Non-motoring > TV reception	Miscellaneous
Thread Author: James Loveless	Replies: 38

Fri 21 Aug 26 13:28   TV reception - James Loveless

We still rely on an aerial for TV. Over the last few weeks certain channels have become unusable. It's odd because reception for these seems to vary throughout the day and is worse in the mornings. The other channels work fine. I have retuned the TV many times and have unplugged/replugged the aerial cable at the wall socket and TV. Visually, the aerial itself looks OK. In the past, reception has sometimes worsened during certain types of weather and, as we've been subjected to some unusual meteorology recently, I wonder if that's the explanation. I just don't understand why channels which are detected as usable when I retune the TV don't actually work some of the time. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 21 Aug 26 13:37   TV reception - Bromptonaut

Weather certainly a possibility. www.freeview.co.uk/help/bad-weather-affecting-tv-signal Not a problem recently or since digital but it played merry hell with analogue in the past. Trees are another possibility. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 21 Aug 26 13:51   TV reception - tyrednemotional

If you know which transmitter you're on you might want to check for (current) engineering works. www.freeview.co.uk/corporate/platform-management/planned-engineering-works In the past, certain transmitters have had channel (multiplex) moves applied. If you don't have a wideband aerial that can result in loss of, or deterioration of, the moved channels. TBH, I'm not aware of any such process recently, though. A further possibility is a new or upgraded mobile mast nearby, (4G or more likely 5G) as the frequencies can overlap. Fixable by means of a (free) aerial filter. Legacylad's mum had similar issues some time back, I think. That can be followed up here: restoretv.uk/ Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 21 Aug 26 15:40   TV reception - Falkirk Bairn

Has your TV got cable or wireless access to your Broadband? Older TV might still support a Fire Stick? Other makes available Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 21 Aug 26 16:02   TV reception - James Loveless

"Has your TV got cable or wireless access to your Broadband?" Yes, but I find that locating what I want to watch via the apps on the TV an absolute pain. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 21 Aug 26 16:03   TV reception - James Loveless

"A further possibility is a new or upgraded mobile mast nearby, (4G or more likely 5G) as the frequencies can overlap. Fixable by means of a (free) aerial filter. " Thanks, T&E. That looks promising and I've contacted RestoreTV. Will report back. Last edited by: James Loveless on Fri 21 Aug 26 at 16:04 Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 21 Aug 26 16:41   TV reception - Bromptonaut

You say you've checked connections at the set. Are you confident those at roof level are good? Aeons ago now but we lost VHF radio. Turned out to be a dry joint in the combiner box allowing aerials to share a single downlead. And before anybody jumps in I'm not suggesting you be like Rod Hull and get up there yourself! Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 21 Aug 26 16:50   TV reception - James Loveless

"You say you've checked connections at the set. Are you confident those at roof level are good?" No, I'm not and if all else fails I suppose I will have to pay someone to look at that. However, the quality of most of the channels is fine and I would have thought a poor connection would not be selective as to which channels are affected. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 21 Aug 26 17:00   TV reception - Bromptonaut

>> However, the quality of most of the channels is fine >> and I would have thought a poor connection would not be selective as to which >> channels are affected. Not sure all MUX transmit at the same power and aerials cannot be assumed to deliver identical performance from lowest frequency to highest. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 21 Aug 26 21:25   TV reception - Zero

>> Not sure all MUX transmit at the same power and aerials cannot be assumed to >> deliver identical performance from lowest frequency to highest. Lets not get into aerial groups, front to back gain and rejection and polarisation too quickly! Pity Mark's not on here still, he knew this stuff back to front from his days at Arqiva. Last edited by: Zero on Fri 21 Aug 26 at 21:26 Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 21 Aug 26 21:23   TV reception - Zero

