All posts by Dave Lindsay
Below are all of Dave Lindsay's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.Mark Peterson: Yes, you can do that. It shouldn't matter which you feed the aerial into first.
You must have the Technisat connected to the TV using a HDMI cable in order to view high definition programmes in high definition. Connect the Sony HDD/DVD to the TV using HDMI (if it is available) or scart.
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Brian: You haven't said, but I'm guessing here that you have your aerial directed at the Dover transmitter as it broadcasts digital services. Folkestone does not carry any digital until switchover.
In which case, there is engineering works at Dover which mean that analogue and digital TV is "liable to interruption". See the Digital UK website:
Digital UK - Planned Engineering Works
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colin1951uk: It's for the commercial (COM) multiplexes which remain on their pre-switchover channels until 18th April. It is also not until the same date that the COMs' vertical components are introduced and at the same time the horizontally polarised signals are boosted.
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Alan Gill: I wonder if the signal is too strong.
Assuming no local obstructions, you have clear line of sight 15.4 miles to the transmitter.
See here:
Freeview signals: too much of a good thing is bad for you | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
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Terry Cox: At around 6 miles from the transmitter your receiver could be suffering from too high a signal level at its input. See here:
Freeview signals: too much of a good thing is bad for you | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
The missing programme channels are on channel 45, so try manually tuning to it. See if you get any indication (on the manual tuning screen) as to whether there is any signal there. If it's there but low, this could be due to there being too much signal - the TV is "blinded" by the bright signal. Try removing the aerial lead, holding the plug close (a cm or two) in an attempt to feed less signal into the TV (whilst on channel 45). It might take five or ten seconds to respond, but the strength might show an increase. If you do get the BBC channels, then store them. You might find that plugging the aerial back in might stop them working, but don't retune as it's not a tuning issue.
Hannington has completed stage one of switchover which means that the BBC multiplex (the one you're missing) is at full power. On Wednesday the rest will follow.
If it is a comunal aerial system and it can be demonstrated that it is too high a level, then it is likely to be your landlord's responsibility.
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Terry Cox: When manually tuning, ensure that you're manually tuning for the digital (Freeview) bit rather than the analogue one (if the TV picks up analogue).
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Rebecca: I think that the most likely answer is too high a signal level. As per the instructions at the top of this page, you don't want any amplification (no booster connected). If you have one and you have removed it, then you need some attenuation; this is to bring down the level of the signal (the opposite of what a booster does).
In April at switchover the power of the transmitter will be increased ten-fold, so it is worth fitting an attenuator, even if reception is OK without it.
If your set-top aerial has a booster built in, then it needs turning to minimum or perhaps replacement with a non-powered aerial.
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Rebecca: Here's one example of the type of device you need:
LABGEAR VARIABLE DIGITAL TV AERIAL SIGNAL ATTENUATOR 0 - 20dB | eBay
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Saturday 18 February 2012 9:21AM
Watford
David: If you're on Crystal Palace, the Digital UK Tradeview predictor suggests that ITV1, C4, C5 multiplex (C22) will be "variable" at WD18 8AD (a post code taken at random), whereas all others, apart from HD, are "good". I cannot see why that might be the case; there does not appear to be any transmitters on C22 that could be likely to affect it in your area.
You might be able to adjust the amplifier (I assume it is an amplifier that is distributing the aerial feed) by increasing its amplification. Or you could try connecting one of the TVs directly to the incoming aerial (as a test).