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[HolyCount]

My father has two freeview boxes, one in the lounge and one in his bedroom, both fed off the same antenna.

Until yesterday all was fine, today he seems to have lost a load of channnels!

Now --- both boxes have lost the same channels, so not a box problem. The channels he does get are picture perfect, so not an antenna problem.

Apparently his friend, over the other side of town, still gets the missing channels on his freeview set up. Though I am not sure dad didn't just make that up!  I do remember, back when we had three channels in b&w that the other side of town pointed at a different transmitter --- don't know if this is still the case. If correct it's not that freeview have simply stopped transmitting them.

Any ideas   Help -- he's driving me mad !!!!!

[Lizzie_Zoom]

My father has two freeview boxes, one in the lounge and one in his bedroom, both fed off the same antenna.

Until yesterday all was fine, today he seems to have lost a load of channnels!

Now --- both boxes have lost the same channels, so not a box problem. The channels he does get are picture perfect, so not an antenna problem.

Apparently his friend, over the other side of town, still gets the missing channels on his freeview set up. Though I am not sure dad didn't just make that up!  I do remember, back when we had three channels in b&w that the other side of town pointed at a different transmitter --- don't know if this is still the case. If correct it's not that freeview have simply stopped transmitting them.

Any ideas   Help -- he's driving me mad !!!!!

Re-install both boxes and both should be re-programmed with the missing channels.

At the moment a lot of work is being carried out on the transmitters HC, so that could be the reason for the problems

[HolyCount]

Thanks lizzie -- I will try that tomorrow. Hopefully he won't have taken a screwdriver to either of them in the meantime !!!  The tales I could tell about that screwdriver !!!!!  I am sure he thinks he's Doctor Who !!

[Debs.]

Yes, with some STB`s; when a new channel is added or the channel list* (NIT) is changed, some channels may be lost or become hidden.
*NIT (Network Information Table)
One of the four mandatory Service Information tables transmitted with every digital broadcast to identify itself.

A fresh 'scan for all channels', rather than 'add channels' usually puts right any list problems.

The other day, ITV1+1 was added and the NIT list will have changed accordingly: I wonder if that`s what caused your situation?

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Thanks lizzie -- I will try that tomorrow. Hopefully he won't have taken a screwdriver to either of them in the meantime !!!  The tales I could tell about that screwdriver !!!!!  I am sure he thinks he's Doctor Who !!

.....he has a sonic screwdriver .....just like the Doctor......how cool is that HC?....

[HolyCount]

Yes, with some STB`s; when a new channel is added or the channel list* (NIT) is changed, some channels may be lost or become hidden.
*NIT (Network Information Table)
One of the four mandatory Service Information tables transmitted with every digital broadcast to identify itself.

A fresh 'scan for all channels', rather than 'add channels' usually puts right any list problems.

The other day, ITV1+1 was added and the NIT list will have changed accordingly: I wonder if that`s what caused your situation?

Could well be Debs. Thopugh I fear dad has been on the NIT list for a while now !!!!

[Chris_H]

It could well be due to the boxes re-tuning and having lower power levels off one frequency if all the lost channels are on one multiplex.

That could be caused by current atmospheric conditions, damage to aerial or downlead, a transmitter on reduced power, a new building that is adding reflections or blocking line-of-sight to transmitter.  To name a few.

As said, a re-tune may get them back, otherwise look for poor wiring or damaged/mis-aligned aerial.

[TheBoy]

Just because others give a perfect picture doesn't mean the aerial is good enough.  Being digital, you either have a good picture, or nought.

Does sound like you've lost a mux, so if retune doesn't work, revisit the aerial.

[HolyCount]

Thanks lizzie -- I will try that tomorrow. Hopefully he won't have taken a screwdriver to either of them in the meantime !!!  The tales I could tell about that screwdriver !!!!!  I am sure he thinks he's Doctor Who !!

.....he has a sonic screwdriver .....just like the Doctor......how cool is that HC?....

Just one such tale ... a little while ago, while visiting him, his washing machine finished the cycle. So, to be helpful, the missus took the washing out and hung it up for him.

He comes into the kitchen with a look of shock .... "How did you do that?" he asks. "Do what?" says we ..... "Get the washing out of the machine ..... the screwdriver's in the front room!"

Seems he never realised there was safety interlock and had been forcing the door open, with that blessed screwdriver, for the last couple of years since mum passed away, rather than waiting 30 seconds or so.

In reality the screwdriver had nothing to do with it, but just kept him occupied until the interlock opened !!!!

[Debs.]

Thanks lizzie -- I will try that tomorrow. Hopefully he won't have taken a screwdriver to either of them in the meantime !!!  The tales I could tell about that screwdriver !!!!!  I am sure he thinks he's Doctor Who !!

.....he has a sonic screwdriver .....just like the Doctor......how cool is that HC?....

Just one such tale ... a little while ago, while visiting him, his washing machine finished the cycle. So, to be helpful, the missus took the washing out and hung it up for him.

He comes into the kitchen with a look of shock .... "How did you do that?" he asks. "Do what?" says we ..... "Get the washing out of the machine ..... the screwdriver's in the front room!"

Seems he never realised there was safety interlock and had been forcing the door open, with that blessed screwdriver, for the last couple of years since mum passed away, rather than waiting 30 seconds or so.

In reality the screwdriver had nothing to do with it, but just kept him occupied until the interlock opened !!!!

Awwww.......bless him!

[HolyCount]

As I have mentioned before he used to fly in Lancs during the war ... I dread to imagine him ferretting around a 500lb bomb with that screwdriver !!!!!