Freeview: Waltham (Leicestershire, England) full-Freeview transmitter
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Freeview on the Waltham (Leicestershire, England) transmitter

Google StreetviewGoogle mapBing mapGoogle Earth52.801,-0.801 or 52°48'4"N 0°48'5"WLE14 4AJ

4G at 800MHz (at800) Freeview reception issues

A retune will happen 29 May 2013 to clear C61: PSB1 C61 to C49.
See How do I know if the 4G broadband will overload my Freeview? and Full UK map of 4G issue areas for details.

Transmitter fauls and engineering works



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The symbol shows the location of the Waltham transmitter which serves 770,000 homes.

Other maps:Waltham DABWaltham AM/FMWaltham regionBBC East MidlandsCentral (East micro region)

Radiation patterns

Radiation patterns withheld

Map key

The bright green areas shown where the signal from this transmitter is strong, dark green areas are poorer signals. Those parts shown in yellow may have interference on the same frequency from other masts.

Waltham transmitter Freeview broadcasts

If you have any kind of Freeview fault, follow this Freeview reset procedure first.

Digital television services are broadcast on a multiplexes (or Mux) where many stations occupy a single broadcast frequency, as shown below. The rating shown takes in account the output power level and the various Freeview transmission modes and do not indicate an ongoing fault.

MuxEffective power level, aerial positionRatingModeWatts
PSB1
BBCA
 horizontal
Maximum64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		50,000
Channel icons
1 BBC One East Midlands, 2 BBC Two England, 7 BBC Three, 9 BBC Four, 70 CBBC Channel, 71 CBeebies, 80 BBC News, 81 BBC Parliament, 301 301, plus 12 others
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C61 (794.0MHz) from 442m datum.
PSB2
D3+4
 horizontal
Maximum64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		50,000
Channel icons
3 ITV (Central (East micro region)), 4 Channel 4 Midlands ads, 5 Channel 5 Part Network ads, 6 ITV 2, 13 Channel 4+1 Midlands ads, 14 More 4, 28 E4, 33 ITV +1 (Central west),
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C54- (737.8MHz) from 442m datum.
PSB3
BBCB
 horizontal
Maximum256QAM 32KE 2/3
40.2Mb/s
DVB-T2 MPEG4		50,000
Channel icons
101 BBC One HD (England no regional news), 102 BBC Two HD (England), 103 ITV HD (ITV Central West), 104 Channel 4 HD Midlands ads, plus 1 others
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C58 (770.0MHz) from 442m datum.
COM4
SDN
 horizontal
Above average64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		25,000
Channel icons
10 ITV 3, 20 G.O.L.D. (not free), 25 Dave ja vu, 26 Home (not free), 27 ITV 2 +1, 30 5*, 31 5USA, 34 ESPN UK (not free), 38 Quest, 39 The Zone, 44 Channel 5 +1, 72 CITV, plus 22 others
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C29 (538.0MHz) from 442m datum.
COM5
ArqA
 horizontal
Above average64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		25,000
Channel icons
 TV News,  TV Stars, 11 PICK TV, 12 Dave, 17 Really, 29 E4+1, 32 Movie Mix, 46 Challenge, 48 Food Network, 82 Sky News, 87 Community Channel, plus 9 others
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C56 (754.0MHz) from 449m datum.
COM6
ArqB
 horizontal
Above average64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		25,000
Channel icons
15 Film 4, 18 4Music, 19 Yesterday, 21 VIVA, 24 ITV 4, 41 Sky Sports 1 (not free), 42 Sky Sports 2 (not free), 47 4seven, 83 Al Jazeera English, 85 RT English , plus 21 others
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C57 (762.0MHz) from 449m datum.


Regional news from the Waltham transmitter


BBC East Midlands Today 0.9m homes 3.4%
from Nottingham NG2 4UU, 28km northwest
to BBC East Midlands region - 17 masts.

