Are you using Freeview?
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Freeview is digital TV using a normal TV aerial (not a satellite dish or cable TV). Freeview boxes are marked one of these: 'Freeview', 'ITV Digital', 'ONdigital' or 'DVB-T'.
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CATHY GAWEN: That's no much to go on. Pete JarvisWednesday 20 April 2011 5:20PM
Keighley I live in the BD22 area. Had a new digital aerial fitted 3 weeks ago, but after two weeks I lost Channels 4 and 5,some other 5 Channels and other channels.
I can't seem to get them back. Is there a problem in the area and what can I do?Hi,
I am looking for advice with regards signal quality and digital TV reception. I have recently needed to add extra aerial connections to allow TV's in other rooms. My old aerial (pre digital switch over) was working really well with two connections. However, I wanted an additional 3 (5 in total). Knowing that adding further connections would increase signal losses, I purchased a whole new aerial - Triax 52 Wideband, a UHF aerial signal filter - to prevent interference from mobile phones, and a 6-way mast head amplifier with power supply. I have used a coax tool to cut all joins and have used low loss satelite cable for all new connections. I used a signal meter to check the allignment of the new aerial. I have checked all connections to ensure that there are no shorts etc. I have done everything I can think of!! Yet my TV reception is worse now than it has ever been! I have checked the signal strength and it is reported as HIGH. Yet at times, the signal disapears all together and the TV is totally unwatchable with interference.
If you can make any recommendations or suggestions, I would be most greatful.
Many thanks
Mark Mark Pearson: Almost impossible to say without a full postcode. Mark Pearson: Right. You will clearly have far too much signal level.
Remove, disconnect and otherwise disable any amplfiers or boosters.
If that doesn't fix it, fit an attenuator.
If that doesn't fix it, replace the "Triax 52 Wideband" for a contract aerial. craigFriday 13 May 2011 10:24PM
I have a grundig tv and cannot access the settings page it just skips past and I cannot access the Restore factory settings either can anyone help.craig: You might have an "analogue" and "digital" mode to your set, you might have to ensure that the TV is in "digital" mode. craigSaturday 14 May 2011 10:13AM
It doesn't let me select the settings in digital or analogue. The settings symbol (cogs) are a different colour from all the others and it just skips past.peteMonday 16 May 2011 6:02PM
Nottingham no itv channels on both samsung sets,the tompson freeview box no problem,how do I get the itv back on my samsung tvsRoland ParfittSaturday 21 May 2011 3:08PM
Pontyclun Hello, hoping for some help...In current hosue for 4 years - has a roof aerial probably from when house built (12 yrs ago). We have single room SKY but the previous owner has wired TV aerial sockets into several other rooms in the house (e.g. bedroom, kitchen). In the loft the incoming signal from the roof aerial went into a signal booster and each of the sockets in the other rooms are connected by long cables to the loft and plug into the signal booster. We bought a new TV with built in freeview for the kitchen and when we plugged it in - no signal and nothing on automatic digital channel search. I took the TV up to the loft and plugged it in there, plugging the aerial direct from the roof straight into the TV and bypassing the old signal booster. The autodetect worked and the TV seemed to work fine, picking up all the expected channels. As I understand it I now know the TV works, the freeview works and the aerial works (picking up digital TV even though the aerial is not a specifically digital TV aerial) though watching TV only the loft isn't much fun. I plugged the TV back in the kitchen socket and then in the loft directly connected the cable from the roof aerial in turn into each of the cables (from each room) that were plugged into the booster (I thought this would help me to identify which cable came from which room and by bypassing the signal booster would allow the TV in the kitchen to work as it did when plugged directly into the cable from the roof aerial) but it didn't work - still no signal. I really thought this woudl have worked since effectively it was the same as plugging the TV straight into the cable from the roof aerial but with a much longer lead. If anyone has any clues I'd be most grateful - in fact in an ideal world we'd like to get the signal to another room as well as the kitchen. I've read somewhere that an SLx 8 Way Signal Distribution Amplifier with digital bypass may do the trick (i.e. I plug the cable from the roof aerial straight into this and it will distribute it to all the TV sockets already wired in the house like the previous booster did). Maybe I need a new aerial though the signal strength when I plugged the new TV straight into the cable from the roof aerial (in the loft) was ok. Any advice would be much appreciated :-)Les NicolSaturday 21 May 2011 4:41PM
