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All posts by Alan Matthews

Below are all of Alan Matthews's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.

A
Sudbury transmitter group switchover "ends". | Switchovers
Wednesday 20 July 2011 9:02AM
Chelmsford

What has happened to ITV4 from Sudbury which I believe should be on No24 - I had hoped with the more powerful Tx to have been able to get a much better signal for this but now there is nothing. Other stations are mostly OK but many I had before have dissapeared.
I have a digital antenna and sometimes got a picture - even if poor for ITV4 but nothing this morning.
Will I have to go to freesat to get ITV4?

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A
Sudbury (Suffolk, England) Full Freeview transmitter
Wednesday 20 July 2011 10:53PM
Chelmsford

After 20th July I have lost many channels but thought that the power increase would enable me to receive the feeble ones like ITV4. This used to be broken up but now it has totally gone. The chart indicates that many of the channels I once had are if anything at less power.

Is it planned to raise the power of these channels later or do I have to go for freesat please.

I have a fairly new wide band antenna and live in Little Baddow CM3.

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A
Sudbury transmitter group switchover "ends". | Switchovers
Thursday 21 July 2011 3:57PM
Chelmsford

To Mike Dimmick
Thanks for the explanation - as an old electronic design engineer I should have twigged that the coding for the signals had been changed for Com5 and 6 from 16QAM to 64QAM when they became ARQA&B.
I know that the 64QAM signal is much less tolerant to poor signal to noise and this explains why with a low power transmission and poor reception in my area ITV4 has gone - with all the other stations on these two MUXs.

I am buying a new Sony TV and Humax recorder and perhaps these may have better receivers and be able to pull in programmes from ArqA and ArqB.

Even next year I fear however that the small increase of power for these two MUXs may not be enough for me to get a good enough signal - we shall see!! - what do you think?

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Sudbury transmitter group switchover "ends". | Switchovers
Saturday 23 July 2011 10:01PM
Chelmsford

Thanks Mike
I'm sure the new 50KW powers for ArqA and ArqB will provide a good service after 27June2012. Hope I survive till then to enjoy the Isle of Man TT coverage on ITV4.
I am 75 and usually ride there for it on my Honda VFR750 or Vincent Comet, but like to record the fantastic action shots and commentary one gets on ITV4!!
I am receiving SDN OK at the present power, but presume I will have to retune again later this year and again next year, even if my new equipment hopefully manages to see Arq A&B now.

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Hi Mike
Asked my Philips set-top box to upgrade and now get my missing channels - including ITV4.

The older software could obviously not unscramble ArqA&B

The signal as expected is a bit weak and might give trouble if atmospherics are bad - we shall see.

Thanks

Alan Matthews

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Hi
I am using freeview and it is fine - but I understand that more retuning will be needed soon when other changes are made.
When should I retune to accomodate the changes and what stations are affected please.
I also understand other changes will be made next year - again when and what services are affected please.

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