All posts by Dave Lindsay
Below are all of Dave Lindsay's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Gary: I Googled and the results suggest that "Philex SLx Pro" is in fact a model or range of distribution amplifiers.
If the aerial has an amplifier mounted on it, then this will need to be powered in order for any signal to come out of it.
I found this manual for the SLx6 which is the 6-output distribution amplifier. On its input (the one you connect to the aerial) it can supply the power to the aerial's amplifier.
If you have good line of sight to the transmitter (is it Fenton??), then I wouldn't think that an aerial amplifier was necessary.
With your set-top aerial, confirm which you are tuned to. For each of the following, bring up the signal strength screen and see what UHF channel it is tuned to:
BBC One = C24
ITV1 = C27
ITV3 = C25
Pick TV = C22
Yesterday = C28
These channel numbers are those of Fenton. If any are different, then let us me and I will identify which it is that you are picking up.
| link to this comment |
Gary: Sorry, I missed the link to the Philex manual:
http://www.philex.com/ass….pdf
| link to this comment |
Ruth: Perhaps there isn't an aerial and the poor signal you have is being picked up by the cable you have connected to the TV's aerial input.
What about other equipment such as a PVR or another television? Do they find more channels?
| link to this comment |
Richard Baguley: As far as I know there is only one retune on 9th May and that is for the SDN multiplex (ITV3 etc) from Sandy Heath.
Your TV may have some of Sandy Heath's channels stored, possibly in the 800s.
| link to this comment |
Peter: If you are using Rowridge, then switch your aerial from horizontal to vertical. The Commercial channels are lower power horizontally.
| link to this comment |
Peter: Is the booster accessible and can you try either reducing the level of amplification? Or try bypassing it so that the aerial feeds only one aerial socket as a test?
I suggest these as possible lines of investigation prior to adjusting your aerial.
| link to this comment |
Mike James: The vertical element of the Commercial channels from Rowridge was only introduced on 18th April. The vertical element of the Public Service channels was introduced at switchover on 7th and 21st March.
So it's probably safe to say that it will be horizontal.
Whilst it is the case that wideband yagi aerials are less sensitive at Group A channels, I don't see this being a potential issue here though. If it worked before switchover, then it should be sufficient to pick up signals now.
I believe that the likely issue is the marked difference in strength of the Commercial channels with respect to the Public Service ones. Plus possible interference from Crystal Palace of course.
| link to this comment |
jb38: Is an excessive level of signal likely to cause damage to the tuner? Or does it only happen in extreme cases?
Where it does happen, does this happen instantly or is it a matter of time? Or in general it is both, depending on how extreme it is?
| link to this comment |
Wednesday 2 May 2012 7:20PM
Mike James: It's probably best to have the aerial switched to vertical.
There are two reasons:
1. The Commercial multiplexes are stronger vertically that horizontally, whereas the Public Service channels (BBC, ITV1, C4, C5 etc) are the same with both polarisations.
2. Other transmitters use the same channels as the Rowridge Commercial multiplexes, notably Crystal Palace which is in the opposite direction and therefore could be being picked up off the back of the aerial. Crystal Palace is horizontal only, so switching to vertical should help with the "rejection" of its (probably weak) signals.