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Further update:
Although I can now receive Ch29 from Caldbeck with quite a good signal, for some reason from around 3pm to around 6.30pm every day the signal drops right off. Today it was non existant, I could pick up every other channel even Ch23 but no Ch29 until just before 7pm tonight!!
Can anybody throw some light on this problem.
Posted by P. Miller (
9 posts) on Friday 5 February 2010 7:15PM

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Report this messageP. Miller: You need to check
Freeview intermittent interference | ukfree.tv - independent digital TV + switchover advice, since 2002 - you might have to contact Ofcom in the worst case.
Posted by
Briantist
(
22,318 posts) on Sunday 7 February 2010 4:35PM

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Report this messagewhy does my tv show sky chanels in asmaller format
Posted by paul (
4 posts) on Saturday 13 February 2010 7:38PM

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Report this messageI have had excelent reception on my new digital TV with of course a new digital ariel fitted , but on Wednesday I lost all ITV channels C4 C5 and various other channels . I have twice tried to retune but with no success . I did take out all conections , tune , then replace them and tune again . The BBC channels seem not to have been affected and are working well , i just wonder if anything has changed with the Caldbeck transmitter .
Posted by Geoff Farrimond (
1 post) on Saturday 20 February 2010 4:07PM

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Report this messageYet a further update, I am still having problems with receiving Channels 23, 26 and 29 ( the low powered ones). Some days I get a brilliant signal then other days nothing at all, so thinking it was atmospheric conditions affecting it I monitored the signal over three days. The weather was exactly the same, barometric pressure, temperature and wind speed on all three days. I had a good signal on the first day none on the second until night time and the third day had a good signal early in the morning but then nothing until the evening. It looks like I am going to have to wait until the power is increased on Mux SDN,ArqA and ArqB before I get a consistantly good signal.
Posted by P. Miller (
9 posts) on Saturday 20 February 2010 8:00PM

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CALDBECK transmitter - Over the next week Caldbeck main transmitter: TV (digital) Liable to interruption, Radio (analogue) working normally, Radio (digital) working normally. [DUK]
Posted by
Transmitter engineering
(
2,410 posts) on Sunday 21 February 2010 2:09PM

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Report this messagepaul: What do you mean by "a smaller format"?
Posted by
Briantist
(
22,318 posts) on Monday 22 February 2010 6:24AM

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Report this messageGeoff Farrimond: Yes, see the work listed.
Posted by
Briantist
(
22,318 posts) on Monday 22 February 2010 9:30AM

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Report this messageP. Miller: I suspect you are "out of range" for the commercial channels.
Posted by
Briantist
(
22,318 posts) on Monday 22 February 2010 9:31AM

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Report this messageI'm in Cockermouth and have noticed in the last few days that the signal quality on Film 4, Dave ja vu, ITV 4 (I guess there's more) have all fallen of to the state where the channels are unwatchable. My Humax is reporting a signal quality of 2/10. It was great before the switchover, got worse(!) when it happened, and improved. Currently, not good at all.
Given all that I notice from the site 2 things:
1 - there's ongoing engineering work - so it might get better.
2 - apparently Cockermought is served better by another transmitter. Does anyone know which one?
Thanks,
Rich
Posted by Richard (
1 post) on Wednesday 28 April 2010 11:15PM

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Report this messageRichard: Please see
What is the Inversion Effect and why does it effect my Freeview TV reception?
| ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice - put your postcode into the box at the top right to find out about transmitters you can use.
Posted by
Briantist
(
22,318 posts) on Thursday 29 April 2010 8:06AM

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Report this messageHi, I have put my postcode into the "My Settings" IM71HE (Isle of Man)but it comes back not recognised, pity that I have to pay for a TV licence. Have been using FREEVIEW reasonably successfully since the switch over but no where as good as pre swich over. Over the last few weeks BBC1 and BBC News 24 despite showing a signal strength that I would have thought adequate have started freezing and/or lost sound. Have two TVs, a common indoor new aerial and amplifier but separate and different make freeview boxes. Any advice or contact details please. Regards from TT land. Paul
Posted by Paul Chambers (
4 posts) on Sunday 6 June 2010 4:00PM