ITV Central News 0.9m homes 3.4%
from Birmingham B1 2JT, 83km west-southwest
to ITV Central (East) region - 17 masts.

Self-help relays

BraunstoneTransposer5 km SW Leicester city centre170 homes

How the transmission frequencies change over time

years1984-971997-981998-20112011-1329/5/13-2013-182019-
aerial groupC/D EEWWWWK
C22SDN
C25ArqA
C26local
C28ArqB
C29ASDNSDNSDN
600C312com7
C33B
C35C5C5
C37com8
C39BBCB
C42DD3+4
C45CBBCA
700C491BBCABBCA
C54C4C4C4-D3+4-D3+4-D3+4
C56ArqAArqAArqA
C57ArqBArqBArqB
C58BBC1BBC1BBC1BBCBBBCBBBCB
800C61ITVITVITVBBCA
C64BBC2BBC2BBC2

orange background for multiplexes names moregreen background for transmission frequencieslilac background for power levels in watts800MHz band: 4G mobile to start in 2013700MHz band: possible 4G in 2019 more600MHz band: new or moved digital TV services more
Notes: + and - denote 166kHz offset; aerial group are shown as A B C/D E K W
Italics for analogue, digital switchover was Wednesdays 17th August and 31st August 2011.

  • Ofcom have projected that a local television service for Nottingham could use an Interleaved Frequency on the Waltham transmitter using C26
  • COM7, COM8 projected for 2013-16. COM7 and COM8 to operate as Nottingham, Waltham SFN. COM9 UK-wide SFN

Comparison of old analogue and current digital signal levels

Analogue 1-5 250kW
com7, com8, BBCA, D3+4, BBCB(-7dB) 50kW
SDN, ARQA, ARQB(-10dB) 25kW
Mux 1*(-14dB) 10kW
Mux 2*, Mux A*, Mux B*(-14.9dB) 8kW
Mux C*, Mux D*(-17dB) 5kW

History of Channel 3 in the Waltham transmitter area

• Breakfast ◊ Weekends ♦ Friday night and weekends † Weekdays only. Waltham was not an original Channel 3 VHF 405-line mast: the historical information shown is the details of the company responsible for the transmitter when it began transmitting Channel 3.


Your comments: most recent posts are at the bottom

firstFirst comments prevEarlier comments  ◊  Later commentsnext Latest commentslast

Your comments are always welcome. Please use the form below to add your thoughts or questions to this page. We will get back to you as soon as we can.

phil selvidge
Monday 28 May 2012 11:12PM
hi jb30 Thanks for the comment. I'm at LE33DW and had an email conversation with Briantist on this location (prior to switchover) as it's in a bit of a valley which isn't immediately apparent. Bit annoyed that the gales (???) over the weekend took it out. Or it may have been the fat pigeons.
Transmitter engineering
Tuesday 29 May 2012 10:29AM
WALTHAM transmitter - tham Transmitter works 30 and 31 May 2012: Engineering transmitter work will take place between 00:01hrs and 06:00hrs. TV services that will be disrupted: Analogue services - n/a Digital services - PSB2 will be subject to periods of shutdown. [DUK] Over the next week Waltham main transmitter: TV (digital) Liable to interruption, Radio (analogue) working normally, Radio (digital) working normally. [DUK]
jb38
Tuesday 29 May 2012 11:01AM
phil selvidge: Although being aware that the West side of Leicester does have areas where Waltham's reception can be difficult hence the reason for the Leicester relay (@ 2 miles / 81 degrees) away from you, but on having a study at the signal path between your location and Waltham (@ 21 miles / 52 degrees) I noticed quite a few patches of trees along the way including the somewhat closer by Braunstone Park, trees being a real problem for RF signals as even one tree smack right in front of an aerial can cause erratic reception, this even excluding the slight dip you refer to.

However as far as an aerial is concerned, if you had reasonable reception before the mishap then the Log 40 referred to would be ideal for your purpose, and indeed far in away better than an aerial with a sharper more focussed pick up angle such as these multi-element types which you may possibly have previously been using.

