spin round to where it is at its quietest and the source of the noise must be from either end of the radio.
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Pete Green: Transmitter engineering is a bot whose job is to scrape the information from official sources. In this case it is from Digital UK, as the presence of its logo denotes.
The information comes from Digital UK's engineering page at:
www.digitaluk.co.uk/engineeringworks
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Patrick: What aerials do you have pointing where?
The transmitter on Sheriff Mountain broadcasts only Public Service (PSB) channels, which does not include ITV3. The only way you will receive ITV3, Pick TV, Film4 and others (which are carried on the Commercial/COM multiplexes) is to receive from Limavady, if indeed this is possible.
See here for an explanation of why the COM channels don't have as great a reach as the PSBs:
Londonderry (Northern Ireland) digital TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
For a list of which services are PSB and which are COM, see:
DTG :: DTT Services by Multiplex
You've posted before about Saorview, which is an added complication. You may be able to receive it from Moville and get away with one horizontally polarised aerial pointing on a bearing somewhere between it and Limavady.
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Pete Green: I suspect that this the "no analogue radio" bit might be a bug in the program that takes the information from its source. I have e-mailed the site owner to make him aware of it.
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Rob: As stated many times on this website, there is a two-tier terrestrial television network in the UK. On the page for the Whitehaven transmitter only last month was this covered:
Whitehaven (Cumbria, England) digital TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
If you cannot receive the Freeview Commercial channels by using an alternative transmitter then Freesat may be your best bet to expand your viewing choice.
Freesat Freetime is the on-demand service, similar to what YouView is to Freeview:
Freesat :: free time from freesat
The YouView website suggests that a minimum speed of 3Mbps is required. This does not preclude the use of ADSL if it is sufficiently fast enough. Based on your comment I presume that you are too far away from the exchange for ADSL to function.
Is this what you're looking for?:
Home page : Connecting Cumbria
Perhaps write to your MP.
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Rob: According to SamKnows, Whitehaven exchange is due to get fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) this year:
SamKnows - Broadband Availability - Whitehaven (LCWHI) Exchange
However, you may be connected to one of the others. Cleator Moor, for example, does not have a forecast for FTTC.
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richard caywood: What you are describing could suggest too high a signal level:
Freeview signals: too much of a good thing is bad for you | Digital switchover | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
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richard caywood: Looking on Streetview (photos taken August 2012) I can only see one aerial pointing to Emley Moor, which could indicate that it is not so good on your road. Some parts slope down, so what may and may not be possible may vary along its length.
From what I can see there are a few Belmont aerials and quite a few Beecroft Hill aerials.
The buildings in and around Elmfield Way appear as if the may be on higher ground and in the signal path. See and click link "view a map of area between SE251359 and SE222128":
Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location
This higher ground would appear to be a brow over which you are trying to receive.
Has some building recently been built or is in the process of being built?
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gary: Information on getting a refund of your TV Licence is here:
TV Licensing - How to tell us you don't watch TV
Note the reminder at the top which says that it will be illegal for you to view live television, irrespective of broadcaster.
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David: If your aerial points to the Tacolneston transmitter, have you confirmed that it is indeed tuned to Tacolneston for all channels?
If it is then retuning is a waste of time. If it isn't then carrying the same automatic tuning procedure may well yield the same incorrect result. As Einstein said: "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results"!
Bring up the signal strength screen on the following services and observe the UHF channel that it is tuned to. The following channels are for Tacolneston:
BBC One = C55
ITV = C59
BBC One HD = C50
ITV3 = C42
Pick TV = C45
Film4 = C39
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Ian: I would suggest that you will probably have to use the power supply that came with the aerial.
When you say that you get no signal, have you also disconnected the aerial's power supply? If so then it isn't likely to give any signal out.
What is the make and model of the recorder? Knowledge of this may allow the user manual to be found online so we may suggest how you might proceed.
Have you successfully tuned in the recorder?
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Bernadette Newby: Why do you "have" to retune? What are the symptoms??? You are leaving us to guess by keeping us in the dark!
There are quite a few complaints of receivers, particularly Philips ones, 'forgetting' channels when they are powered down? Is this the case here? I guess that it is likely to affect ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, ITV 2 and other services on PSB2 multiplex.
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Ian: I have found the manual for your Philips recorder here:
http://download.p4c.phili….pdf
The 5V power that it puts out comes from the Antenna In connection and is therefore fed up the aerial lead into the aerial. Unless the aerial (complete with in-built amplifier, which this has) is designed to accept 5V, and does not take more than 50mA, then it won't work and you will have to use the aerial's own power supply (with the function turned off on the recorder).
Where the aerial feeds into a recorder (or other box) and out and then into the TV, the box must continue to allow the signal to pass through whilst in standby. In some cases there are settings to disable the signal pass-through while in standby. You will, of course, need to keep the Philips box powered in order to watch the TV, if you have it daisy-chained on the aerial lead.
I can't find any information on any settings about this in the manual.
HDMI cables can cause interference in aerial leads when in close proximity which can affect signals. Try removing the HDMI lead from the equation to see whether this makes any difference.
What does the signal strength read on the TV when it is connected directly to the aerial? And what does it show when you feed it via the recorder? Check BBC One and ITV.
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Patrick: I typed <<dab northern ireland>> into Google and the first link that came up was:
Ofcom | Extending DAB Services in Northern Ireland - Request to extend coverage area of national radio multiplex service
I believe that Ofcom has recently been consulting on improvement to regional and local DAB multiplexes.
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KMJ,Derby: Thanks for pointing that out. As you may have gathered, I didn't look the contents before posting the link.
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John: Dave is carried on COM5 multiplex. Have you replaced your Group A aerial with a Group K or wideband one? Do you receive COM4 (ITV3 etc) and COM6 (Film4 etc)?
I covered the post-switchover signals from Bilsdale not all being on Group A channels here:
Bilsdale (North Yorkshire, England) full-Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
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Dennis: TBH I'm not entirely sure what to read into your results (I'm not a professional installer).
I was thinking that they may clearly indicate whether this is a quality issue or a strength one. Let us know how it goes.
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Barry Ashbolt: I don't quite follow your posting. You say that you use Winter Hill but then you say you have two aerials.
If these aerial feeds are combined so as to feed into a single Freeview receiver then you may have an issue. If so then for BBC standard definition services (on PSB1) you will have to use Darwen on C45 rather than Winter Hill on C50. COM5 (Pick TV etc) on C49 will now no longer be available from your Winter Hill aerial.
See here for a full list of services by PSB/COM multiplex:
DTG :: DTT Services by Multiplex
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mr f reant: The first thing is to ensure that ensure that the TV is tuned to the transmitter to which the aerial faces. In your area, reception may be possible from Winter Hill and Congleton transmitters. The latter carries fewer channels (the Public Service ones).
If your aerial faces Winter Hill, ensure that your TV hasn't tuned to Congleton (for the channels it broadcasts). To do this, check the signal strength screen on BBC One, ITV and BBC One HD (if it has a HD receiver). It should tell you the UHF channel that the signal is being received on and this is equivalent to the frequency.
For BBC One it should be tuned to C50 (706MHz) for Winter Hill rather than C44 (658MHz) for Congleton.
For ITV it should be tuned to C59 (778MHz) for Winter Hill rather than C41 (634MHz) for Congleton.
