All posts by Chris.SE
Below are all of Chris.SE's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
C
My Freeview box has no EPG, is blank on FIVE, ITV3, ITV4, ITV2+Wednesday 27 November 2024 11:19PM
Monmouth
Jeff:
Really, some of that advice is a bit out of date and was more useful during pre-DSO and DSO days.
Some also applied during the 800MHz and 700MHz programmes, but then there was usually specific retune advice and when to do it.
These days as there aren't constant frequency changes, retunes are not needed most of the time. The only time they are sometimes required is when any of the commercial operators on SDN, COMs 5 & 6 alter any of their channels and you usually get a specific pop-up message when you switch to the affected LCN - most recently, 2 of the Great! channels swapped LCNs with each other (most people wouldn't need to retune for that, essentially it was just a name change) and a new Great! channel was added on the Local multiplex (which you are predicted to receive in your locale) - only need to manually retune that multiplex.
One time NOT to retune is IF you know you were correctly tuned - you are getting all the multiplexes that you were supposed to, AND you have a NO Signal or Weak signals with badly pixellated pictures.
You cannot tune to signals that are not there or can't be decoded. The usual effect is just to clear the correct tuning for those signals that are missing.
This situation can arise when a transmitter is having Planned Engineering (or has a fault).
Judging by your aerial direction and comment and postcode if it was NP25 4TW we assume you are tuned to Mendip which again is having Planned Engineering this week!
Your best bet is to manually retune each of Mendip's UHF channels until you get all the multiplexes back. Once you are getting a multiplex, don't retune that UHF channel.
Mendip's correct UHF channels are C32, C34, C35, C48, C33, C36, & C30. That's is the multiplex order BBCA/PSB1, D3&4/PSB2, BBCB HD/PSB3, SDN/COM4, ArqA/COM5, ArqB/COM6 & the Local mux.
The multiplex that you may have most "difficulty" with is SDN on C48. You aren't predicted to get reception in your locale BUT this will depend on your particular aerial location in relation to the direction of another transmitter using C48 where a weak signal from it could cause co-channel interference. It is only a prediction!
Select each UHF channel in turn and post back the Signal Strength & Quality figures for each.
How long have you had this reception problem? If it' only this week, it could be the Planned Engineering, but there is another possibility.
You should have received a Postcard from Restore TV. See -
https://restoretv.uk/post…ure/
It's possible that there's a new/upgraded phone mast now using the 700MHz Band and causing some interference. You can get a Free Filter from Restore TV.
Now as you mention that you have an aerial amp/booster such Filter MUST go before the amp - ie. between the Aerial and the Amp. If this is an external masthead amp mounted on your aerial pole etc. you need to advise Restore TV who should send an engineer Free of charge to fit an external waterproof one on your mast. They may also make other improvements if deemed necessary.
Assuming your postcode is NP25 4TW (there was a typo with $) then your aerial should be pointing almost due S - compass bearing 176 degrees, and its rods/squashed Xs should be horizontal.
Post back how you get on and any other queries.
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Les:
I can't answer specifically as I don't have Freesat, hopefully someone who has will respond.
I suspect it'll be similar to Freeview and what's available will depend on which service you are watching.
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Christopher Peachey:
Well there's several possibilities here. We'll leave aside the possibility of a problem with the aerial installation (water in the connections/cable) at this point but might have to come back to it if there's any other issues.
Did you not see the transmitter engineering post before yours?
Next point, why do you want to retune? C33 is the correct UHF channel for Sandy Heath SDN/COM4 multiple, and you are tuned to it. Trying to retune when a signal can't be decoded (due to poor quality/interference) or No SIgnal will usually result in the correct tuning being cleared. You cannot tune to signals that aren't there or can't be decoded!
Whatever the cause, don't try retuning.
It would have been nice to know how long the problem has been present. You shouldn't have any particular problems with reception from Sandy Heath in normal circumstances and get all 6 multiplexes with 100% quality. If you don't have 100% quality on the others, please post the Signal Strength and Quality figures for each multiplex's UHF channels.
If C33 is the only channel not having 100% quality then if it's not the engineering work, interference is the most likely cause.
1) There is some "tropospheric" conditions about in your area which can cause interfering signals from distant transmitters (in the UK or Europe). Those conditions should clear later.
2) There a possibility that there could be a new/upgraded phone mast now using the 700MHz band and there's at least one mobile mast near you well within the beamwidth of your aerial's line of sight to Sandy. That could cause some interference issues. You should have received a postcard from Restore TV..
See - https://restoretv.uk/post…ure/
I'd contact Restore TV and request a Free filter. Now if you have any aerial pre-amp amp/splitter the Filter must be fitted before them. If a pre-amp is fitted to your mast, you need to advise Restore TV and they should send an engineer Free of charge to install a waterproof one on the mast.
Post back how things progress.
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Christopher Peachey:
Forgot to add, do check your aerial hasn't moved at all, it should be pointing at around compass bearing 244 degrees, that's roughly WSW, and it's rods (or squashed Xs) should be horizontal.
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Ken:
Can't find any faults reported at present, doesn't mean there is one BUT the Croyde relay is fed off-air from Caradon Hill which has planned engineering work at present, so this could be the cause of the problem.
Do NOT retune. You cannot tune to signals that aren't there or cannot be decoded, it will often just clear the correct tuning.
As you have Signal Strength figures, do you have Quality figures as well? If so, are these 100% for each multiplex's UHF channels? For Croyde they are C44, C41 & C47.
Do check that you are tuned to C41 which is the one for the PSB2/D3&4 multiplex that carries ITV, 4, 5 etc.
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Tuesday 26 November 2024 12:43PM
Mac:
Ha ha. Case proven! There's obviously a bug in the system after the last (automatic) site software update. I've just had the CAPTCHA thing return a message saying it had timed out, check the box again, so I did. Mistake. EVERYONE ignore it, just wait 5 minutes to see if your post appears.