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All posts by jb38

Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.


Richard Sutton : Thanks for your update on the situation, the informative nature of same having somewhat clarified the issue, at least that is with the exception of the issue relating to Ch4 and Ch5, insomuch having stated that they have to remain on Mux25 because of them not being transmitted on Mux29, maybe you could clarify on this, as its at variance with what you stated in your first paragraph (in answer to my confirmation request) that all channels were being received on Mux29.

I do have a particular reason for enquiring about this, as the only programme seen on the DTT channel list for RHW2 / Mux29 is (3) ITV. (link for below)

Freeview HD local/regional channel list | British Isles


On the subject of your aerial, yes! as multiplexes are not necessarily always received at the same levels as each other anyway, and especially so in non line-of-sight situations such as yours, in many cases the best signal being achieved with the aerial positioned a few degrees to the left or right of what's considered to be the angle facing directly towards the transmitter, the exact angle purely being used as a reference point.

By the way, your reference to the low hill in the way appears mild compared to the obstruction seen on the terrain indicator for your location, once again link for below.


Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location







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Richard Sutton: Not really, as what you have said is quite correct, insomuch that the only LCN (EPG) guide number listed as being carried on Ridge Hill West's Mux29 PSB2 (RHW2) is LCN3 (Ch3) out of the ten normally carried on PSB2 Muxes, this being why you are unable to receive Ch4 / Ch5.

The easiest way to verify this is to open the link previously sent with the box already checked for RHW2, uncheck same and change it to PSB2 followed by pressing "List" on the right hand side of the screen, this will then show all ten (+1 Freeview info) LCN numbers carried on Mux Ch25's PSB2, which of course you will already be aware of.

The problem that this sort of arrangement creates is that, if a normal auto tune is carried out on Ridge Hill the programmes carried on Mux25 / PSB2 will obviously populate the electronic programme guide, the difficulty only arising if anyone prefers to view news associated with ITV West area's Ch3 via carrying out a manual scan on Mux29, as the LCN3 (Ch3) accessed from the scan will be placed up in the 800 channel range, as the EPG listings will already be populated by Mux 25's Ch3.

Hope this helps to clarify the issue.



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Martin W: You cannot split or share an LNB output, as the box, whether Sky or Freesat, sends commands to the LNB every timer a channel is selected, said commands being in the form of a voltage /and or tone dependant on the programme channel selected, needless to say this cannot be shared between two devices, therefore an octo block has to be used, there is no exceptions to this.

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vinnyv: When you say "tried swapping cables over from other rooms" are you meaning on the Octo block?, as the problem referred to is inclined to point to either (1) that the port used on the LNB (Octo block) to feed the signal into the room with the problem has failed, or (2), that the "F" connector screwed into said port has been shorted out by water ingress.

"If" its possible to trace the coax running from the room in question all the way back to the LNB, try swapping the port used by the "F" connector over with any of the other 7 ports, as they are all the same. If this cures the problem then the port the connector was removed from is defective, if on the other hand it doesn't, then unscrew to "F" connector from the coax and check same for any signs of water.

That said is based on nothing having happened to the coax running from the bedroom in question to the LNB.



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jules: As nothing has changed as far as access to Ch5 is concerned, the most likely reason for your problem is by someone having blocked Ch5 (as well as others) via the boxes "parental control" menu, said menu accessed by pressing "Services".

By the way, the pin number by default is the last four digits on the Sky viewing card, that is unless someone has changed it, if they have? then unfortunately only they are able to cancel the action.

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js : Yes! you are quite correct!, but though it even affects more than just Ch5, as the entire "other channels" menu has seemingly now been PIN protected, something which will be a bit of a blow for Sky box "no-card" users accessing such as "local channels" via this menu.

When was this change made? as that said to Jules was as the result of having made a fresh "other channels" search on my Sky box at around 23.45hrs last night, everything having responded as normal.



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js: Did mean to add, that my reference to "no-card" users is not including myself, as I do have a viewing card of the non-subscription variety.

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Sunny: If there any mobile phone masts in your area? you might possibly be picking up interference from 4G transmissions, and so nowadays its best keeping away from channels in this range. I would try setting the Sky boxes RF output channel on 38, as this channel is not used by any Freeview transmitters within your reception area.

However on the subject of the aerial booster, and especially "if" of the higher powered variety, unfortunately these devices are capable of causing a high level of noise (grain) on the analogue based picture, the easy way to tell if this applies in your case or not being by switching off the booster whilst viewing some "Sky" programme on the upstairs TV.





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Caroline: If the problem remains the same since your posting? you should try deleting Ch5 from your "other channels" list followed by reinstalling it using the parameters listed below.

Frequency: 10.964
Polarity:- H
Symbol Rate: 22.0
FEC :- 5/6

I tried this out on three different types of Sky boxes this morning with no problems whatsoever being experienced, the boxes in question being: (1) standard Sky box, (2): Sky+ (white) box, (3) Sky+HD, although the latter does not allow access to "viewing" other channels without a standard viewing card in the slot, albeit that it does allow you to store them minus the card.



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Maxine: As no problems have been listed against the Dover transmitter as yet, your best policy would be to try and ascertain if others are also being affected by checking with one of your neighbours.

If though it transpires that they are also experiencing problems, then it might even be caused by interference from stations located across the channel in exactly the same way as Dover is capable of affecting their reception at certain times of the year.



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