Last night I was removing adverts from a couple of programs I'd recorded for SWMBO, prior to doubing them down to DVDRW for her to watch downstairs. When I'd finished doing this, I noticed that there was no picture from any of the freeview boxes. So, downstairs I go, and no analogue TV signal either, although FM radio was working fine.
I should add that it was 1.00 am, and SWMBO was already fast asleep. (I'm a night person)
This morning, all TV channels present and correct. No point in asking my neighbours if they had problems, because they were probably all tucked up in bed. So, off I trot to do a websearch to see if Sutton Coldfield transmitter (that's where our aerial points) had a problem. Nothing on the web that I could see, and the BBC reception problem website doesn't seem to offer any help either.
I'm hoping that the problem was at the transmitter end, so just crossing my fingers. I need to get the aerial chappie out to see about improving our reception anyway, as I currently count 7 TV tuners in our house! Probably accounts for some dropouts in our reception, even with boosters in living room and study. That's what happens when she and I have very different viewing tastes. Hmmm ... I wonder whether we should have 2 aerials!
Posted on: 18 May 2011 by David Scott
D,
Please don't be offended, but, while I understand your concern, I think this may be the dullest thread title I've seen on this forum.
If there was absolutely no TV signal at all, then surely the transmitter is the most likely cause? As to the lack of information on the web; perhaps they didn't think a bit of downtime that had already finished was particularly newsworthy?
Posted on: 18 May 2011 by Dungassin
I posted to see if anyone else had noticed the same problem. Sorry if you "found this dull" 
It would be nice if the transmitter people included info on recent "down time" on their websites just so that I and others can verify that was the cause. After all, who checks online to see if a problem is coming up soon?
Thanks for your totally unhelpful (and rude) post.
Posted on: 18 May 2011 by David Scott
Dungassin,
If I had wanted to be rude, I would have been. It's a pity that you couldn't take my post in the spirit it was intended in. I absolutley understand why you posted this, but if you take a step back I think you'll see that the title of the thread is indeed very dull. Last time I looked this wasn't a crime, so I can't see why you think there's any kind of problem. I thought it was funny. I didn't think you would take offence.
You don't appear to have noticed that I offered an answer to the question you posed, so I'll repeat it. Since none of your devices were receiving a signal it seems to me that a bit of downtime at the transmitter is the most likely cause. This is only my unqualified opinion of course, but if offering an unqualified opinion is a crime, then we're all knackered. In offering it honestly and clearly ( I thought) I was being as helpful as I knew how. Sorry if it didn't meet your standards.
Have you contacted the transmitter people to ask if they were turned off for a while?
By the way, your post WAS rude.
Posted on: 18 May 2011 by Dungassin
I did notice your transmitter comment, and you will note that my first assumption was that the failure was at the transmission end, but then it occurred to me that I might have developed an intermittent connection on the aerial lead - although that is not very likely. You might attribute that to my former career, where a differential diagnosis was de rigeur.
I was also indirectly looking for comments on the fact that this info was not on the BBC website, which is where you finish up when reporting/enquiring transmitter problems. FYI what you eventually get directed to is a tool called "reception problems" which asks multiple questions, all assuming that your problem is current. Would it be too much to ask for known outages to be on the site for a few days after their occurrence. After all, I could have had a scheduled recording and be wondering why I just got a grey screen?
Sorry if the title of my thread is "boring", but at least it accurately describes the contents of my first post.
Posted on: 18 May 2011 by David Scott
D,
" you will note that my first assumption was that the failure was at the transmission end"
I did note that. One of the things that people sometimes find helpful is when they say " I wonder if x is the problem?" and then somebody else says, "Yes I think it might be." I'm not suggesting they find it VERY helpful, but sometimes it's better than nothing.
There's no need to apologise for the dull title. I thought it was funny. It cheered me up.
You should email the BBC, if you haven't already. If you'd find that helpful then the chances are other people would too.
Posted on: 19 May 2011 by Dungassin
I emailed the BEEB about the "outage". Alas, the only contact link I could find was "others", which limited the amount of text you could send, and it's one of those "no reply" addresses. i.e. they might or might not (a) get back to you, (b) note your comments without replying, or (c) probably just ignore you.
Posted on: 19 May 2011 by David Scott
"they might or might not (a) get back to you, (b) note your comments without replying, or (c) probably just ignore you."
Sounds about right. Still you never know...
Posted on: 20 May 2011 by Dungassin
Well, got an email reply from the BEEB!
Apparently there was work going on overnight from 17-19 May 2011 with regard to the digital switchover. They basically say that they don't include digital switchover work on the BBC site, and one would have to look at the switchover people's website for info.
