Dropping Channels

[NeilFeathers]

I keep seeing channels become not available, they are still there, like Quest on 17, U&Yeasterday on 27, Great! Romance on 52 etc. The channels are in the guide but won’t play. Are EE dropping these channels or is it technical. ??

[DarrenDev]

Those channels are delivered via your TV aerial, so if they stop working then the issue will be with your signal.

In the settings there's an option to check signal strength - if it's too weak then you'll need to check cable connections, and may need a TV aerial engineer to improve it.  If it's too strong, then an attenuator can be purchased to weaken it slightly (the TV Box Pro can suffer a bit if the signal is too much for it to handle).

[NeilFeathers]

Thanks. Checking signal strength it says 100 to 90 % Strength, but 0% Quality. 

[DarrenDev]

There are many possible causes for that, including poor aerial cable, poor connection, a signal booster that is too strong/corrupting the signal.  You may need to call in a professional, if you cannot find anything obvious.

BT offers a deal on aerial installation, if you don't have cheaper options available to you: https://www.bt.com/help/tv/set-up-bt-tv/aerial

[NeilFeathers]

Not had an aerial problem for three years, the first 18months I was with BT, 2nd 18 months I was with Sky, now I’m back to BT/EE and it’s been fine for 3 months or so, just the last week it’s been not playing various channels. Can’t see this being a me/aerial problem if I’m honest, I’ll call EE tomorrow, if they blame the aerial, I’ll request an engineer visit for them to prove it, I’m not paying out if it’s not my problem. 👍

[DarrenDev]

A BT engineer isn't a TV engineer. They cannot solve problems with aerial signal. 

If you're using a booster it may have failed, or a cable may have been knocked, or there could be interference from a new electrical appliance, or the wind may have moved your TV aerial on the roof. There are many reasons for possible failure. 

One simple test would be to connect the aerial cable directly into your TV and see if you have issues there too.

[manatarms84]

Being with Sky ahs nothing to do with your aerial as Sky use different cables - if the issue is with your aerial then its your equipment (Unless you had paid for EE to put it in) I paid EE £30.00 to sort mine out, that's a bargain in my book.

[NeilFeathers]

So EE is the new BT right, and the TV was fine on BT, and these are not internet channels as far as I can tell, they are Freeview, so nothing to do with Sky vs BT/EE cables. My whole point in posting was to ask if there are known issues with channels dropping signal/strength. I have 90 to 100% signal strength but 0% quality. I’d rather people said “No Idea mate” or “These channels work for me” …. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[DarrenDev]

EE and BT are the same company, offering the same product and the same TV Box. The only difference is the logo on your bill.

There are no known issues with the TV Box that would cause the behaviour you're describing.  Filling this board with "works for me" messages only wastes everyone's time.

The point that @manatarms84 is making is that the 18 months you were with Sky are irrelevant - the signal to the Sky box isn't the same one that goes to your EE TV box.  Sky could be working perfectly, even without any TV aerial at all.

Have you tried connecting the aerial to your TV, to see if the channel works there?  That would prove this one way or the other, and you'll then be able to make the appropriate decision on how to sort it.

[zulu17]

@NeilFeathers  The nature of Freeview transmissions mean that issues could occur at times affecting certain viewers. 
These can be due to atmospheric conditions, adverse weather , scheduled transmitter work , transmitter problems  that are outside of your control and many scenarios related to your home environment , aerial positioning, interference from  cabling ,  or other devices .

As the Freeview service is provided by several separate multiplexes  from the same transmitter which operate at differing frequencies  and possibility different power levels you may experience issues with channels from one multiplex whilst receiving  perfect reception from the channels on another. 

The channels you have listed as problematical are I believe all transmitted on the ARQ B multiplex . So potentially you just have an issue with one multiplex.

engineering work is listed at

https://www.freeview.co.uk/corporate/platform-management/planned-engineering-works

The advice to plug the aerial temporarily into you TV and see whether the channels are viewable  and stable via the TVs own single tuner is sensible , the TV Box Pro has 4 tuners so any any signal received  has to be split so you are not comparing like with like.