Receiving BBC TV channels on Freeview

[Dave2002]

I've recently been in Scotland, and tried to set up a TV to pick up Freeview. I was surprised that there was hardly any signal at all using a passive indoor TV aerial, and indeed wondered about signal strength in the area, though according to charts it should be OK. Looking out of the window I then spotted a large mast, which I identified as at Rosemarkie, and slightly better results were obtained by pointing the aerial in that direction. Next step was to try an indoor TV aerial with amplification, at which point 61 TV channels were found. However, there is no sign of any of the BBC channels - not even a very weak signal with break up - though the usual suspects including STV, Channel 4, and even the adult channels and Gay Rabbit were found.

As far as I can see, BBC channels should be broadcast from this mast. The Rosemarkie mast was some distance away - perhaps 10-15 miles, but rather less distant than some of the transmitters in the London area which we pick up from areas to the south.

Does the BBC not worry about lack of coverage in Scotland?

[Lordgeous]

I've recently been in Scotland, and tried to set up a TV to pick up Freeview. I was surprised that there was hardly any signal at all using a passive indoor TV aerial, and indeed wondered about signal strength in the area, though according to charts it should be OK. Looking out of the window I then spotted a large mast, which I identified as at Rosemarkie, and slightly better results were obtained by pointing the aerial in that direction. Next step was to try an indoor TV aerial with amplification, at which point 61 TV channels were found. However, there is no sign of any of the BBC channels - not even a very weak signal with break up - though the usual suspects including STV, Channel 4, and even the adult channels and Gay Rabbit were found.

As far as I can see, BBC channels should be broadcast from this mast. The Rosemarkie mast was some distance away - perhaps 10-15 miles, but rather less distant than some of the transmitters in the London area which we pick up from areas to the south.

Does the BBC not worry about lack of coverage in Scotland?

I've found this site useful in the past. I think there are others similar too:

http://www.ukfree.tv/starthere.php

[Dave2002]

I've found this site useful in the past. I think there are others similar too:

http://www.ukfree.tv/starthere.php

Thanks. I haven't got to the bottom of that issue yet, though I noticed a few things. Firstly, several of the nearby houses in that location have satellite dishes, and indeed the house now occupied by a family member has a dish, which is now connected to one of these - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Manhattan-Pl...hattan+freesat - which seems more satisfactory than trying to receive TV via a small aerial, or alternatively installing (at some cost) a roof mounted or loft aerial. However, I was surprised that the small aerial managed to pull in most of the commercial channels which I strongly suspect were broadcast from the same transmission mast. Looking at the spec of the portable aerial - now returned to the shop as not fit for purpose - shows that reception from that mast could have been marginal.

Does the BBC deliberately broadcast at half or less the power of commercial stations in Scotland? If so, why?

[Old Grumpy]

Does the BBC deliberately broadcast at half or less the power of commercial stations in Scotland? If so, why?

Dunno - but soon may not broadcast at all - if Scotland is not British any more!