All posts by Dave Lindsay
Below are all of Dave Lindsay's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Rod: Confirm that your receiver is tuned to the Selkirk transmitter for ITV channels. The other transmitter that it might have tuned to at your location is Chatton, although this broadcasts ITV Tyne Tees instead.
Bring up the signal strength screen whilst on ITV1 and see whether it is tuned to UHF channel 59 which that of Selkirk or channel 42 which that of Chatton.
If it turns out that it is tuned to Chatton, then run the automatic tuning scan through with the aerial unplugged up until 55% (or until it gets past C47 if it gives channel numbers during the scan). This will have the aerial unplugged whilst it scans channels used by Chatton, but plugged in for those of Selkirk. If there is a setting in the menu something to the effect of "automatic channel update", then you may benefit from turning this off if it does a retune when unattended as a result of this being turned on. If there is no such setting, then you will have to hope that it isn't one of those devices that retunes when it feels like it, leaving the user with the incorrect channels.
| link to this comment |
Petra: Last Wednesday Ireland switched over and Divis is now broadcasting its SDN on C23, which is the same as Caldbeck uses. Did the loss of these channels co-incide with that day?
Have you tried manually tuning to UHF channel 23?
| link to this comment |
Alan Thomas: If you use an amplifier to distribute the signal then turn it down. This could be a problem caused by too high a signal level.
| link to this comment |
Mark: If this is an issue with the aerial/reception system, then it may be the responsibility of the landlord.
How was the former analogue reception from Clermont Carn? In particular, RT One?
| link to this comment |
TERRY HARVEY: If you read above, you will see that it is a contenious issue that the Derry transmitter on Sheriff Mountain does not broadcast all channels. There are other areas that only receive the Public Service channels as not all transmitters broadcast them.
In your case, you "may" be lucky, albeit that you will have to fork out for a new aerial. The only way you will receive all channels is "if" you can receive them from Limavady.
Limavady is on a bearing of 78 degrees and aerials will be horizontal (elements flat). You may find that others around you have switched to Limavady so as to get the full service.
| link to this comment |
Petra: I think that you may have to consult with an aerial installer.
If the problem is interference from Divis, it may be possible to either use a different aerial which is more sensitive to the desired signals from Caldbeck and/or better at not picking up the unwanted signals from Divis. It may be possible to locate the aerial somewhere that it will pick up Caldbeck but where there is less interference from Divis. For example, taking advantage of a building to block an unwanted signal.
As you may know, there are viewers who are unable to receive the Commercial (COM) channels. The transmitters on the Isle of Man are all Freeview Lite, so you are lucky to be able to pick them up from the UK mainland.
Up until Wednesday, the COM channels from Caldbeck were on low power so as to protect against interference with people watching the low-power pre-switchover digital channels from Divis.
Evidently you are in an area where, despite the increased power from Caldbeck, the high power signals from Divis are strong enough to degrade the Caldbeck signals.
| link to this comment |
Petra: If it turns out that Caldbeck's COM channels might not be reliable due to interference, then you might be able to receive the from Winter Hill which is the main transmitter for North West England and is near Bolton. This broadcasts BBC North West and ITV Granada, but if you wished to continue receiving the BBC NE & Cumrbia and ITV Border channels you do now, then an aerial on Winter Hill could be combined with one on Caldbeck. This would allow you to watch PSBs from Caldbeck and COMs from Winter Hill (and indeed PSBs from Winter Hill if you wish) on the same receiver without having to unplug one aerial lead and plug in the other. This may be a solution to be considered only if Caldbeck's COMs is not possible.
I understand that a few years back the regional programming for all of the Isle of Man become BBC North West and ITV Granada which means that, theoretically, they should provide relevant local news and Caldbeck won't.
| link to this comment |
dburns: No, read the previous postings (on earlier pages) which answers your question!
You "may" be able to receive the full service from Limavady, but you will need a different aerial installing for it "if" it is possible at your location.
| link to this comment |
Stuart Williams: If it doesn't receive Freeview, then yes.
I haven't been able to find an official specifications sheet for this model, but I did come across this listing on Amazon which says that it doesn't contain a DVB-T tuner:
Bush LCD27TV005 27" Widescreen LCD TV: Amazon.co.uk: TV
DVB-T is the terrestrial signal type used for standard definition Freeview.
| link to this comment |
Monday 29 October 2012 5:11PM
Anthony: Your Panasonic TV will probably need to a "Freeview HD" one. HD ready means that it will show HD pictures but doesn't have an in-built Freeview HD tuner. Full HD means that it will show the highest resolution HD pictures and doesn't necessarily mean that it will receive HD signals. Knowledge of the model number would allow us to check the specification.
Manually tune to UHF channel 52. This is the channel used by Clermont Carn, Co. Louth which I assume your RT aerial is directed to. If the manual tune screen has a setting for DVB-T and DVB-T2 modes, then select the former. A Freeview HD receiver will probably be needed to receive Saorview.
If this doesn't work and you decide to attempt reception of the NI Mux, then the "inverter" (diplexer) you identify will have to be removed. This is because the NI Mux broadcasts on C39 which is therefore above the range allowed from your Divis aerial.
I say "attempt" because the Digital UK Postcode Checker doesn't "think" that you are in a good area. These things are never ever perfect and therefore should be taken with a pinch of salt. However, it may be touch and go as to whether it will work (fingers crossed though).
The NI Mux carries only RT One, RT Two and TG4, all in standard definition.