TV transmitter and freeview confusion...

taka

I was getting my TV signal via Virgin analogue signal (free) until the 1st Sept but they have now switched this off in my area so I need to work out how to get TV via another route! I live in centralish Edinburgh so can theoretically get signal from either Craigkelly (1 deg eg north, 14km away) or Black Hill (259 deg eg west-ish, 41km away) transmitters with Craigkelly being far closer but on the other side of a hill. :rolleyes:

Looking at outside aerials in my street/neighbouring streets they point at either transmitter (often on the same stand! :rolleyes:) with black hill possibly just winning.

I bought a wee indoor aerial to try and see what reception I get before looking at freesat/cable/outdoor aerial options which are more costly.

Analogue signal (with booster to the max - not enough signal otherwise)
aerial in Craigkelly direction = very little - just outlines,
aerial in Black hill direction = BBC1, ITV, Ch4 +5 watchable but with varying degrees of snow, BBC2 is hopeless

Digital (with booster to the max (not enough signal otherwise) + borrowed parents 2nd digibox)
aerial in Craigkelly direction = Mux 1 channels only with 50-odd % signal strength.
aerial in Black hill direction = no signal at all

Any suggestions why I'm getting different things from digital v analogue from the 2 transmitters? Why do I not get other Mux's as eg MuxB is also at maximum from both transmitters at the moment according to ukfree.tv website? Will this improve when my area goes 100% digital?

I'm so confused... :rotfl:

I'll have another go at finding a better spot to put the aerial this weekend but is there anything else I can try before calling in an aerial/satallite installation co? I live on 1st floor of a 4 storey victorian tenement building if that makes a difference... My neighbours in my stair seem to all have cable so don't share my problem! There is no communal aerial or sat dish.

espresso

As you have found an indoor aerial is of no use to you in your location. The fact that aerials locally point to different transmitters suggests that it maybe a problem reception area. You will never get satifactory reception using an indoor aerial on the first floor of a four story block.

You need to concentrate on getting a digital signal now either cable, terrestrial or satellite as your analogue cable has been switched off.

You are only just getting MUX 1 and this is due to insufficient signal strength which is why you can't get the other MUX's which are on different frequencies, probably higher with increased propagation losses.

BigBother

Hi Taka
No wonder your confused so are the Beeb!
As an ex engineer Black Hill is the main station for your area. It puts out the 5 Terrestrial ananlogue channels and 50 + digital channels- Now BBC 1 analogue (BBC Scotland in your case) occupies one analogue channel, say CH54. However Freeview carries 10+ digital channels in the space occupied by one analogue channel. So Channel 55 might carry 10 or more digital channels. Now Craigkelly is a relay TX, so it may not carry all Freeview channels that Blackhill does, probably will after Digital Switchover and when the power output is boosted up, ten fold I last heard. Hope this helps.
PS you sound as if you could subscribe to Virgin Digital?
I know it costs but may solve your problem.

fwor

You are probably seeing the difference because Black Hill is a more powerful transmitter but is much further away, and analogue signals can generally be received successfully over greater distances.

Things may improve after switch-over, but it's impossible to say for sure, and you've nearly two years to wait for that anyway.

Moving the aerial to a position where there is least of the fabric of the building between it and the transmitter may help, but reception is probably still going to suffer when it's raining/snowing.

espresso

BigBother wrote: »

Now Craigkelly is a relay TX, so it may not carry all Freeview channels that Blackhill does, probably will after Digital Switchover and when the power output is boosted up, ten fold I last heard.

All MUX's are broadcast from Craigkelly and the power will be increase by four times after switchover.

taka

Thanks everyone! Oh well it was worth a shot... Looks like I'll be researching proper aerials/cable/freesat this weekend then! Ho hum... I guess I'd have to do it sooner or later anyway! :rolleyes: What is a reasonable price for an aerial and fitting I wonder...

Oh... exactly when is the Craigkelly switchover? Digitaluk says April-June 2011 but for example ukfree.tv say October 2010. Which is right?