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Welcome to the UK Free TV Rigger's Zone

This section is dedicated to those who install dishes and aerials on your roof, cable your home - and climb transmitter masts. Please suggest any new topics here!

This section is dedicated to those who install dishes and aeria
Published on by on UK Free TV
UK Free TV is here to help with everyone's free digital TV questions.

This section is dedicated to questions for those who install TV equipment.

To suggest a new topic for discussion, please post below.





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Mark Aberfan Aerials
Friday 31 July 2009 8:26AM
Nice one brian, Thanks for the dedicated area .
Mark Aberfan Aerials
Briantist
Friday 31 July 2009 10:26AM
Mark Aberfan Aerials: It's my pleasure.
J
Jordy
Friday 31 July 2009 12:05PM
This really winds me up, has anyone else seen the announcement of the Freeview "Remember to Retune" campaign.
www.freeview.co.uk link icon  Freeview -
Home / Press / Freeview launches ‘Remember to Retune’ campaign
It also mentions the 30th September and seems to be the date for MUX re-organisation associated with Five and for Freeview HD services starting. Why this should make any difference to Huntshaw Cross isn't made clear, and the Digital UK update gives no further clues... Maybe it's something to do with other Transmitters/ Interference! Ffs...
Do we have to guess then read between the lines, what exactly is the point of Digital UK when they're just fondling round in the dark making it up as they go along...

Wonder how long it will be before it gets called DSO3?
Brian - Much appreciated on the new home...
Briantist
Friday 31 July 2009 12:53PM
Jordy: Yes, I popped this in the www.ukfree.tv link icon Recommended reading, podcasts and feeds | ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002 and it got me thinking.

I think that what might be happening here is that there will be a wholesale change nationwide.

I note, with interest the bit about "including Five, ITV4 and BBC Radio stations", so I can assume that

Mux 2 will become the "PSB2" mux nationwide. This will move ITV from Mux 2 to Mux A, and FIVE to PSB2. Also BBC Parliament will move to Mux 2.

We can also expect Mux 1 will get all the BBC radio stations and BBC FOUR/CBeebies, with the interactive stuff being on Mux 2 until switchover.

In switched-over areas the BBCA (PSB1) mux will have all BBC services on it.

This will allow for the BBCB-HD multiplex to operate in switched- and non-switched- areas.

This wholesale multiplex change is due to the "unplanned" Freeview HD service, I think.

This is mostly in line with - www.ukfree.tv link icon BBC Freeview services to drop 33% in quality in 09 | ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002 -
J
Jordy
Friday 31 July 2009 1:28PM
Brian - You know why they're moving five to the more robust Mux A don't you?
Briantist
Friday 31 July 2009 4:26PM
Jordy: The public service channel FIVE will end up on multiplex D3+4 (aka 2 aka PSB2) from November.

It is going there because it will be on all UK transmitters (as a PSB) and because the service has several regional versions (for advetisters) that roughly map onto the C4 and ITV ad regions.

FIVE will be on multiplex PSB3 (Mux BBCB) until then because that's what was agreed before the HD service was decided.
D
Dave finnegan
Friday 31 July 2009 5:43PM
God i cant believe all this Riggers chat all i wanna know is what price for an aerial installation?
PMSL
Les Nicol
Saturday 1 August 2009 12:19PM
Mark - Aberfan - Jordy . These fake Dreamboxes Dreambox GBH out to clobber these fake manufacturers : 10,000 euro reward offered to tackle Dreambox 'clones'
Dream Multimedia Germany is offering a 10,000 euro reward for information after copies of its Dreambox receivers appeared on the market.
J
Jordy
Saturday 1 August 2009 6:02PM
Brian - I was going to say bring Analogue 5 to a close and any of those other stupid RSL's... The rumour mill is doing laps at the moment amongst the trade that Black Mountain analogue 5 will be closed by spring next year?
J
Jordy
Saturday 1 August 2009 6:09PM
I think the secret dso plan all along is to wait until the analogue stations go bankrupt...
Briantist
Saturday 1 August 2009 9:47PM
Jordy: If they had only done the digital switchover to the original plan, it would have all happened at about the right time. It was a big mistake delaying it for so long, I suppose this is the last mess from ITV Digital. It is deeply ironic that ITV might go out of business in the end because of the ONdigital legacy.
Briantist
Saturday 1 August 2009 9:51PM
Jordy: The odd thing about FIVE is the use of the old IBA VHF transmitters for it's network. I can't help wondering the state of that contract. How many people still watch FIVE on analogue?
Félim Doyle
Sunday 2 August 2009 9:07AM Aylesbury
Are DIY riggers welcome here? As an amateur radio hobbyist I also do most of my own domestic aerial, dish and cable TV work so I'm interested in any hints, tips and general information on this.

