All posts by Dave Lindsay
Below are all of Dave Lindsay's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
A: Heathfield is horizontal and Saltdean is vertical. A look on Streetview at the aerials at the post code you've given show them to be vertical and pointing at Saltdean.
Saltdean receives Public Service channels from Whitehawk and rebroadcasts then on its own channels (54, 55 and 58 for HD), as do many relays. This was the also case in the days of analogue.
By their very nature, relay transmitters must be sited where they have good reception of their parent.
It is unfortunate that the terrain does not permit you to receive from Whitehawk, even though it is only just over three miles away. Similarly, Newhaven and Lewes are served by relays due to them being in valley.
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Mr T J Coates: The first thing to confirm is that the TV is tuned to the correct transmitter.
When digital switchover occurs, signals become stronger and consequently carry further, causing areas of overlap. Maybe this is what has happened.
One reason may be that when your TV stores the channels when performing its automatic tuning scan, it goes with the first one of each that it finds. So if a neighbouring transmitter is found first (perhaps previously the signal was too weak to be available at your location), then it goes with that. Your local transmitter may be in the 800s.
Do you have programmes stored in the 800s? Do they appear to be stable?
In order to suggest a workaround, please can you let me know your location, preferably in the form of a post code (or perhaps nearby post code of a shop if you don't want to give yours) ?
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Mr T J Coates: I'll just add that I asked for your location in order to work out what signals that could be picked up by your receiver.
Also, what transmitter does your aerial point to (or what direction is it pointing in)?
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Brian: I would install an attenuator and reduce the signal for all, including the box.
Different equipment responds different, with respect not only to sensitivity (i.e. some will work when others won't) and this includes when the signal is on the high side.
Reducing the signal level into the box should not affect the reception unless perhaps you're going to do it to such a degree that the signal level is only just good enough.
There is a big enough window for which reducing the level to make the LGs work won't push the box below the level it needs.
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sally: As you already have an aerial, it is probably best to try it and see if it is sufficient. However, Crystal Palace completes switchover on 18th April so you can only say with certainty if it will work then (if it doesn't work now).
In order to get HD services on Freeview you will have to wait until 18th April, no doubt. HD Freeview services aren't normally available before switchover. Crystal Palace is one of a few exceptions.
However Crystal Palace's current HD service is on lower power than the standard definition services with restrictions in some directions.
In particular, the Reigate transmitter uses the same frequency as Crystal Palace uses for HD (at the moment). Not only does Reigate serve your general area, but the HD signal from Crystal Palace is likely to be reduced in that direction to avoid interfering with those receiving from Reigate. So it's safe to say that you won't get HD from CP before 18th April.
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Mrs Ellen Poole: Unfortunately there's not a lot you can do *if* the interfering signals are coming in on the same frequency as those you are trying to pick up from the local transmitter you normally receive from.
However, the fact that you've rescanned does not necessarily mean that the channels you are picking up now (such as TMC) are coming in on the frequencies used by your local transmitter. It *could* be that the signals from your local transmitter are now back to normal, but that these other signals from France are stronger (but on different frequencies) and so the BT Vision box chooses these as the "main" services.
I have never used a BT Vision box, but I understand that they do not have manual tuning which is very poor.
What I would do in your position is go to TMC (and other foreign channels) and bring up the signal strength screen. This will hopefully say which UHF channel (frequency) the service is on. If it's that which is used by your local transmitter, then you know that you're probably going to have to wait. If it's not, then you might have a chance of tuning it back in again on your local transmitter which the Digital UK Tradeview predictor would suggest is Caradon Hill which is north from your location.
When the box scans, it "looks" at different frequencies; channel numbers from 21 to 69.
Caradon Hill uses channels from 21 to 28, so if your French signal is coming in on, say, channel 44, and you've unplugged the aerial by that point, then hopefully it won't "see" it.
If the BT Vision gives the channel numbers as it scans, then unplug at 28. If not, then unplugging at 18% should do the trick.
If, after doing this, you still have some foreign channels, then perhaps they are on the same frequencies as those of Caradon.
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Michael: A Group A aerial will work with all channels used by Caradon.
See here:
Digital TV Transmitters
See also other pages on ATV's website for background information on installing aerials.
See also this plot showing that your line is slightly obstructed:
Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location
I wouldn't like to suggest what sort of aerial you might need as I'm not a professional. You may find that those at ATV may be able to advise you.
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O2 reports an issue with a base station in the area. It would appear that the site is home to base stations for the five main public mobile networks, as well as Airwave, the network used by the emergency services.
The Twitter account for Kestral FM reported the issue at 3pm this afternoon. It broadcasts on 97.1 FM from the site.
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Tuesday 27 March 2012 10:30AM
David Precious: Carry out a factory reset before you start as a precaution (so as to wipe anything stored).
If you do this and still get some 800s, then it may be best to factory reset again before you try again to avoid the other signals.
If you have manual tuning, then this may be a way round it. This could enable you to tune in all Midhurst multiplexes (having factory reset) or if, having reset, you can only tune automatically, then aim to pick up at least one from Midhurst and manually tune the rest.