Briantist:RT @jackschofield: @Briantist Much the best title of any paper.li I know. I even click the link sometimes ;-) jackschofield:@Briantist Much the best title of any paper.li I know. I even click the link sometimes ;-)
Your ability of receive all the Freeview transmissions depends on the suitability of aerial
the design style,
the "group", and
its physical location.
Standard type - Yagi aerial
The standard type of TV aerial is known as the Yagi aerial. It is mounted on a pole, and consists of a rod with a reflector (shown green) at the back and many spiky elements (in grey) at the front. The connecting cable connects to the element nearest the reflector, known as the driver (shown in blue).
These Yagi aerials are directional and so pick up signals best from a transmitter that the rod points towards. The more elements the aerial has, the better it picks up a signal and becomes more directional.
A standard-type aerial is all that is required for analogue TV reception in most places. These antennae have between 10 and 18 elements and a single reflector. These are not recommended for new installations for good digital television reception, but will more often than not function perfectly in good reception areas.
Typically these aerials are designed to receive only some transmission frequencies - see "groups" below.
Digital High Gain
These aerials are designed for poor digital reception areas, and have two reflectors. For maximum signal strength, some digital high gain aerials have up to 100 elements. A more expensive aerial is only required where the signal strength is low, but can often provide Freeview reception where it might otherwise be impossible.
The CAI (that represents aerial installers) has four standards for digital TV aerials. The highest standard "1" is for homes on the fringes of coverage areas, intermediate standard "2" is suitable for use within the coverage area; minimum standard "3" is for good coverage conditions.
These aerials can be either wideband, or receive only selected frequencies - see "groups" below.
Grid
Grid aerials have been used to improve analogue reception in poor reception areas. They are generally unsuitable for Freeview reception, however some installations may work. Otherwise replace with a digital high gain Yagi aerial.
Indoor
Indoor aerials are generally not suitable for Freeview reception. In areas of good signal strength it is often possible to receive some transmissions.
Loft mounted
Loft mounted arrivals are not generally recommended for Freeview reception, as the roof tiles and plumbing will degrade the signal. Some compensation for this loss of signal can be made by using satellite-grade cable to connect the set top box to the aerial.
Positioning
The best position for a TV aerial is mounted outdoors, as high from the ground as possible, pointing directly at the transmitter. The signal can be blocked by hills and tall buildings. It should be positioned away from any other aerials.
Horizontal or vertical?
The transmitter will either use vertical mode which requires the elements of your aerial to be up-down, or horizontal mode which requires them to be level with the ground.
Groups
Both analogue and digital television is transmitted the same group of transmission frequencies (known as channel 21 through to 68). A coloured marking on the aerial shows the group.
To create the best possible analogue picture, TV transmissions from adjacent transmitters have been designated to several different groups of frequencies. By using an aerial that receives only the channels in the correct group, the analogue picture can be kept free from interference.
To receive Freeview transmissions from the same transmitter it has been sometimes necessary to use frequencies that are not part of the transmitter's normal group. When this has occurred, the aerial will need to be replaced with a "wideband" aerial (also known as group W) - one that covers every group.
Jez Kirk: It's difficult to give an exact answer, and particularly so for somewhere like Sheffield which is hilly and what can and can't be received can change house by house. Therefore what sort of aerial is needed can vary house by house.
If you're DIYing it, then have a look at Aerials & TV for lots of information and products: www.aerialsandtv.com
They are based at Hillsborough and could perhaps advise you, in particular as they install aerials in the area.
Jim Wright Friday 24 February 2012 1:08PM Shrewsbury
Hi,
I live just to the west of Shrewsbury and am using the Wrekin transmitter. The aerial is mounted on the bottom of the gable end of the house and the best reception I can get is with the aerial pointing due east and the elements aligned vertically. In this position I can get most freeview channels but any bbc channels are unwatchable.
Is there anything else I can try or do I need to think about getting the aerial mounted on the chimney?
Jim - looks like you are using the weak signal from Llanfylin (confirm from channel numbers) not the much stronger one from the Wrekin. You should point just south of East; horizontal.
peter whiting: In general in the UK, main (large area) transmitters are horizontally polarised and relays are vertical, but there are exceptions.
