On Thu 19/06/2025 08:18, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
Is there _anywhere_ I can get _definitive_ transmitter status
information these days?
I've had the "new channels available" message the last day or two; this usually just means something has _changed_ rather than actually new
channels - as often as not, some have dropped out.
I just did a retune - a "manual" one (where I pick which channel),
because - like most TVs/STBs an "automatic" one forgets what's already
there, whereas it _seems_ a "manual" one doesn't. On two of the
multiplexes, it actually said "1 new channel", so the message was
correct for once.
But as part of the scan, I get a quality and strength indication for
each channel I look at, and I noticed some were noticeably down.
(The current weather condition might be increasing distant interference,
but would that make local _strength_ show as down? I could understand it making _quality_ show as worse.)
But try as I might, I can find nowhere on the web where transmitter
_status_ is given - the sort of thing the old "engineering information" bulletins (used to be in the morning before 24-hour TV, and I _think_ on
old teletext) showed. The best I can find are "no problems have been reported", which sounds like it's collecting reports from the public,
and a general "pixellation may be seen on all channels", but though that latter is _presented_ as if transmitter-specific, it's the same for many
tens of - so I presume all - transmitters, and due to the weather.
I'm TN27 0DD, pretty sure Heathfield transmitter, and I see (channels, quality out of 10, strength out of 10):
40: 9 or 10 4 (quality bar is green)
41: 10 4 (green)
43: 6 to 8 4 (green)
44: 10 3 to 4 (green)
46: 5 or 6 3 (green)
47: 0 3 (it's only a T1 set, so can't decode this mux)
Earlier, I was sometimes getting lower quality readings, and a yellow
rather than green bar - but only on some of the multiplexes.
(Normally, I get quality 9 or 10 on all [except 47], strength at least 8 IIRR.)
Ch47 carrying PSB3 (DVB-T2) is on both Heathfield and Tunbridge Wells, respectively H and V.
Bluebell Hill is nearer to you but may be obstructed.
Given the current weather it could well be atmospheric conditions that
are causing your signal issues.
If you have an Android phone or tablet try UK Aerial Alignment or DTV
Antennas apps which are both free.
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