Topic ID 3404
Before I rush out and buy a new digibox and aerial - has anyone else been experiencing a bad signal from Sandy Heath over the last few days? The signal freezes then disappears several times during a typical hour
Reply ID 49318
I get the Crystal Palace signal, while not bad the signal has broken up quite a bit over the last few days. I just put it down to the very high pressure (atmospheric) that we've had. If it continues maybe try and borrow a digi-box to check that it isn;t your hardware.
Reply ID 49319
I could hardy listen to the radio this morning for interference from French and Dutch local radio, so I'd put it down to atmospherics.
Reply ID 49323
quote:Know what you mean Steve - tuned into BBC Radio London yesterday and got a shock as they were discussing farming prices and traffic delays near Boston. It was BBC Lincolnshire coming through loud and clear. [:0]
Originally posted by Steve
I could hardy listen to the radio this morning for interference from French and Dutch local radio, so I'd put it down to atmospherics.
Reply ID 49324
out of interest, how many TV channels would have been available on the analogue system. Did 5 fill it completely or was there room for another 10? 20? 50?
Reply ID 49336
The 5th channel pretty much filled it Carlos. Add in the UHF broadcast channel that is occupied by any remaining VCR's and thats another one gone (remember the great VCR ajustment episode when Ch 5 started broadcasting?
Reply ID 49337
Tks. Always wondered why we had to adopt a seemingly inferior quality system and pay for the privilege. Now I know, 5 shopping channels and endless re-runs of friends, top gear etc etc.
Reply ID 49349
We are still in the dark ages, can only get 4 channels as we are too close to the water Tower and don't have a dish/ cable etc ........................never been able to get channel 5
Reply ID 49350
we only had 4 channels til recently. Have to say i did read more back then. I will admit to a price drop tv addiction. Anyone else ready to confess?
Reply ID 49366
quote:Thats because Bengeo does not transmit Ch 5 Marilyn rather than your proximity to the water tower I think you will find - and forget digital transmissions for some time yet. If you want the dubious pleasure of Ch5 you may need an aerial upgrade pointing to Crystal Palace
Originally posted by Marilyn
We are still in the dark ages, can only get 4 channels as we are too close to the water Tower and don't have a dish/ cable etc ........................never been able to get channel 5
Reply ID 49367
quote:If you want to watch 40 and 50 year old American TV commercials and public information films showing such delights as how the ladies must behave to be the perfect party hostess then Sumo Tv is for you. Rupert Murdoch - Gawd bless 'im.
Originally posted by carlos fandango
we only had 4 channels til recently. Have to say i did read more back then. I will admit to a price drop tv addiction. Anyone else ready to confess?
Reply ID 49375
http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/en/when/faq.html#i-cant-currently-get-freeview
Reply ID 49399
quote:Thanks I am sure yoy are right I don't undertand these things, we manage without the extra channels, what you have never had you never miss[:D] Something does affect sat navs round here though, is that the stuff on the Tower? Again not something I have but visitors have tried to use them and end up in the wrong road, I prefer old fashioned maps myself[;)]
Originally posted by Leo Densianquote:Thats because Bengeo does not transmit Ch 5 Marilyn rather than your proximity to the water tower I think you will find - and forget digital transmissions for some time yet. If you want the dubious pleasure of Ch5 you may need an aerial upgrade pointing to Crystal Palace
Originally posted by Marilyn
We are still in the dark ages, can only get 4 channels as we are too close to the water Tower and don't have a dish/ cable etc ........................never been able to get channel 5
Reply ID 49446
Yes, we are still experiencing the same problems, ie losing bits of programmes. Dobbin recorded an hour long programme the other evening and we watched it in 35 minutes as there was so much missing. Saying that, reception has always been c**p in West Street. Bengeo gets in the way apparently. [:p]
Reply ID 49450
quote:You are right - one of the technical terms for it is 'Sporadic E' - caused by ionisation of the 'E' layer in the atmosphere due to current High Pressure systems over the area. It causes reflection of the sky wave element of very high frequency signals back to earth, and thus into aerials, signals which would normally take a path straight up to 'space' and be 'lost'. If you were tuned to analogue transmissions this would cause fading and interference to your intended signal - as you are 'looking at' digital signals any interference appears as a complete momentary loss. Things should improve this afternoon - if not already - as the High Pressure system drifts away.