For BBC One HD it should be tuned to C54 (738MHz) for Winter Hill rather than C47 (682MHz) for Congleton.
You don't need to check others because they will be as one of the above. That is, BBC Two will always be the same as BBC One.
Further advice on your reply.
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mr f reant: I would like to add that knowledge of the make and model of your receiver (TV or box) "may" allow me to find the user manual online and so give you more exact instructions on what to do.
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Fraser Ballantyne: I guess that you mean "BT Vision" rather than "BBC Vision".
The answer to your question is because the number of channels is dependent on which transmitter you are receiving from; this has nothing to do with BT.
The digital terrestrial television network is a two-tier system. All transmitters carry Public Service channels because the Public Service Broadcasters (PSBs) have an obligation to provide a public service.
The Commercial (COM) licensees only have a requirement to satisfy their own interest, which is to turn a profit. Thus they aren't interested in using the transmitting stations which serve relatively few users.
See here for an explanation:
Londonderry (Northern Ireland) digital TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
The difficulty you have is that you are in a valley and the high ground prevents reception from one of the main transmitters (such as Angus) that carry all channels. You have to rely on the transmitter which relays the PSB signals from Angus (it being located on higher ground where it can get a signal).
I think that in order to get anything more than the Freeview Public Service channels you will have to look to the sky (not the bit that Murdoch owns!).
You can get Freesat, a Freesat recorder. Also, Freesat Freetime is the on-demand service:
Freesat :: free time from freesat
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joe: No. The recording function on a Sky+ box requires a subscription. Based on what others have said on here, if you don't subscribe to any Sky channels, you can pay Sky about £10 per month for the rather dubious privilege of using the record and playback function of your own box.
Freeview is the name of the terrestrial system which therefore requires a terrestrial aerial, which points to a transmitter on the ground, rather than a satellite.
Freesat is the name of the free-to-air satellite service, which could be what you are thinking of. You can use the dish for it as Sky and Freesat are entirely the same as far as the dish goes.
If your Freesat receiver has recording capabilities then it will require two feeds, just as your Sky+ box does.
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John Curtis: I suggest that the two most likely reason for getting no signal from the rooftop aerial is because either the lead is not connected all the way through and/or because there is an amplifier connected inline which is not powered on.
The amplifier could be on the mast, in which case it requires a separate power supply that connects inline, often behind the television. Or there could be a distribution amplifier perhaps situated in the loft which feeds signals to more than one room.
Judging by the size of the aerials on the rooves of the houses in your area I think it highly unlikely that the signal lower down and indoors is likely to be sufficient for an indoor aerial!
Whilst you are only 31 miles away, you do not have anywhere near line-of-sight. The difficulty is the higher ground on which Camberley sits, which is in the way.
If your aerial points to Crystal Palace, which is roughly east north east, then see if any of your receivers have manual tuning on. Try manually tuning its broadcast (UHF) channels which are 23, 26, 25, 22 and 28.
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Steve Cheshire: No. The Licence Fee does not guarantee availability of reception.
From what I can see, your postcode resolves to a block of flats. This makes me think that this aerial you refer to, which is on the roof, is a communal one. If so some then communal aerial systems require adjustment to take account of the new channels.
If, one month on, no resident has bothered to notify the landlord then it isn't likely to get fixed!
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Darren: There is a two-tier transmitter system in the UK. All transmitters broadcast the Public Service Broadcaster (PSB) channels, which includes the BBC. The Licence Fee goes exclusively to the BBC, although payment does not guarantee possibility of any reception, from the Ludlow transmitter you have all BBC services.
The Commercial (COM) broadcasters pick and choose which transmitters they use - their objective is to turn a profit with no requirement to provide a Public Service. The Licence Fee does not go to these broadcaster.
I cannot agree with anyone who suggests that the BBC should receive less reevenue from viewers for whom the Commercial channels are not available. The Commercial licensees took a decision which should not affect the BBC's income!
See here for a further explanation:
Londonderry (Northern Ireland) digital TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
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BRUCE RICHARDSON: If the "South" programming you are referring to is being picked via terrestrial television (Freeview) then you must surely be receiving it from Hannington.
From Croughton, both Hannington and Oxford transmitters are on bearings less than 10 degrees apart. As Hannington uses lower UHF channels (frequencies) it will be picked up first during the scan and receivers may default to it.
Try running the scan with the aerial unplugged for the first 50% in an effort to miss out Hannington and get Oxford.
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Liz: If your aerial is pointing to the Rowridge transmitter on the Isle of Wight then have your aerial changed so that it is mounted vertically.
Rowridge broadcasts horizontally and vertically and has been doing so since April last year. The horizontal signals are there to work with existing aerials, but some may find vertical polarisation better.
The Commercial (COM) channels which carry the likes of ITV4 and Film4 are strongly vertically. This is because they are effectively restricted horizontally due to other transmitters using the same frequencies. To the west is Stockland Hill which broadcasts only horizontally, so you could be being affected by its signal. Switching your aerial for vertical polarisation will help 'rejection' of the unwanted Stockland signal (if it is present) as well as taking advantage of the strong signals from Rowridge.
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Mr.B.W.Foxen: Yes, or you may be able to avoid the Welsh transmissions by unplugging the aerial during the part of the scan that the Moel-y-Parc transmitting station broadcasts.
Have your aerial out until 50%. Then view the signal strength screen on each of these to see which you are tuned to:
BBC One | WH=C50 | MyP=C45
ITV | WH=C59 | MyP=C39
BBC One HD | WH=C54 | MyP=C42
ITV3 | WH=C58 | MyP=C51
Pick TV | WH=C49 | MyP=C52
Film4 | WH=C55 | MyP=C48
WH=Winter Hill and MyP=Moel-y-Parc
There is a little bit of overlap in the highest Moel-y-Parc channel and the lowest Winter Hill one, although the Commercial channels (51, 52 and 48) from Moel-y-Parc are at half transmission power to the Public Service (45, 39, 42) ones.
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gordon pithie: Contact your landlord, or whatever party is responsible for the aerial system.
The communal aerial system requires a power supply. One possibility is that the circuit breaker has tripped out, as they sometimes do when power is lost.
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Tony: Not via terrestrial television (Freeview). This is because the Commercial licensees don't have an obligation to provide a Public Service and so stick to the transmitters which give them most viewers for least cost.
See here for an explanation:
Londonderry (Northern Ireland) digital TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
I suggest that you look to installing free-to-air satellite service Freesat.
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Tommy Robinson: You may find that an unpowered splitter will be sufficient, but it depends on the strength of the signal in the area. One example of such a splitter is here:
Konig Quality 3 Way Splitter TV Cable Freeview Virgin | eBay
For this you will need four threaded f-connectors.
Twisting coax aerial feeds is most certainly not the way, irrespective of signal strength!
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Jeff Sutcliffe: There is no such thing as a "digital" aerial. An aerial isn't bothered about whether a signal is analogue or digital, but only dependent on frequency of the signal.
The purpose of the automatic tuning scan is to look through all frequencies to 'see' what signals are available. Once completed the receiver must 'decide' which to use as its main ones (the rest being put in the 800s). In this case it has chosen to use the signals from the Moel-y-Parc transmitter in Wales. This in no way indicates that the aerial is not picking up Winter Hill. The poor reception comes about because the signal being received is from a direction other than which the aerial faces.
