Fao Buenchico

[jennyjoan]

Chris - I have just noticed quite a number of channels are missing on my Sony - I;m not too worried as I have the guide on SkyQ.

Anyway followed the instruction book to get the missing channels and everything went according to plan - but channels never came back. I did ask to look for channels on the ANTENNA but it gives you a choice of ANTENNA or cable. Since I am connected to SkyQ - wouldn't that be satellite of where this no choice.

It is Sony - like I have bbc1, bbc2, no itv or channel 4 or channel 5 or 6 then it jumps to 7 which is Belfast channel. Would you have any idea. I looked instructions online here.

[Buenchico]

I'm assuming that those channels are missing when you use Freeview, Jennyjoan, rather than when you're using the signal from your Sky box.

Freeview channels are transmitted in 'multiplexes', which are bundles of channels sharing a common frequency. Your TV is picking up signals from the 'PSB1' multiplex (which includes all the main BBC channels) and from the 'SV2' multiplex (which has local programming for NI on it). However it's not picking up signals from the 'PSB2' multiplex (which has ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, etc included).

Assuming that there's not a transmitter fault, the reason will be that your TV aerial doesn't 'resonate' well with the frequency used by the PSB2 multiplex, resulting in signals disappearing when reception conditions are poor (or simply not being present at all). The usual solution is to fit a signal booster, such as one of these:
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9383027
(You'd also need a fly lead, such as this one: https://www.screwfix.com/p/philex-coaxial-cable-1m/41720 ). However, if you've got a Sky box anyway, you should be able to receive the missing channels through that.

[jennyjoan]

thanks Chris - the irony is that I have used the Freeview guide many times and never noticed them missing, cos actually when I turn my TV on via Freeview it is number 3 I press.

I'm not paying any more money for just a few channels which you say I can get them on SkyQ. Thanks again to the Human Encyclopaedia LOL