All posts by Dave Lindsay
Below are all of Dave Lindsay's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Frank: It means "64 metres above Ordnance Datum (OD)". Thus the transmission antennas are 64 metres above OD.
See Ordnance Datum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Steve m: ITV1, Channel 4, Channel 5 and other services within that group (on the same multiplex) are co-channel with one of Reigate's multiplexes which I believe upped its transmission power a few weeks back.
Reigate is due to complete switchover on 18th April, but UHF channel 24 will continue to be used then. The same goes for C27 which is presently at 1kW from Reigate and will go up to 2kW. C27 is Mux A from Blue Bell which is ITV3 etc, so don't be surprised if you loose it on Wednesday.
See here for a list of multiplexes and services they carry:
Freeview multiplexes | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
It looks like you may have to wait until 27th June to get all these services back.
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Ken: ITV4 and other services carried on the ArqB multiplex from Sudbury are on low power and will remain like that until 27th June when a retune will be necessary. ArqB has proved problematic for many since it changed in November.
For a list of services carried on ArqB, see:
Freeview multiplexes | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
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Steve m: Unfortunately you appear to be in a bit of a pre-switchover no man's land. At different times different neighbouring transmitters are likely to interfere with your reception of Blue Bell Hill.
Here is a summary of how I read it having looked at Digital UK Tradeview predictor (click the link next to your posting):
- Blue Bell will become the best one after 27th June.
- Come 18th April you are predicted to get full service from Crystal Palace. It is, however, London region.
- Some of Tunbridge Wells' pre-switchover muxes are co-channel with Blue Bell and therefore probably aren't possible.
I suggest that come 18th April you try manually tuning to those muxes you are missing from Blue Bell (it's perhaps a long shot).
Failing that, for each of the muxes you can't get from Blue Bell, try manually tuning to their counterpart from Crystal Palace. Your aerial is facing the wrong way, but it's got to be worth a shot. Reception may be hit and miss (if at all).
Be aware that some recorders don't work well when picking up signals from different transmitters.
Or if you can adjust your aerial and you don't mind going with London programming for a few months, then go with Crystal Palace and change back to Blue Bell on 27th June.
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Steve M: If you do move your roof aerial temporarily to Crystal Palace, then that will give you full Freeview.
You may be able to receive BBC South East and ITV Merdian on analogue using a suitably placed set-top aerial directed at either Blue Bell Hill or Tunbridge Wells.
That way you will only revert to analogue when watching the local news programmes and any other local programmes.
Set-top aerials are hit and miss, but you would appear to have good line of sight to both BB and TW (no local obstructions permitting). I see that the college is in the direction of Blue Bell Hill, so you may have to experiment.
Some receivers have different aerial inputs for analogue and digital so different aerials can be used. You might be able to take advantage of such a facility. Or if you TV is analogue only, you may decide to connect the set-top aerial to it and connect the Crystal Palace aerial to a Freeview box of some kind.
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Steve M: I have one of these set-top aerials:
Set Top Aerial Labgear | eBay
It is adjustable and can be set horizontally or vertically.
For TW it needs to be vertical and for BB and CP it should be horizontal.
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Michael Brockwell: If the problem is signal overload, then a perminant solution may be to install an attenuator inline with the lead from the roof-top aerial. Attenuators are available from eBay for a few pounds (other sources are available).
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m kinsella: Please turns off Caps Lock - typing in capitals is akin to shouting and is therefore rude!
It may help others who may wish to help you that you have already asked the question once and a suggestion has been provided. The previous discussion is here: Crystal Palace digital switchover date | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
You say you have Meridian, but from which transmitter? It would help to know what you have so as to know what you are seeking to avoid!
Select ITV Meridian, bring up the signal strength screen and see if it says what UHF channel it is tuned to. This will tell us what transmitter it is. I am anticipating it is C24, providing that the last time you ran the automatic tuning scan you unplugged the aerial when it got to 30% as I suggested.
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Steve Brown: Try manually tuning to UHF channel 23 if the set allows. If it gives a signal strength/quality reading when you do this, see if it is there but very low.
If so, I wonder if it is signal overload. 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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Thursday 12 April 2012 12:04PM
Dacr11: See Northern Ireland "mini multiplex" (NIMM) | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice