The saga continues. So I watched BBC One HD on freeview for 45 minutes to check there was no breakup in the picture and there wasn't. However today, I'm getting breakup on freeview channels. It will get so bad that the picture cuts out completely on all freeview channels and gives the message "No data on Transponder. Tune failed." Then the picture will come back on in a minute or so. Seems random. Then the picture will be fine for 45 minutes or so.
I wasn't recording anything on freesat at the same time so that's not causing the problem not that I expected it would.
Breakup doesn't effect radio channels on Freeview in that the audio doesn't cut out.
Attached are the files you requested. I'm only watching freeview via channels that appear in the Green button, Terrestrial Services channel list that got there via terrestrial scan. ABM freeview is turned off.
Is there something I can do to check that my freeview signal is working properly or not instead of having to watch channels waiting until breakup occurs?
Should I try a scan via ABM now?
View attachment 60700
When you say the breakup is on all channels do you actually mean ALL channels or just the few you tried? Freeview is broadcast on typically 6 MUXs with a dozen of more TV and radio channels on each MUX. It is important to narrow down that you are having problems with ALL MUXs or just one (or two). For instance is it just HD channels or SD channels as well? Note: that there is a slight complication in that some SD channels are broadcast on a HD MUX so when checking SD channels check more than just a few..
You suggested part of your initial problem was an incorrectly fitted splitter.
How many ways are you splitting the signal from your aerial?[1]
Does your splitter have a full metal can to screen it? (a picture may help)
Does the aerial come down to a face plate and from there do connect a fly lead to your TV or box.
Do you have more than one splitter. Perhaps one in the loft to split the signal between different rooms and another behind your box to split the signal for two tuners?
As other have said one main requirement for good reception is signal strength which the box can give some indication.
However there are other causes for signal breakup including local electrical interference as a result of not using fully screened or inadequately screened cable, splitters and faceplates.
Assuming that you have chosen the signal(s) from the correct transmitter[2] it shouldn't matter how you did the scan. The terrestrial plugin or ABM will give the same signal. Just changing the scanning method will not improve a marginal signal. You will be using the same tuner(s), the same aerial and the same signal distribution components.
You may even now have the wrong aerial for your location BUT you indicate that you have had reliable working reception in the recent past and that would have required a wideband aerial. The type of aerial which should also work for you now. Now this is assuming that it hasn’t moved or been damaged since the street view photo of your house which may be anything to a year ago! What, if anything, has been done to the aerial or leads since you last had reliable working reception?
[1]
When you fit a passive splitter in a TV aerial down-lead you reduce the signal at each of the outputs
A good quality two way passive split has a typical insertion loss of 4.7dB (each output = approx 0.58 of the input voltage)
A good quality three way passive split has a typical insertion loss of 7.0dB (each output = approx 0.45 of the input voltage)
A good quality four way passive split has a typical insertion loss of 8.5dB (each output = approx 0.38 of the input voltage)
So, the signal level from the aerial was just enough for reliable reception without a splitter then inserting a passive splitter may just take the signal level below this threshold. If this is suspected, as a test, the splitter can be removed from the circuit and the box plugged directly into aerial output to see if an increase in signal level improves any problems.
[2]
With terrestrial TV via an aerial it is possible to receive signals from more than one transmitter but for most people the strongest and most reliable signal will be from their chosen transmitter (or in the vast majority of cases the transmitter chosen by the aerial installer) and from the transmitter to which the aerial is pointing. When it is possible to get signals from more than one transmitter it is important that the scan is limited to those MUX broadcast channels/frequencies from a named transmitter or that the correct signal is chosen for each MUX when a scan produces multiple choices.