On the basis of the prediction at your location by Digital UK Tradeview (click the link next to your posting), you are likely to be getting your TV from Rowridge.
Rowridge is the only main station in the UK to have a vertical element and this will be introduced at switchover for the Public Service Broadcaster (PSB) services and on 18th April for the commercial (COM) services.
Rowridge is presently horizontally polarised only. The strength (power) of the PSBs will match the coverage of the current analogue both horizontally and vertically. The vertical components of the PSB signals will be introduced at their respective switchover dates. They are 7th March for BBC A (which carries all BBC standard definition TV and radio) and 21st March for D3&4 (which carries ITV1, C4, C5 and some others) and BBC B (which carries all HD services including those of ITV and C4).
The COMs will remain on low power 18th April on which date they will move to their final switchover channels and the vertical elements will be introduced.
The power of the PSBs will be 200kW horizontally and vertically, but the power of the COMs will be 50kW horizontally and 200kW vertically. Thus, those living further away from the transmitter might find that switching their aerials from horizontal to vertical will improve reception of the COMs.
The idea is that in order to receive PSBs no changes need be made to aerials. In some circumstances, changes need be made, but this will only affect reception of the COMs.
how to receive HD freeview on a already built in freeview inside a tv?This tv is mounted into the wall and i have not been able to receive my free 50 channels.
Do i require a indoor aerial or do i need outdoor aerial. we already have skybox and a cable connection to the tv in the lounges.
Please can you advise me how to connect my hd freeview?
Hello
I've purchased a Panasonic TV which states that it is 'Full HD'so I assumed that I would be able to receive a HD picture via the Freeview unit within the TV - but this is not so.
Can someone explain the difference between a HD Ready TV and A Full HD TV.
I am in an area which can receive a good quality digitalsignal.
Thanks for any views you are able to give.
De there are lots of different types of hd full hd is 1080p , hd ready can be 720, 1080i if you want freeview hd it will say freeview hd on the box otherwise you will have to get an external box of either sky hd or freesat hd or freeview hd hope this helps ps just check bbc 1 hd is on channel number 50 on freeview so check that first
A Screen which can display it, and
A tuner which can detect and convert the HD transmissions.
The standards for the tuner were only recently set, so a lot of TVs capable of displaying HD signals have inbuilt tuners that only do standard definition.
DE: It would have been of assistance if you had stated the model number of the Panasonic TV in question plus of course your location, this for purposes of verifying that you are actually in an area where HD is presently being transmitted, because not everywhere has it as yet.
After a retune to attempt to cure recent problems with pixellation i can no longer tune in to the hd channels. Signal and quality levels of 80%+ type 2 hi gain aerial being used aimed at tacolnston 25 miles away.
Any idears
A crude way of attenuating (reducing signal level) that might work (as a test) is to either hold the aerial plug close but not quite in or remove the outer screen of the plug where it is a non-moulded type, placing only the centre pin in the socket. This might help demonstrate if it is too high a signal level.
David Power. I live two miles outside Nairn in the north of Scotland and have just bought a Digital arial and it is mounted in the loft and points across the sea directly at the transmitter. I get good reception on all channels except channel 15 (Film Four) which breaks up so badly that we cannot watch it. Any comments would be welcome.
That said, Film4's multiplex is at lower power than that of the Public Service Broadcasters (PSB) from Rosemarkie. That said, perhaps the high power PSBs are acting to desentise your receiver to the lower power Arq B (Film 4).
There is no such thing as a "digitalaerial" (or a "digital arial" for that matter, other than the typeface on a digital computer).
I suggest that you confirm that all channels are tuned correctly. Do this by viewing the signal strength screen on the following services and observing that the UHF channels to which they are tuned are those of Rosemarkie and not another transmitter such as Rumster Forest:
dave in over 20 years of fitting aerials i have only come accross too much signal and that is with an amplifier and never one fitted in a loft this is from someone who fits aerials not someone who just looks at the internet and other peoples posts. If your aerial wont work in the loft there could be lots of reasons why, foil insulation, solar panals, or outside problems like trees. Have you instaled the coax rigth if your coax plug has a screw in it remove it this can short the coax . If it wont work in the loft it might have to go out side if you arnt any good on ladders or roofs get a local aerial rigger to do it rigth first time.