The other plus point about logs being, that as well as their construction offering much less of a wind resistance than multi-element types and likewise not putting the same strain on the support mast, on their technical side they are all wideband devices which is necessary for reception from Waltham, as its six mux channels span from 29 - 61.

Its obviously your choice on what you wish to do, but I would not hesitate in recommending a Log 40 as the replacement for your previous aerial.

By the way, keep in mind that starting tomorrow engineering work will be getting carried out at Waltham in the early hours of the morning and with ITV being liable to suffer from random periods of shutdown, the engineering work continuing next week when all Freeview channels are liable to be interrupted.


phil selvidge
Friday 1 June 2012 6:30PM
Thanks jb38. I did go for the log aerial but not sure if it's a 40, I will have to check. It is indeed quite neat as you say. Also, though I haven't had a chance to properly check out reception on the different muxes on each of my tuners, first glance seems to show that the HD tuner is showing both poor strength and quality. I'll be doing that over the weekend (subject to works!!) Your answer has though prompted another question - should the installer have checked the strength from both Waltham and the relay? I wasn't aware that the relay existed. Won't bother me, but I hope that they will be manning the phones if they cut off freeview during the jubilee!!!!!
jb38
Friday 1 June 2012 9:57PM
phil selvidge: Well, the Leicester relay is not indicated as being receivable at your location and not even with the status of poor, but what your installer should possibly have checked was for reception from the high powered Sutton Coldfield transmitter @ 27miles / 266 degrees (all muxes 200Kw) as it is shown as being possible.

By the way, PSB transmitters at Waltham are only on 50Kw and with the three commercials on 25Kw.

You wont really be able to check things properly until engineering work levels off at Waltham as I had a report from a neighbour of mine that their reception from Waltham had been erratic at times today, although it appeared to have settled down when I checked it about an hour ago.

If though once engineering work has ceased and you find that the overall level of signal is a little low then you can add a variable gain booster in line with the aerial lead, as very little (if anything!) will beat a log used in conjunction with a booster in an area known to suffer from difficult reception.

bernard powell
Monday 11 June 2012 11:12AM
i had a previous answer to this one saying change to a w aerial for waltham but the following has happened
the original problem was itv3 bad reception using a c/d aerial via an amplifier and set top box
i have found that moving the coax lead out and relying on the hdmi cable has brought the signal via the box up to full quality.I am beginning to think the short piece of coax from the box to the tv is faulty although reinserting same has meant i can use the tv direct on an hd channel. 30miles from waltham.
i think the signals ok its the wiring that is suspect.
regards
bernard powell
Dave Lindsay
Monday 11 June 2012 11:20AM
benard powell: It could be that the signal in the HDMI cable is interfering with that in the aerial lead. The lower ITV3 signal may therefore be more susceptible.

Try removing the HDMI cable completely.

Perhaps keep the two apart and/or use more heavily screened aerial lead.
Dave
Saturday 23 June 2012 9:48PM Melton Mowbray
Anyone unable to series record ITV on weekends? When i press the record button on ITV shows at weekends it just records, no option to series record. Help.
Steve Walls
Friday 29 June 2012 11:00AM
After a storm yesterday (29 June) I now have no signal on all of my tv on dvb? I can't see any lightening strike damage. I have tried to re tune still no signal any ideas

Regards

Steve Walls.
jb38
Friday 29 June 2012 8:11PM
Steve Walls: On the assumption that you are using a rooftop mounted aerial then during thundery weather high levels of static can develop in the aerial system which can on occasions damage a tuners input circuitry, although its much more common for this type of thing to happen in an aerial amplifier attached to the supporting pole, especially if they are of the older type mounted in red or black plastic casings.

Other than any of the two mentioned applying then the coax could be fractured where it enters the aerials connection cover box, especially if its been blowing about in the wind by it not having been clipped properly to the mounting pole.

