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All posts by Chris S

Below are all of Chris S's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.


Hi Mardler . Yes . it really is the transmitter this week. The HD signal is reduced during preparation work for the next channel change . I believe I am near you (Mundesley) but don't seem to have had as much reception problems as yourself . I only saw trouble on UHF channel 31 during periods of summer high pressure. I use an amplified log aerial.

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I think that the reduction of UHF channel space will mean that a good service will be available if you live say within 30 miles of a transmitter . I agree that for problem areas freesat is looking like the best solution . Especially as all the same channels as freeview (plus some extra) are now available.

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some tvs are less sensitive than others . Now that BBC4 HD including otherCOM8 channels has moved to UHF channel 56 at the present time it is harder to receive . I can get it on a roof top aerial but not on a lower aerial on the conservatory.
Apparently the plan is to move com7 and com 8 to UHF55 and 56 respectively in the next few years .

Ironically because many other transmitters will simultaneously transmit the same signal on 55 and 56 these channels will then become the strongest (At least in the north Norfolk area) !

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I would put your post code into Coverage Checker - Detailed View
clik "detailed view"
This will indicate the expected signal strength . If I interpreted your post code correctly then your nearest transmitter is SUDBURY .Almost due west which should give good strong signals without an amplifier . The snag is that this transmitter does not have com7 or com8. The nearest transmitter with COM7.8 is Tacolneston almost due north . which currently can be received on an amplified aerial on com7 .
On june the 6th Tacolneston will change com7 and com8 to UHF channels 55 and 56 respectively . 7 and 8 will then be on reduced power so unlikely to be receivable at your location. Perhaps freesat is your option if you really need to receive com 7 and 8. Freesat now has virtually all the same channels as freeview.

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Nick you must be in an awkward area like Southwold. To see SUDBURYdetails put a suitable post code into the coverage checker website such as a shop at Colchester. I think if you are on the coast the changes to channels will mean you are better going Freesat (which now has virtually the same channels) rather than more expense of changing aerials.
The tv transmitters are doing the best they can with the reduced frequencies that they now have but fringe areas are bound to loose out.

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Nick .have you tried clicking "detailed view" on the coverage website . Usually it gives complete calendar of mux changes for about three of the nearest transmitters.

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the only change to Sudbury will be that SDN changes from uhf channel 58 to 29 . ARQA changes from 60 to 31 in august

on the coverage website be sure to click "detailed view" (near where you enter post code .) I just checked with an A post code and it showed three transmitters . Aldebrough , Sudbury and Tacolneston


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the Sudbury changeover of UHF channel 58 to 29 and 60 to 31 is 1st of august .

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Jocelyn. The channels changed today . you will need to retune your receiver. You MAY need to change your aerial .but try a retune and see what happens.

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I checked and the multiplexes are now on the channels as Stevens says above .
To retune on a relatively modern box or tv you usually just need to go into "settings" and click something like "automatic scan of channels" . DON.T click "add new channels". Some boxes and tvs need a more complicated channel reset BEFORE doing the scan. Some methods of doing this are explained via links lower down this page.
re accuracy of this site . The multiplexes are broadly listed correctly "but not necessarily in the right order " as a famous tv sketch said. The point is that the site covers all transmitters and so it must be hard to keep up to date . Especially as there have been several changes in the last couple of years from the original government plan.

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