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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.

J
Do I need to buy a booster? | Installing
Sunday 10 July 2011 6:54PM

Sue B: Just to further clarify, even although the trade predictor shows good reception being possible across the board a margin of error always applies, as three Mux transmitters on each station are on much lower power than the main BBC / ITV ones, Mendip's being Ch62-Ch56-Ch67 and Wenvoe's being Ch42-Ch45-Ch49, so on any station other than the main BBC or ITV channels that gives problems go into the tuning menu / signal check area "whilst on the channel" concerned and observe its Mux channel number, it will in most cases be on one of the channels mentioned.

The lower power referred to being much more applicable in Mendip's case.

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Jim: Unless you specifically want to use DVD's then its a Freeview PVR you require, most of them (not all though!) having twin tuners whereby you can record two different programmes at the same time whilst watching another altogether on the TV.



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C: Judging by indications on the trade predictor using the post code provided, it would appear that you are in a reasonably strong signal area, and as such you probably wouldn't require an aerial larger than a DM log periodic, or if you preferred a standard 8 or 10 element group A aerial.

These might work OK in the loft, but it depends on whether or not they would be pointing through the tiles, this reducing the signal in wet weather, whereas if pointing through a gable end not near so much so.

If of course the situation permits, then chimney mounted always eliminates the possibility of the problems mentioned occurring.

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steve: Basically no! as the LNB on the dish is controlled reception polarity wise by the station the satellite receiver is on at the time, and so any sharing of a signal from the dish would only work if both boxes were viewing a station on the same polarity, something that cant really be done when two boxes are involved.

If your neighbour had a quad (or larger) LNB fitted to the dish then separate cables could be run to individual sets, which could be a combination of Sky and Freesat boxes as a dish isn't box dependant.

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Andy: Well, the trade predictor indicates Blackhill as being your No1 choice with good reception across the board being seen.

Craigkelly being the second best, but with the problem that only the first three Mux's are considered as being viewable, these covering the main BBC & ITV channels, including the HD one.

It should be said that although the predictor used is reasonably accurate local conditions can upset what is indicated as being possible, and in area's such as anywhere near Dalry Road or similar chimney mounting is really an essential for reliable reception, although a test with the aerial in the loft could be worth a try.

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Andy: Forgot to add to what was said re you including Edinburgh in the list, that there is a very low powered dual polarity fill in transmitter called Canongate (@ 2 miles from you) transmitting on channels 55-50-59, but its very doubtful if you would receive that in your location, and of course it isn't even mentioned as being a possibility on the trade predictor.

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J
Feedback | Feedback
Monday 11 July 2011 11:53AM

John Fisher: Reception from the Sandy (Anglia) transmitter is quite possible in a number of places around Spalding, as indeed as is shown in the trade predictor, although Belmont presently leads slightly in the forecast for reception over that from Waltham or Sandy.

You are actually receiving Sandy on the reverse side of your aerial, something not at all uncommon, as with many aerials this only results in a slight drop in signal strength and not the massive amount that some people might expect.

Belmont by the way is shown as being just about due North of you with Sandy the complete reverse, although as far as Sandy is concerned you should try a manual tune check and see if you can receive two of its other Mux's Ch24 & Ch27, as both of these are transmitting on the same power as the HD Mux, although you are unlikely to receive the other three Mux's from there as they are still on low power.

As far as banners etc go, if you are wondering where a particular programme might be coming from, you should always go into the tuning menu/signal check area whilst on the EPG channel concerned and use the info seen on that screen, this being along with the Mux channel number along with its strength / quality indications.


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Audrey: You should try un-plugging your TV/box from the mains power supply, waiting about 15 seconds or so before plugging it back in again, check if any difference.

If not, you should then try giving your TV / box a re-scan, preferably completely by first of all removing your aerial and carrying out a scan without it, this obviously not receiving anything but blanking the programme list in the process, then once done couple up the aerial again and carry out a second scan, this loading all the channels back in again.

My reason for suggesting these procedures is that I suspect a glitch may have occurred in your TV / box, digital equipment having the tendency of being quite erratic at times.

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J
Connecting it all up | Installing
Monday 11 July 2011 1:40PM

Robin Soule: Terrible as it is to say when dealing with a high tech TV, but if your TV doesn't have a scart socket then the only way you can use your old Grundig Sky box with it is via the RF output facility on the Sky box, this being fed into your new TV's aerial socket, analogue being selected on the TV before scanning to pick up the Sky box.

The designers of these later models of Samsung TV's looking at scart connections as though they are something from the dark ages!

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Jasmine: As at this present time, reception is only showing as being possible on Ch30 from Belmont, these being the main BBC channels and with variable reception being shown for the remainder, this state continuing until 17th August, although its not until the 23rd of November that all six Mux's are shown as being receivable.

However, and without wishing to appear a prophet of doom, but the situation is predicted to take a dive again in 2013 with four of the Mux's once again becoming variable in reception, this including the main BBC stations as well as the HD service.

I would seriously think about changing to Freesat for guaranteed reception for about 99% of the time, as any time a glitch did occur would invariably be during a "very" heavy downpour.

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