David Power: Just to add to that already mentioned, should this problem have been in existence for a while now I would be inclined to try repositioning your aerial in the horizontal plane, as although the various multiplexes on the TX mast radiate in a reasonably even fashion (albeit from different heights) this cannot be said for the way they are received, and especially so when they have crossed an expanse of water, this being why horizontal repositioning frequently brings results as you can balance the differences out.
What to do is carry out a signal strength / quality check whilst on Film 4 having a look at what's indicated (noting same) and which will most likely be seen fluctuating, then go up into the loft and reposition your aerial a few feet to the side, checking on and noting the result, then return to the loft and try the aerial on the other side, once again followed by a signal check.
Using this procedure will at least give you an idea of what's happening so that you can leave the aerial in the best spot, however should this action have helped the problem by leaving the aerial in a different position from before, then I would advise that before shutting the loft up try some of the other channels like Pick TV (11) and Quest (38) as that will test the other two lower powered multiplexes, as any improvement to the Film 4 situation could possibly have been made at the expense of these other multiplexes, this why its best to check beforehand.
Hi,I have BT vision which I can recieve sky sports,at times I have noticed a break up of picture,I checked the signal strenght which was around 60%,with the quality flashing between 60 to 100%,the big channels bbc 1 ect,show 70% strenght and 100% quality,would an upgrade of aerial improve my viewing experience.My area is BA20
We have a canal boat and would like to know what sort of portable aerial system we can buy to receive freeviewdigital transmissions from different parts of the UK.
Jon Stanley: Assuming that you are receiving from Mendip, then wait until 28th March when Arqiva B multiplex which carries Sky Sports will go to full power.
I live in Basingstoke (RG24) and since the analogue change-over in Feb-12, I am not receiving all the Freeview channels I always used to from my external aerial despite retuning. Missing channels include Yesterday, Film4, RT (Russia Today) & Al Jareeza. Also SkyNews & Food appear & disappear at times after retuning. Has there been some change at the transmitter end or something else? Pls advise. TIA!
Frank Sanjana: I'm assuming that you're receiving from Hannington. If so, then the Commercial channels will remain on low power until 4th April for SDN (which carries ITV3 and others) and until 18th April for ArqA and ArqB which carry Pick TV, Yesterday, Dave, Film4, Sky News and others.
The missing channels you identify are all on ArqB multiplex and you need to try manually tuning to C47 for them.
If you have a signal booster, you should try removing it.
You may be able to get all channels to work, or perhaps at least get Sky News and Food (ArqA) to be more solid by putting an attenuator on line with your aerial lead. I am referring to a device such as this: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VARIABLE-ATTENUATOR-TV-SIGNAL-REDUCER-20dB-3-5-6-9-10-12-15-18-DIGITAL-FREEVIEW-/370552240392
The issue could be that there are now high power digital signals BBC and ITV1 etc when there wasn't before. These could be acting to desensitise your receiver and in so doing it doesn't "see" the lower power channels you're having problems with.
The attenuator will reduce the level of all signals. A variable one such as the example I've given will allow the level of reduction of signals to be varied so as to see if a happy medium where all will work can be arrived at.
So basically the hope is that the level of the high power signals can be reduced sufficiently (to increase the sensitivity of the receiver) *and* that the degree of attentuation does not reduce the level of the weaker signals too much so as to not be receivable.
There is therefore no guarantee that a balance can be struck.
Hi all,
I live in postcode BH21 2a and recieve signal from the Rowridge transmitter.
Since switch over I am getting a good BBC, ITV signal (above average) but very poor COM 5 reception. Any ideas? May this improve after the final switchover mid April.
Sorry, re my post below, I have a 9 element Group A aeriel, I was advised not to use a wideband in my aera, is this good advice.
Hi all,
I live in postcode BH21 2a and recieve signal from the Rowridge transmitter.
Since switch over I am getting a good BBC, ITV signal (above average) but very poor COM 5 reception. Any ideas? May this improve after the final switchover mid April.
Richard: Yes, a Group A aerial perfectly fine with Rowridge.
COM5 is on channel 37 (offset upwards) and C37 is the top of Group A.
Rowridge will be transmitting all six multiplexes horizontally and vertically after 18th April.