I downloaded the user manual for your TV here:
LG 32LG5700 Support: Find Manuals & Warranty Info | LG UK
Page 45 of the booklet (page 47 of the PDF) says that you have manual tuning at your disposal.
Run the automatic tuning through without the aerial plugged in. Then manually scan UHF channels 50, 59, 58, 49 and 55, these being the five standard definition channels of Winter Hill.
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Jeff Sutcliffe: Signals spread out according to the terrain; they aren't delivered by a postal service!
You probably have clear line-of-sight to Moel-y-Parc, or are not far off, but you certainly don't to Winter Hill. See this terrain plot to Winter Hill:
Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location
The higher ground on which Halton and the surrounding area sits is in the way. You are very low down and the motorway and trees appear to be in the signal path.
The signal strength screens should allow you to identify which transmitter you are receiving from:
Moel-y-Parc 45, 39, 51, 52, 48.
These numbers relate to BBC One, ITV, ITV3, Pick TV, Film4, respectively (as do those given in my previous posting for Winter Hill).
Thus, if the BBC One you are watching is tuned to C45 then it is being received from Moel-y-Parc. Any poor reception is likely because the aerial is pointing the wrong way for the signal being received.
For those sets without manual tuning you may be able to avoid picking up Moel-y-Parc by having the aerial lead unplugged during its part of the scan; say the first 50%.
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Jeff Sutcliffe: If you have a Sky box or another device which puts out an analogue signal onto the aerial system then ensure that it isn't on or near the new Winter Hill channels 49 and 50.
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Lori Williams: No, Yesterday is only available via Sky's subscription platform on satellite.
The BBC, STV/ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 are Public Service broadcasters. They broadcast from all transmitters. The Commercial licensees (which carry Yesterday on Freeview) do not have a "public service" obligation, and exist solely to turn a profit. For that reason they only broadcast from the largest transmitting stations. See here for an explanation:
Londonderry (Northern Ireland) digital TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
Yesterday shows commercials to generate revenue. Evidently, it is worth its while to pay to be carried on one of the Commercial Freeview multiplexes.
It stands to reason that it will also have to pay to be on Freesat but it considers it not worth it. It draws revenue from BSkyB which could perhaps be cut should it go on Freesat.
On the face of it, it isn't surprising that Yesterday doesn't go on Freesat because it is available to most people (subscription free) on Freeview. It would rather pay to be on Freeview (albeit on a quasi-national basis) than be on Freesat due to the potential number of viewers.
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Jeff Sutcliffe: Once you have each set tuned to Winter Hill (having verified the channel numbers shown on the signal strength screens) then don't be tempted to retune. Your sets will give the best picture and retuning won't improve it.
With digital there is strength and quality. Quality is effectively the digits that make up the picture being intact. Strength is the level of the signal.
Amplification makes a signal bigger but cannot improve its quality. See:
Television Aerial Boosters / Amplifiers, Splitters, Diplexers & Triplexers
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Jeff Sutcliffe: In situations such as yours where you don't have line-of-sight, you are relying on refraction. Consequently, in some spots one signal may be good and another not so. It is always possible that C50 (the BBC channel) isn't good where your aerial is, it never having been used before.
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chantelle: The 800MHz 4G tests are being carried out in London and Brighton, so it's not likely to be your issue!!
Testing | at800
If your two televisions are served from the same aerial and the feed is split using a powered amplifier (booster) then the first suspect must be that the amplifier has failed. Be aware that just because its light is on, the device may have failed. I suggest that you try bypassing it by connecting the lead coming in from the aerial to one of the cables that run to one of your TVs. If it works then that suggests the amplifier is faulty.
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Jo Dee: I would use a AM (MW or LW) radio powered from batteries. Tune it away from a station and listen for any noise.
If the interference starts at a particular time then have it on at the start (and end) time and see if the start and end of the noise on the radio coincides with the TV signal breaking up, that way you know you are listening to the cause.
AM radios have a ferrite rod in which act as the antenna. They are most sensitive in the axis perpendicular to their length. Hence, if you hold the radio with it facing you, when the sound is the loudest you know that it is coming from in front of, behind, above, or below you (or somewhere on that axis). Spin round to where it is at its quietest and the source of the noise must be from either end of the radio.
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g gallagher: If you use a powered amplifier (booster) then the first suspect must be that the amplifier has failed.
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lesley aspin: No the signal is the same at all times.
I would suggest that there is some piece of electrical equipment nearby that is radiating interference. The fact that it starts at a regular time suggests that it is timed.
I would use a AM (MW or LW) radio powered from batteries. Tune it away from a station and listen for any noise.
Have the radio prior to the start time and see if the start of the noise on the radio coincides with the TV signal breaking up, that way you know you are listening to the cause.
AM radios have a ferrite rod in which act as the antenna. They are most sensitive in the axis perpendicular to their length. Hence, if you hold the radio with it facing you, when the sound is the loudest you know that it is coming from in front of, behind, above, or below you (or somewhere on that axis). Spin round to where it is at its quietest and the source of the noise must be from either end of the radio.
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Of course, the Divis COM channels are co-channel with the Darvel COM channels. So if there are spots where Divis' COMs come in then that could degrade reception of Darvel's COMs.
The COM channels carry ITV3, Pick TV, Dave, Film4, 4seven and others.
Perhaps in some cases a different aerial would be better at rejecting these unwanted signals.
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David : If you are receiving from Bluebell Hill then go to the manual tune function and scan UHF channel 54.
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K Smith: Ensure that BBC One is tuned to UHF channel 50, which is that of Winter Hill, by viewing the signal strength screen.
Failing that perhaps the signal level is overwhelming the tuner and you need some attenuation:
Freeview signals: too much of a good thing is bad for you | Digital switchover | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
If using a powered splitter to distribute the signal from the aerial, try using a non-powered splitter instead.
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Kate: As you appear to live in a block of flats then the suspicion must be that you have alluded to the fact that this is a communal aerial system. In which case this must surely be one possibility!
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PTownsend: It would have been useful to know which multiplexes you are having difficulty with. I shall assume that it is likely to be the COM channels.
See here for a full list of services by multiplex:
DTG :: DTT Services by Multiplex
In the UK there are two types of digital terrestrial (Freeview) licensees: the Public Service Broadcaster (PSB) and Commercial (COM) broadcaster.
The signals of the PSBs come from all transmitters that the former four-channel analogue did and are intended to be receiveable by existing aerials.
The COM channels have inferior coverage to the PSBs. They broadcast only from 81 of the largest transmitters. Some viewers will have to replace their aerials in order to pull them in. A few others may find that another transmitter prevents reception due to being co-channel (same frequencies.
In the case of the Hastings transmitter, its COMs are co-channel as the PSB channels of the Eastbourne relay transmitter on the top of South Cliff Tower, which is 3 miles south of you. This could be the cause of your issues, if they relate to the COM channels from Hastings.
Retuning is a waste of time if the channels are tuned correctly. All that will be achieved is the same result. Poor signal cannot be rectified by retuning, unless the signal being received is not from the transmitter to which the aerial faces (wrong transmitter) in which case the answer is to ensure that it is tuned correctly in the first place.
If you are getting too much interference from Hastings then perhaps you can pick-up the full service from Heathfield instead.
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PTownsend: The last paragraph should say:
If you are getting too much interference from Eastbourne then perhaps you can pick-up the full service from Heathfield instead.
