Can anyone tell me if the TV reception in Nether Edge is generally crap ?

My BBC1 is very grainy and when I use my digital box, I can't get ANY BBC channels (BBC1, 2 or 3) let alone channel 5 ! I also can't get some digital channels and radio stations which I used to do before I moved into N.Edge.

I live near the new development. Has anyone else got this problem ? Will getting Sky eliminate this ?

Comments appreciated.

Sky will offer a clearler reception BBC1,2, ITV and C4! You will also still have your poorer ones through the ariel.

You probably have something close by thats effecting your current reception, like a mobile mast or something!

Free view would also offer you clearer channels and its only around £50 one off payment now!

Thanks for that Likeable. However, I do have Freeview (digital box) and it's this that won't pick up the BBC signals. I used to get them but now something has happened and I can't now.

When I by-pass the freeview box (ie. normal TV aerial), then BBC 1 is very grainy so it looks like the signal is not strong enough to work on the freeview box. That must go for the other channels I can't get on freeview too.

I bought a TV signal booster but that hardly made a difference. By going with Sky, I presume I should get everything clear and ok ? If so, how much is it ? By the looks of it, it might be the only option I have !!!

If you get sky you will get a perfect picture (good engineer permitting). They do a sort of Free-to-view package which is a one off payment of £150 (might be £200, cant remember off hand) for installation, the box and a card. This will get you access to all of the non-subscription channels, including BBC, ITV, CH4 etc plus loads more (about 200, although many are shopping). Alternatively you can go for a subscription which start at around £15 a month with installation costing upto £60 or free if you opt for a more expensive monthly package. You can see more about packages at www.sky.com.

Hope that helps

Thanks March. The one off sky option sounds good enough for me. Does that give you E4 or is that chargeable ?

Anyway, I'll have a look at the Sky websight. Thanks for the advise again mate.

That offer doesn't give you E4 think that is only in with one of the packages. I couldn't find the Free-to-view offer on the website, when I was looking before. Guess they don't want to advertise it too much as it doesn't hook you in to a subscription, they should be able to tell you about it if you call them though.

The reception is Nether Edge is crap, can't get Channel 5 at all, and BBC1 is always a bit dodgy. Sky is perfect here though. I have trouble with Mobile coverage here too, and not anywhere else, its a like a black hole!

Thanks march and snook. Advice and comments appreciated. I think I'm going to look into the SKy service where you pay a one off fee if it's still going.

Yes Snook, my mobile signal reception is rubbish in this area too. Have to wander about the house to get a strong enough signal. As for BBC1, I used to be able to get that and the other BBC channels on my digital box (freeview) but now can't get any (including BBC3 and some of the other channels and radio stations too. No one warned me that this area was bad for reception when I bought my house. Just have to live with it I suppose !

Check out the aerial that you are getting your freeview service through. When i looked into getting a freeview box, i did the postcode search and they said :

"FREEVIEW covers your area for the postcode S7 1HE ** but you probably need a new type of aerial.

The search indicates that FREEVIEW covers your postcode but as well as an box (or integrated digital television) you probably need a new type of rooftop aerial.

Why a different aerial?

Because FREEVIEW signals in this area use a different transmitter or frequency than your existing analogue television. Unless you already have one, you need a different type of rooftop aerial for digital reception. We recommend a "wideband" aerial."

Maybe if you replace your aerial it'll work better. I can get passable (terrestrial) tv reception in netheredge off a cr*ppy set top aerial. Hope this helps.

Alex

Thanks for that Basshedz. The problem is, I'm in a new development so our arial derives from a control room on site. I've complained to the developers (Gleesons) but they assured me the signal is ok but how can it be if my BBC is so grainy on normal terrestrial ?

I think I'm going to have to resign myslef to paying out for Sky ! (Family package ?). Mobile phone sigs are **** in this area too.

Hi Trouncer

I know this sounds a bit obvious but since moving to your new address, have you tried re-tuning your TV to your new aerial.

If you where on a different transmitter before, your TV, video etc. will need to be retuned.

Yes I have pietro. Well actually I had a new TV when I moved and the installers tuned it for the area so it should be ok. The digi box also has an auto tuner so I assume that auto picks the best signal ?

I appreciate the suggestion though Pietro as it could have been as obvious as that. Thanks.

Originally posted by Trouncer
Thanks for that Basshedz. The problem is, I'm in a new development so our arial derives from a control room on site. I've complained to the developers (Gleesons) but they assured me the signal is ok but how can it be if my BBC is so grainy on normal terrestrial ?
.

If you're on a distributed aerial system have you checked with other users of the system to see if they're having the same trouble ??

It could be down to poor or broken cabling, bad connections etc. Freeview is very sensitive to sharp bends in the aerial feed or water ingress and needs properly (copper) screened cable.

But if as you say analogue reception is also poor then it's pretty certain to be a cabling fault.

If you're obliged to use the distrbuted aerial and not allowed to erect your own the developers have a duty to ensure adequate reception.

Yes, certain bits of Netheredge have very bad reception, especially on the lower slopes of the Abbeydale Valley, like Abbeydale road, bottom of Sheldon road etc.
I believe Freeview signals are broadcast from the same transmitter as analogue (at a lower power last I heard too), so if one signal is bad, the other will be too.
You should not need a signal booster in a distributed system with an adequate antenna - borrow another TV (and connecting lead) and try it on your socket to verify you are not getting a reasonable signal and your TV hasn't gone 'deaf'. If its the same, demand your developer looks at it, or get an engineer (the place on Abbeydale road up from the broadfield pub is good) to look at it, then get a report from him and bill the developer. You wouldn't settle for 130 volts when you paid for a house equipped with 240 would you?
In many cases of marginal reception, the only solution to getting a reasonable signal is a bigger, higher antenna, not strapping on more signal boosters.

Thanks Greybeard / Spacebadger. I've had the developers arrange to have the signal checked in my house so will let you know the results.

You comment on using another TV in the house to see what happens. The TV aerial appears in the living room and also runs up to the bedroom. The bedroom TV is just that, with no freeview or anything attached (ie. just a normal TV). The BBC 1 reception is still very graining, the same as the living room TV and, once again, no channel 5.

The developers did put a booster on my aerial ages ago but I dont think it's made much difference.

The latest at the moment is that I tend to do an auto channel search on my freeview box every now and again just to see if I can get the lost channels back and only the other day, did it manage to pick up all my BBC channels again (after 2 months of not picking them up before ?). Still no channel 5 though.

Just to let you know, when I moved in a year ago, I had ALL channels (including channel 5).

The advertising hoardings on the hill behind us just got new aluminium backings, now they reflect our freeview signals to the back of the antenna, bah!

If you live on the wrong side (!) of Brincliffe Edge, a poor signal is a certainty.

We always had a fuzzy picture before we switched over to Yorkshire Cable.

No problems now.

To the original poster:

You're probably not picking up Multiplex 'A' - this is the weakest; S11 8 and S7 1 has a generally dire signal our relative in S11 8 had a rubbish signal - not sure if it is picking up the signal from Crosspool relay (with Calendar South opt-out) or Emley Moor relay.

Calendar South - Crosspool, S10 (parts of Sheffield receive it)
Calendar West - Emley Moor (most of Yorkshire receive this)
Calendar East - Belmont Hill - the Lincolnshire & East Riding of Yorkshire feed.

Annoyingly, many Sheffielders receive Cal West when that does not have many SY stories.

P.S: I don't think E. Moor has (what's called an opt-out) for SY.

PPS: Most of the north of your county ironically receives Tyne Tees (Southern feed)