All posts by Dave Lindsay
Below are all of Dave Lindsay's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Martyn: Google <<vestel t810>>
Unofficial Vestel PVR Information (UK) - T810 Freeview Recorder
As it says, this is an unofficial site, so use it at your own risk. I haven't used it and therefore can't vouch that for the content. Use it at your own risk.
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len: The RF output (i.e. output on the aerial lead) of the Sky box doesn't provide stereo sound. This is the same as other devices (recorders, video recorders, DVD players etc) which don't put out stereo sound.
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John F: Yes, Belmont ArqA is on C53 and ArqB is on C60.
See "After switchover configuration" here for the programme channels carried on these multiplexes:
Freeview multiplexes | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
As for your problem when you were at Crystal Palace, your receiver was probably being overloaded with signal. I suggest that you carry a variable attenuator around with you. See here for an explanation:
Freeview signals: too much of a good thing is bad for you | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
Of course, caravan aerials by their nature are lower down than aerials on the top of houses, so you will be less likely to suffer from overloading, except perhaps in extreme cases when you are very near to such a high power transmitter. That said, if you're using a high-gain antenna you are more likely to suffer overloading when in strong signal areas.
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Ray: Different frequencies travel differently. So in the days of analogue if you remember ever siting an aerial, there were places where one channel was good but another wasn't so. This is because different frequencies get bounced around, refracted etc in differently, so at the point of reception they may not all be of equal strength.
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d smith: Yes it will...but it will only be a Freeview Light transmitter, it carrying Public Service channels only. They are BBC, ITV1, ITV1+1, ITV2, Channel 4, Channel 4+1, E4, More 4, Channel 5 and HD services.
The transmitters that will carry the full services after switchover are the ones which have the low power Freeview before switchover.
If you provide your location, preferably in the form of post code or nearby post code, we can see what the likely possibility is that you can receive from one of these full Freeview transmitters.
For an explanation of why Morpeth won't carry the Commercial channels, see Will there ever be more services on the Freeview Light transmitters? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
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brian m: Does this posting from Dee Tee help you?
Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
By the way, tonight ArqB from Midhurst goes up to full final power.
For ArqB services, see "After switchover configuration" here Freeview multiplexes | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
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Peter Barnard: See the top of the page.
You get Public Service channels only which are BBC TV and radio, ITV1, ITV1+1, Channel 4, Channel 4+1, E4, More 4, Channel 5 and the four HD channels.
If you are lucky, you may be able to receive from a main station such as Heathfield so as to get the full service when it switches over in June.
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Gerry King: I hate to tell you this, but I think that the Chepping Wycombe relay transmitter has spoiled your party.
Digital UK Tradeview predictor thinks that the Hannington PSBs are "good" at your location, but the COMs are all "poor". Unfortunately it doesn't give away why it thinks that the COMs are so bad.
However, if you go to this page UK TV Frequency map - channel C41 (634.0MHz) before switchover map | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice it shows that Chepping Wycombe is co-channel. Its radiation shows that it throws its signal out to its north east.
The channels allocated to the COMs aren't as good as those given to the PSBs. There is more compromise with them. Hannington's COMs are at half transmission power with respect to its PSBs. This example shows why; that is the three channels are "re-used" by this relay transmitter in an area where its PSBs are probably satisfactory.
As Hannington and the interfering transmitter are inline with one another, there is nothing you can do with respect to a better aerial that will reject the unwanted signals (from another direction) or a makeshift shield made of chicken wire and kitchen foil.
Based on the predictor, the next-best transmitter to pick up the COMs from is Crystal Palace. Two are "poor" and one is "variable". Unless it can be pinned down why Digital UK thinks that two are worse, e.g. another interferer, and the interfering signal can't be avoided, then maybe there is an outside chance of receiving these from Crystal Palace.
I'm not sure how accurate Wolfbane is. However, I put in your post code and selected the DX box which means that it returns everything, including the weakest of the weak at your location:
UK digital TV reception predictor
The only transmitter that is listed by Wolfbane that is co-channel with Crystal Palace's COMs is Rowridge. So perhaps it is Rowridge that is degrading the result from the DUK predictor.
Directional aerials differ in sensitivity to a signal, depending on the direction of that signal. So it may not necessarily mean poor reception. However, it may be the case that an external aerial may be necessary. Or then again, you "may" (it's a "try it and see" thing) get sufficient signal from Crystal Palace in your loft, and it may also be a location where there is nothing (or negligible signal) from Rowridge.
For DIY aerial information, see www.aerialsandtv.com
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Denzil Dexter: Change your aerial to vertical polarisation if you can.
The Commercial channels (including the ones you mention) are 50kW horizontally and 200kW vertically. The Public Service channels (BBC, ITV1, Channel 4, Channel 5 etc) are 200kW horizontally and vertically.
Also, the three Commercial channels are co-channel with their partners from Stockland Hill. The only difference being that Stockland is horizontally polarised only. So switching to vertical should help reject Stockland if it is interfering and should also help pick up more signal from Rowridge.
Also, if I were you, I wouldn't assume that the problem is too low a signal. That is not, of course to say that it isn't the case. Be mindful that too much signal can appear as too little signal where digital is concerned.
See Freeview signals: too much of a good thing is bad for you | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
I should imagine that if you do have too much signal, then based on your distance from the transmitter it won't be as a result of the aerial. It is more likely to be due to the amplifier.
Another thing is that it could be that the higher power Public Service channels are acting to de-sensitise your receiver, thus it doesn't "hear" the lower power Commercial channels which are nearby. Reducing or removing your level of amplification could help rectify that.
Indeed, if you're DIYing it, then I would start off by removing the booster and switching the aerial to vertical and then work from there.
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Tuesday 24 April 2012 1:37AM
Martyn: Digital UK has issued a bulletin:
http://www.digitaluk.co.u….pdf