All posts by Scotto
Below are all of Scotto's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.Can I change my name back to Scott? !!!
I see the explanation that the new digital signals (100kW) will be coming from the main elements at the top of the mast (currently used for analogue). AIUI these signals will come from the newly constructed mast which is not used for analogue and the mast currently used for analogue will be reduced in height.
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Tony, mine has worked throughout (and I am further from the transmitter than you are). Maybe your aerial is dodgy (remember the HD signal is only 50% of the power of the main Freeview channels). The problem may resolve after DSO when power levels are vastly increased (10x in the case of HD).
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Graeme - I've got the Sony 37 EX503 and I am in the west end of Glasgow, which must be further from the transmitter than you are, and I get perfect HD reception. The Sony allows you to check the signal strength and picture quality (Options > System Information). It would be interesting to see what signal strength you are getting on the channels you are receiving as this might give a clue. Remember HD is reduced power at the moment, to be resolved in June.
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I would take a guess thst it might be due to engineering work in preparation for the switch-over to digital only services later in the year.
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I live about 20 miles from Black Hill, west end of Glasgow. I get perfect quality and 95% signal strength so I am a bit mystified about your situation. Can you check the signal strength on your TV set? It is an 'option' on mine.
My understanding is the same as yours: 10 kW from a lower position on the mast.
I see you are using a wideband aerial. I was strongly advised not to use such an aerial as it is less efficient than an aerial designed for the correct group. Wideband is a compromise. If you look elsewhere on this site you will see the aerial groups. Mine is Group E but as far as I can see after switchover the appropriate aerial will be Group B.
Do you have any joins - even wall sockets? I was told there should be no joints of any sort, with the cable leading direct from the aerial to the back of the set.
I think the HD channel is 55 not 59.
My understanding is that amplifiers are more for analogue than digital as digital is 'all or nothing' and double nothing is still nothing.
As you say, there will be a massive power increase - to 100 kW AIUI - in June so maybe you should just wait and see what happens then.
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Sorry about the channel number. I got confused by the table at the start and misread the display information on the TV also. I'm still puzzled. I'm getting 100% signal strength on BBC4 and I live a lot further away from you. My set is also a Sony. My only other suggestion is that I think I read somewhere that the temporary signal is directional. Maybe a bit of Google research would clarify this.
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Found it http://www.aerialsandtv.com/blackhilltx.html
"Black Hill is planned to transmit a pre switchover low power HDTV MUX (on CH59 at 10kW) from Feb 2010. Its radiation pattern is the same as that for analogue C5, which is concentrated in a cross shape, due N, S, E and W, i.e. it is nominally omnidirectional."
Not sure if this means a weaker signal if you are NE, NW etc.
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David. Following the experience of Nigel in the Archers I am reluctant to go on to the roof. I am very confident that my aerial must be pointing pretty much due east as I am at the west end of Glasgow and the transmitter is half way to Edinburgh.
As others have said, it's only five months to wait so it may be worth simply waiting to see if it is sorted out with DSO. With a bit of luck they might even start transmitting from the new mast in advance of the formal switchover.
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Monday 3 January 2011 2:08PM
Glasgow
I see there are two mistakes in the list of HD channels from Black Hill. 50 is shown as 'BBC One HD (Scotland)' but at present HD is a 'national' channel with no 'regional' variations. 51 is shown as 'ITV1 HD' but ITV does not operate in (this part of) Scotland. The service is STV HD.