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Report this messagePaul Chambers: I'm sorry, but the UK postcode database provided by the UK government does not list the IM postcodes.
I can't see the link between listing the postcodes and your paying of the TVL.
I would suggest that you use a rooftop aerial for reliable Freeview reception, but also see
Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
Posted by
Briantist
(
22,318 posts) on Monday 7 June 2010 7:45AM

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Report this messageHi Briantist
Thanks for the reply.
Reference your point regarding not seeing the link between listing postcodes and paying for the TVL, I mistakenly thought it was rather simplistic. I pay my TVL then surely my postcode should be listed?
I understand the rooftop aerial suggestion but the reason for seeking advice is that pre switchover my system worked well. Since switchover it has been acceptable. BUT in the last couple of weeks something has changed. Hence my request for advice.
I spoke to a neighbour last night who has also experienced the same recent problems, so I thought that this Foruum might be able to come up with a few ideas. Basically in our immediate area there are at least three different TV set ups that have started to get unacceptable levels of problems and it seems to indicate a common source.
Regards
Paul
Posted by Paul Chambers (
4 posts) on Monday 7 June 2010 1:43PM

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Report this messagePaul Chambers: I'm sorry about the postcodes, I have tried on a number of occasions to get Isle of Man postcode details and I have not yet succeeded.
I'm a bit puzzed about you saying that it worked "before switchover" as there was no Freeview service before.
I am to assume that you are using a signal from one of the mainland transmitters?
Posted by
Briantist
(
22,318 posts) on Monday 7 June 2010 4:27PM

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Report this messageHi Briantist
Many thanks indeed for the quick response.
We are and have always used the Caldbeck transmitter. Prior to the digital switchover we were using for a number of years as I understood a Freeview box to obtain a similar range of TV stations as to what we now have post switchover. Without it we could only obtain BBC1,BBC2,ITV, Ch4.
The only change I have made to the two systems is to remove what I was told was a freeview box and replace it with two Technosonic STB2009 Digital Freeview Receivers i.e. one for each TV. These obviously gave more stations but for our viewing and listening requirements did not make much difference to us to the range we previously had.
The point that I am making is that pre switchover I would describe our reception as good to very good. Since switchover it has been adequate to good but in the last couple of weeks it has deteriorated. e.g. Dr Who on Saturday on BBC 1 and the BBC News 24 channel were unwatchable because of freezing and loss of sound despite appearing to show a signal strength I thought would be adequate. We had to view Dr Who on Sunday on BBC3.
Basically I am trying to ascertain what has changed from a couple of weeks back as the problem is not persistent and whether this is to do with the Caldbeck transmitter.
Regards from a damp TT.
Paul
Posted by Paul Chambers (
4 posts) on Tuesday 8 June 2010 11:04AM

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Report this messagePaul Chambers: I just wanted to make sure you were using a mainland transmitter.
From what you have said, I would look at
Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
Posted by
Briantist
(
22,318 posts) on Tuesday 8 June 2010 12:14PM

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Report this messageHi Good People
Can you advise best Ariel for my Freeview reception
I live in Collin DG1 - Dumfriesshire
In my loft I am presently using a PHILEX MEGABOOST 27885 AMPLIFIED ARIEL
Operating Rang: 470..862MHz
Amplified Gain: 16dB
Using a SLx SIGNAL METER I get 3 LEDS but when tuning the TV on DTV manual - the signals shows low (poor) – subsequently some Feeview channels are not available
I also have in my possesion a TRIAX UNIX 52A GROUP A – this was advised for CALDBECK transmitter ????
I have still to try this one
Can anyone please help me
Posted by Bob (
5 posts) on Sunday 20 June 2010 10:35AM