Roland Parfit - The signal booster is where your problem is as the digital signal is stronger than the former analogue and it's being boosted up again with the amp. If the cabling to the various rooms is Satellite grade then It might be possible to consider a conversion by putting in a multiswitch in the loft where four inputs are brought in from a Quatro/Quad LNB fitted to the dish to the multiswitch (5 inputs - 4 satellite inputs and 1 Terrestrial from your aerial and 8 out to your outlets). This means the Terrestrial, Satellite and DAB can be fed from a single cable to the wall outlets. - "Not possible if the existing wiring isn't' Satellite grade"! - Two feeds would be necessary to your lounge to allow for a Satellite receiver such as a SKY or Freesat or Freeview plus installation. Obviously you can have a much simpler conversion of the existing system in the removal of the amp. if however the existing wiring is satellite grade and your skilled then it's something that's worth cosidering.KMJ,DerbySaturday 21 May 2011 6:23PM
Roland Parfitt: Did you try the tv in any other room with the cable from that room alone connected direct to the aerial? If the aerial is directed at Wenvoe the Digital UK postcode checker predicts good reception for all muxes at your location.Also did you try the tv in the loft plugged into the signal booster? If that works it shows the booster is ok, if not either too much signal is being delivered or the booster is not working.Check that the cable to the kitchen is undamaged and there are no stray strands from the braid touching the inner core at each connecting point, also that the inner core is not broken.If the signal from the aerial is reasonably strong in the loft it should still be strong enough to use with a single cable run but may require amplification when split between several tv sets.Roland ParfittSunday 22 May 2011 2:43PM
Pontyclun Thanks for your advice, I'll try to test the TV in the loft routed through the existing signal booster next. I can try to check the cable is undamaged but for much of its length it's tucked inside walls etc - is there a tool to test it with something plugged in each end? I'm not sure if I'd consider myself skilled enough to try a rewire to satellite grade. I'll probably leave the satellite feed going to the one room as it does not and find a solution to route the basic signal via the TV aerial to the other rooms. Thanks again for the advice - I'll give it a try! :-)ron LambethThursday 26 May 2011 10:36AM
Hi I am a housing inspector and I have received reports from tenants in a small estate that one tenants sattelite dish is causing interference on other tenants tvs'.
the dish is a large one 36" plus, mounted on a 6' post at the back of a bungalow. is it possible for a dish to cause interference as it is inly receiving, not transmitting.
many thanks
Ronron Lambeth: You wouldn't normally expect a dish to cause problems, unless it is directly between the receiving aerial and the transmitter. However, the LNB package on the dish arm could be faulty, this is a powered device and could - possibly - be the source of the problem. alanThursday 26 May 2011 4:10PM
what is the frenquency for channel 4HD on freesat in irelandalan: It's on 12607 Vertical, 27500, 3/4.
alanThursday 26 May 2011 4:21PM
thank you briantist tried frenquency,but got no signal.any suggestions?alan: You do have a DVB-S2 HD receiver I take it? alanThursday 26 May 2011 5:26PM
I think so ,its a sky + hdalan: You should have no problems with that. The signal covers the whole of Europe. SimonThursday 26 May 2011 8:20PM
I have a sony tv with built in freeview. It has asked me to retune which I have, Now I have a very low signal on itv 1, channel 4 channel 5 itv2. I have a very poor sound and no picture.
The tv upstairs works fine on these channels.
Please can you help?SimonThursday 26 May 2011 8:32PM
Swadlincote Thanks for the speedy reply. My post code is DE11 9JPSimonThursday 26 May 2011 8:47PM
Swadlincote On the link all on line 2 have reception problems. I have all the freeview channels but a very low signal on these channels.
The freeview box upstairs works no problem.
What can I do?Simon: Are both TV sets connected to the same aerial? SimonThursday 26 May 2011 8:57PM
Swadlincote Yes.SimonThursday 26 May 2011 8:59PM
Swadlincote All channels worked fine before I retuned as instructed by bbc1 :-(SimonThursday 26 May 2011 9:05PM
Swadlincote I have tried that before posting.
SimonThursday 26 May 2011 9:14PM
Swadlincote Have just done a retune again. Its found 103 channels now. The last 3 times it said 113. All channels are working again now. Thanks,
Simon.Simon: I am relieved to hear that. Mrs JonesThursday 2 June 2011 9:15PM
Help!! We have moved our Sky box and Sony TV to a new address and put up a new Dish. We do not subscribe to Sky we have FreeSat from Sky.The screen reads "no Satellite Signal is being received",we don't know what to do now, so some help would be really appreciated.Thank you for taking the time to read this.
