All posts by Dave Lindsay
Below are all of Dave Lindsay's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Derek Sanderson: As part of switchover, the power of the Findon transmitter was increased. This now provides a greater coverage and it still broadcasts BBC South as it is a relay of Rowridge.
Depending on your location you may be able to receive either from Findon or directly from Rowridge.
Be aware that Findon is a Public Service only transmitter so you will not get all the channels, so you may need to retain your current aerial for them.
Whilst it's probably not quite the news you were hoping for, it may nonetheless give you an opportunity to receive BBC South again.
If you provide your location, preferably in the form of post code, an assessment can be made as to the likelihood of reception from another transmitter that carries BBC South.
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May: What's the nature of the problem? Is it "forgetting" some channels when you switch it off?
To suggest a workaround to the problem, we need to know what transmitter you should be picking up and those that you are probably picking up that you need to avoid. To work this out, please can you provide your location? And the direction of your aerial (or transmitter which it is directed at) ?
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Paul Butler: One of the simplest workarounds might be to unplug the aerial lead for part of the scan in order to avoid the receiver choosing the unwanted Wales transmitter.
You've said that your aerial is on the roof, but have alluded to which transmitter (or direction) it is facing, which is crucial to any plan to avoid the unwanted and get the wanted.
The most likely transmitter for your area would appear to be Storeton which is to your south east (and the aerial will be vertical). If this is where your aerial is pointing, then Storeton Granada's channels are low ones; all others that you be picking up are above those used by it.
So run the automatic tuning scan and unplug the aerial and unplug it at 25%, or once it has passed channel 30, if it gives channel numbers whilst scanning.
There may be other methods, such as the software may allow you to configure it manually or having stored the incorrect (Wales) channels, alter it to the correct ones.
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Deryck Hughes: A directional aerial would be likely to improve the signal, as by it's nature, it has a better gain. What in fact happens is that the sensitivity of a directional aerial is greater in one direction at the expense of the other directions. So that is where the improved "gain" comes from.
Obviously the downside to such an antenna is that it won't be as sensitive picking up signals from other directions. However, if you are in an area where the only services that you could possibly receive (or only those you want) are coming from one direction, then that's probably not such a great issue; the improvement in gain where the signal is weak is what you want.
For lots of information on aerials, see ATV Sheffield's site:
FM / DAB Radio Aerials
BBC Radio Scotland is on Freeview in Scotland, logical channel number 719. As you're using a roof-top FM aerial I take it that you're listening on a hifi rather than a portable radio. You could either use your existing Freeview receiver (connecting it to your hifi), or purchase a cheap set-top box to site adjacent to your hifi which will allow you to receive Radio Scotland and other BBC national radio stations. Once it has been set-up, there may be no need to have it connected to the television, although the only issue might be that they don't usually have a display on so you won't know easily what channel its on.
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A: For stuff all about aerials, see ATV Sheffield's site:
Aerials, TV Aerial and Digital Aerial
A poor signal which results in blocky picture will not damage your set. It is much more likely to damage your health due to members of the family being unable to view Strictly or the X-Factor without interruption.
Where an antenna is directional, it is more sensitive in one direction at the expense of other directions. So an aerial with greater "gain" in one direction must have less in other directions. A directional aerial is therefore not absolute; i.e. it doesn't mean that signals can only ever be picked up in one direction and not in others. Theoretically, I suppose that you could reduce its ability to pick-up signals from other directions. However, cost, size and other factors are likely to come into play.
So it's really a question of degree of directivity rather than absolute directivity.
With digital reception, quality is what you need. So long as the TV is "seeing" the digits reliably (good quality), the strength isn't really an issue.
The software that runs in your TV is really called "firmware". Digital receivers are computers. The firmware does lots of things, including giving you the on screen menu which allows you to operate the receiver. It controls what the receiver does.
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John: Clicking the link next to your posting for Digital UK Tradeview confirms that the above is in fact incorrect. ArqA is on C56 and ArqB on C52, and not the other way around as shown.
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Andy: I to think that the "Freeview Lite" transmitters will be one of the biggest let-downs for a silent minority.
The new Freeview advert does not make clear that not all services are available in all areas.
Due to the way in which things are done these days, private commercial interests are allowed when decisions as far as coverage are being made. For an explanation of why the Commercial multiplexes won't broadcast from 1000 or so relays like Wooburn, see here:
Will there ever be more services on the Freeview Light transmitters? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
In some cases, reception may be possible from another transmitter that does carry these services, but this will of course, require a new aerial. Indeed, in some cases (with some transmitters), because of frequency planning, new aerials will be necessary to receive the Commercial multiplexes (but not the PSBs).
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Dave Greenaway: The power increase will coincide with changes in channels for the Commercial multiplexes which will occur on 18th April.
Rowridge will transmit all multiplexes horizontally and vertically. Prior to switchover it was horizontally polarised only.
The Public Service channels (BBC, ITV1, Channel 4 etc) are all on their full final power of 200kW in each polarisation. The Commercial channels' vertical component will be introduced on 18th April and it will be 200kW. However, the Commercial multiplexes will only have 50kW horizontal signals.
I imagine that at your distance and with line of sight, 50kW will be ample.
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Friday 30 March 2012 12:57PM
Matthew Hopkins: Digital UK Tradeview predictor concurs that it will be 28-