Arqiva press release on Oxfordshire switchover
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV From Arqiva press office:
NEWS ALERT
Date: 28 September 2011
DSO completed for Oxford transmitter group
The Digital Switch Over process for the Oxford transmitter group, serving Oxfordshire and parts of Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, has been successfully implemented by Arqiva.
The public-service multiplexes are now being transmitted at full power from the main station at Oxford and, for the first time, from its five dependent relays at Ascott under Wychwood, Charlbury, Guiting Power, Icomb Hill and Over Norton.
The 'commercial' multiplexes (Oxford only) do not reach their final DSO powers until April 2012, as planned.
Following the analogue switch-off for BBC Two on 14 September, the remaining analogue signals for BBC One, ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5 ceased by 00:01 on Wednesday 28 September. The new digital signals entered official service at Oxford at 06:00, with the last of the relays completed by 12:33.
Help with Freeview, aerials?
In this section
Thursday, 6 October 2011
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Chris.SE4:22 PM
Blimey, you've got long arms or fingers :)))
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Simon 5:02 PM
Buckingham
I've just done a full factory reset, and then went into manual tuning using a standard set top tv aerial that doesn't have any integrated booster. And the results are.....
no signal on any channel. I really don't think I'm struggling with too much signal here in Buckingham!
Thanks,
Simon
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Chris.SE6:19 PM
Simon: Hi, sorry I missed your post this morning. I've done some further checking and this suggests you don't have signal overload, which seems to concur with your latest checks although I am surprised the signal isn't stronger at your loaction.
It's the breakup on C60 that is bugging me a bit. When you see this on the box, do you see it also on the Samsung? And how does the Samsung report the signal strength & quality on C60 compared to the box (both without the booster).
It is possible that you may get overload with the booster on, but not enough signal with it removed!
I am wondering however whether the -ve offset is causing a proiblem for the box.
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Simon 6:47 PM
Buckingham
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your reply. I've just reset the TV tuner and manually tuned in the Oxford channels (to avoid Cambs and Beds getting their channels in there first).
As before there's no channel 59, BUT channel 60 is uninterrupted. I can't find a way for it to display how strong the signal is, but as far as I can tell it's perfect, it doesn't appear to be fluctuating which I think is key. Just before I did this I checked the signal on C60 which was varying between good and very good, to which I'd think the picture would be good, but it was really interrupted and almost unwatchable. I think it's the signal fluctuations on the Sharp box causing the 'blocking' rather than the strength of the signal itself. what do you think?
So now I can watch all the channels I have on the TV perfectly, but I can't record obviously which is a shame, and I still don't have C59 channels.
To confirm too that this has all been done without the booster in the circuit.
Thanks for your ongoing support.
best regards,
Simon
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Simon 6:50 PM
Buckingham
sorry, to tidy up my last comment:
The picture is perfect on the Samsung TV tuner but still no C59 (and no facility to record).
The signal varies from good to very good on the Sharp box and the picture is very interrupted.
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Chris.SE8:19 PM
Simon: OK, it really is smelling like the Sharp box does not like the -ve offset.
How do normally have things setup. I'm guessing Aerial to booster to Sharp box loop through to Samsung.
As you've got no C59 still on the Samsung, try putting the Booster back in and plug directly to the Samsung, ignore the Sharp Box for the moment. Check that the picture and sound on the Samsung is stable and no problems on all muxes, watch for a while for fluctuations & try again for C59. I find it rather odd that you are getting C62 (SDN) which is supposed to be on the same power and not C59.
If all looks ok, put the Sharp box back into the equation and see what is happening to it with C60 only set up and see whether there is any change to the Samsung.
I'm going to do a bit of research and will get back further shortly.
By the way, when you last setup the Sharp did you put in the channels in the order I suggested (and check what was happening after each one was added)?
Haven't heard anything back from Suzanne recently, hope she hasn't fallen from the loft or through the ceiling :( was anticipating a progess report, but then she may have resorted to the G&T's - mines a double :0
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Simon 8:43 PM
Buckingham
Hi Chris,
I have previously tried it through the Samsung with the aerial booster in the loop and there was no C59.
The set up before with the booster was roof aerial to booster box in the loft, from there into the wall. out of the wall in the living room, into the powered booster unit and from there into the Sharp box, connected then to the TV by Scart.
i have done the Sharp suggested in the order you suggested but nothing untoward happened. the same channels had the same signal strength as before.
I can try putting the booster back in the loop for the Samsung TV tomorrow, it's quite a job as I have to change all the ends of my coax cables over in the loft!
I get all the C62 channels without interference. I'm not convinced the booster will solve the problem into the samsung, as I've said, I've tried it before into the Samsung with no results, and it's not like i'm getting a weak signal, there's simply no trace of C59 at all since the switchover.
Thanks for your thoughts,
Simon
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Suzanne8:57 PM
Bicester
Hi Chris: Suz here, I am indeed sipping a large G&T whilst trying to contain my excitement..NO I've not fallen through the loft or ceiling as I had a friend to climb the heights of the ladder - Not too good with heights nor realizing I have two tv's in house. I feel I've won the lottery, I have ALL my channels working perfectly, including the "elusive Ch59" HOO RAH!! Yippee..:-)))) Amazing result.
Before the G&T(s) start to take affect and I'm unable to make any sense at all, I shall try to explain what the problem was, or I think it was. Are you sitting comfortably.
It appeared the co-ax aerial cable to the bedroom was a digital aerial cable, as the core was copper and quite substantial - then looking at the aerial cable connected to the Tv in the living room, I realized they looked different. The wire in this cable was like a piece of cotton, and not copper. A basic, cheap cable and not designed for Digital I suspect. I could be wrong, and that it doesn't matter. Only I should imagine the signals working on Analogue were so much lower that a cheap flimsy analogue aerial cable wouldn't matter. Also the connections into the "spur" in the loft ( splitter) I was told was slightly lose on one side - YES, the side that came into my living room. So new digital aerial cable, plus new splitter and connectors for TV and spur in loft - Re-tuned and hey presto like magic ALL channels are back.
I can't believe just how ecstatic I am, how much we take for granted when everything is working well. Evidently not the new outdoor aerial or my new TV - or indeed weaker signals for Ch59, but down to equipment I hadn't even thought about checking. Which ALL thanks MUST GO TO YOU for all your advice, patience and help over these last few days (weeks)I really do appreciate it, and of course JB too.
Just poured you a large G&T..so enjoy it virtually, not quite the same, but don't they say it's the thought that counts ;-)
Oh yes, I wonder should Simon check his aerial cable and connections, anyway just a thought..
A BIG thank you!
Suzanne
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jb389:28 PM
Suzanne: Just having a read at the outcome of your problem, I am really pleased to see that you report all as being OK now.
I would also like to say that your honesty on finding the cause of the problem is also very much appreciated, insomuch that some might have decided that after having had such lengthy communications with various assisting with the problem it was maybe best policy to keep quite about it, basically for face saving purposes, and likewise ceased giving any further updates, something which would have left us all wondering what happened.
Anyway thanks again / Regards - jb
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Simon 10:26 PM
Buckingham
Suzanne,
Glad you have your channels back! when you say the core is copper, do you mean when you strip back the outer casing of the wire you have lots of thin copper strands or do you mean the thicker central wire?
I've already checked and refitted all of my connection points and heads, and I have no splitter, also I think all of my leads are copper but I can check that.
Thanks,
Simon
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