Does anyone know if there is a problem with the Dover transmitter ?

stephenliverpool1

My parents live in Kent.

Mum watches soaps, etc. in her bedroom. Dad watches a load of Sport in the living room.

Mum has a freeview TV in the bedroom.

Over the last few weeks, she has lost on many occassions the digital reception of most of her channels and has had to continually retune the TV to get the channels back.

My dad has spoken to a few friends and also a local TV shop, whom have advised him that this is 'a known problem with the Dover transmitter that is continually changing'.

Is anyone aware of this problem and whether it is a known issue ?

I'm going to see them during Easter and will be taking my Freeview box with me just to make sure the root cause isn't her TV.

Can anyone please help & advise ?

macman

Are both TV's using Freeview on the same aerial connection? If so the problem would occur on both TV's if it's a transmitter issue.
If she's using a set-top internal aerial then that may be the issue.

stephenliverpool1

macman wrote: »

Are both TV's using Freeview on the same aerial connection? If so the problem would occur on both TV's if it's a transmitter issue.
If she's using a set-top internal aerial then that may be the issue.

Dad watches TV via Sky dish.

Muw watches freeview via an external aerial on the roof.

macman

Then check the aerial by using another TV on that connection.

Gordon_Hose

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/2012/march/27/freeview.aspx

The comment especially.

stephenliverpool1

Gordon_Hose wrote: »

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/2012/march/27/freeview.aspx

The comment especially.

Many thanks for this.

I also spoke to me brother this evening who lives not too far away from my parents. My 2 nieces have Freeview in their bedrooms and have experienced identical problems as my mum.

I ain't a clue wot they are doing with the Dover transmitter but it is obviously causing huge problems.

I will see if I can escalate.

Gordon_Hose

I've had issues with my freeview, but I'm on the Blue Bell Hill transmitter, so I put it down to atmospherics.

linni

Thanks for the Kentonline link and to the op as I've got the same problems here. I often re-scan and lose lots of channels and have tried lots of different Freeview boxes. I'm between Dover and Bluebill Hill but I also think atmospherics do affect it. Lets hope it does get sorted after the changeover and the signal is stronger..

Gordon_Hose

I'm in Faversham.

Moneymaker

If your aerial is pointing towards France, you may be suffering from foreign interference.

stephenliverpool1

I escalated the problem to the CEO at OFCOM and have got a response today.

Amongst other things, it advises that the fundamental reason for the unreliable digital reception and loss of channels is that most parts of where my parents and brother live, are not currently within the area where reliable digital signals are available from the Dover transmitter. In common with other areas where digital switchover has not yet taken place, the power of the Dover transmitter’s digital signals currently has to be kept to deliberately low levels so as to avoid causing interference to other transmitters.

While digital signals can sometimes be received in areas outside the predicted signal coverage area, such reception is entirely fortuitous and is likely to be subject to disruption, particularly during unusual atmospheric conditions such as the ones which have occurred in many parts of the UK in recent weeks.

Because good Freeview reception is not universally available, particularly in pre-switchover areas, viewers are strongly advised to check the predicted signal coverage at their own postcodes so as to avoid disappointment. Full reception predictions for postcodes are available at http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/postcodechecker/.

These predictions show that while Dover’s signals in the area (where my parents and brother live) are currently likely to be very poor or technically classed as unavailable, reception prospects will improve in June this year when the power of the Dover transmitter is raised as part of the digital switchover process.

We will wait to see what happens in June although mum has told me yesterday her Freeview channels were being received okay.

HThs.