I'm sick of freeview not coping with interference

On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:39:23 -0000
Terry Casey wrote:
Haven't a clue.

Perhaps it's time you did?

Why? It works.

There isn't any noise when the interference isn't on - the picture is
perfectly clear. But come the evening and there it is.

Well, there's a BIG clue for a start! What happens 'come the evening' in
October? Does it, perchance, get just a teensy, weensy bit dark?

Perhaps someone's found a remedy for that - things called lights!

So how about looking for a dodgy lamp - especially a fluorescent light
or CFL. And what about street lighting? Try keeping an eye on the street
and see if anything obvious happens when the interference starts.

Oh FFS sake. Why is there always someone on a group who assumes everyone
is an idiot apart from them? Do you honestly think I haven't checked everything
in my own house first?

Have you tried talking to the neighbours? After all, if it is as bad as
you say it must affect quite a large area - unless, of course, you're
the only one around with a really crap aerial ...

If it continues for much longer I intend to. Anyway , this is getting away
from the point. If freeview worked properly this wouldn't be an issue anyway.

B2003

On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:48:18 +0000 (UTC),
wrote:

On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:39:23 -0000
Terry Casey wrote:
Haven't a clue.

Perhaps it's time you did?

Why? It works.

There isn't any noise when the interference isn't on - the picture is
perfectly clear. But come the evening and there it is.

Well, there's a BIG clue for a start! What happens 'come the evening' in
October? Does it, perchance, get just a teensy, weensy bit dark?

Perhaps someone's found a remedy for that - things called lights!

So how about looking for a dodgy lamp - especially a fluorescent light
or CFL. And what about street lighting? Try keeping an eye on the street
and see if anything obvious happens when the interference starts.

Oh FFS sake. Why is there always someone on a group who assumes everyone
is an idiot apart from them? Do you honestly think I haven't checked everything
in my own house first?

Have you tried talking to the neighbours? After all, if it is as bad as
you say it must affect quite a large area - unless, of course, you're
the only one around with a really crap aerial ...

If it continues for much longer I intend to. Anyway , this is getting away
from the point. If freeview worked properly this wouldn't be an issue anyway.


If you reception has suddenly become degraded then clearly something
local to you has changed to affect it and the sensible thing is to
find out what it is.

A couple of observations...

You are comparing analogue transmissions at full power with digital
broadcasts currently operating (until 2012) at only 1/10 of their
intended power. It's hardly surprising that the digital coverage is
inferior.

Being located 10 miles from Crystal Palace doesn't in itself guarantee
a good picture. Within a radius of 10 miles there are actually 19
(nineteen) relay stations built to serve areas where viewers cannot
receive a satisfactory analogue signal from CP. These relays currently
do not have digital transmissions at all.

On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:04:08 +0000
lid wrote:
You are comparing analogue transmissions at full power with digital
broadcasts currently operating (until 2012) at only 1/10 of their
intended power. It's hardly surprising that the digital coverage is
inferior.

Yes , but apparently digital doesn't need as much broadcast power as analogue
to produce the same reception, or so we are told.

B2003

On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:24:47 +0000 (UTC),
wrote:

On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:04:08 +0000
wrote:
You are comparing analogue transmissions at full power with digital
broadcasts currently operating (until 2012) at only 1/10 of their
intended power. It's hardly surprising that the digital coverage is
inferior.

Yes , but apparently digital doesn't need as much broadcast power as analogue
to produce the same reception, or so we are told.


That's quite correct. Digital will be using aproximately the
equivalent power in 2012.
Until then the power is seriously deficient and no-one should claim
that it provides an equal service to analogue (except in those areas
that have already undergone DSO).

wrote:

On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:59:21 -0000
"Ivan" wrote:

snip


There isn't any noise when the interference isn't on - the picture is
perfectly clear. But come the evening and there it is.

Anyway , point is that if freeview can't produce a watchable picture with
the same levels of interference that analogue can cope with then its not
fit for purpose.

B2003

This of course is the nub of the problem. If the murderer is just being
unmasked as the interference starts, the analogue viewer will still at least
hear whodunnit unless it's absolutely overwhelming. On digital, well you
just wasted the last two hours, even if it was watching HD.