>> No, I'm not and if all else fails I suppose I will have to pay >> someone to look at that. However, the quality of most of the channels is fine >> and I would have thought a poor connection would not be selective as to which >> channels are affected. Ah but it is. Your Aerial is pointing at a digital multiplexor(s). they mix all the channels onto one (or more) wireless carriers. The output power and error correction is not the same on all the channels. So good channels and bad channels recieved on your aerial means the good ones could be tons better, and the not so good ones are crapping out. All points to bad aerial or aerial feeder. If it looks good, and its pointing the same way as your neighbours, its gonna be the connection to the feed coax in the aerial. Reply to this message | Report message       1

Sat 22 Aug 26 05:31   TV reception - expat2

>> All points to >> bad aerial or aerial feeder. If it looks good, and its pointing the same way >> as your neighbours, its gonna be the connection to the feed coax in the aerial. >> >> I had a similar problem in the past. It turned out to be caused by a black box on the aerial which had sprung a leak and water got it during wet weather. The aerial was very old and in poor condition so I just replaced the whole thing. Problem solved. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 21 Aug 26 16:54   TV reception - James Loveless

Further to my message at 16:03 today, I have now had confirmation from RestoreTV that a filter is on the way. These are designed to deal with unwanted interference from mobile phone masts. They agreed to supply this on the basis of my answers to various questions about the nature of the problem and the location of my address. I will provide a further update when I've got the thing and installed it. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 21 Aug 26 19:38   TV reception - Dog

I have an olde Humax Foxsat HDR Freesat recorder that I mainly use for recording olde films on TPTV. All the channels are purrfect - except Sky mix which occasionally pixelates quite badly for some strange reason. I tried to record The Fifth Element last week but it pixelated so bad I couldn't watch it, It's on again tonight so I'll give e'e another go. I see on the AVForum there's an update available, so I'll give that a go too. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 22 Aug 26 06:53   TV reception - Dog

>>It's on again tonight so I'll give e'e another go. Yessiree - recorded okay this time, musta be down to atmospheric pressure, or them there Gremlins! Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 22 Aug 26 11:37   TV reception - Robin O'Reliant

I'm surprised anyone still bothers with an ariel. Our main TV is hooked up to Freesat and the other two are Freely TV's. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 22 Aug 26 11:46   TV reception - Zero

>> I'm surprised anyone still bothers with an ariel. Our main TV is hooked up to >> Freesat and the other two are Freely TV's. So you have a dish, its just another form of aerial. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 22 Aug 26 11:58   TV reception - Robin O'Reliant

>> >> >> So you have a dish, its just another form of aerial. >> A much more reliable signal though. As previously stated, poor weather effects the signal on Freeview, particularly in places like this where we can only get Freeview Lite. Our ariel ditched itself - it blew down and we never bothered replacing it. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 22 Aug 26 13:10   TV reception - Zero

>> A much more reliable signal though. For the next three years when the satelite cluster goes end of life. No replacement launch planned. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 22 Aug 26 13:11   TV reception - Bromptonaut

>> A much more reliable signal though. As previously stated, poor weather effects the signal on >> Freeview, particularly in places like this where we can only get Freeview Lite. Our ariel >> ditched itself - it blew down and we never bothered replacing it. We have, more or less, line of sight to the mast at Sandy Heath so get all available MUX on the aerial. Did I read somewhere that Freesat has an end date? EDIT: Crossed with Z. Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Sat 22 Aug 26 at 13:12 Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 22 Aug 26 13:23   TV reception - Bromptonaut

This reminded me the TV had a gap between around 'channels' 25 and 45 last night - no 5 Action. A retune has sorted it. I'm usually pretty fastidious about doing a retune whenever the TV tells me there's been a change but I've a feeling I had a can't be arxed moment a few weeks ago. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 22 Aug 26 13:50   TV reception - Robin O'Reliant

>> >> >> Did I read somewhere that Freesat has an end date? >> >> >> It has, but so has Freeview. When that day comes you'll need a Freely box to plug into your TV, or upgrade to a set with it built in. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 22 Aug 26 14:17   TV reception - Bromptonaut

