All posts by Roy
Below are all of Roy's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Hi both. I was referring to what it says on this very page Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) Full Freeview transmitter | free and easy namely 'Being removed from Freeview (for 5G use) by 30 June 2020' with the crossed-out logo against Com7 & Com8 and against C55 & C56 where they currently reside. The linked page Rebuilding Freeview High Definition from 2019 onwards | free and easy states that Com7 & 8 'Expire 21 June 2020' which I took to mean scheduled rather than just speculated.
I find Channel4+1 HD and 4seven HD which reside on Com7 very useful, as repeats of a major channel are useful when the major broadcasters put out their prime content 8pm-10pm and some (BBC channels) may not repeat even once. So I've clung to the Com7 channel despite a power reduction this year (I'm 30 miles from the transmitter) with more reduction to come I think I read. The Interim 209Mbps quote was again taken from the second page I mention. What I was getting at in my post was whether there was going to be a temporary (or even permanent) loss of these C4 HD repeat channels during these rearrangement phases.
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Chris.SE - so if I understand you correctly, that switchoff info for Com7 & 8 may be wrong? And that Channel 55 & 56 (on which they reside) is not under threat from 5G for some time? If so, I'm hoping that gives a stopgap until the later stages create more TV stations via higher bps transmissions. Assuming that's correct, would you know if Ch55&56 will for now retain their current power output? They were reduced earlier this year, presumably interference to something else was the issue, but for outlying areas any more reduction becomes serious.
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StevensOnln1 - OK thanks. A slightly uncertain picture but at least some hope that Com7 & Com8 may limp along for a while yet. I'll have to keep a close eye on Sutton Coldfield's 'events' schedule to see if they'll be reducing it further.
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Chris.SE - I noticed More4+1 had moved recently when my PVR failed to record it or show any EPG. I'm sure retune notices used to appear automatically? Certainly there seem to be some obscure channels which I struggle to believe attract any real audience. At the risk of being controversial (or showing my ignorance) I do wonder if these tiny audience ones couldn't be grouped on the more problematic Muxes? Anyway, the link you provide shows that on 13 November, Sutton Coldfield will again hack at the power of Ch55 +Ch56, reducing those 'served' by either by another 5%. Feels like the 'death of a thousand cuts', hence my original post. I did recently try a modern aerial fitted in the loft (seeking to avoid the cost of an installer going on the roof) but despite being Group T and therefore better suited, the overall signal strength was less than my old one outside. It would be nice know their plans better, before shelling out for a professional install that might be not required in 2 years time when all settles down (maybe), but it looks like no one really does.
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Chris.SE - OK, so it's not power but other factors at work reducing the reception area. Shame anyway. Yes I was fully aware a loft aerial was less sensitive than a roof one, it was a cheap gamble, although if they work they're spared the weathering and wind blowing them over the years, sunlight cracking the coaxial, water penetration, birds sitting etc. I'd hoped a modern aerial might outweigh the loss of sensitivity from being behind the tiles. So far it hasn't, though it might as you say perform better in future. I do have a pair of 4G filters (top and bottom) fitted when Freeview eventually sent some engineers out after I initially complained of poor reception. They thought a nearby mast was interfering, and the filters did help. It's just coverage of 55 & 56, for whatever reason, continues to decline.
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Re loft aerials and Tri boom designs like the cheap one I tried unsuccessfully (a Labgear LAB450T) , there's a very interesting site run by a installer who has carried out many admiral tests. Have a look at ATV aerial gain tests - A.T.V. Poles, Brackets, Clamps & Aerials where he slates the one I picked and says:
'Tri boom aerials were popularised by Televes (the DAT45 and 75) but more recently other companies have started producing them. I`ve never been that keen on Tribooms, I have generally found their gain figures to be lower than expected, in fact anyone who knows about aerials knows Tri Booms are not made to work, they`re made to sell. In addition Tri Booms have a high windloading and, if end mounted (and most are), they put a high twisting force on the pole.'
Have a look at his dB response curves and let me know whether you agree the Tri Booms are more about 'fashion and selling' than science?
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Just to update you after the Sutton Coldfield 'event' yesterday I had feared, which I was told was not a power reduction, C4+1 HD and 4seven HD on Com7 have now simply vanished; my PVR moves from BBC4 HD to 113 as if there was never anything between them....
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Chris.SE - I'm near the centre of Derby City, DE1. About 44km from Sutton Coldfield, 213 degrees bearing. There's also a local (very limited) transmitter (Derby Uttoxeter Road) on 232 degrees, I don't know if that's close enough in terms of direction to be a problem? Having googled SFN channels, these appear to be like the old analogue AM radio ones, reused for different purposes so suffering from fringe/overlap problems for those distant? Hopefully you can advise whether the loss of those channels is permanent now, or at least until the next major change around. I'm using the old (analogue era) contract aerial outside not the newer T type inside the loft, as the old one gave more signal. Let me know if the different frequency range of the loft one would change anything post 13 November.
I'm not at home to check but yes my PVR goes from 107 to 113 now, not certain 113 was RT however. Could it have been QVC from a different transmitter? Will check Sat.
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Chris.SE - I take it you use the word "interesting" the same way a Doctor would about an illness; rare, poorly understood and difficult to treat...
Anyway, just before you reply fully I wanted to say that C4+1 HD and 4Seven HD have both come back! And yes I was/am getting RT on 113, as you say a Com7 channel. I have no idea where they went to, I'm tempted to say it's a result of being in a difficult area but how come RT remained? I'll await your full response when you have the time.
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Page 1
Monday 4 November 2019 9:13PM
When Sutton Coldfield transmitter turns off Com7 & Com8 in June 2020, will the channels listed against them above be the ones to vanish or might there be some rearrangement/horsetrading with the lower Com channels as to what is dropped? There are some useful/major HD channels within 7 & 8, as well as some minor ones, and I like others have seen the 5G clearances of 2019 make reception of Com 7 & 8 get harder.
And does anyone know how soon the interim 209Mbps period will follow the above switch-off?