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Kate: I suggest that you ask nearby neighbours and see if they have the same issue. Check that they are using the terrestrial aerial system (Freeview) and not satellite (Sky or Freesat).
The aerial system will have one or more powered boosters (amplifiers) to split the signal so as to feed multiple points. Failure of one of these devices will likely result in loss of signals to the flats which they feed. This could have come about due to it going faulty or loss of electricity supply.
The reason for failure is really irrelevant though. The point is that if the communal aerial system fails, it is down to the party responsible - perhaps your landlord - to see that it is put right. If your neighbours do have the same issue and haven't yet reported it then I suggest that you do so.
Checking with neighbours is a way of ascertaining whether it is likely to be an issue with the aerial system or something to do with your own equipment and wires.
If the aerial feed of your television is connected via another box such as a Sky box or recorder then try connecting directly to the incoming wall socket. If you have one try using a different lead from the wall socket to the TV, just to discount the possibility that it is this which is at fault.
Whatever you do, don't retune as this will simply give a second problem which is that the TV/box isn't tuned.
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ruth connelly: Has the change in reception coincided with work carried out on buildings on the industrial estate?
You may be only 10 miles from the transmitter, but there are certainly things that could be a source of difficulty.
See this terrain plot:
Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location
The red on the plot corresponds to Standford Bury where there is a row of trees which are potentially across the signal path. The industrial buildings could be a difficulty with those in bungalows being even lower to the ground and therefore, logic would suggest, potentially more likely to have difficulties.
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Alec Clarke: I would not advocate cessation of payment of the TV Licence and use of receiving equipment or the viewing of live broadcasts online as this would be illegal.
The fact that you are seeing "white snow" suggests that you have an analogue tuner in there, somewhere. There are no analogue channels on the air any more, so unless your TV doesn't have a scart socket then the analogue shouldn't be used.
Whatever, the make and model of the devices (TV and boxes) you are using may be of assistance to us to guide you as to what to do.
Also, is this your own aerial which feeds just one TV?
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PTownsend: It may be that the interference isn't as great where your neighbour's aerial is or that it is less sensitive to it.
If your aerial is a Group A one (which it may be if it was installed in the days of four-channel analogue) then it won't be suitable for Heathfield; you will require a wideband for Heathfield, if indeed you can receive from it.
Group A aerials have red tips. See:
Aerials, TV Aerial and Digital Aerial
One possibility may be to mount the aerial on one side of the building where there is good reception from Hastings, but where the building acts to block the unwanted signals - if there is such a location.
Or the signals from Heathfield may be sufficient at your location and you may decide to cut your losses and go with a new aerial for it.
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Jon Rhys: I assumed the location in question to be CF31 1TL as that is the postcode associated with your posting. jb38 has taken another, sample, location.
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hugh williams: Perhaps nothing, perhaps poor.
Maybe satellite (e.g. Freesat) might be a better bet.
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hugh williams: I suggest that you use a log periodic aerial with a booster at your disposal. See:
TV Aerials for Boats and Caravans
A receiver (TV or box) with manual tuning may be useful, although you will need to know what channels to tune to (after having wiped what's already stored).
Manual tune functions usually act like a signal meter if you enter the desired UHF channel number but do not press the button to scan.
At the Fforest Fields Caravan & Camping Site, set your aerial for vertical polarisation and point it at 316 degrees. Then (having wiped what's already stored, perhaps by running it through with the aerial out) go to the manual tune screen and select/enter 49 and do not press the button to scan it, but instead see if it gives yo an idea as to the strength/quality. C49 carries BBC services. The other, independent, ones are on C42, so try that as well.
The hope is that it will show something and that it will allow you to adjust your aerial so as to see if you can better the signal.
It may be a long shot, but knowing where you need to point your aerial and using the manual tune function may help pick up an otherwise elusive signal.
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Dennis: Thanks for getting back.
It turned out to be a simple thing. I suppose hindsight is a wonderful thing though.
With analogue, issues with aerial faulty leads was easier to pinpoint as the picture would change as you moved it.
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jb38: I'm not sure which "DUK trade predictor" you've been checking, but the official one suggestions diddly squat:
Coverage Checker - Detailed View
It is worth pointing out that the postcode is quite large, and even the Site's own website warns visitors to beware of trusting their satnavs because the centre of the postcode is not near the site.
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Bennett: This is site independent of broadcasters where volunteers offer advice. It is intended for those who wish to sort out any issues they may have.
We would prefer it if people who only wish to moan and shout would refrain from posting.
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Caroline Hewitt: The format for analogue (possibly "country" setting) is incorrect. It will need setting the same as that of the Sky box (assuming that it has such a setting.
I believe that the UK used PAL-I.
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ji: If it is a single aerial that feeds the three TVs then how does the feed (from the aerial) split?
If it's a powered amplifier (booster) then perhaps it has failed. The fact that its light is on doesn't necessarily mean that it is functioning correctly.
Yes, you can use a Freeview box on a non-Freeview TV. If the TV has a scart socket then connect it using scart. If it's older and doesn't have a scaty socket then you may need something else to connect it.
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Kelvin Wilson: If the loft aerial is a Group C/D one - with a green tip - then it might require replacement:
Aerials, TV Aerial and Digital Aerial
Or perhaps it is in a dead spot for C39 and requires moving.
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Jim Millard: Assuming that you are using the Huntshaw Cross transmitter then its BBC standard definition services changed channel overnight. A retune is required to restore them. See:
22nd May 2013 retunes for Devon and Carmarthenshire | 4G-at-800 | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
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Peter Hedges: I suggest that the reason for your difficulty, and the reason that Digital UK suggests such poor reception of the COMs from Sutton Coldfield, as against its PSBs, is down to the fact that Hannington's PSBs are co-channel.
The channels allocated to the COMs result in inferior coverage to the PSBs because they are re-used by other transmitters within closer proximity.
If you can move your aerial you may find that you can reduce the level of interference (without one of the other channels being affected). That said, you don't know how seasonal changes might affect reception. Or perhaps your aerial can be mounted somewhere where Sutton Coldfield's reception is good, but where the signal from Hannington is block, such as by fitting it on one side of your building.
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Peter Hedges: I think that the reason for that it has been suggested that you can't have a mixture of channels from different transmitters is down to EPG data and particularly the starting of timed recordings where they are linked to the EPG (so that the recorder starts when the programme starts).
The EPG data for all services are carried by all multiplexes from any one transmitter. So, for example, the EPG data for BBC One is carried by all multiplexes.
Different transmitters can be of differing regions and therefore may carry different EPG data.
I write here as a technical-bod and not a professional, so this is where my understanding is a bit woolly. Personally I would be trying it out to see if it works!
Oxford carries different BBC and ITV regions. I don't know whether the EPG data carried by Sutton Coldfield and Oxford are the same. Perhaps it (using two transmitters) is only likely to be an issue when recording regional programming. I would be interested to find out what the answer is and reasons behind it.
In any case you may not be able to combine the feed from Oxford and Sutton Coldfield and receive all channels because COM4 from Oxford is moving to C50 on Wednesday. If a C51 diplexer is used to combine feeds then COM4 will fall below that and hence be picked up by the Sutton Coldfield-facing aerial.
That said, if it is only Sutton Coldfield's COM5 that you are having difficulty with then COM5 from Oxford won't be affected by the change on Wednesday.