You haven't given your location, but if its Waltham which you have posted under try connecting a piece of wire into the aerial socket of whatever is being used and carry a signal check on Ch61, this done by going into the "manual tuning" menu and entering Ch61 observing if anything shows on the signal bar as soon as the number is entered. (no need to actually scan for this test)
jb38
Saturday 7 July 2012 9:33AM Spalding
Test 2
Roger
Saturday 7 July 2012 9:45PM
What has happened to the green shading on the maps that indicates signal strength?

I am sure I have seen it on your site previously & it has proved very useful. You could click on a transmitter on the map & it would show the predicted coverage.
Sue
Tuesday 10 July 2012 8:42PM
Over the past few weeks I have periodically had a problem with the picture breaking up and/or freezing on the BBC programmes. It can be very bad for a few hours and then suddenly okay. It happens on both televisions and whether I am viewing through the set top boxes or directly through the antenna. At the moment it is very bad and I am unable to watch any of the BBC channels. I have a booster in the attic which I have checked to make sure everything is plugged in okay. Could it be the weather or do you think I need to get an aerial company in to check everything? Many thanks for any help.
Mark Fletcher
Tuesday 10 July 2012 9:51PM Halifax
Sue,Leicester.One possibility is to look up inversion effect as a probable cause.
The other could be the signal booster you stated in the attic which could be swamping your signals hence the difficulties you specified as such.Try bypassing yer signal booster and see whether this alleviates the problems you're currently encountering,if this does then too much signal was the cause.Or try a set-top aerial (if ya have one),a piece of wire or a wee screwdriver into the aerial sockets and test the signal whether the pixellations,breaking up into No Signal mode,etc,is suddenly cured.If so again too much signal was the cause.
Finally one other possibility here check yer aerial especially for water/rust marks in the aerial plug,plus the aerial sockets and its cabling too as BBCA from Waltham is on frequency 61 (at present) and being the highest frequency used for this transmitter could be more prone to decreasing signal quality and strength due to erroding aerial equipment.If this the cause then you will need to replace at least the aerial co-ax cable and co-ax plug,and possibly the aerial itself if it is old.
Sue
Friday 13 July 2012 10:47PM
Thanks for replying Mark. I tried bypassing the booster but it still didn't work and the problem was just getting worse. Luckily I found the invoice from when I had the new aerial and cabling installed in the two bedrooms three years ago and it said it had a 7 year warranty, which I hadn't realised, so I rang the company. They came out the next morning and checked the booster, including swapping it, and the settings on the TV in case the signal booster on there was causing a problem, but everything seemed okay so they changed the aerial. Touch wood, everything now seems to be okay, so one faulty aerial replaced and it didn't cost me anything. The company is very good and I would recommend them to anyone in the Leicester area.
Mark Fletcher
Friday 13 July 2012 11:09PM Halifax
Sue,Leicester.No problem whatsoever.I'm glad to have been of assistance to you.Happy Viewing !
Helen
Thursday 26 July 2012 7:25PM Leicester
Hi

Postcode LE2 9JQ

Have a specific problem with only one out of two Freeview TVs and "holding on" to the BBC East Midlands I can manually tune in to ch61 and find 21 stations including BBC East Midlands. As soon as I trurn the TV onto standby or off, the signal is lost and nothing appears for BBC at all.

If I reset TV and start afresh then I get Sutton transmissions and BBC Midland (Birmingham)

Had new ariel and thicker co-ax cable for affected TV a couple of years ago, no problems till January and now very variable.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
Dave Lindsay
Thursday 26 July 2012 7:42PM
Helen: Run the automatic tuning scan and unplug the aerial when it gets to 30% and then plug it in again when it gets to 53%.

This will avoid scanning of Sutton Coldfield's channels/frequencies.