Increasing power by 10 dB or so at DSO will help as will the best possible
aerial installation but there is still going to be impulse interference bad
enough to wipe out any signal and co-channel (skip) will be as bad or worse
(the distant transmitter is stronger too - analogue interference to a
digital signal is reputedly not so harmful).

Anyway, if the problem is impulse interference (sparklies on analogue while
it lasts - identifying the problem is harder when it's gone), it'll probably
mess up radio too. Take a tranny and tune it to a weaker MW/AM station where
you can hear both the programme and the interference (buzzes, pops or
crackles - ignore hissing, whistling or distant stations interfering). Move
around until the interference is louder, retuning to a stronger station if
you can't hear the programme any more. Take it outside and walk up and down
the street or past other flats in a block. Listen out for other noises such
as power tools, hoovers or an engine running. This may well lead you to the
culprit.

--
Steve Hayes, South Wales, UK
----Remove colours from reply address----

On Oct 30, 9:20*am, wrote:
For the last few days we've had some bad electrical interference near where
I live. We haven't tracked it down yet but the upshot is its pretty much
killing some of the freeview channels making them either like a slideshow
or no picture at all. So we switch to analogue and it works fine. Sure theres
a lot of noise in the picture but its still perfectly watchable.

If freeview can't cope with interference what bloody use is it other than
offering a load of extra channels hardly anyone watches?

B2003

Out of interest without wishing to know 'precisely' where you live,
what general direction is CP from you?

Yes, but if it turns out more than one person is affected, things might be
more constructive. I mean if someone has set up an arc welding business in
his garage offcom would not be amused if he/she has no way to stop
interference emmissions.


Brian

--
Brian Gaff....Note, this account does not accept Bcc: email.
graphics are great, but the blind can't hear them
Email:
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________


"Roger R" wrote in message
...

wrote in message ...
For the last few days we've had some bad electrical interference near
where
I live. We haven't tracked it down yet ...[snip]

The Ofcom interference police are your answer.
They spared nothing to track down a youngsters TV that was causing
interference to aircraft.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...t-signals.html

However, I'm not sure they will quite as energetic in your case.

Roger R

lid wrote:
On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:24:47 +0000 (UTC),
wrote:

On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:04:08 +0000
lid wrote:
You are comparing analogue transmissions at full power with digital
broadcasts currently operating (until 2012) at only 1/10 of their
intended power. It's hardly surprising that the digital coverage is
inferior.

Yes , but apparently digital doesn't need as much broadcast power as
analogue to produce the same reception, or so we are told.


That's quite correct. Digital will be using aproximately the
equivalent power in 2012.
Until then the power is seriously deficient and no-one should claim
that it provides an equal service to analogue (except in those areas
that have already undergone DSO).


Considering the minuscule power of many pre DSO transmitters I never cease
to be amazed at just how reliable digital reception can be (we have a couple
of local relays running Freeview on 20W successfully serving thousands of
homes) my own situation is that my reception from Mendip is screened by
hills, which meant that analogue reception (group CD) was always a bit iffy,
I use an 18 element super gain yagi with CT100 throughout, distributed from
a six way Labgear amplifier in the loft and only ever experience the
occasional slight glitch, after DSO the transmitter will up its power from
10kW to 100kW and switch to 8K modulation, which I reckon if anything should
mean superior reception for thousands of homes who have had to rely on poor
analogue from Mendip over the years.

On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:04:27 +0000
Steve Hayes wrote:
Anyway, if the problem is impulse interference (sparklies on analogue while
it lasts - identifying the problem is harder when it's gone), it'll probably
mess up radio too. Take a tranny and tune it to a weaker MW/AM station where
you can hear both the programme and the interference (buzzes, pops or

Good idea, thats something I haven't tried yet. Whatever it is its been
knocking out some DAB stations as well as Freeview.

B2003

On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:13:11 -0700 (PDT)
Mike wrote:
Out of interest without wishing to know 'precisely' where you live,
what general direction is CP from you?

Due south.

B2003