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All posts by Dave Lindsay

Below are all of Dave Lindsay's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.


pat: HD channels are broadcast from all transmitters including Derry which is on Sheriff Mountain.

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Mark: It is those who cannot receive from a full-service transmitter who will be unable to watch the Commercial channels (those that don't broadcast from the Sheriff Mountain transmitter).

The reason for this is because there are two types of broadcaster: Public Service (PSB) and Commercial (COM).

The Commercial multiplexes (each multiplex is a single signal that carries multiple services) cover about 90% of the UK population from 81 of the largest transmitters (largest by viewer population). The cost for them to broadcast from the other 1,000 or so smaller relays would roughly double their cost of transmission whilst only adding 8.5% of the population to their a potential viewerbases.

Their objective is show advertising which they sell. They want to get as many viewers as possible for lowest possible cost. Doubling the cost of transmission to increase potential reach by around 10% doesn't make sense to them. They operate purely for profit and have no obligation to provide a "Public Service".

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md23040: No, it will stay Freeview Lite.

See here for an explanation which applies equally for Strabane:

Londonderry transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice

Here is a comparison full-Freeview vs Freesat:

Compare TV Freeview/Freesat | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice

ITV3 is on Freesat contrary to its logo appearing with those that aren't on Freesat.

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Declan McGrath: The thing with digital reception is that a lot of different issues manifest themselves as break-up on the picture.

If it is co-channel interference (from another transmitter), then there may be little you can do.

However, due to your close proximity to the transmitter, it would seem reasonable to think that it could be too high a signal level. See here:

Freeview signals: too much of a good thing is bad for you | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice

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Johann: All transmitters broadcast HD services as these are carried on one of the Public Service (PSB) multiplexes. It is the Commercial (COM) multiplexes that don't have as extensive a coverage area.

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Catherine: If you were receiving RT channels from Clermont Carn then they changed channel/frequency at switchover so a retune will be necessary.

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pat, Mark: I have already answered your questions above in the posting of Wednesday 24 October 2012 10:46PM.

Unless you can receive from a full-service transmitter (which is probably only Limavady, if any) then you will only ever have PSB channels.

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Mark: Transmitters are located where they are most effective which is generally on higher ground where they can be seen by the populations they serve. The purpose of any relay transmitter like Derry is to fill in gaps in coverage that the main transmitters miss out due to the terrain.

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Divis (Northern Ireland) transmitter
Thursday 25 October 2012 12:01PM

Dave McGeown: Only the main transmitters broadcast the COM channels as they don't wish to broadcast from the smaller relay transmitters. See here for an explanation:

Londonderry transmitter | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice

The power of the COM channels from the main transmitters is lower than that of the PSBs which means that some on the fringes will only be able to receive PSBs only as well.

In some locations it is possible to change from using the relay to using the main station.

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