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Peter Hedges: I now see that you have your loft aerial pointing to Sutton Coldfield, but are managing to receive COM5 from Oxford with it.
Perhaps then, the answer is to look at relocating it in the loft so as to reduce the level of unwanted signal from Hannington.
Hannington is at 154 degrees, so consider where may be better screened from it, but which will get a good signal from Sutton Coldfield.
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P Davies: Confirm that your TV is tuned to Winter Hill for ITV4 by bringing up the signal strength screen. It should say UHF channel 55.
C48 is that of Moel-y-Parc and C22 is that of Lancaster.
You can, of course, try Lancaster. The issue (if it turns out that you are indeed tuned correctly to Winter Hill) is probably that you are low down. The signal path (the 'line' between you and the transmitter) is low to the ground for just over a mile which means that there may well be lots of clutter in the way.
For Lancaster you will need to set your aerial for vertical polarisation. Also, if you have a yagi wideband then these are less effective on lower channels, of which Lancaster uses exclusively. Also, the transmission power of Lancaster's COM channels (which carry ITV4 and others) are half power to its PSBs. Winter Hill is much more powerful than Lancaster.
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Jane: Bring up the signal strength screen on BBC One and confirm that it is tuned to UHF channel 45, which is that of Blue Bell Hill.
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Ash: There are a number of factors to be aware of and consider.
The COM channels from Waltham are at half power to the PSBs, the former being 25kW and the latter being 50kW.
All channels from Sutton Coldfield are 200kW.
Looking at Streetview and satellite images there are quite a few trees in your area that may perhaps rule out, or otherwise make difficult, reception from one or both transmitters.
Sutton Coldfield carries West Midlands programming and Waltham carries East Midlands programming.
You don't have clear line-of-sight to either transmitter.
The Derby transmitter, situated in Littleover at the Fire Service HQ, relays Waltham's PSB channels. It is on practically the same bearing as Sutton Coldfield and may be available to you. Its purpose is to provide East Midlands programming to those who otherwise receive from Sutton Coldfield. It does not carry the COM channels so you would have to rely on Sutton Coldfield for them.
For a list of PSB and COM services, see:
DTG :: DTT Services by Multiplex
In order to receive from Derby you may have to resort to manual tuning.
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Ash: I've provided you with a reply to your earlier posting:
My Freeview | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
The answer is not a simple yes/no one. It may be more a case of try it and see. It is certainly the case that you don't have line-of-sight to either transmitter so neither may be excellent. Sutton Coldfield is slightly closer and more powerful.
I suggest that what you do will depend of whether it is just PSB channels you are having difficulty with or just COM channels.
If it is PSBs then you can try tuning to the Derby relay for which you probably won't need to adjust your aerial. If it is the COMs then you will require a wideband aerial for Waltham as COM4 is on a Group A channel (bottom third of the band) and COM5 and COM6 are on C/D channels (top third of the band).
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Leo: All it means is that your TV is tuned to the BBC signal from one of the (West?) Midlands transmitters and Winter Hill for ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and some others.
Bring up the signal strength screen and read off the UHF channel number (or frequency) that it is tuned to and we can identify which transmitter it is.
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Graham Cole: I would suggest that the signal amplifier is pushing the level of the signal up too high:
Freeview signals: too much of a good thing is bad for you | Digital switchover | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
If this is the issue then it may be that it is just managing to cope with it at 50%. At times it goes higher.
Think of turning the sound up on a piece of audio equipment where eventually the sound will distort and you loose quality. That's effectively what is happening if your TV signal is too high.
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Eric Brightwell: I would suggest that this is more likely be caused by the vegetation in the signal path and the fact that you don't have line-of-sight to the transmitter. The high ground on which Cookham Dean sits is two miles away of which there are trees on.
If it is worse during high winds then this would certainly tend to suggest trees might be playing their part.
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janet ludlow: The answer to the question depends on which transmitter you are using. Which transmitter are you using?
If you don't know then there may be three possibilities:
Findon - a bit anti-clockwise of north - only carries PSB channels
Whitehawk Hill - adjacent to Brighton Racecourse which is to your east
Rowridge - the main transmitter which is on the Isle of Wight and is a bit anti-clockwise of west. If your aerial is horizontal then switch it to vertical polarisation for better reception of the COM channels.
Is this a communal aerial or your own?
See here for a full list of Freeview services by group (each group is a multiplex, which is a single signal):
DTG :: DTT Services by Multiplex
You say that you have lost Yesterday, which is carried on COM6 (as shown above). The BBC is on PSB1.
Does it affect any other multiplexes?
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Graham Cole: I would try bypassing the amplifier by connecting the incoming aerial feed to one of the sets. If the power supply is not where the amplifier is then you will need to remove the power supply before bypassing the amplifier. For example, the power supply could be behind one of your TV sets, it sending its power up the aerial lead into the amplifier, if it works that way.
If your amplifier acts on the hifi signal (FM radio?) then this may have a bearing on the solution.
If the amplifier has a variable gain control then that may want turning down. Failing that installing an attenuator before it will reduce the signal before it is amplified again.
As you are so close to the transmitter (it being relatively high powered for a relay at 1kW) you may get away with an unpowered splitter. I would use one with threaded f-connectors, such as this one here:
Konig Satellite F-Splitter: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics
That said, I am concerned that you are unable to access your loft and of course urge you not to do more than you feel able to. It is a Bank Holiday weekend and all and it is well known that most DIY accidents happen on Bank Holidays!
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Peter Hedges: I'm not one to judge! You've come on here with a technical query and I've offered a hypothesis based on what I can see.
If receiving from two different transmitters does cause an issue then perhaps the answer is to use Oxford as your 'main' one with Sutton Coldfield tuned in the 800s for use when regional programming is being broadcast.
I suspect that in some situations it may cause difficulty with recordings starting automatically where they rely on the EPG data (i.e. a signal sent out by the broadcaster) as opposed to one that is timed and whose start time cannot be altered by the broadcaster.
Let's say you are watching a programme on BBC One but have programmed something on ITV. The programme on ITV starts early but your recorder switches channel (assuming it has only one tuned). It stands to reason that the EPG signal that 'told' the recorder that the broadcast time had been brought forward must be carried on the BBC multiplex because the device can only physically receive one multiplex at a time.
I suspect that sometimes a combination of two transmitters may mean that the EPG data for the timed programme (on another channel from another transmitter) may not be carried by the transmitter/channel being viewed.
As I say, I think it's a "try it and see" sort of thing, being mindful of the possible issue. I don't think that what Samsung told you should forbid you from trying it. It may be that it only affect certain recordings at certain times; as I say I don't know the ins and outs of how it works so can't say with any certainty.
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Stu P: Are you using a communal aerial system? They are sometimes filtered to allow through the channels used by the transmitter.
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Keith: Have you tried a manual tune on UHF channel 39 (for the missing BBC services)? Prior to pressing the button to scan, having entered or select C39, see if it gives an indication as to strength/quality.
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Marc: Where about are you? Could it be interference from Hannington which also uses C42?
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David Branfield: There are no known issues with the Mendip transmitter.
Try bypassing your amplifier by connecting the aerial directly on to one of the TV feeds.
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Keith: Perhaps the only thing left is a full/factory reset. What's the make and model of your receiver (box/TV with built-in Freeview)?
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alex: Based on the date that the problem started, I suggest that might be interference from Divis. Its completed switchover on 24th October 2012.