wsintvThursday 2 June 2011 10:08PM
Your dish needs to be aligned.KMJ,DerbyMonday 6 June 2011 2:43PM
Mary: The Digital UK postcode checker predicts excellent reception on Freeview HD from Lichfield at your location. Have you tried to do a manual tune on C34? Make sure you do not have any VCR or Sky boxes nearby with the RF modulator set around C34. You are also predicted to have good reception from The Wrekin on C30-. You would of course need a suitable aerial for this transmitter as The Wrekin is 57 degrees anti-clockwise from Sutton Coldfield at your location.john lindsayTuesday 7 June 2011 3:52PM
Glasgow i am writing to you, i am at my wits end,i bought a new tele in march with preview and i have had nothing but problems with it the picture kept breaking up and pink wavy lines .i had my old tele for 7 years and did not have much trouble so i wrote to you and did wat you said i got an new personal eariel and he rewired also going into the badroom i paid £ 70 for it it helped agood bit but it wasnt right i got the man back up and he said it wood cost another £80 that we could not afford i know we have not a good reception but i expected more than that what do you think johnjohn lindsay: I'm not sure from your description if your aerial is located on the roof. peter claytonFriday 10 June 2011 9:39AM
Atherstone Mark Pearson
as suggested remove amplifier and if that doesnt work remove uhf filter for mobile phones
peter claytonFriday 10 June 2011 9:44AM
ron Lambeth
re dish and interference is it possible that the dish is a transmitting type there are some internet providers that give you internet acces via satelite
also the dishes used on for instance Bookies and two way transmit and receive devices some store use this system as well as its easy to set up secure and totaly seprate from land line syetem
satelite intenet - Google Search
(CV92AN) DaleFriday 10 June 2011 4:16PM
Hi There,
I was just wondering if anyone knows why some tv channels have there logos in the far corner of the screen out the way while others look like they should fit 4:3 size screens and are nearly halfway in the screen image? I have noticed with Sky News and BBC news the media bar at the bottom does not scroll across the whole screen but stops just over halfway along which looks a bit odd as if it has come to the end of the screen. Many Thanks
Mike DimmickFriday 10 June 2011 4:45PM
Dale: Some channels are designed to be '4:3 safe', that is, all the significant content will fit onto an older 4:3 format screen, while others go for 16:9. Some even have a compromise at 14:9, with black bars top and bottom on a 4:3 set and to each side on a 16:9 set.
The BBC recently moved the logos on BBC Three and BBC Four to the far top left, making them widescreen-only, rather than 4:3 safe. BBC One and Two have to remain 4:3 safe until switchover completes, and BBC News content runs on BBC One overnight.
I don't know why Sky would be staying 4:3 safe, they have never broadcast on terrestrial analogue, there's very little analogue cable around any more, and the Sky platform has been all-digital since 2001.DaleFriday 10 June 2011 6:18PM
Hi Mike,
Thank you for your reply
That explains it,do you know when the switchover will be complete as i have freeview?
Do you know if all the channels on freeview will change after the switchover.
interesting about Sky though, is it costly to change the position?richard abbottWednesday 15 June 2011 11:58AM
we are having trouble getting any signal after 8PM, through out the day reception is great on all channels inc. free view, after 8PM the picture starts to break up and freeze, bbc channels barely watchable and ITV channels blank screen. our location is Potters Bar in hertfordshire, our aerial is on the roofMike DimmickWednesday 15 June 2011 4:27PM
Dale:
The switchover is intended to be complete by the end of 2012. Check 
Digital UK - When do I switch? for the dates for your transmitter, or we can check if you provide your full postcode.
I have no idea about whether all the channels will decide that they no longer need to be 4:3 safe. Some viewers are likely to be sticking with 4:3 sets converted using an external box (particularly for second TVs). It's really up to the channel. Of course when showing content that was recorded 4:3 (e.g. archive content predating widescreen) they are likely to show it 4:3 and put the logo in the 4:3 area.
The logo - usually called a DOG, for Digitally-Originated Graphic, though that's reallly a term from the analogue era - is directly encoded in the picture so it cannot be removed, or therefore moved.
I assume that the logo - which is animated on some channels - is generated by the playout equipment, and changing its location isn't that difficult to do. It probably depends on the exact equipment and how old that equipment is.
I would hope that BBC One, BBC Two and ITV1 continue to be DOG-free, though BBC One HD has gained a DOG. I can't remember right now if Channel 4 has a DOG.
HD transmissions are required to be in 16:9, so it's likely that the DOGs will move as channels change from targetting SD to targetting HD equipment. Mike DimmickWednesday 15 June 2011 4:45PM
Richard Abbott: I'm afraid we need a full postcode to see exactly what the situation is for you.
Signal propogation does change over time, and that can lead to increased interference or increased or decreased signal levels, any of which might be the cause of the problem. Nightly changes are usually down to Tropospheric Enhancement, when a cool/warm air boundary develops in the upper atmosphere around/after dusk. Signals can refract off this boundary when they would normally travel through.
If signal levels are fairly high, your problem could be caused by the signal you do want being reinforced by enhancement, resulting in too much signal overall. If you have a booster or amplifier, try it without, or turn it down. If that doesn't help, try adding an attenuator.
If signal levels are low, you would get best results by moving or replacing the aerial, or replacing the cable so that it loses less signal. If it's down to enhancement of a distant transmitter, rotating the aerial slightly to point further away from that distant source, or replacing with a more selective aerial, is all that you can do.
Other sources of interference causing problems at specific times would be street lights, thermostats or central heating pumps.richard abbottWednesday 15 June 2011 6:16PM
Potters Bar richard abbott: hi we have installed a new aerial with double shielded cable, this problem has only arisen in the past 2-3 months, our post code is EN6 3BB
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