Cable Forum - View Single Post - Is it me or are my Freeview channels jumping about?

nodrogd · 21-11-2010, 17:45

There is a complication with Sudbury, particularly with the Pre-switchover channel allocation. Mux 2 is output on two UHF channels 56 and 68. The lower of the two channels can at a squeeze be picked up by the Group B analogue aerials that many may be using, but is at low power. The higher channel is 8 times more powerful, but is right at the end of the band and out of range of a Group B aerial.

To solve the problem a Group E or a Wideband aerial is required to receive all the Mux correctly.

When Sudbury switches over next year, the old analogue channels will be re-used so reception on Mux 2 will seem to put itself right. However the commercial Mux will still be "out of band", and these will cause problems instead. So if you are using your old analogue aerial, the best time to replace it is now, before all the cowboy installers start moving in.

Had the same problem as you with the Hemel Hempstead transmitter, where the Mux C & D channels are well "out of band" with the analogue aerials. Freeview sets would lock onto the Mux and add them to the channel list, but they were too weak to decode properly and would either pixelise or give a "No Service" message. Treated myself to a shiny new Wideband aerial. Problem solved!

21-11-2010, 17:45	#6
nodrogd cf.mega poster Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: West Herts Services: Maxit + Movies/Sports HD (V6x2), BB350, Anytime Chatter. Freeview/Freesat HD, ASDA/Tesco PAYG Posts: 1,942	Re: Is it me or are my Freeview channels jumping about? There is a complication with Sudbury, particularly with the Pre-switchover channel allocation. Mux 2 is output on two UHF channels 56 and 68. The lower of the two channels can at a squeeze be picked up by the Group B analogue aerials that many may be using, but is at low power. The higher channel is 8 times more powerful, but is right at the end of the band and out of range of a Group B aerial. To solve the problem a Group E or a Wideband aerial is required to receive all the Mux correctly. When Sudbury switches over next year, the old analogue channels will be re-used so reception on Mux 2 will seem to put itself right. However the commercial Mux will still be "out of band", and these will cause problems instead. So if you are using your old analogue aerial, the best time to replace it is now, before all the cowboy installers start moving in. Had the same problem as you with the Hemel Hempstead transmitter, where the Mux C & D channels are well "out of band" with the analogue aerials. Freeview sets would lock onto the Mux and add them to the channel list, but they were too weak to decode properly and would either pixelise or give a "No Service" message. Treated myself to a shiny new Wideband aerial. Problem solved!