The COM channels of Darvel, Divis and Caldbeck are co-channel and at half power to their PSBs.
Until Divis switchover, Darvel used its reserve antenna to radiate the COM channels and Caldbeck's was restricted in ERP.
Darvel uses all Group A channels, so if you use yagis, don't use wideband ones, use Group A yagis:
Rowridge Transmitter
http://www.paras.org.uk/a….pdf
The Divis coverage map on this site has a few blobs of colour near Saltcoats.
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luke callanan: Reception of RT is not a given. In your general area there are spots that you definately won't get it.
Any prediction is just that and in reality what can be received is best checked by an installer on-site. However, we can, with a more accurate location get an idea as to what the chances of success might be.
For example, I looked at Conlig. Looking on Streetview at Tower Road, all the aerials point at the local relay transmitter or, I believe, Cambret Hill in Scotland, both of which are Freeview Light and don't carry RT. On Forest Hill, aerials point to the main transmitter, Divis. Whilst Divis does not carry RT, Black Mountain does which is close to Divis, thus a lot of people whose aerials face Divis will be able to receive it. However, the Digital UK predictor suggests that RT from Black Mountain will be poor on Forest Hill whilst Divis is good to variable.
All in all, it depends where you are. It would appear that the terrain isn't flat which means what can be received and what can't varies.
Freeview Light means that only PSB channels are available: all BBC standard definition TV, high definition TV and radio, UTV, UTVHD, Channel 4, Channel 4HD, Channel 5, Channel 4+1, E4, More4, ITV2, UTV+1 and U105.
If you can receive RT from Black Mountain then you will require a Freeview HD receiver, even though the pictures are in standard definition. This is because the signal mode is DVB-T2 which is that used by Freeview HD broadcasts.
Whilst Freesat will work with your satellite dish, it will not give you RT, you will need Saorsat for that but that probably requires a separate dish. The reason is because the satellites for each service are in different orbital positions. If you search the internet for Freesat and Saorsat you may find some useful information. I'm not a professional so can't advise you much more on this.
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Mellor: Bring up the signal strength screen on Yesterday. Observe the tuned UHF channel number. It should be 48 for Sandy Heath, which I gather you are likely to be receiving from. Ensure that it does not say C28 which is Crystal Palace and is in almost the opposite direction.
If it is tuned to Sandy Heath then have you had your Group A aerial, from the days of four-channel analogue, replaced with a wideband one?
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PJH: Irrespective of whether the terrain allows, Clermont Carn apparently has a null in the direction of Newtownards and Bangor (see its page on this site - the red plot being SV1 which is C52 and the current solitary signal).
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Ray Lindsay: A faulty amplifier (booster) or amplifier with no or a failed power supply maybe.
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Patricia Adamache: As Einstein said, insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
The BBC Wales signals are probably coming from the Moel-y-Parc transmitter which is in the opposite direction to Winter Hill and are therefore being picked up off the back of your aerial. They are on lower frequencies to the Winter Hill ones and so are picked up before it during the scan.
The answer is to either have the aerial lead out during the part of the scan that the Moel-y-Parc BBC services are or wipe what's stored and tune in the five Winter Hill multiplexes manually, if there is a manual tune option.
If you go for the unplugging aerial approach, have it unplugged from the start of the scan until it has passed scanning UHF channel 45, if it gives channel numbers during the scan, or after 50% if it gives percentage progress.
Or manual tune UHF channels 50, 59, 58, 49 and 55.
If you have any issues, post back for further guidance.
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Adrian Simpson: This is a technical advice site and as such I suggest that you press the button with a loudspeaker and a 'X' through it, otherwise known as "mute". Another alternative is to switch on your TV after the first half hour of the broadcast has passed.
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Ray Lindsay: Don't assume that just because its power indicator light is on that the device is functioning as it should.
Try bypassing it by connecting the incoming feed from the aerial to one of the feeds going out to one of the rooms. If the power supply for the amplifier is separate (perhaps behind one of the TVs) then remove it from the cable before bypassing the amplifier.
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Ray Lindsay: I presume that you receive from the Kendal Public Service transmitter. Digital UK suggests you "may" be able to receive all channels from the Lancaster transmitter.
The two transmitters are both vertically polarised and are 21 degrees apart. You may be lucky and be able to use one aerial on bearing somewhere between the two so as to receive from both transmitting stations. This would allow you to continue to receive the PSB channels from Kendal and the Commercial (COM) channels from Lancaster. If your current aerial is a Group C/D one then this will probably have to be replaced with a wideband, or alternatively a separate Group A aerial for Lancaster combined (with a diplexer) to the existing Kendal aerial.
See here for which Freeview services are PSB and which are COM:
DTG :: DTT Services by Multiplex
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Richard Cullen: Queries such as this can only really be answered with knowledge of the location, preferably in the form of postcode or nearby postcode such as that of a shop, this being for the purposes of checking the expected signals in the area.
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Paul Dyson: As your postcode resolves to a block of flats I suspect that you might be using a communal aerial system and therefore that if the issue lies with it then it is only the party responsible (e.g. landlord) that can do anything to put it right.
Communal aerial systems are sometimes filtered so as to only allow through channels (frequencies) used by the designated transmitter. In the case of Winter Hill, BBC standard definition (PSB1) and COM5 (Pick TV, Dave, Sky News etc) are on previously unused channels hence for that reason it may require adjustment.
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Chris Sharp: My thoughts on this as a technical bod is that there may be some remnant of the previous set-up still in the memory. You know that the set worked fine before the change of channel (frequency) so it is known to work with the post-switchover signals.
Here are some things I can think of to go through:
Is there some sort of factory reset or hard reset?
Can you try running the automatic tuning scan through with the aerial unpluged? If this apparently 'blanks' what's already stored then run it through again with the aerial plugged in.
Another thing to try is running the tuning scan through but having the aerial unplugged when it scans C49, so as not to have BBC standard definition services stored but so as to get at least one multiplex stored. Having powered it off, checked that everything that was stored is still stored try adding C49 (698MHz).
Can you tune in PSB1 (BBC standard definition) from the Chepstow relay transmitter on C24 (498MHz)? Having done this, in an effort to 'flush-out' whatever is apparently stuck in the memory and causing your issue, try retuning to Mendip.
-----
I think that Philips has got the wrong end of the stick. DVB-T2 is the mode used for Freeview HD. It can receive DVB-T whioch is the mode used for standard definition.
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P. Kieran Ward: I imagine that there will be no restrictions from Clermont Carn because it is within the Republic.
Presumably the rights RT has to certain programmes doesn't allow them to be broadcast from transmitters outside the Republic.
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Ray Lindsay: I made subsequent postings to your earlier postings on the other page:
Apologies for UK Free down this morning | About UK Free TV | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
Try bypassing the amplifier.
Try a manual tune. Kendal's BBC is C60 and ITV/C4/C5 etc is C53.
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PeterP: If your TV has manual tuning on then use it. Having entered or selected the UHF channel do not press the button to scan as on most receivers this acts as a signal meter. HD broadcasts in the UK use DVB-T2 mode whereas standard definition broadcasts use DVB-T mode. If the manual tune function has a mode option then ensure that it is the right one.
Hollington Park HD is C55 and Hastings is C22. I doubt you will pick up from Heathfield with a set-top aerial as you are at the bottom of high ground which blocks your view.