>> It has, but so has Freeview. When that day comes you'll need a Freely box >> to plug into your TV, or upgrade to a set with it built in. If that needs an internet connection there'll be a huge issue for crinklies and other digital refugees. Like VHF (and AM MW) radio I don't think a switch off in the text 10 plus years at least is, politically if not practically, doable. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 22 Aug 26 15:53   TV reception - CGNorwich

AM MW radio scheduled to end by end of 2027. FM will be around for at least 10 years. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 22 Aug 26 16:19   TV reception - Bromptonaut

>> AM MW radio scheduled to end by end of 2027. FM will be around for >> at least 10 years. Google tells me that AM MW is less than 3% of UK radio audience. Was surprised by that but thinking back I've not listened to it for quite a while other then messing about with Software Defined Radio. When I was commuting I listened to 5 Live in the car in preference to Radio 4 as short items allowed a better overview than Today progs format. Needed to switch between 693 and 909 halfway to Milton Keynes in the years I used that station. BBC aims to end 693/909 service for R5L by that date. Remaining commercial channels on similar timescale. Car's digital radio will switch to FM if the digital MUX drops. Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Sat 22 Aug 26 at 16:22 Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 22 Aug 26 16:45   TV reception - Fullchat

Our signal from Belmont circa 1995 was variable across the channels with the main players being quite good but others not so. I decided on Sky which gave a much better picture across the board. Digital switch over improved things and our last aerial installment was a faily insignificant looking piece of kit compared to its predecessors. We do however have a booster in the loft. Reply to this message | Report message       1

Sat 22 Aug 26 16:57   TV reception - Bromptonaut

>> Digital switch over improved things and our last aerial installment was a faily insignificant looking >> piece of kit compared to its predecessors. We do however have a booster in the >> loft. We've got a pretty crude 'wideband' yagi of enormous proportions for Freeview. The log periodic jobbies that have appeared in the last decade plus are much more elegant. Tempted to hire a cherry picker and tidy up my installation. Log periodic to replace Yagi. The old grouped aerial, a smaller Yagi, is connected to the kid's rooms but they've long flown. Can't remember last using the Denon VHF tuner in the lounge so that's a unidirectional do dah for 88-108 that can go too. Estate freed up for the airband device lurking in the loft where the tiles no doubt significantly attenuate reception. Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Sat 22 Aug 26 at 16:58 Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 22 Aug 26 18:11   TV reception - CGNorwich

I’ve just got an old aerial I bought in Texas DIY shed 30 years ago in the loft pointing in the vaguely right direction. Works perfectly. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 22 Aug 26 19:27   TV reception - Robin O'Reliant

Back in the day the old man connected the ariel lead to a bicycle wheel that he hung on the wall. It worked too. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 22 Aug 26 22:44   TV reception - bathtub tom

>> Back in the day the old man connected the ariel lead to a bicycle wheel >> that he hung on the wall. It worked too. In my first house (1971) I connected the TV aerial input to the curtain rail, worked fine (405). Last edited by: bathtub tom on Sat 22 Aug 26 at 22:44 Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 22 Aug 26 20:14   TV reception - Zero

>> I’ve just got an old aerial I bought in Texas DIY shed 30 years ago >> in the loft pointing in the vaguely right direction. Works perfectly. You have Tacolneston TV transmiter, very big, very powerful, and norfolk is flatter than a witches t, you cant fail to get something out of that. (Its big and powerful because it has a secondary purpose that I could tell you about, but then I would have to kill you) Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 22 Aug 26 20:11   TV reception - Zero

>> >> >> It has, but so has Freeview. When that day comes you'll need a Freely box >> to plug into your TV, or upgrade to a set with it built in. Few points to consider, Freeview has millions of users, its easy to maintain, not everyone has suffiient internet bandwidt. Freesat has a much smaller customer base. For those reasons DTV will soldier on for many more years* than the looming freesat withdrawal. *just like FM radio, was planned to have been dumped several years ago. Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 23 Aug 26 07:37   TV reception - Falkirk Bairn

