Has Freeview Signal Lost Power

kah22

Anyone having difficulties with their Northern Ireland Freeview/Digital signal.

I’m living in Armagh with my signal coming from Davis. Up until yesterday I was receiving a grade A signal i.e. no interruption of signal, no slight break up or failing of signal and that ran right across all the stations I picked up; I would have given reception 10 out of 10.

Yesterday, however, the signal began to degrade, it would break up a little, come back to normal and later on break up again. On one or two occasions it lost the signal completely and threw up the ‘no signal’ notice but within a few seconds found itself again.

I carried out an automatic rescan but that didn’t help. I’ve checked the four main stations and my television says that

BBC1 – channel 29
BBC2 – channel 29
UTV - channel 33 and
Ch4 - channel 33

However when I look at the Freeview information for the Divis transmitter this is what I get the channels as follows

BBC1 - C31;
BBC2 – C27;
ITV - C24;
Ch4 – C21.

Not one seems to be the same and that is leaving out all the other channels that I was getting perfectly e.g ITV 2, 3, Channel 5 plus a host more.

I also get grade A reception from the Republic – I’m able to receive all of the stations been broadcast down South. (I’m receiving from the Monaghan transmitter,) and so far I haven’t noticed a breakup in their signal

Any ideas? Does the above mean that I'm going to have to retune by hand and how on earth would I know the channel number for the lies of Dave. I've checked the transmitter info and there doesn't seem to be any maintenance going on at the moment. Could it be the weather?

As always many thanks for your input.

Kevin

kah22

Just had a thought.

I'm expecting a delivery of a new Humax HDR Fox T2 (hopefully tomorrow ) Will that have any effect on the signal.

Kevin

Peter Rhea

kah22 wrote: »

However when I look at the Freeview information for the Divis transmitter this is what I get the channels as follows

BBC1 - C31;
BBC2 – C27;
ITV - C24;
Ch4 – C21.

Those are the analogue channel nos., the Freeview services are carried in groups (multiplex or mux for short) on the relevant UHF channel.

The mux listings are here.

For Divis, mux 1 is UHF 29, mux 2 UHF 33, mux A 23, mux B 26, mux C 48 & mux D 34.

I'm currently having no problems with reception, near the Monaghan/Armagh border, so it's probably some problem with your own setup or local interference.

Also, there are no DVB-T2 HD transmissions in NI until after analogue is switched off, sometime next year.

Mr. Rabbit

Same here in Jordanstown Co. Antrim Peter. No problems whatsoever.

Currently getting excellent reception of the Freeview HD channels on my Humax from Cambrett Hill in Southwest Scotland.

For some odd reason, the signal from this transmitter has improved dramatically over the last few weeks. Hasn't been this good in at least a couple of years. Not sure what the reason is.

Freeview HD looks good. Can't wait until DSO here next year.

Peter Rhea

Mr. Rabbit wrote: »

For some odd reason, the signal from this transmitter has improved dramatically over the last few weeks. Hasn't been this good in at least a couple of years. Not sure what the reason is.

Which UHF channels are you receiving from there?

kah22

Hi guys, first of all thanks for your replies and support. I've got to the bottom of my problem - I think

Today I checked all the leads at the back of the telly, everything seemed fine, all the right leads were in the right place all properly connected etc.

Then I removed a PROception power supply unit which has been in place since I had my aerial and cables upgraded a little over 18 months ago. I tried instead putting my aerial lead directly into my Humax PVR's aerial-in socket and another lead from the Humax aerial-out socket into the TV aerial socket, with a HDMI connection between the Humax and the television. And now the picture is back to 100 percent. System information shows the signal quality as been 100 percent. strange, but satisfying

Haven’t bothered connecting the DVD player yet.

It seems strange that a piece of equipment designed to boost a signal should have the opposite effect. But then it is a strange life

Curious though as to why that should be.

Peter Rhea

You must have a masthead amplifier, then. The Humax aerial power option must be switched on & is taking the place of the psu.
Maybe the Proception power supply is dodgy, where there any visible effects on analogue channels?

kah22

Peter Rhea wrote: »

You must have a masthead amplifier, then. The Humax aerial power option must be switched on & is taking the place of the psu.
Maybe the Proception power supply is dodgy, where there any visible effects on analogue channels?

It is quite a while since I watched analogue but I'd say there was no visible effects.

What I did find strange though was that even though all the Freeview stations were showing faults. Saorview was perfect, couldn't have asked for a better picture. Two different aerials of course

Peter Rhea

Is Saorview still alright? The amp might only be for that aerial or maybe it's for distribution.

How many 'boxes' are there on the aerial mast? Also check the Humax options to see if aerial power is enabled.