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Baffled by Freeview manual tuning
Comments
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Beacon hill used to be a C/D transmitter but recently changed to Group B (because of the 5g clearance) , so if you have a C/D antenna you might benefit from replacing it with a Group B antenna, which will pick up the correct signals more strongly and the incorrect signals will be weaker.
You can tell which group antenna you have by looking at the colour of the bung in the end
Not sure what you mean by bung. On mine, the lead is connected to a cup shaped device made of black plastic, mounted on the antenna. Can't see a coloured part anywhere.0 -
This part of this website has a photo showing the different colours:
https://www.aerialsandtv.com/aerials.html#aerialgroups
(That website has all the information you could ever need about antennas, and then some)
Basically it's just a little piece of plastic stuck in the end of the main beam of the antenna, the bit that points towards the transmitter.
If you see the red bits on this one:Changing the world, one sarcastic comment at a time.0 -
This part of this website has a photo showing the different colours:
https://www.aerialsandtv.com/aerials.html#aerialgroups
(That website has all the information you could ever need about antennas, and then some)
Basically it's just a little piece of plastic stuck in the end of the main beam of the antenna, the bit that points towards the transmitter.
If you see the red bits on this one:
I've just had a look with the binocks.
The front looks just sort of silver - maybe white? It doesn't look like there's a bung there at all - just a silver end.
The back looks like it has a black bung.
Really difficult to tell with a bright sky behind. I'm pretty definite that neither end has a coloured bung.0 -
OK, I've just followed Colins advice - unplugged the PVR from the aerial and did an auto setup. Then replugged and repeated the auto setup.
All seems well now, although only time will tell.
What I've found is that the PVR has tuned to a set of channels different to the ones that I'm being told should be my best bet.
My channels now are 29, 40 and 41 - at least these are the ones relevant to the channels on my Favourites list (which I had to redo, along with the recording programmes list). Perhaps it has tuned to others too.
BBC1 and 2 HD, ITV HD and Channel 4 HD are all on Ch29 now.
Beacon hill apparently transmits 40, 41, 42, 44, 45 and 47.
Not sure what to make of all this.
The only other transmitter recommended for me is Exeter St. Thomas (a relay transmitter) but it transmits on Ch 41, 44 and 47.
So where am I getting Ch29 from?
Edit: I've just searched and found that Ch29 is transmitted from Stockland Hill, which transmits on Ch22, 23, 25, 26, 28 and 29.
So it seems my PVR is now tuned to some channels from Beacon Hill and one from Stockland. This is precisely what the chap said who came to sort out my problem, a while back.
Is this normal - to tune to some channels from one transmitter and some from another? My aerial is definitely not pointing towards Stockland Hill - it's generally in the direction of Beacon.0 -
Sometimes you may get the transmitter named, and the option to select what channels.
As for the 100% strength 0% quality, from what i understand there is a HD multiples ( channel) that can only be received with HD receivers, everything else sees 100% strength ( or lower) and Zero quality0 -
It's quite normal to pick up channels from other transmitters, especially if you have a wideband antenna. Usually your DVR puts the weak signals on extra channel numbers, eg 800 - 1000
There was a time when I could only pick up ITV 3 by using one of those channels.
Do you get a good picture?Changing the world, one sarcastic comment at a time.0 -
It's quite normal to pick up channels from other transmitters, especially if you have a wideband antenna. Usually your DVR puts the weak signals on extra channel numbers, eg 800 - 1000
There was a time when I could only pick up ITV 3 by using one of those channels.
Do you get a good picture?
Yes, I watched some tennis last night on BBC1/2 HD (Ch29) and it was absolutely OK.0 -
FWIW I tried removing the amplifier from my setup and re-scanned channels but it made no difference - still no BBC 4HD or News HD (or 4sevenHD).
For info (with/without the amplifier):
When connected (on BBC 1HD) Quality is near 100% and Strength is about 95%.
When disconnected Quality is near 100% and Strength is about 70%.0 -
Just been looking at a map showing Beacon Hill and Stockton Hill transmitters.
Looks like I'm receiving some channels to the front of my aerial (which points towards Beacon Hill) and some to the rear (which points towards Stockton Hill).
Don't seem right to me.
Also, I'm still curious as to why Ch 47 shows zero signal quality but a strength of around 70%. I've found a site that says Beacon Hill (which transmits Ch 47) is not currently having any problems, so why zero quality (and hence inability to tune to that channel)?
If I could tune to Ch 47, my PVR wouldn't have to tune to Ch 29 from the 'wrong' transmitter.0 -
Just been looking at a map showing Beacon Hill and Stockton Hill transmitters.
Looks like I'm receiving some channels to the front of my aerial (which points towards Beacon Hill) and some to the rear (which points towards Stockton Hill).
Don't seem right to me.
Also, I'm still curious as to why Ch 47 shows zero signal quality but a strength of around 70%. I've found a site that says Beacon Hill (which transmits Ch 47) is not currently having any problems, so why zero quality (and hence inability to tune to that channel)?
If I could tune to Ch 47, my PVR wouldn't have to tune to Ch 29 from the 'wrong' transmitter.
Some aerials have quite a large pick up lobe to the rear.
If Stockton Hill is optimally located in this rearward lobe, it's 50,000W radiated power on CH29 will likely result in a better received signal than Beacon Hill CH 47 which only radiates 20,000W.
Don't worry about it if you are receiving a better signal from Stockwell Hill and it is working fine.0
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