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RE: Freeview reception

a1topdog — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:30:01 GMT

I live in Horsham and I'm sure my aerial points towards Crystal Palace.

For about the last month I haven't be able to get ITV2 . Before that I could receive it without any problems.

Is anyone else in Horsham having this problem?

RE: Freeview reception

Sun, 26 Aug 2007 22:36:50 GMT

Film Four + 1 now replaced by C4+1, no film four :(

RE: Freeview reception

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 10:59:32 GMT

That looks like a good site, one to read over lunch at work next week! Thanks Paul :)

RE: Freeview reception

Paul D — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 22:38:32 GMT

For Readers that what to know more about more about achieving good Freeview reception in a fringe area such as Horsham. There is a really good website, I have found with lots of technical information for installing a decent set-up. I have leant a lot of stuff from here; they give an honest appraisal on aerial design. Click on this link:

http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/digitalterrtvrecep.htm

Paul D:P

RE: Freeview reception

Sun, 26 Nov 2006 19:50:05 GMT

I rescanned for more channels tonight and FIlm 4+1 came in with good reception :) We point at Midhurst

RE: Freeview reception

DotNetWebs — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 19:31:16 GMT

Thanks for that info. There are a lot of search engines referrals to this site for information about Freeview reception in Horsham. I know from the letters in the County Times that this is a subject of confusion in this area at the moment. This thread has helped to make things a bit clearer.

Ps In case anyone doesn’t realise I am only a “supreme being” because I have made more than 100 posts. It is a label automatically applied by the forum software.

RE: Freeview reception

Paul D — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 21:35:47 GMT

Supreme Being,

We are very fortunate that the authorities have fitted the new digital channels within the existing aerial groups in this area, I think that will always be the intention. I know people in the Reigate area are not so lucky, their analogue service is still in Group ‘B’ Channels 37-53, but the new digital multiplexes are scattered across the whole of the UHF band, therefore only a wideband aerial can be used.

For readers who are not sure want I am talking about, UHF TV Channels are divided up into three main groups:

Group 'A' for Channels 21-37 Colour Code 'Red' (the red plastic bung!) Crystal Palace, Rowridge (Isle of Wight)

Group 'B' for Channels 37-53 Colour Code 'Yellow' Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells areas, Scotland etc

Group 'C/D' for Channels 48-68 Colour Code 'Green' Midhurst, Heathfield (E. Sussex) most of the South.

I have attached a photo of my installation if any ones interested. Using Triax Unix 52 element aerial for Crystal Palace, available form the following supplier: http://www.brymar.co.uk/acatalog/TV_Aerials_12.html

Paul

RE: Freeview reception

DotNetWebs — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 20:23:22 GMT

Hi Paul

Thanks for registering and contributing to this topic.

Many years ago (long before digital TV) I used to help out a professional aerial rigger during his busiest periods (normally in the run up to Christmas). As you have pointed out I soon learned that a dedicated aerial for the wavelength of the local transmitter was always far superior to a ‘wideband’ aerial. Occasionally we would also find that certain channels were best received from one transmitter while other channels were best received from a different transmitter. To cope with this we would use two different aerials (pointing in two different directions) and combine them with a diplexer.

I hadn’t previously considered that the same would apply to digital channels. i.e. for the best results you may have to receive them from two different transmitters. Thanks for pointing that out. As this is the case the ‘rig’ you have fitted makes complete sense.

RE: Freeview reception

Paul D — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 17:34:32 GMT

I live in Broadbridge Heath and I am able to receive all the Freeview channels on offer by using two high gain aerials, one aimed at the Midhurst transmitter and the other one aimed at Crystal Palace. The published information is very confusing about RH12's ability to receive any signal. Most of the Freeview services are available from Midhurst our local transmitter, provided a dedicated 'group C/D' high gain aerial is used, do not upgrade your aerial to a wideband type that a lot of DIY stores are promoting that are ideal for digital reception. They are more than useless and a waste of money.

I recocomend readers buy a dedicated aerial for the correct group of channels for example: Midhurst 'Group C/D' for UHF Channels 48-68 and Crystal Palace 'Group A' for UHF Channels 21-37, these can only be bought over the internet or directly from a specialist aerial dealer. You will need to use a device call a diplexer to combine the two aerials for viewing. You may be hard pushed to get a professional installer to install the type of system I’ve mentioned above, they tend to go for one high gain wideband aerial, pointing at one of the transmitters. I get 90% of the channels from the Midhurst transmitter, I use my Crystal Palace aerial to get Film 4,UKTV Brightideas, FTN and other music channels.

RE: Freeview reception

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 19:23:03 GMT

Thanks Phil, we do have an amp and the aerial fitter thought that the signal strength was good. That said, a colleague has tried the same and doubled his channel count to 54 in a 'no reception' part of West Sussex

RE: Freeview reception

Phil — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 17:19:15 GMT

I find that using one of those aeriel power adaptors can help ;)

Freeview reception

Sat, 28 Oct 2006 10:17:28 GMT

We have been getting Freeview for more than five years now. The reception is not bad but we don't get Film Four yet :( We have a standard aerial and the set top box indicates that we get a strong signal. Because of this the aerial fitter* said that there was no point in getting a monster aerial on the roof

According to the Freeview site we shouldn't get any reception but should check again in October (not sure which year!)

How is the Freeview reception in your part of Horsham?

*Star Aerials gave us good service & I am pleased to recommend them: 01403 270734