The problem you are experiencing is usually caused by the memory being full. Because it has stored Sutton Coldfield's channels, it would appear that there isn't enough room for all of Waltham's. BBC on C61 is obviously the last to be scanned, so that probably explains why it is it which gets "forgotten".
Dominic Payer
Thursday 26 July 2012 8:27PM
Helen: Check for, and apply if available, firmware updates for your TV on its manufacturer's UK site.
Also check whether it is possible to increase the internal memory, in case the problem is lack of space as Dave Lindsey suggests.
Dave Lindsay
Thursday 26 July 2012 8:38PM
Helen: I am suggesting that because it stored Sutton Coldfield's channels that the memory is full. Thus, if you prevent it from storing them, then this should alleviate the problem.

Presumably it stores the channels in the order it finds them, i.e. low frequency to high frequency (as that is how the scan works). BBC on C61 is the highest one.
md
Tuesday 28 August 2012 4:47PM Leicester
Location LE5 1UG (Waltham Transmitter). Since 2 weeks ago, signal for some Freeview channels very weak so blocky or no picture. This happens to BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, BBC NEWS. Freeview HD no problem. Get a superb picture on ALL HD channels.
Transmitter engineering
Monday 10 September 2012 1:55PM
WALTHAM transmitter - Over the next week Waltham main transmitter: TV (digital) Possible weak signal, Radio (analogue) working normally, Radio (digital) working normally. [DUK]
snaige
Tuesday 18 September 2012 3:36PM Corby
Dominic
Monday 24 September 2012 6:49PM Grantham
NG33 4LT myself and at least one neighbour are having a lot of interferencc a friend suggested I buy a booster it has had no effect.
Strangely on Sunday at 1700 it cleared for a couple of hours but today is hopeless have you any ideas
David Hallam
Monday 24 September 2012 7:22PM Grantham
NG31 7AR having unwatchable tv for two weeks due to the low signal maintance, do we have a time when the works will be completed?

Just getting terrable brekup, Aerial is in lost but have masterhead amp and was working fine before the 10th of sept.

cheers
Chris Oyitch
Sunday 30 September 2012 1:12PM Gainsborough
Can not scan for channel 29 (manual tune) says there's a strong signal but will not pick multiplexed channels on that one channel scan. Fitted booster and retried, still same. All other multiplexed channels average same and they work fine. Both on LG tv's. Was working ok. Is this due to engineering works? I can get emley moor SDN mux but that's unwatchable. Both tv's are striaght to own aerials (no recorders inbetween).
KMJ,Derby
Sunday 30 September 2012 4:29PM
Chris Oyitch: If you were able to receive and store the SDN channels on C29 prior to 26th September 2012, the problem is that following DSO2 at Bilsdale the PSB2 mux from there also uses C29. It is likely that you are receiving a signal from Bilsdale which is strong enough to block reception of the required Waltham mux. The solution really is either to position the Waltham aerial (if possible) where it is screaned from Bilsdale. Alternatively an aerial pointed at Emley Moor is predicted to be able to give good reception of this mux, subject of course to there being no local obstructions in the signal path.
Symon
Friday 5 October 2012 11:56AM Derby
DE1 3AY: The never ending BBC saga...

Is anyone else in the Derby area having bad pixellation problems with the BBC channels on C61 at the moment? Since they started doing some work on the Waltham transmitter a couple of weeks ago it has gone from slight pixellation to being now unwatchable.

C57 (which has never been very good unless it is raining cats and dogs) is also now completely unwatchable.

I get absolutely perfect reception on all the other channels except for these two. The BBCA and ARQB MUX's have a much lower signal strength than any of the other MUX's.

Aerial is on roof with a booster etc...