The PSBs are 200kW in both horizontal and vertical planes (and they are that now). The COMs will be 50kW horizontally and 200kW vertically. The vertical component of the COMs will not be introduced until 18th April, on which date you may get better reception by changing your aerial to vertical polarisation.
Dave Thanks for that but does this explain why Pick, Dave etc is so weak while BBC, ITV is good. I have tried a manual tune on channel 37 but just a broken or no picture. I had no problems until analoguesignal went
Do you think it may be the BBC signal is too strong although it was always pretty weak with analogue?
Richard:
This may help someone! I feel an idiot. My post showed I was getting really good reception in BH21 on a basic group A aerial but getting very weak Com 5 reception.
I had excess cable so coiled it behind the tv.
When I shortened and put the socket back in, full strong signal from ALL stations.
I know obvious but a lesson learned!!
I live in a fringe area in Dorset served by by a local transmitter that only provides a limited Freeview service so I have tuned into the Beacon Hill transmitter with a high gain aerial & mast head booster so I can receive the full Freeview service with local news from Plymouth.
Now that Rowridge transmitter has come on line can I fit a second aerial via a tee connector into the booster so I can retain the Beacon Hill signal that is stronger & add the Southampton based news service from the Rowridge transmitter.
The only thing I would say here is that if you go with the "Channels 21* to 35 combined with 37 to 68 (i.e. split at CH36)", then you won't be able to receive (without altering your aerial system) the future multiplex that is expected to be broadcast on Ch36. For that reason I would probably go with "Channels 21* to 37 combined with 39 to 68". This does mean, of course, that you will have to receive the future multiplex on C36 and the two others expected to broadcast on 31 to 35 from Rowridge.
There may be other solutions using filters and a splitter in reverse.
I live in RH11 and have an aerial pointing at Crystal palace.I also have the full SKY package. I have a Panny TX42s30b with FreeviewHD built in. My aerial is on the front of the house and a cable run would be about 20 meters. What would be the best aerial and would I need a booster of any kind. Our current aerial has 9 spines and a rectangular backplate. (Sorry if they arent the correct terms).
sally: As you already have an aerial, it is probably best to try it and see if it is sufficient. However, Crystal Palace completes switchover on 18th April so you can only say with certainty if it will work then (if it doesn't work now).
In order to get HD services on Freeview you will have to wait until 18th April, no doubt. HD Freeview services aren't normally available before switchover. Crystal Palace is one of a few exceptions.
However Crystal Palace's current HD service is on lower power than the standard definition services with restrictions in some directions.
In particular, the Reigate transmitter uses the same frequency as Crystal Palace uses for HD (at the moment). Not only does Reigate serve your general area, but the HD signal from Crystal Palace is likely to be reduced in that direction to avoid interfering with those receiving from Reigate. So it's safe to say that you won't get HD from CP before 18th April.
I live in kingsbridge TQ7 we have a repeater nearby which does not provide the full freeview channels. I am quite high up and am told I may be able to install an aerial directed at the main carradon hill transmitter. Would this work and what sort of aerial would i need
Mrs Helen Clenshaw: I realise you have said that your TV is not HD but is it HD ready? insomuch can you see a socket on the rear marked HDMI? and are you thinking along the lines of purely a receiver or a PVR, both being able to be obtained as either a Freeview or a Freesat types, these devices being "easy to use" tuner / recorders.
Further advice dependent on answer.
PS: Model number of TV in question would be of assistance.
HC - the simplest answer to your question is "ANY".
Think of the TV as simply a picture display unit with a built in tuner box - perhaps only for redundant analogue TV.
Freeview/Freesat boxes, with or without recording capacity, need a picture display unit. So you use the picture bit of the TV, by-passing its internal tuner box.
I have a philips flat screen television. Since 28th Feb i have had problems with receiving itv channels. This week i had a new aerial installed but still have the same problem. The aerial installer said i am receiving signalls from to many transmitters what can i do to fix this?
May: What's the nature of the problem? Is it "forgetting" some channels when you switch it off?
To suggest a workaround to the problem, we need to know what transmitter you should be picking up and those that you are probably picking up that you need to avoid. To work this out, please can you provide your location? And the direction of your aerial (or transmitter which it is directed at) ?
11:09
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