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All posts by Alan
Below are all of Alan's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.A
Sudbury Arqiva multiplex B changes 16 November - retune requireFriday 18 November 2011 6:30AM
Bures
I posted a note yesterday to say I had lost Aljazeera and Russia Today. It`s far worse than that, after multiple scans I can only now receive 60 tv channels and 10 radio
I used to have 80 TV channels and some of the smaller radio`s like Premier have gone.
I have two TV`s both with separate 36 element aerials pointing towards Lt Cornard which according to their postcode finder (Bures) is 2.3km away.
Look as though "Digital UK" need to get this sorted
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I posted earlier to say that I have lost a multitude of channels.
Its not me, the rest of my road in Bures are all moaning.
Just had a knock at the door stating same problem
And Yes "Dale" both my aerials ( two sets)have powered mast head amps
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If you look at the MUX chart for Sudbury, ArqB is only pushing out 1,100 watts.
Compare that to the BBC Mux at 100,000 watts.
No wonder we have problems
Freeview on Sudbury TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice (CO85LH)
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I telephoned Digital UK just now and asked why the loss of C63.
I was given the stock answer "In every case the problem is caused by the customer not having a wideband aerial"
I then told him I had two separate 36 w/b element aerials pointing to the Sudbury mast 2.3km away.
Nice man then used the postcode checker to inform me "that I was getting 100% signal strength"
When I mentioned mast power levels I was then told "we are not told any details of power"
He then asked where did I get the aerials from - when I said "Screwfix" he said "That`s your problem"
But there are LABGEAR" I replied
I left no wiser than when I started the call
Agreed, my earlier comment about the MUX having an output of 1,100 watts looks to be an old page - whoops
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What a Plonka I am. I have been in moaning about the loss of C63. Spending ages this morning climbing ladders, checking aerial direction, even trying another aerial on my TV.
I then came to the conclusion the problem was my installation
To cut a long story the problem was the bloomin freeview box. Ok on every other C but not C63.
Changed box and my channels are back.
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I live at Bures, 2.3km from the mast.
I have erected on the chimney a 36 element w/b Labgear yagi which has a 5 metre coax run to the TV in my upstairs workshop.
The reception is hopeless, some nights all the C63 channels are missing.
Even with an amp at the back of the set, the picture still pixelates.
Everyone in Bures is complaining.
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JB38
I am sure the "umbrella" situation applies here. Bures lies in a valley and not on the same level as the mast.
The main 5 channels radiating 100KW are fine, so I see no reason for an inline attenuator.
We had this situation many years ago on the analogue system. One day all of the channels were hardly watchable. I reported this (cant recall to who, possibly the BBC) and to my amazement a van turned up within a few days and made some measurements at the end of my coax. He admitted they had been working on the mast.
A few days later the signals were back to 100% and I received a call to say they had re-aligned the aerial back to where it was before they started work.
I appreciate this is back in the analogue days but it does support your theory.
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This may be the definitive answer.
A OAP friend of mine in Sudbury who has problems with C63, annoyed by the lack of interest with the Freeview Help Line wrote to all and sundry about the unreliable reception, ie BBc, OFCOM, Freeview etc
Well you may think what a waste of time.
However this morning an engineer travelled all the way down from Peterborough to visit his premises and test out his installation.
Sure enough when he arrived C63 was pixelating
After spending some time with test eqpt he told the owner, "there was nothing wrong with his installation which included the aerial on the roof"
He would return to Peterborough to inform his masters that the fault does not lie at the customers premises.
The only other place left is the Mast then ?
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Thursday 17 November 2011 4:50PM
Since the Sudbury retune I have totally lost Aljazeera and Russia Today.
Two different wideband aerials for each set and guess what, I only live at Bures 3 miles from the mast.
Even with aerial amps it makes no difference