There was a problem for my late M-i-L with the TV signal. A large manufacturer erected new plant and part of it was a tower. This partially blocked the TV signal in all but the BBC1 signal. A small repeater station was put up less than 800 metres away but she was blocked by a nearish 4 storey block of flats. In a moment of generosity we had Virgin cable installed and paid for it for 25+ years. A perfect picture BUT a huge problem was the Virgin Remote Control as she aged into her 80s and 90s. Her TV "broke down" at least once or twice a week. She was confused by the buttons and would get lost in the menus. The reason for mentioning the above is that there are 13.5 million pensioners in the UK and switching off Freeview and replacing it with even "Free Broadband" would mean utter chaos with menu systems and the "cost of running the BB". Even now many pensioners cannot get to grips with their TV control. Many are limited to using a 3 button remote (on/off, Volume & Up/Down & Channel up/down). Setup with the TV once and it can work for years and solve the widespread "broken TVs" in homes around the UK. Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 23 Aug 26 09:29   TV reception - bathtub tom

I had exactly the same problem when analogue TV was switched off and got my MIL a digibox. About once a week she'd 'lose' BBC1 after she deleted it from the list. She was a random button presser, unfortunately her daughters (SWMBO's one) have the same affliction! Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 23 Aug 26 10:33   TV reception - sherlock47

I went through this with my fathers terminal year 6 years ago. There is, I believe, a long thread that I initiated at the time. Since technology has now moved on, making it more difficult? for the ageing user, but providing more solutions for remote access. I think I would start by providing remote power on/off to allow TV and boxes to start from a known point and with a steerable camera allowing view of the screen. More sophistication and monitoring and control can be added later as required. car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?t=28270&m=653129&v=e Needless to say his final fall occurred in the 1 sq metre of corridor that was not monitored with steerable cameras! With the benefit of hindsight a few more fixed cameras would have provided better information whilst offering a reasonable amount of modesty. Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 23 Aug 26 12:01   TV reception - henry k

>>"Since technology has now moved on, making it more difficult? for the ageing user, but providing more solutions for remote access. Many solutions are just not tested in the real world. Created by spotty yoofs who are unaware of the real world ? then approved by management from a remote office. >>I think I would start by providing remote power on/off to allow TV and boxes to start from a known point In effect a CTL ALT DEL ? So many changes poorly implemented, e.g. How to satisfy systems when supplying credit card info. Control buttons in lifts at knee height. Great idea but the button panel is ALL shiny and vertical instead at an angle so the rest of the population can view it or an expensive duplicate panel at chest height . ( too expensive?) Pay machines in car parks positioned so that the sun shines on the screens Car touch screens to control heater settings a new problem ? My 20 year old Jaguar X type has such controls So many things are great if the instruction when supplied in print need a microscope to read them. The list goes on. Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 23 Aug 26 15:28   TV reception - martin aston

As another sign of “progress” Freeview via the aerial is only guaranteed until 2034 and service beyond that is subject to review. I expect it will be extended but its days will be numbered. As for pay machines in car parks I find a lot have started as basic coin machines. Then they bolt on a card reader. After that they decide to add on paying by App. Then maybe a membership card reader, such as NT now use. And don’t forget to add your reg no. The result is a mish mash of hardware and instructions. There is often a bemused queue of fellow oldies but one recently in Filey nearly defeated even our IT literate 30-somethings. It took 5 mins to load up the app and pay. Twenty quid that cost for an afternoon’s parking for two cars. Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 23 Aug 26 16:50   TV reception - legacylad

I would want more than twenty quid for two hours in Filey :-) Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 23 Aug 26 21:32   TV reception - Zero

>> There is often a bemused queue of fellow oldies but one recently >> in Filey nearly defeated even our IT literate 30-somethings. It took 5 mins to load >> up the app and pay. Twenty quid that cost for an afternoon’s parking for two >> cars. I travel around the country quite a bit. pay by app is on one hand easy and convenient, and the other deeply annoying. Annoyance 1. Lack of mobile phone signal in car park. Annoyance 2. Plethora of providers ( I have 5 - Yes 5! car park apps on my phone. Annoyance 3 App needing to be updated, hampered by no 1 above. Reply to this message | Report message