Michael
Friday 5 October 2012 12:03PM
Symon: Get rid of the booster and see what happens.
Transmitter engineering
Friday 12 October 2012 10:50AM
WALTHAM transmitter - Freeview BBC Digital TV Weak Signal from 07:31 today HD Digital TV Weak Signal from 07:31 today [BBC] Over the next week Waltham main transmitter: TV (digital) Possible weak signal, Radio (analogue) working normally, Radio (digital) working normally. [DUK]
Transmitter engineering
Friday 12 October 2012 4:50PM
WALTHAM transmitter - Freeview BBC Digital TV Weak Signal from 07:31 today to 14:35 today HD Digital TV Weak Signal from 07:31 today to 14:37 today [BBC] Over the next week Waltham main transmitter: TV (digital) Possible weak signal, Radio (analogue) working normally, Radio (digital) working normally. [DUK]
Transmitter engineering
Saturday 13 October 2012 7:50AM
WALTHAM transmitter - Freeview BBC Digital TV Weak Signal from 07:31 yesterday to 14:35 yesterday HD Digital TV Weak Signal from 07:31 yesterday to 14:37 yesterday [BBC] Over the next week Waltham main transmitter: TV (digital) Possible weak signal, Radio (analogue) working normally, Radio (digital) working normally. [DUK]
Transmitter engineering
Monday 15 October 2012 10:50AM
WALTHAM transmitter - Freeview BBC Digital TV Weak Signal from 07:31 on 12 Oct to 14:35 on 12 Oct HD Digital TV Weak Signal from 07:31 on 12 Oct to 14:37 on 12 Oct [BBC] Over the next week Waltham main transmitter: TV (digital) Possible weak signal, Radio (analogue) working normally, Radio (digital) working normally. [DUK]
Transmitter engineering
Monday 15 October 2012 1:50PM
WALTHAM transmitter - Freeview HD Digital TV Weak Signal from 07:31 on 12 Oct to 14:37 on 12 Oct [BBC] Over the next week Waltham main transmitter: TV (digital) Possible weak signal, Radio (analogue) working normally, Radio (digital) working normally. [DUK]
KR
Tuesday 30 October 2012 9:54AM
I have been using waltham without issue for several years, with regular retunes of course.

I moved our TV from downstairs to upstairs and all was fine. However, after a retune it isn't getting all channels.

On my TV downstairs, that is getting all channels, but is also now getting multiple channels from another transmitter, which I've not had before.

Is this transmitter still running on low power, or is it running as it should be? I'm wondering whether to repoint Nottingham transmitter instead, even though all neighbours and myself have used waltham.
KR
Tuesday 30 October 2012 1:06PM
Should have said, aerial is a freeview one , in loft, with booster/distributor sending around the house.
Postcode is NG8 2??
Dave Lindsay
Tuesday 30 October 2012 1:16PM
KR: Ensure that your booster isn't amplifying the signal too much as that could be a cause of poor reception.

The objective isn't to get the signal strength as near 100% as possible. There is a threshold above which it works. You just need to be sufficiently above this threshold that natural variations in signal strength (due to weather etc) doesn't drop it below the threshold.

Failing that, you could always try the Kimberley transmitter as it is a full-service one and broadcasts the same regional programming as Waltham.
jb38
Tuesday 30 October 2012 6:09PM
KR: Just to add to that already said, you are located at approximately 2 miles away from the Nottingham transmitter and because it mostly uses lower channel numbers than Waltham its very likely that you are picking it up during an auto tune rather than Waltham, which by the way is on occasions problematic as far as reception is concerned because of work going on there, albeit engineering updates not as yet seen published.

Anyway, you would be best to manually tune in Waltham's channels rather than hope for the best during an auto tune, and so if your TV has the option of a "factory reset" or "first time installation" then carry this out first to blank the tuners memory out of everything already stored, beware though with a first time installation as on some equipment an auto tune will immediately start using that procedure, if it does cancel it before it picks anything up as you want to select "manual tune".

Once manual tune is selected enter the channel numbers one at a time, scanning and storing as required until all muxes are stored.