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sylvia stec: This appears to be an isse with the aerial system for which the party responsible is who you need to contact.
As Michael says the changeover happened within a few hours on 10th April.
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Richard Cullen: At 4.4 miles from such a high power transmitter it sounds as though your aerial is way OTT!
See:
Freeview signals: too much of a good thing is bad for you | Digital switchover | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
Even prior to switchover I wouldn't have thought you would have needed such a high gain aerial.
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PeterP: Perhaps BBCA on C24 is Rowridge, the main transmitter which is on the Isle of Wight. It is very surprising that you are picking this up indoors with a set-top aerial.
Hollington Park only carries PSB (Public Service) channels. The Hastings transmitter is roughly on the same bearing, is more powerful and carries PSB and COM (Commercial) channels.
Perhaps the low power of Hollington Park and the clutter that is in the way - trees and bricks and mortar - means your indoor aerial doesn't pick it up. However, you may find that your rooftop aerial picks it up, it being on the same bearing, vertically polarised and with, I assume, a much clearer view of the Hollington Park transmitter.
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Dennis West: It is in service.
If you are using a communal aerial system then it might require adjustment.
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anna flory: As Mike Dimmick said above:
"The purpose of Pick TV is to get you interested in a series that is otherwise exclusive to a Sky subscription channel, then take it away half-way through to encourage you to take out a subscription."
It has been said many times on here that Pick TV is a marketing vehicle for Sky!
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Frances Burton: Without any indication as to which transmitter you are using we can only guess!
If, by any chance, you are using the Oxford transmitter then it has changed its broadcast channel (frequency):
29th May 2013 retunes for Oxfordshire and East Midlands | 4G-at-800 | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
Your communal aerial system may require adjustment to allow the new channel to pass through from the aerial to the sockets in the flats.
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Dennis West: As stated to you above, and to others, if you are using a communal aerial system, it may require adjustment. For this you will have to get in touch with the party responsible.
Your postcode resolves to a large block of flats which suggests that you may not be using your own aerial.
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alex: I and a few others responded to your posting on the other page:
Most popular questions | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
The ATV site provides some useful information.
I'm not sure what else I can add as I'm not an aerial installer, more a technical bod.
Perhaps one of the pros can offer some more guidance.
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Mick Parsons: The comment from James Martin makes for interesting reading:
DAB agreement is a “complete shambles” : Radio Today
The Wikipedia page also hints that Ridings FM's DAB service may be pulled due to cost:
Ridings FM - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I can confirm that Trax FM is still on the South Yorkshire Multiplex.
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Mick Parsons: I have rescanned my DAB radio and Gold is now on the Yorkshire multiplex on 12A.
I can receive the "Leeds" multiplex on 12D and Ridings FM is definitely not on it, and neither is Gold. I suggest that the reason you lost Gold was because it switched multiplex.
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Matt Jordan: I can receive the "Leeds" multiplex here in the north-east suburbs of Doncaster. It comes in quite strongly on my portable DAB radio situated quite high up on the first floor.
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Leslie Pugh: "DVB-T" stands for "Digital Video Broadcasting Terrestrial"; If it is satellite you are using then you probably require DVB-S (Digital Video Broadcasting Satellite).
Freeview is the brand name of terrestrial system in the UK and its Crown Dependancies.
The "free-to-air" channels are those which you're referring to, I think.
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Richard Cullen: Sorry for not replying to your earlier message.
My comments are as a technical bod and not a professional aerial installer.
With digital reception there is quality (effectively digits intact) and strength. A receiver requires the strength to be above a certain level (the lower threshold) for it to work (providing it has a good quality signal).
I referred you to the page on the too much signal because at your close proximity to the transmitter with a high gain aerial and an amplifier you could perhaps be feeding too high a signal level into your TVs. The effect is like turning up the volume on a hifi to maximum; the sound distorts and the quality goes.
The other point to note is that the gain (sensitivity) of an aerial in one direction is at the expense of loss in others. The higher the gain the more the sensitivity is focused on a narrower beam. Thus, the higher the gain the narrower the acceptance angle:
Aerials, TV Aerial and Digital Aerial
Where there is a good path to the transmitter you can focus on the beam.
Whilst you are only 4.4 miles from the transmitter, your signal path is low to the ground for around a mile:
Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location
This means that there may be lots of clutter in the form of buildings and trees, all of which may act to degrade the quality of the signal.
By using a high-gain aerial you have reduced your acceptance angle. So if the (average) quality over the angle which your aerial works is lower than had you used one with a wider acceptance angle then you will have a lower quality signal. It is a possibility that some object(s) have changed, such as vegetation in the signal path growing.
I think that you should try feeding the output of the aerial directly to one of the TV feeds (sockets), bypassing the amplifier and see if it improves.
There is no such thing as a "digital" aerial as aerials are designed to pick up particular frequencies and aren't bothered whether signals are analogue or digital.
All of Oxford's channels are Group C/D, so if you have an aerial that was installed during the days of four-channel analogue then it might be worth trying it.
Prior to switchover a couple of the multiplexes were down in Group A, so a C/D wouldn't have functioned as well:
Aerials, TV Aerial and Digital Aerial
That said, I wouldn't have thought that a high gain aerial was required before switchover at your location, based on the transmission powers and close proximity.
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NeilB: All transmitters are on full power, according to information available.
If you have more than one aerial whose feeds combine into one then this may be an issue. Knowledge of which transmitter(s) you are using as well as your location, preferably in the form of postcode (or nearby postcode such as that of a shop) may assist in looking up predicted signals.
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NeilB: Have you checked that your receiver is tuned to the transmitter to which your aerial faces? Which channels are affected?
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Jeannette Thonpson: Indoor aerials can be hit and miss, primarily because they rely on being in a location where they can get a good signal and indoors, with lots of obstructions (bricks and mortar and so on) in the way means that it won't be as good.
Due to your close proximity to the transmitter you may find that an indoor aerial works well. I would go for something like this:
PHILEX SLx Indoor TV Aerial: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics
Philex Indoor Digital TV Aerial Fully Flexible Caravan Motorhome Log Periodic
Mini Roof Aerial Style Labgear Set Top TV Aerial-Compact and Effective-GC
Set it with the elements flat (horizontal polarisation) and point it in the direction of Pontop Pike. Bear in mind that the best side of the house will probably be that facing the transmitter. If you're at the other side of the house then you're picking up the signal after it's passed through more walls etc. If this is for a first floor room then your chances may be greater than ground floor but that isn't to say that the latter won't work.
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sam mott: You can't use a "Freeview" receiver with a satellite dish.
If you are using an adaptor such as this then you will still not be able to use the Freeview receiver with the dish:
F Type Screw Connector Socket to RF Coax Aerial Male: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics
As jb38 says, a Freeview box is for use with a normal aerial.
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Mike Shaw: Only if the issue is that the signal level going into your receiver is dipping under the threshold it requires to work. If it's a signal quality issue then it will make no difference.
Which transmitter does your aerial face? Have you confirmed that it is tuned to that transmitter?
If you would like guidance on how to do this then say which transmitter it is and I will advise. If you don't know which transmitter it is then the direction of the aerial should allow us to work that out.
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Vectra: Does WinTV not allow you to tune by selecting transmitter? In which case it will have the channels/frequencies used for each. In the case of Waltham BBC services have now changed so that tuning process will not work until it has been updated.