Originally posted by Steve
I could hardy listen to the radio this morning for interference from French and Dutch local radio, so I'd put it down to atmospherics.
Reply ID 49465
I just wish I could get Freeview...
Reply ID 49466
quote:Have you tried? Forget the postcode checker and see if you can borrow someone else's digibox. According to the postcode checker I can't get Freeview, but my Sony Bravia with digital tuner says something different! (apologies if you've already been down this route).
Originally posted by Brockman
I just wish I could get Freeview...
Reply ID 49467
Yeah, I have a freeview box from when I moved down here. According to that checker; even when they do actually switch the transponder over to digital, I still won't be able to get half of the Freeview channels.
Reply ID 49468
Brockman - I TOO thought I couldn't get freeview but I went in the loft and turned the aerial 180 degrees away from Ally Pally and towards Sandy Heath (Bedfordshire ) and it all popped up ( I can't get BBC4, CBeebies or Parliament, but that's about it). I am just behind the fire station in town. It might be worth getting someone in the attic to move it around whilst someone else attempts to scan channels in. The only problem you get is that local news is Anglia My picture has been much better the last couple of days so it must have been those atmospherics after all
Reply ID 49554
newgirl we do not get out television from Alexandre Palace as it runs on very low power, the 3 main transmitters for Hertford are, Bengeo water tower which transmits the 4 main analouge channels, Crystal Palace which dose all 5 analouge channels plus all 6 digital multiplex's and Sandy Heath which transmits the 4 main analouge channels and the 6 digital multiplex's. It is also possible to receive analouge TV from Sudbry and Hemel Hempsted. You simply just cant turn you aerial 180 degrees as there are a few factors that will effect your reception: what polarization is your aerial(horizontal/vertical). Aerial group (A,B,C/D) and gain. In Hertford it depends what side of the valley you live on, If your lucky to live on the north side of the valley (near Hartham) you will most likely to receive from Crystal Palace, on the south side you are likely to receive from Sandy Heath or Bengeo. When 2012 comes along, Bengeo water tower will only transmit 3 out of the 6 multiplexes due to the auction of some of the TV spectrum just to let you know.
Reply ID 49563
quote:So we still won't get all the Freeview channels?
Originally posted by csproductions
newgirl we do not get out television from Alexandre Palace as it runs on very low power, the 3 main transmitters for Hertford are, Bengeo water tower which transmits the 4 main analouge channels, Crystal Palace which dose all 5 analouge channels plus all 6 digital multiplex's and Sandy Heath which transmits the 4 main analouge channels and the 6 digital multiplex's. It is also possible to receive analouge TV from Sudbry and Hemel Hempsted. You simply just cant turn you aerial 180 degrees as there are a few factors that will effect your reception: what polarization is your aerial(horizontal/vertical). Aerial group (A,B,C/D) and gain. In Hertford it depends what side of the valley you live on, If your lucky to live on the north side of the valley (near Hartham) you will most likely to receive from Crystal Palace, on the south side you are likely to receive from Sandy Heath or Bengeo. When 2012 comes along, Bengeo water tower will only transmit 3 out of the 6 multiplexes due to the auction of some of the TV spectrum just to let you know.
Reply ID 49566
quote:HI csproductions, as you seem very knowledgeable on this subject, are they eventually (on Crystal Palace) going to have HD on Freeview (with an additional box)?
