Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
6 December 2010
13:1083432#1
I'm not sure what the solution to the problem I have is - any ideas appreciated.
I have a freeview box plugged in to my TV, this transmits both analogue and digital signals from the exterior aerial to the TV via a cable connection. Inbetween I have signal booster as reception in my area in central Dover isn't great. Between the booster and the TV aerial input I have a signal splitter that connects to the DVD recorder.
Come Sunday morning, the reception is almost gone - all analogue signals are a haze and tuning has no effect. I've retuned digital and lost most of the channels incuding BBC1, 2, 3, ITV (no great loss there) and C4 but a few Freeview channels continue with a reduced signal. If I switch off the booster I lose some of these weaker channels leaving me with just a couple, proving that the booster is not completely defunct.
There is no way I could get up on the roof with a ladder to check the aerial as I don't have a ladder long enough, besides I don't know what to look for anyway and would probably die up there.
If I chance replacing the booster, where in Dover can I buy one?
Thanks.
Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,321
6 December 2010
13:3383436#2
More than likely it's wet in the coupling box on the aerial Phil. I would suggest a cheap set top aerial to prove the system first. Where you are you should get a good signal from Hougham.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
6 December 2010
13:4783438#3
Thanks Terry. It could be that - may be it isn't a coincidence that the reception went haywire following the melting of the snow. Maybe water got in there somehow?
Does this mean that if it dries out the reception will return do you think?
Terry Nunn- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,321
6 December 2010
14:2183440#4
Eventually, but if the seal (not very good normally) is duff then it will happen again. Then of course the copper wire will corrode.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
6 December 2010
15:4183442#5
So just to clarify Terry, are the coupling boxes the connectors on the aerial I have marked with an 'X'? It looks as if the cable goes down my chimney and emerges from underfloor in the front room.
If any non-member is looking in, my email is
phil.precambrian@btopenworld.com.
Thanks.
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
6 December 2010
16:2683445#6
This gets weirder, though there is probably a simple explanation. I've plugged the aerial directly into the portable and receive all the analogue signals fine. I retuned the proper TV and received some Freeview Channels and not others.
All Analogues are snowy but I'm receiving Freeview Multiplexes Band B and D only. 1,2, A and C are suddenly missing - I haven't touched any of my equipment or moved cables. I just don't know.
Multiplex 1 includes: BBC1, BBC2, BBC3
Multiplex 2 includes: ITV1, Channel 4, Channel 5
Multiplex A includes: ITV3, Channel One, QVC, Top Up TV
Multiplex B includes: BBC4, Cbeebies, BBC Radio 1
Multiplex C includes: Sky Three, Dave, Sky News
Multiplex D includes: Yesterday, Film 4, Viva
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
6 December 2010
18:3483456#7
Our digital Freeview has ceased to work properly and keeps switching off, so watching the analogue. Wonder if it is the weather?
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
7 December 2010
12:1183567#8
Down here by the sea we have a lot of trouble with Freeview. If the weather is very clear, i.e. bright and sunny, we get interference from Belgian and French TV and sometimes hardly any Freeview at all. Even at the best of times we get interrupted by breaks in transmission, usually just when someone is going to say "the murderer is....." or "and it's worth...."
I'm sorry, I can't remember the name but there is a shop in Castle Street that deals with TV stuff, and we got our FreeSat installation there. It is worth considering since it is a one-off payment and FreeSat is far more reliable than Freeview.
Terry Nunn- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,321
7 December 2010
12:2683570#9
Sorry I didn't reply before Phil but yes that's the problem area.
On a general note, Freeview reception won't be up to much until 2012 when Hougham becomes full power and the Dover Town relay (Napier Road) changes over.
I would also stress that there are some cowboy aerial erectors out there who haven't a clue what they are doing. They don't seem to understand that Hougham aerials need to have the elements horizontal and Dover Town aerials vertical.
Dover is a particularly bad area anyway. Where I am Freeview is non-existent and Classic FM, Heart and KMFM are barley audible. in the latter two cases no hardship really.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
7 December 2010
15:4483585#10
Our Freeview is working again - wish it would make up its mind !!
good to have it back.
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
7 December 2010
16:0783590#11
i have no problems with t.v. reception, whether the analogue or freeview.
the radio however is a different matter altogether.
i find the new dab type worse than the old radios.
7 December 2010
19:4983619#12
WD 40 works wonders
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
7 December 2010
20:4883628#13
i have a tv with freeview built in,conected to a desent outdoor arieal worrks wonders.
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
7 December 2010
21:1783630#14
We couldn't get a decent digital reception when we first got a tuner, eventually called in an aerial man. he found our aerial was pointing at the Lydden transmitter which hadn't gone digital yet, our digital signal was coming from Hougham after it had bounced of the hillside.
He did say that the best aerial position for analogue and digital are slightly different, so we get a good digital but poor analogue from Hougham.
8 December 2010
13:0783685#15
We have a tv with freeview built in, and decent aerials pointed directly at Hougham, but we still get problems, especially as I said above, in good clear weather when we are liable to lose all stations.
