All posts by Dave Lindsay
Below are all of Dave Lindsay's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Mike Drew: What has happened is that BBC Two is now no longer available on analogue. That is what happens at the first stage of switchover.
The standard definition digital channels also move frequency (UHF channel) thus necessitating the need for a retune. Where no retune is carried out, digital BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC News and some others will no longer be available (due to not retuning).
Therefore, the fact that only BBC Two is being mentioned as being lost suggests that it is analogue TV which is being referred to.
If your mother-in-law can receive Freeview before switchover, then she if best advised to use it and not bother with the analogue any more.
Has she performed a retune? If not, then she will have to do it in order to view the digital only BBC Two. BBC One can still be viewed on analogue, as too can ITV Meridian and Channel 4. Meridian will now appear on button number 2 (i.e. in the position that BBC Two used to accupy) on *analogue*.
Perhaps it would be helpful to know the model number or numbers of the devices in question so as to find the user manuals for them and thereby direct the lady through the process.
| link to this comment |
Steven Naismith: I can't offer you an explanation as to why there might be frequent engineering works at Arrochar, but I can tell you that it won't be likely to be getting any more (Commercial) channels. This is because the Commercial operators decide where to broadcast from and operated on a commercial (profit) basis. See here for an explanation:
Will there ever be more services on the Freeview Light transmitters? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
Your only way to get extra free-to-air channels is probably Freesat.
| link to this comment |
The instruction manual for Joanne's TV can be found here:
http://help.digitaluk.co.….pdf
Joanne: Do you have any channels tuned in?
| link to this comment |
Joanne: Page 12 of the manual talks about "regional" options. To select Emley Moor, it (Secondary Region, I believe) should be set to "Yorkshire".
Basically which one you select changes which transmitter it is tuned to (where multiple transmitters can be received). You may find that your TV has picked up Belmont and it is identified by the region "E Yorks & Lincs" (as its primary service area is East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire). Due to the fact that E comes before Y, it could have defaulted to Belmont which is why you have poor reception on some channels and others being non-existant (if that is indeed the case).
| link to this comment |
Victor Meldrew: The lack of service you have is as a result of the laws of capitalism. The Commercial broadcasters use about 80 of the largest (by viewer population) transmission sites in the country from which they achieve coverage of 90% of the population.
They were invited to increase that coverage and declined. To broadcast from the 1000 or so relays not included would roughly double their costs of transmission.
See Will there ever be more services on the Freeview Light transmitters? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice for a fuller explanation.
In some cases the Commercial channels can be received from either the parent of the relay (perhaps with a bigger aerial) or from another station that carries them.
| link to this comment |
Sarah: As suggested try running the scan with the aerial unplugged. Assuming that you are receiving your TV from Whitehawk Hill which is main transmitter in Brighton, then you should be OK with leaving the aerial out for the first 50%.
| link to this comment |
frank tunstall: Assuming that your aerial is directed at Sudbury, then the Commercial channels should hopefully become available to you on 27th June when their transmission power is to that of the Public Service ones.
| link to this comment |
frank tunstall: Sorry, I see you specifically referred to Bramford transmitter. The answer is no, the Commercial operators aren't likely to ever transmit from there. They use about 80 of the largest (by viewer population) transmission sites in the country from which they achieve coverage of 90% of the population.
They were invited to increase that coverage and declined. To broadcast from the 1000 or so relays not included would roughly double their costs of transmission.
See Will there ever be more services on the Freeview Light transmitters? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice for a fuller explanation.
The predictor suggests that you might be able to receive directly from Tacolneston. There are houses on High Street that have aerials on Tacolneston.
Of course, assuming that there aren't any trees that might be an issue, an aerial on top of the three storey flats in which you reside would mean that the aerial is higher up (assuming that you or an installer acting on your behalf has access).
That does beg the question, if you have a communal aerial, why does it point at Bramford and not Tacolneston (or Sudbury) ?
| link to this comment |
Joanne: For the following programme channels, bring them up and go to "Signal Information" (see page 16, figure 3).
Hopefully it will tell you the UHF channel (frequency) that it is tuned to for each one of the following.
BBC One should be 47 (could be 22 or 34)
BBC One HD should be 41 (could be 28)
ITV3 should be 51 (could be 30 or 31)
Pick TV should be 52 (could be 53 or 27)
Yesterday should be 48 (could be 60 or 42)
For each of those programme channels, let us know which UHF channel it is tuned to.
| link to this comment |
Monday 12 March 2012 10:01AM
zak: Unless there is a local obstruction (tree, building etc), then you shouldn't have a problem as there appears to be line of sight to the transmitter!
The aerial will probably be directed southwards towards Emley Moor. This will work fine with Freeview.
I would look to see if you can work out where the cable goes. Does it go into the loft and if so can you trace it from there?
Failing that, based on your good line of sight to the transmitter and 100s across the board on the Digital UK Tradeview predictor, you may find that a set-top aerial works.
The only possible spanner in the works is that the terraces run approximately north to south which is roughly the same as that of the direction the signal is coming from. You may find it tricky to position an indoor aerial where the line between the transmitter and it doesn't go through the houses!
Your best bet is undoubtedly the east side of the house. Emley Moor is at 169 degrees from your location (that being a bit anticlockwise from south). The houses are slightly clockwise of the north/south meridian.
If you can, get a roof-top aerial because it will be much more reliable. But the set-top aerial could perhaps be tried - just don't be expecting it to work perfectly (although that's not to say that none ever do).
I would steer clear of loop aerials, aerials with amplifiers (boosters) in-built. Personally I have one of these Labgear ones which I use occasionally:
Set Top Aerial Labgear | eBay
For Emley Moor you need it horizontally polarised, as in like this:
http://www.comparestorepr….jpg
The photo on eBay shows it almost vertical. It is adjustable and should be directed with it narrow-most end in the direction of the transmitter.