Freeview In The Midlands - Currently Unwatchable - Why ?

[OnlyMX5ives]

Hi,

I used to get a decent signal and have a good ariel etc but for the last month I can rarely get certain channels particularly BBC1 and 2.

I live in Solihull and my MIL in Coventry has the same problem.

I know the weather can mess it up but this has been going on for at least a month now.

I tried Googling but loads of random stuff came up - does anyone know whats happening ? Transmiter problems, aliens ?

Thanks

[GKP]

If it's any consolation it's been pretty ropey down south for a while too. (SE Hants) Luckily, there isn't any alternative because they're switching off analogue soon. Ohh, hang on...

[NiceCupOfTea]

Hi, my parents live a mile or so for you and they have always had lousy FV reception. FWIW they use freesat now. I think Solihull is on the edge of the reception area. Ludicrous when you're only a few miles from Sutton Coldfield.

We have quite glitchy FV reception where we are and I can see the Crystal Palace transmitter if I stand in our road!!

[OnlyMX5ives]

Having recently renewed my License I'm Email asking for a refund !



I was hopimg someone was going to say "its temporary while they are upgrading the tramsmitter"

[ninja-lewis]

Have you tried retuning? I understand they're rearranging the channels to create space for HD channels later this year after some transmitters switch over.

If you're Sutton Coldfield, this might explain it too: Digital switchover is scheduled for the West Midlands in September 2011. In preparation for this, major engineering works will take place at Sutton Coldfield. The mast will be extended from its existing height of 245.0 metres (804 ft) to a new height of 270.5 metres (887 ft) and the existing analogue and digital television antennas will be replaced. In order to accomplish this, a temporary 240.2 metres (788 ft) mast is being constructed to broadcast all the area's services so that the main mast is worked on 'cold'.

[tonyvid]

Jesus, imagine having to work on the top of that! I feel just at the thought of it.

[OnlyMX5ives]

Thanks for the reply,

I have just retuned - no better.

I checked and BBC1 is West Midlands - 35% signal. BBC2 is 33% and Sutton Coldfield.

Most frustrating.

[baptistsan]

Exactly the same problem in the Walsall area. Glad we didn't go out and replace the freeview box. So when are things expected to be back to normal?

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Last two or three weeks been poor here north of Nottisham....

(or more accurately bad to worse)

[TheEnd]

The second Sutton transmitter is up, but i guess not switched on.
The atmosphere does seem to affect the quality, still, cloud blanketed evenings seem to make it worse, even though we have clear LOS to the SC transmitter

[scratch pervert]

We've had the same problem for the last 3/4 weeks, live about 15 miles from you.

[cheeky_chops]

dont have any probs on either our sony LCD and actually tuned in a new hitachi 22" LCD just 2 nights ago, found 90 freeview channels, though we do have some funky splitter/box in the loft(i didnt get it fitted so no idea). Solihull btw

We used to have problems when we lived in Northampton - our new telly would pick up a bean FV. We bought a £15 booster from argos and it worked a treat 99% of the time, like this http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5...

[OnlyMX5ives]

Ah... but try watching BBC when it rains.

We never had the problem before and today its fine but last Sunday Top Gear was unwatchable (due to jerkiness and hiccups)

[Scraggles]

live under a transmitter or some very tall aerail on the hill

bbc1,2 itv, ch4/5 are naff quality, shopping channel never loses signal, but the movie ones do a lot, if the tv not used in august it is getting dumped along with the licence