Waltham's channels being / 61 (BBC) - 54 (ITV) - 58 (HD if used) - 29 (SDN/ITV3 etc) - 56 (Pick TV) - 57 (Film 4)
Pete Eyre
Saturday 3 November 2012 3:52PM Ripley
Hi Can anyone give a clue. I'm postcode DE5 9RB on Waltham, using wideband aerial. Normaly picture has been OK over the last year. During the last 3 weeks on Wed, Thurs. and Sat. approx 1.0pm until 4.30pm I get Bad break up with pixel blocks and sound broken up. Ive checked which multiplexes give the problem they are the ones on channels 54 56 57 58 and 61 Channel 29 is clear no problems. Channel 61 is usually the worst, can anyone help. BBC1 ( Ch 61 multiplexer) has just gone clear at 3.45 today 3rd Nov. and I can now watch the football. Help....pete
jb38
Saturday 3 November 2012 7:53PM
Pete Eyre: Engineering work of an on-going nature has been taking place at Waltham over the last few weeks and with this being the reason for your complaint, unfortunately no estimates have as yet been given for the completion of the work.
KR
Sunday 4 November 2012 10:58AM
Thanks All,
Sorry for the delay. Looks like you are correct re the signal being too high. On the TVs that work, the signal is now showing 90-100%.
It never used to be that high.
On the problematic TV, the channels that work are actually very low - 30-40% and I get breakups. A few of the others are showing 100% but still working.
I am thinking that this TV cannot handle 100% signals, so instead grabs very weak signals from somewhere else. And some just wont tune.
For some reason I cannot force it to manually tune a single frequency - it always moves on when it doesn't find anything even on manual (Sony?).

Anyway, bottom line is it looks like the signal has got higher and this TV cannot cope.

So my options are a single attenuator on the aeriel, which then gets boosted and sent around the house, or multiple attenuators on each TV. Can anyone advise what size attenuator to use, or even a range if I can buy a kit of several sizes?

I cannot see any way to turn the boost down on my 6 way amplifier unfortunately, though I've not opened it up - is it likely to have an adjustment?

Thanks Again
KR
Sunday 4 November 2012 11:04AM
update:
Amp is a Philex SLx 6-way Aerial distribution amplifier F-plug (might be a slightly different model no)
Specs say 12dB gain per output.

Not sure if this helps on working out attenuation required. Aerial is a maplin freeview aerial from about 7 years ago, and cost about £45 at the time. Its in the loft.
jb38
Sunday 4 November 2012 5:23PM
KR: Just to clarify on a point, when you refer to a 100% signal are you meaning the strength or the quality? or does the devices used only offer a single combined indicator bar? the reason I ask is because when Dave Lindsay had referred to potential problems being cause by excessive signal strength it is actual "signal" that's being referred to and not the quality.

I have to say though, that I do have doubts about you actually suffering from this type of problem when you are located at 21 miles from the transmitter and use a loft aerial, and although it does no harm to try a test using an attenuator but if you can easily access the distribution amplifier (if in loft) then you should try a test on the problematic set by taking the set in questions feed out of the aerial amplifier and temporarily connecting it directly onto the aerial.
KR
Monday 5 November 2012 12:22PM
Hi,
I will double check tonight, but where it shows both, I am reporting strength rather than quality. Some just show a single figure though.
Could that not be the case if I am boosting each input by 12db?
KR
Monday 5 November 2012 9:57PM
I've looked at a few TVs.
The one where I am missing channels says Signal Strength 100%.
Downstairs I'm getting quality 100%, strength around 92%
My PVR shows strength around 70, quality 100%
jb38
Monday 5 November 2012 11:47PM
KR: Well I feel that the receiver displaying the 100% signal strength has a somewhat over enthusiastic indicator system, unless that is you are located in a "hot spot" for reception as places like that do exist, and are using a Humax box, as these devices have a more accurate indicator system by far over most other equipment, and likewise if its indication a 100% signal then it is!

But though the proof of the pudding, so to say, is by connecting the TV in questions aerial feed directly onto the actual aerials downlead that would normally be connected into the SLX, then viewing the channels for about 15 minutes or so to assess if anything has changed.