I haven't tackled terrestrial DSO yet as we are primarily a VM cable user. I will want to put up new aerials for both ourselves and my in-laws for overlap areas covered by Sandy Heath and Oxford.
J
Jordy
Sunday 2 August 2009 1:32PM
Félim Doyle - More than welcome... Always good to have opinions and experiences from both sides of the fence. If you require any help or hints on anything. Just ask...
mark
Sunday 2 August 2009 6:50PM Holsworthy
78 pound for dish install via argos for freesat mark a jordy who are doing the installs for them any idea ::
J
Jordy
Monday 3 August 2009 9:02PM
mark - I'd say it was ASA's as money has no loyalty...
Briantist
Monday 3 August 2009 9:04PM
Jordy: I'm sure I had a press release about who it was ages ago, I'll have to have a dig.
J
Jordy
Monday 3 August 2009 9:38PM
Brian - I've have forwarded you an e-mail that you will find of interest...
Briantist
Monday 3 August 2009 9:55PM
Jordy: Thanks. All I want is a string of 72 numbers for each five degrees of the output!
J
Jordy
Monday 3 August 2009 10:06PM
Brian - The brass neck of them... May be liable for consultancy fees...
Briantist
Monday 3 August 2009 10:17PM
Jordy: That does seem very cheeky.

I wonder if the BBC would be kind enough to respond to a FOI request about multiplexes 1 and B? 33% of the radiation patterns would be better than 0%.
lesnicol
Tuesday 4 August 2009 8:19PM
At last as a result of Brian's, sharpness, "Mary" has been "outed" - If as seems likely Gary Appleby, is real and,he as he has indicated a CAI member, then it's clear he is someone who is extremely damaging to the reputation of this trade.
I shall be having a large "Dram" this evening you deserve one to Brian, Hope you personal pressures ease a bit.
J
Jordy
Tuesday 4 August 2009 8:30PM
Brian - I've just sent them an equally cheeky e-mail back... I've also pointed out that charging consultancy fee's for a number of maps that help installation engineer's do their job isn't that unreasonable...

I bumped into my MLA/MP at a small business event this morning and he has taken a vested interest and i have forwarded the various e-mails... I shall keep you informed.
Briantist
Tuesday 4 August 2009 9:45PM
Jordy: I look forward to hearing.

If I can also get the information from the BBC about their multiplexes (and I can't really see why not) then that would be great. It would be helpful to people and I can integrate them easily into the UK Free TV diagrams and things.
Briantist
Tuesday 4 August 2009 9:46PM
lesnicol: Thanks.
J
Jordy
Wednesday 5 August 2009 9:39AM
I got a call from Sky this morning... It seems if you agree to sign up for a further 12 months to the full HD package you will get 3 months free ESPN... The deals have begun...
Les Nicol
Saturday 8 August 2009 10:39PM
Anyone interested that hasn't already picked this up, ITV HD expecting to be up and running with a dedicated HD channel listing by the end of the year - Freesat seems to be confirmed in this respect but not SKY's platform so one assumes if that were to be the case viewers with SKY would have to manually input the parameters for ITV HD.
Les Nicol
Saturday 8 August 2009 10:47PM
Just to add to the above - If this is accurate then one would assume that ITV would have to "raise it's game" in terms of HD output from it's present position?
J
Jordy
Sunday 9 August 2009 3:25AM
RTE is finally going to FTA... Early Christmas present!
J
Jordy
Sunday 9 August 2009 3:31AM
Brian - They've gone mysteriously quiet after i asked for that charges document... They have figured out that i'm not a f*cknugget and do genuinely want the information... I have tried contacts and someone has sent me some HRP's . It's late now but i'll post them tomorrow...
Briantist
Monday 10 August 2009 8:33AM
Jordy: It would be very interesting to see what you have got. I guess asking them "OK, how much?" did the trick!
G
Glenn Millar
Tuesday 11 August 2009 3:09AM
Thats interesting news about RTE Jordy...
Briantist
Tuesday 11 August 2009 7:36AM
It certainly will be good to have RTE in all UK homes, not just those in Northern Ireland. About time too - is this down to Audiovisual and media policies - Audiovisual Media Services Directive
(AVMSD) | Europa I wonder?
J
Jordy
Tuesday 11 August 2009 1:17PM
Glenn/ Brian - It's great news if only i could confirm 110% it was true... The wild rumour is Novmeber... Since boxer went tits up COMREG has had their fingers burnt. They've introduced some waft of proposal's to initiate the Irish form of Digital Switchover, included was new masts at Truskmore VHF and Clermont Carn (built).. Trade tests were conducted from Clermont on channels 53,57,60 and 63. The psb's must be free to air and that includes wholesale to all broadcasters including bskyb...
Briantist
Tuesday 11 August 2009 4:16PM
Jordy: I like the sounds of the proposals, when will they be ratified?
G
Glenn Millar
Tuesday 11 August 2009 5:41PM
Jordy, signal from Clermont Carn is poor at the moment. Hopefully they will use antennas directed to the north before their switch over. A lot more big brand TV's are handling the MPEG4 now. Happy days.
Last time I looked, there where just colour bars.
DAB now available from the Armagh transmitter and has hit VHF RTE bad in that area. Wiped out with overload and cross mod.
J
Jordy
Tuesday 11 August 2009 6:17PM
Glenn - There's two arrays rigged already... Note the shrouded yagi's pointed squarely northwards...