Originally posted by csproductions
newgirl we do not get out television from Alexandre Palace as it runs on very low power, the 3 main transmitters for Hertford are, Bengeo water tower which transmits the 4 main analouge channels, Crystal Palace which dose all 5 analouge channels plus all 6 digital multiplex's and Sandy Heath which transmits the 4 main analouge channels and the 6 digital multiplex's. It is also possible to receive analouge TV from Sudbry and Hemel Hempsted. You simply just cant turn you aerial 180 degrees as there are a few factors that will effect your reception: what polarization is your aerial(horizontal/vertical). Aerial group (A,B,C/D) and gain. In Hertford it depends what side of the valley you live on, If your lucky to live on the north side of the valley (near Hartham) you will most likely to receive from Crystal Palace, on the south side you are likely to receive from Sandy Heath or Bengeo. When 2012 comes along, Bengeo water tower will only transmit 3 out of the 6 multiplexes due to the auction of some of the TV spectrum just to let you know.
Reply ID 49567
quote:What a brilliant post..Well done son.[:)]
Originally posted by csproductions
newgirl we do not get out television from Alexandre Palace as it runs on very low power, the 3 main transmitters for Hertford are, Bengeo water tower which transmits the 4 main analouge channels, Crystal Palace which dose all 5 analouge channels plus all 6 digital multiplex's and Sandy Heath which transmits the 4 main analouge channels and the 6 digital multiplex's. It is also possible to receive analouge TV from Sudbry and Hemel Hempsted. You simply just cant turn you aerial 180 degrees as there are a few factors that will effect your reception: what polarization is your aerial(horizontal/vertical). Aerial group (A,B,C/D) and gain. In Hertford it depends what side of the valley you live on, If your lucky to live on the north side of the valley (near Hartham) you will most likely to receive from Crystal Palace, on the south side you are likely to receive from Sandy Heath or Bengeo. When 2012 comes along, Bengeo water tower will only transmit 3 out of the 6 multiplexes due to the auction of some of the TV spectrum just to let you know.
Reply ID 49577
quote:There is talk about there being some kind of HD content on freeview - if it happens then it is almost certain Crystal Palace will cary the service. In fact I believe a trial HD service was run on Crystal Palace in the last year or so. If you are really interested in the debate then I suggest a forum like digital spy - http://www.digitalspy.co.uk
Originally posted by Ray_by_the_Beane
HI csproductions, as you seem very knowledgeable on this subject, are they eventually (on Crystal Palace) going to have HD on Freeview (with an additional box)?
Reply ID 49616
quote:I refer the Honourable Members to my previous posts on this topic. What will be available? - in technical terms multiplexes 1, 2 and B will be broadcast, these are the 'Public' multiplexes. The 'commercial' multiplexes A, C and D will most likely not be broadcast. In practice this means that BBC1, 2, 3 and 4, CBBC, CBeebies, News 24, ITV 1,2,3,4 Chanel 4, More4, E4 CITV and a lot of the current BBC radio channels WILL be broadcast; the sharp eyed amongst you who haven't fallen asleep will notice that Channel 5 isn't on that list; this is currently in Multiplex A and will be moving to one of the Public multiplexes. And regarding Freeview & HDTV from another previous post... When the country has digital TV and there is spectrum released 'cos the digital services fit into less bandwidth, OFCOM will be auctioning spectrum to the highest bidder - the so-called digital dividend. You can bet the broadcasters are interested in buying spectrum for HDTV coverage from the big stations but I doubt they will be interested in 28,049 viewers of a local relay. I doubt that the Hertford relay will have HDTV services - so be careful if you are smooth-talked into buying an HDTV set and you don't get your signal from Crystal Palace or Sandy Heath. You will be able to get HDTV from satellite beforehand but it will be at a price
Originally posted by Brockman So we still won't get all the Freeview channels?
Reply ID 49628
Yes the governments plans are to sell of the spectrum so it can be used for HDTV,Local TV and mobile services. But its still early days and by 2012 we will most likely get our TV from broadband services