Freeview Box Problems

recovering_spendaholic

I have a Freeview box which is about 18 months old and has always been fine, but the other day when I switched it on I noticed that there were only about 10 channels and ITV channels, Sky Channels, Shopping Channels, ABC1 and others were all missing. I unplugged it and then switched it on again and let it scan, but it was no different. I have used the scanning function a few times but it doesn't pick up any other channels. Is it fixable or do I need to get a new box? The picture and sound is fine on the channels that are there, but they are basically only the BBC channels and Virgin Radio. Can anyone help?

350nutter

Is that Crosby near Liverpool you are from?

If so I guess you are watching TV from the Winter Hill transmitter. If that is the case your box is probably working properly. There is some major engineering work happening at the TV transmitter resulting in a reduced signal being transmitted. Not much you can do but wait until it's all running properly again and I don't know when that will be.

The reason you can get the BBC channels is in the way it is transmitted, they are more resiliant to low signal levels than the others.

Or to put is technically 16QAM instead or 64QAM.

lee634

It is possible that your aerial may have moved slightly. have a look and see if you can notice any difference then take a look here.


Put in your postcode and it will tell you which direction your aerial should be pointing.

if this is not a problem then its possibly a fault with your box

albertross and 350 you type faster than me

cowbutt

Chances are, there's been a change in reception quality (transmitter fault, aerial/cabling fault, local RF noise) and you've lost one or more of the 6 multiplexes. Multiple TV and/or radio channels are transmitted on a single multiplex, which is why you've lost a bunch in one go. One or two of the multiplexes have a reputation of experiencing reception problems (I have periodic problems with the one carrying Film 4, for instance). The problem might right itself, or you may need to look into replacing your aerial and/or cabling.

I very much doubt it's a set-top box problem, seeing as it's happily working with other multiplexes.

atruefaker

ABC has stopped showing on freeview now http://www.freeview.co.uk/help/channels-programming/q193