You have to remember though that Waltham still has ongoing work taking place and which does cause disturbance to reception, with myself having temporarily tuned my Waltham PVR to Belmont because of this to avoid the aforementioned problems spoiling recordings.

I would be interested to know the model numbers of your TV / PVR, this to enable an assessment of the signal measurement accuracy, as although unaware of the PVR model you have its indications are more in line with what would be expected from a Humax device "if" receiving the same level of signal as the TV's involved, i.e: all fed from the SLX.
KR
Tuesday 6 November 2012 4:35PM
No problem. My PVR is indeed a humax , Fox T2 HDR. This has duplicate channels, but no missing ones.
Plugged into that is a LG 670T showing 100/92%. Seems OK.
The one I'm missing channels on is a 5yr old Sony KDLD3000. Missing channels, and some with very low signal and breakups.
I will try messing about with a direct connection over the weekend. I can't go banging around up in the loft on week nights once the kids are in bed or I'll wake them up, and the wife would kill me!
KR
Tuesday 6 November 2012 4:37PM
to clarify on the KDLD3000 this reports some channels as 100%, with good reception. Others are ~30% and breaking up, some channels are missing.
Dave Lindsay
Wednesday 7 November 2012 12:22PM
KR: The thing with digital reception is that there is a lower threshold above which the picture resolves*. There is an upper threshold over which receivers are overloaded (with too high a signal level).

* This assumes a good quality signal. If a poor quality signal (i.e. effectively the digits that make up the picture are corrupted) is received, even if the magnitude is within the window between the lower and upper thresholds, then the picture will be poor or non-existant.


And so, theoretically, the target is to have the signal somewhere within the window such that natural variances in level (e.g. caused by the weather) don't result in it dropping below the lower threshold or pushing it above the upper one.

Running at almost the top of the window provides no benefit from a picture quality point of view over running it mid-window, for example. The only downside is that it might go OTT which causes break-up which is largely the same effect as caused by too little a signal. Oh, and of course your wife won't be happy either.


The manual for the Philex SLx6 distribution amplifier is here:

www.philex.com link icon http://www.philex.com/ass….pdf

Under the "Troubleshooting" heading it mention that too much signal can be problematic for digital reception. However, it doesn't, apparently, offer any adjustment on its amplification level (which is +12dB per output) which is surely required!

I'm not an aerial professional, just a technical bod. However, if the signal coming out of your aerial (and being fed into the amp) is at a suitable level, then the six output feeds are +12dB up. There are obviously losses in the downleads, but unless you live in a mansion where there are long runs to the outlets, then I don't think that they will anywhere near cancel out this increase.


The strength meters on receivers are nowhere near scientific measurements and therefore vary between models. Using the same receiver on different outlets provides for a more accurate comparison. The Humax box is a good model to use for testing purposes.

A 100% (or anywhere near) strength may be verging on the top of the window of acceptability. Therefore a lower reading may be better.

As jb38 says, it is worth bypassing the amp by connecting the feed from the aerial directly to each room feed in-turn.
jb38
Wednesday 7 November 2012 9:52PM
KR: Thanks for the update re your PVR, and which I have to say suggests to me that your signal is not "over the top" so to say, as I suspect that your problem is simply caused by the signal being received suffering from glitches which are possibly being caused by trees somewhere along the signal path.

Sony receiver circuitry is not on a par with Humax devices, the latter capable of displaying a reasonably trouble free picture when fed from a less than desirable signal where others devices (eg: Sony to name but one) would be struggling.

I do admit though, that in situations where a signal "is" on the high side the Humax can cope with this to a level that would block reception on other equipment, and so the test suggested of feeding the aerial directly into the problem TV's feed still applies, and although I very much doubt if this action will rectify the problem you refer to its still worth a try.
Ian
Friday 9 November 2012 10:15PM Hinckley
Having a problem with the EPG on my MEOS TV it sometimes shows "no information" on some stations, but at other times the EPG works OK.
There is no rime or reason as to when it dose this, dose anyone have any idea what is causing this???



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