For that reason tune to 698MHz (C49) to add BBC services.
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Vectra: An alternative approach (it's a long while since I used WinTV), can you select BBC One and change the frequency to 698MHz (UHF channel 49)? And likewise for BBC Two, BBC Three etc? Does this work?
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David Waterhouse: While you may be only 8 miles from Emley Moor, you do not have line-of-sight.
The large aerials on tall poles probably tells its own story; you aren't in a good area. Some houses are using the Cop Hill Public Service relay transmitter.
Google Streetview, Google satellite and Bing satellite images show Black Rock Mills with one or perhaps two buildings, which are possibly derelict. Bing Bird's Eye shows some more buildings.
I note various planning permission requests over the last few years for this site. Might this development be the cause of your issue?
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mike shaw: Because objects and the air in the signal path (between you and the transmitter) change and thereby affect the signal.
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Gareth: See current Transmitter engineering message: "Over the next week Mendip main transmitter: TV (digital) Liable to interruption".
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David Waterhouse: Saddleworth's COM channels are co-channel (same frequencies), albeit that the former are vertically polarised.
Is it the strength that has gone or the quality that has gone?
Go to the manual tune part of the receiver. Select UHF channel 51 but don't press the button to scan as prior to scanning, receivers often act as a signal meter.
How does this compare to the strength of the four other standard definition channels?:
BBC One(C47); ITV(C44); Pick TV(C52); Film4(C48).
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Martin Cooper: I suggest that you give at800 a ring:
at800 Brighton 4G test
They may send an engineer to visit you so as to ascertain whether the issue is the 800MHz 4G signal. This may be an opportunity for you to have a professional look at it free of charge to you.
It may be worth noting that BBC services from Whitehawk Hill are on C60- which is the highest frequency channel and is immediately below the 4G signals.
Your box (recorder or whatever) will contain an aerial amplifier this being because the incoming aerial feed is split into two: one for the box itself and one going out to the TV.
If it is the 4G signal, the amplification may just be enough to tip the balance, whereby the 4G signal prevents the TV from resolving the Freeview signal.
You may find that installing a splitter and feeding the TV and box from it might work, this allowing you to turn off the amplifier within the box, sometimes referred to as power save or similar, although not all boxes allow this. This option may be more suited if you wish to solve this yourself.
However, I wonder if you may find that a call to at800 will yield a visit soon, with it presumably having a team of engineers in the area.
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Martin Cooper: Whilst we can't be sure which sites are currently used for the test 4G 800MHz signals, there are base stations for several of the networks on the top of Enterprise Point.
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Bert: I wonder if it could be traffic on the M2 and the A249 which both cross the signal path. Or indeed it could be something else in the signal path, such as vegetation.
You don't have line-of-sight to the transmitter:
Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location
Perhaps this is something that is out of your control which is why the various attempted fixes have not worked.
Different frequencies are affected by objects along the signal path in different ways which can result in not all channels being received at the same strength at a single location.
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Nick: Have there been any new developments on the industrial estate? There are quite a few buildings there.
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David Waterhouse: It's going to sound like I'm stating the obvious: it seems like the signal level has dropped on that channel. The point being that it may have been that the strength of C51 wasn't affected but the quality was.
The level of the other channels isn't great either.
The only suggested explanation I can give is that there has been some building work gone on. Perhaps a change of roof tiles or installation of solar panels.
The signal path intersects Gillroyd Lane, just north of Meadow Green and near to the bus stops. There are houses, as well as trees in the area:
Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location
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Paul Bixley: Without giving any idea as to your location, preferably in the form of a postcode, or a nearby postcode such as that of a shop, then we don't really have a prayer of answering such a question with any degree of certainty.
With the postcode we can look up predicted coverage. We may also find out which transmitter you are using as that is crucial!
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Bert: It doesn't work on a thin laser-like point! Anything within the first Fresnel Zone may affect reception:
Fresnel zone - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Also, there are objects on the ground and terrain plots only sample the ground height at intervals, so it may not be totally accurate.
Megalithia shows the first Fresnel zone by a pink line:
Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location
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Mick Parsons: You've asked the same question before and there have been several replies:
Details of 12D/Leeds DAB multiplex | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
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Mrs C .Watta: ITV, Channel 4 etc services from Plymton have changed channel (frequency) and therefore a retune will be required. The channel is back on air and it is indeed a disgrace that you have chosen to come on this public forum moaning simply because you have failed to carry out a retune to the new frequency.
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Nicholas Willmott: That would then mean a drop in advertising revenue due to even fewer regions having their 'own' targeted adverts on +1. Decisions are made for financial reasons and just as SDN is not available from all transmitting stations, ITV/STV/UTV+1 is available on D3&4.
Your suggestion would also give ITV Plc an advantage over STV and UTV.
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David: Mark requested your postcode so as to get a handle on likely reception possibilities at your location.
Judging the predictor Waltham, Sutton Coldfield and Belmont may be available. This the overlap Digital UK was referring to.
With digital, a multiplex is a single signal that carries multiple services. For example, PSB1 (aka BBCA) on C49 carries BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three etc. Each multiplex occupies the same space as a single former analogue service.
If you are manually tuning then you may need to wipe what's already stored. A lot of receivers will add channels that are manually tuned into the logical channel numbers starting at 800.
If you continue to have difficulty with a picture breaking up then check to see if it is tuned to Waltham. If it is then your issue isn't a tuning one. Do this by bringing up the signal strength screen. On there it will usually give the UHF channel number, for example C49 for BBC One from Waltham. Some receivers don't give UHF channel numbers and give frequencies in MHz only. Should this be the case then we can supply you with those.
What I suggest you do is go to the following services and check that they are tuned correctly (by viewing the signal strength screen):
- BBC One C49
- ITV C54
- ITV3 C29
- Pick TV C56
- Film4 C57
The five channels from Belmont are 22, 25, 30, 53, 60.
The five channels from Sutton Coldfield are 43, 46, 42, 45, 39.
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Richard Creswell: The filters are to filter out signals in the "800MHz band" (UHF channels 61 to 69 which is the top end of the band of frequencies that TVs work with) which is to be used for 4G mobile services.
Tests are presently ongoing in South East London, Brighton and York:
Testing | at800
Judging by your rural location I doubt you will be affected by interference in the future, unless perhaps a mobile base station is located on or close to your property.
According to Ofcom Sitefinder the nearest base stations to you at present are over a mile away.
I wouldn't expect mobile operators to install their stations very close to all Daily Mail readers so as to realise its prophecy!
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Nicholas Willmott: I think you miss the point.
It is not one of people wishing to see the correct adverts but of the broadcasters wanting viewers in designated regions to see them so as to generate revenue from the advertisers.
You have also missed the point that the only commercial (small "c") services which have an obligation to provide a Public Service are the Channel 3 licensee (ITV, STV and UTV), Channel 4 and Channel 5.
All other services operate in a market and purely for profit (i.e. so as to maximise their returns). It follows, therefore, that what is "needed" is decided by those broadcasters. Until viewers become majority shareholders with their primary objective being viewer choice *and payment on their investment being secondary*, then what you suggest will never happen.
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Tuesday 30 April 2013 9:29AM
Me: I think that if you are receiving anything on C24 then it must be PSB1 (BBC One etc) from Rowridge and certainly not COM5 (Pick TV etc) from Reigate.