http://s663.photobucket.c…arn/

Wonder what mpeg4 boxes are on the market?

They're within mhz of each other... Wouldn't of took a genius to figure out that would happen...
mark
Tuesday 11 August 2009 6:59PM North Tawton
hi jordy i was in southern ireland a few years back and noticed alot of strange rigs .they seemed to be like a satllite dish with a meshed back .a bit like grid aerial on its aside but with a centre feed horn .any ideas and what do they receive
J
Jordy
Tuesday 11 August 2009 7:19PM
mark - They're for an MMDS network... Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service, they're microwave links in the 2-3 ghz range... The "grids" are in fact corner reflectors, they're a complete disaster and are only useful if there is complete line of sight to the transmitter... Hence the size of some of them.
Mark Aberfan Aerials
Tuesday 11 August 2009 8:10PM
Hi Jordy / Mark,

Are you talking about "chorus" guys ?

Mark Aberfan Aerials
Mark Aberfan Aerials
Wednesday 12 August 2009 2:12PM
Thanks Brian, that link does indeed mention chorus in Ireland, the only other place i have seen it used is in Spain in the British tv relay services of dubious legality !

Mark Aberfan Aerials
Briantist
Wednesday 12 August 2009 2:49PM
Mark Aberfan Aerials: Yes, there was quite a few people looking for answers here when that Spanish system that relayed Sky Sports got taken down.
J
Jordy
Wednesday 12 August 2009 7:45PM
Mark A - Yes that's Chorus... Also NTL Ireland had something to do with that point to point cable network...
J
Jordy
Thursday 13 August 2009 9:46PM
I'm just wondering has anyone else noticed that raven zone 1/2 dishes have a new style feed horn... One that doesn't fit a standard fitting Mti/ Zinwell quad... Just a heads up to any installers buying in bulk as they're next to useless.
Les Nicol
Sunday 16 August 2009 10:43AM
Info for anyone interested - I see this morning that my local Tesco is promoting "Freesat" Subscription Free with Goodmans HD receivers piled high on aisle ends. They are selling these at £99.97. No mention of dish installation packages that I could see. I thought they were completely tied into the SKY deal of by any TV and get a SKY HD box free (tied to a subs package). Could it be that they are simply picking up on the Freeview issues and are not wanting to be outdone by competitors who are carrying Freesat box stocks? Bearing in mind this is the first I've seen them with Freesat since the service iinitiated 15months ageo.
Les Nicol
Sunday 16 August 2009 1:50PM
Just to add to this last post wonder of Tesco will now start to promote the sale of "Freesat" capable TV's which they haven't as yet carried stock of.
Briantist
Sunday 16 August 2009 1:56PM
Les Nicol: I'm really confused. Do you mean "Freesat" boxes (which are HD) or Sky boxes with a FreesatFromSky card?
S
I'm a bit confused as all Sky HD boxes are Sky+ boxes, are they not?
J
Jordy
Sunday 16 August 2009 2:17PM
Someone told me Sky are conducting Sky 3d trade tests (3 channels) and should be easily got with a sky hd box and a 3d ready tv... It that nonsense... If not does anyone know the frequencies and transponders?
Briantist
Sunday 16 August 2009 2:21PM
Jordy: Where is all this 3D material to come from? Unlike HD, which could benefit from the fact that all movies are made on film stock, 3D actually requires new sourced material.

Les Nicol
Sunday 16 August 2009 3:37PM
Brian - The boxes seen this am are Goodmans "Freesat" HD receivers. - Up until now Tesco haven't carried any stock at all of "Freesat" receivers -(certainly not in this area) The only boxes Tesco have been pushing up until now are Freeview and SKY HD packages where if you bought any brand of TV in whatever price band you got the SKY plus HD box heavily discounted - currently now Free - but tied to signing up to a SKY HD subscription.



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