Freeview Coverage

KxMx

We've got a Freeview Box, and I do a scan for new channels every now and then.
As the switchover draws closer, do you think existing channels that couldn't be recieved, will, as the signal improves?
I ask becasue we get most channels, but out of Channel 4 and ITV we can only get Film4 and ITV2+1- no ITV1 Channel4, E4 etc.
It's no good telling me to check the official website since:
a) First it tells me I get everything but News24 (I get News24 already) and
b) When I change the nearest transmitter location to the proper one, it tells me I can't get digital TV now or after the switchover!

arealhighlander

I *believe* that the digital transmitters are starting off on a lower power setting, once the analogue system is closed down their power levels will be brought back up to full so you may then get a better signal then.

steveo3002

have you considered an aerial upgrade or booster

when we got our set top box it said our area wouldnt get a signal, we fitted a good aerial and a booster and its fine

Inactive

Just get a better aerial fitted.

Conor_3

Here's a site I use which gives coverage maps...
http://www.ukfree.tv/txlist.php

Click on the blue dot nearest to you. It may be that if you're in an area covered by a couple of transmitters that pointing it at another one would give a stronger signal. Also power levels will be brought up but if you've a narrowband antenna and all the freeview Mux's are on the higher bands, you'll still not receive them. Best to shell out for a new wideband TV antenna.

benjus

Does anyone know why the signal seems to vary within the space of a few hours? My parents live in an area with very poor reception and recently had a digital aerial fitted. I haven't looked at the aerial itself but it was fitted by a local aerial specialist so I imagine it is suitable for digital.

They don't have Freeview at the moment but a few weeks ago I took my Freeview box down to test the reception. I got a respectable number of channels with good signal strength. I noticed that the transmitter listed on at least some of the channels was Crystal Palace, even though they are well outside the documented Crystal Palace reception area.

A couple of hours later I couldn't get a picture so I re-scanned the channels and found only a small number of channels. The Crystal Palace transmitter was not being listed any more - I think they were all from the Sandy Heath transmitter.

Any ideas? Are the transmitters being tested in preparation for the switchover and then switched off or turned down again? Is using a different Freeview box likely to make a difference?

moonrakerz

benjus wrote: »

Does anyone know why the signal seems to vary within the space of a few hours? My parents live in an area with very poor reception and recently had a digital aerial fitted. I haven't looked at the aerial itself but it was fitted by a local aerial specialist so I imagine it is suitable for digital.

If your parents are "in an area with very poor reception" (presume you mean for analogue) then their digital reception will be much worse.
No such thing as a "digital aerial", by the way.

benjus wrote: »

They don't have Freeview at the moment but a few weeks ago I took my Freeview box down to test the reception. I got a respectable number of channels with good signal strength. I noticed that the transmitter listed on at least some of the channels was Crystal Palace, even though they are well outside the documented Crystal Palace reception area.

A couple of hours later I couldn't get a picture so I re-scanned the channels and found only a small number of channels. The Crystal Palace transmitter was not being listed any more - I think they were all from the Sandy Heath transmitter.

The aerial should be:
1. The correct group for the local transmitter
2. Pointing at that transmitter
You may have just picked a day when they were doing maintenance on the transmitter !

benjus wrote: »

Any ideas? Are the transmitters being tested in preparation for the switchover and then switched off or turned down again? Is using a different Freeview box likely to make a difference?

The main problem with digital at the moment is that all transmitters are transmitting on much reduced power (some as low as 10% of max). This is to avoid interfering with the analogue signal.
When analogue is switched off the digital signal will be turned up to full power.

So one answer to your problem is to wait until analogue is switched off.
Set top boxes vary enormously in their capabilities. Most are sold by Argos, Currys, Comet, and on price alone and are usually "adequate" in good signal areas, but are c**p in weak signal areas.
A "good" STB will cost 2 or 3 times as much as a cheapo one - but you will get what you pay for.