Cbeebies (freeview) Reception Problem

mamazaac

I have had freeview for a few years now and mainly use it during the day for my children to watch cbeebies. With the exception of the odd bit of freezing here and there (which would clear if we swapped channels and then went back), cbeebies has been mainly ok to watch. However, a couple of months ago they did some work on the transmitter that serves our area and ever since then we cannot get an acceptable picture. It either constantly freezes or we just get a red dot on the screen. I have phoned freeview who have suggested that we will need an aerial upgrade, (they cannot give us an estimate of how much this will cost as they said it varies from area to area). As the problem has only occurred since the work on the transmitter was done I am not sure this will work and I don't want to pay out for that and find we still can't get cbeebies. Can anyone advise me please whether they think an aerial upgrade will help, or am I better off getting a digitial aerial (I seem to remember hearing of such a thing, but don't know if some are better than others?). Also does anyone know what would be a reasonable cost for me to pay for an aerial upgrade in the Devon area please?

Thank you in advance for any help/advice anyone can give.

f1charlie

Do you know anyone else in the area with Freeview? Can you ask them if they have had an aerial upgrade and are they experiencing the same problems?

Charlie

irnbru_2

mamazaac wrote:

Can anyone advise me please whether they think an aerial upgrade will help, or am I better off getting a digitial aerial (I seem to remember hearing of such a thing, but don't know if some are better than others?).

No such thing as a digital aerial.

As you've had some reception problems with the channel in the past it's likely your existing aerial was borderline.

Enter your postcode into wolfbane and see what type of aerial you require. If it says Wideband then most likely you do need an upgrade.

Freeview channels are broadcast on MUXs 1,2,A,B,C and D. If you're missing a few of those channels then an upgrade should enable you to receive all of Freeview.

Phone your local installers but as a guide, it might start at £60. Dpends what needs replaced.

mamazaac

irnbru wrote:

No such thing as a digital aerial.

As you've had some reception problems with the channel in the past it's likely your existing aerial was borderline.

Enter your postcode into wolfbane and see what type of aerial you require. If it says Wideband then most likely you do need an upgrade.

Freeview channels are broadcast on MUXs 1,2,A,B,C and D. If you're missing a few of those channels then an upgrade should enable you to receive all of Freeview.

Phone your local installers but as a guide, it might start at £60. Dpends what needs replaced.

Thank you irnbru, your help is appreciated. On the wolfbane site under Antenna Suggestion, which I assume is the type of aerial I require, it says Amplified extra hi-gain. Does this mean I need to get an amplifier for my aerial please?

mamazaac

albertross wrote:

have you tried a rescan?

If every other channel is ok (especially on the same Mux), then I doubt that a new aerial with a masthead amp will sort it out. Try a cheaper and easier living room amp first.

A misalignment of a couple of degrees can make the difference between a good picture and no picture on digital. It may have been the wind.

Thanks albertross. Yes we have rescanned twice. The first time we lost cbeebies altogether, but tried again a few days later and it came back. I don't think it is the wind as it is constantly like it. Before they did the work on the transmitter, when it was affected it was down to the weather and only happened on the odd occasion, but it won't work whatever the weather now.

icefall

have you tried a booster

what type of digital box have you got

I had a phillips ondigital set top box, that used to freeze all the time, - had it for 3 years, then passed it to my teenage son when I bought a new mustek freeview box (combined with dvd player) and found that the same signal comes through much better.

I sympathise, I used to get frustrated with the Phillips ondigital box

mamazaac

albertross wrote:

Do other channels on the same Mux work?

http://www.dtg.org.uk/retailer/dtt_channels

Regarding the wind, I meant one gust may have moved it slightly. Do you know if it is a wideband aerial, or a normal one you have had up years?

Yes, other channels seem to be as before. The wind moving the aerial was a good idea, but our aerial is inside the loft, so doesn't apply here. The aerial was already here when we moved in last year, but I don't think it is a wideband aerial. Earlier in the thread irnbru gave me a link to check whether a wideband aerial was required for my area and, according to that site (wolfbane), I need an Amplified extra hi-gain antenna.

Thanks for trying to help me out - I do appreciate it.

mamazaac

icefall wrote:

have you tried a booster

what type of digital box have you got

I had a phillips ondigital set top box, that used to freeze all the time, - had it for 3 years, then passed it to my teenage son when I bought a new mustek freeview box (combined with dvd player) and found that the same signal comes through much better.

I sympathise, I used to get frustrated with the Phillips ondigital box

Hi, no I haven't tried a booster as I don't really know which would be a good one to get and I didn't want to waste money buying something which might not work before I got some advice.

We too have a philips ondigital box, so maybe I should change it. I have been thinking about getting a pvr or dvd player with freeview built in as our dvd player has recently packed up too. Thank you for your help.

mamazaac

Many thanks for your time and advice Albertross. I will try what you suggest.

C_Ronaldo

it cost us £70 to install an ariel for freeview

icefall

mamazaac wrote:

Hi, no I haven't tried a booster as I don't really know which would be a good one to get and I didn't want to waste money buying something which might not work before I got some advice.

We too have a philips ondigital box, so maybe I should change it. I have been thinking about getting a pvr or dvd player with freeview built in as our dvd player has recently packed up too. Thank you for your help.

good luck

let us know if you solve the problem