All posts by Dave Lindsay
Below are all of Dave Lindsay's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
stuart: There is engineering work on at Tacolneston which could mean weak signal, so perhaps the level of the signal is now below that which your TV requires to resolve a picture.
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stuart: Not that I'm aware of. The information on this site is sourced from Digital UK:
Digital UK - Planned Engineering Works
The low power isn't forced to last the duration of the works and may be engaged when required, depending on what is needing to be done and safety of those doing the work.
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MikeB: Whilst the terrain plot may show clear line-of-sight, the size of aerials in the area and the fact that Digital UK doesn't give 100s across the board suggests that objects nearby on the ground could be a source of difficulty it looks like the prison could be in the way.
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John Beaton: Looking at your location, you "might" find that a loft aerial is not sufficient to give a stable signal and that the only option is to put the aerial outside on the roof.
A terrain plot between you and the transmitter is here:
Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location
The reason I say this is that, whilst you are only 10 miles from the transmitter, the ground blocks your line-of-sight from about 1 mile out. The new houses at the top could perhaps increase any difficulty.
There's no such thing as a digital aerial. For Davel a Group A aerial, as installed in the days of four-channel analogue should do because all its channels are still on Group A frequencies:
The Main Digital TV Transmitters (the 6 MUX transmitters)
A yagi wideband isn't so good on Group A channels, so if it's a yagi it should be a Group A one. I would use a log which is naturally wideband but has a flatter response. See:
Rowridge Transmitter
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Steve: At your location I think it's quite likely you can see the Caldbeck mast. See the terrain plot:
Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location
A log periodic is the type of aerial to go for, no question, such as is shown here (other models and retailers are available):
Aerials, TV Aerial and Digital Aerial
If you do get, or have got, a yagi aerial (that being the other type) then it should be a Group A one rather than a wideband one - see here for explanation:
Rowridge Transmitter
It sounds like you're missing PSB2 multiplex which carries ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and six other of the ITV/C4 sisters and their +1s.
You could try a manual scan on the relevant UHF channel (frequency. Enter/select the number and then wait - don't press the button to scan/add channels - see if any indication of strength and quality is given as at this stage the receiver should act like a signal meter.
PSB2 is on C28 from Caldbeck (that is the one for England). The transmitting station also broadcasts one for Scotland on C24.
I would suggest that if you are going to have any issue then it is likely to be too much signal (this being why a log is ideally suited to your location):
Freeview signals: too much of a good thing is bad for you | Digital switchover | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice
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Michael: Looking at your location - within sight of the Divis transmitter - you are likely to find that a piece of wet string will do, at least for test purposes!
If you have no signal then do you use any form of powered booster, as it could be that this has failed? If you do I would be inclined to try using an unpower splitter because the signal should be very very strong.
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Richard Cullen: Without doubt, a log periodic!
Oxford Transmitter
ATV's "DM Log" is a Blake DML26WB:
DML Log-Periodic Freview TV Aerial - Blake UK Ltd
Or a Vision V10-28L will be suitable:
TV & Radio Aerials Catalogue » Vision Products - Powerful Products. Easy Installation. Excellent Value
I don't think you'll be able to loft-mount it because the terrace runs almost parallel to the line-of-sight to the transmitter. You can try it - the signal will be strong at such closeness to the transmitter so you might get away with it, but have a "Plan B" which is to mount it outside of indoors fails.
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Thursday 12 June 2014 5:58PM
stuart: If you are using a powered amplifier (booster) then this could have failed as it would likely result in no or little signal. The fact that the power light may be on is no indication that it is functioning correctly.