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Report this messageBob: Without your postcode it is not possible to see the predicted coverage at your location. If your signals are strong you may have too much signal after amplification on the PSB muxes. However if they are weak, bearing in mind the current low power on the COM muxes, the Unix 52A would be a better choice.Site the aerial outside for best results.
Posted by KMJ,Derby

(
279 posts) on Sunday 20 June 2010 12:09PM

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Report this messageKMJ
Thanks for the reply
My postcode is DG14LP - if that is any further use
Please keep in mind that I am a complete numpty when it comes to all this stuff but
I have completed another manual tune as follows:
Channel Signal Strength Quality
23 Low Poor
24 Low/Medium Poor/Fair
25 Low/Medium Good
26 Low/Medium Good
27 Low Poor
28 Low Poor
Channels show UHF West Border except 26 (no description)
Sorry you have lost me on your answer - apologies
I just thought all I had to do was pick the appproriate ariel for my postcode and transmitter - set it up with the Aerial meter and away you go
Three leds on meter at TV input - I was pretty chuffed - low signals during the manual tuning = bad Freeview - not chuffed at all
Regards
Bob
(map)Posted by Bob (
5 posts) on Sunday 20 June 2010 12:53PM

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Report this messageBob: The DUK postcode checker shows 100% coverage at your location. Low signal strength can be shown by the tv tuner if there is too much signal as well as when it is actually low.The most important factor is signal quality,this needs to be good for reliable viewing.Try moving the aerial to see if this improves matters. A messy signal due to multiple reflections will show poor quality. If it is possible to try a standard aerial with no amplification it might become clearer where the problem lies.
Posted by KMJ,Derby

(
279 posts) on Sunday 20 June 2010 1:21PM

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Report this messageOK KMJ
I will move the amplified Aeriel around first to see what happens then if no change - I will assemble the TRIAX Aeriel and try that one
(maybe take a wee while but I will get back)
Much appreciated
Regards
Bob
(map)Posted by Bob (
5 posts) on Sunday 20 June 2010 1:51PM

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Report this message
KMJ
One other thing I probably should have mentioned is that I am using a 4 way Remote link Distribution Amp in the loft (Antiference A240D)
Will this affect performance??
I used this when I was with SKY for the magic eye operation and still use it for distribution to the rooms
regards
Bob
(map)Posted by Bob (
5 posts) on Sunday 20 June 2010 2:05PM

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Report this message KMJ
I have moved the direction of amplified Aeriel with a fair amount of success
Now able to pick up Channels 23,24,25,26,27, 28 with signal qualities ranging from 7 to 10 - so I am going to settle for this just now and see how things pan out for the next few days/weeks
Many thanks for your patience and guidance - really appreciated this
My next project is to try and get my Freesat to work using the distribution amp in the loft (Antiference A240D) and the the magic eyes (but that will be another story I am sure)
Thanks again and kind regards
Bob
(map)Posted by Bob (
5 posts) on Monday 21 June 2010 10:20AM

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Report this messageBob: Glad its working. You should also be able to receive a mux on C29, this is ArqB and carries Film4,ITV4,Yesterday etc as listed at the top of the page.
Posted by KMJ,Derby

(
279 posts) on Monday 21 June 2010 11:11AM

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Report this messagedear caldbeck,
how i wish we could discuss on phone for my mission and expectation is somehow higher. i wish to have a broadcasting house and rebroadcast the freeview stations to millions of viewers.
Posted by
adeseyoju john funso (
1 post) on Thursday 15 July 2010 6:31PM

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Report this messageadeseyoju john funso: If you did that inside the EU, that would be perfectly legal. Outside the EU, it would not.
Posted by
Briantist
(
22,318 posts) on Tuesday 20 July 2010 4:21PM

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CALDBECK transmitter - Over the next week Caldbeck main transmitter: TV (analogue) working normally, TV (digital) working normally, Radio (analogue) Liable to interruption, Radio (digital) working normally. [DUK]
Posted by
Transmitter engineering
(
2,410 posts) on Friday 27 August 2010 5:34PM, 3 days ago.

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