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For the last six years, I have answered many thousands of personal emails that you have sent to UK Free TV.

Sadly, I am unable to offer this personal service at the moment.

Until I can restore this service, please can you leave any questions you have on an appropriate page, where they will be answered as soon as possible, or below, if you can't figure out where to ask.

I look forward to your questions!



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In this section

Comments
Sunday, 23 September 2012
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

1:59 PM

Chris Bowden: I think that your 12:46pm posting of today (23rd) has been addressed to me by mistake rather than whoever it was intended for.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Monday, 24 September 2012
W
WALTER CRAIG
1:17 AM

I have bought my own sky+ box and it is fully installed and working but i can't record anything because the screen displays a message saying insert viewing card. can i buy a viewing card for just 'fsfs' because i only want to watch the free to air channels or do i still have to subscribe to sky.

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WALTER CRAIG's 2 posts GB flag
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WALTER CRAIG
1:21 AM

P.s.
i also want to record free to air channels 'fsfs'.

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WALTER CRAIG's 2 posts GB flag
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Stephen P
sentiment_satisfiedGold

5:03 PM

I'm fairly sure you can't record at all without a subscription.

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Stephen P's 1,173 posts GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

5:31 PM

WALTER CRAIG: Just to confirm what's already been said by Stephen P, a subscription is necessary to enable use of the recording side of the box, and which to my belief costs £10.00 per month.

You should give Sky a phone though, as one point I am not quite 100% sure about is regarding whether or not the person applying for this type of subscription has to already be in possession of a "free to view" card, as the access code to enable to box to record etc has to be "over air" downloaded into a card.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
J
Jeepers!
11:58 AM
Calne

As I am in the Calne transmitter area, which is pretty useless for channels, does this mean if I purchase a freeview+ box or purchase a TV service, I will still be under the poor service of the Calne transmitter? I'm not sure how this works for bought in services.

Thanks for your help.

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Jeepers!'s 2 posts GB flag
Jeepers!'s: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

1:20 PM

Jeepers!: Basically yes, as the Calne PSB only transmitter is, as you will probably already know located at just over 1/2 a mile away, and with its "light" status unlikely to ever change.

However you are indicated on the predictor as being able to receive Mendip, and although I have serious doubts as to whether you would be able to receive a usable signal from there if you can access your aerial then there is nothing to stop you swinging it around to face 243 degrees (presently 203) as well as changing its mounting to horizontal, then follow this by carrying out a manual tune signal check on Ch48, Mendip's ITV3.

The only problem you are likely to encounter being the possibility of your aerial being group A, and this would reduce the signal strength of anything picked up from Mendip as it uses higher channel numbers, although this would not necessarily stop you from receiving anything on the manual tune check referred to.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

1:27 PM

Jeepers!: Only the main transmitters and some larger relays carry all Freeview channels. The Commercial broadcasters don't wish to pay for (and have no obligation to) transmit from the small sites like Calne.

At your location, reception from Mendip (which broadcasts all channels) may be a possibility. I had a look at your road on Google Streetview and in the photographs which were taken in May 2009. Whilst there are quite a few aerials on the Calne transmitter, the chimney stack on numbers 46 and 48 has two aerials on both of which face Mendip and the next chimney along also has an aerial on Mendip.


The two-tier terrestrial transmitter network is due to the fact that the Commercial broadcasters are not mandated to mirror the coverage of the Public Service channels.

The cost of broadcasting from the 1,000 plus "filler-in" relays like Calne is roughly the same as that of transmitting from the 81 largest transmitters (largest by viewer population). These relays serve about 8.5% of the population whereas the 81 full-service ones cover 90% of the population. So the Commercial broadcasters have decided that they don't wish to double their cost of transmission in order to increase their potential viewer bases by about 10%.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
P
paula
11:18 PM

i have bought a hitachi hdr255 freeview+ box but the connector for the aeriel input is a push in and the connector on my aeriel is a screw in connector. do i simply cut the screw in one off and replace with a push in or is there a simpler solution to this.
thank you


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paula's 1 post GB flag
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

12:04 AM

paula: Are you sure that the coax you refer to as the aerial isn't for satellite (Sky or Freesat) reception purposes? as "F" connectors (the screw type) are 90% or more of the time used for satellite reception, and with any time they aren't the "F" connector found in a living room was usually for purposes of it being screwed into a small power unit used to power either a loft or mast head amplifier, as many of these devices use that type of connection.

You can of course get an adaptor that has a female "F" socket on one side and a male coax connector on the other, TV shops are likely to have them, but I would try and determine the purpose of the "F" terminated coax, although the main thing is that you cannot damage anything if you purchased an adaptor, just possibly wasted your money!

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
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steve
4:39 AM

i bought sky decoder but was not able to get any channels and even the language is not in English and i try to change it but i could not how can i do

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steve's 1 post GH flag
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mickythee
6:47 PM

i have had a new digi ariel installed.the man told me i could watch my sky plus box, which is in the bedroom,downstairs in the kitchen so as not to interupt the family watching hd in the front room.i have set up the tv in the kitchen and connected the ariel he left fitted with a magic eye.how do i get the tv to show the sky

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mickythee's 1 post GB flag
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William
sentiment_satisfiedBronze

7:03 PM

jb38 with regards to my bedroom coax plate which is isolated with a capacitor on it when I plug my main aerial into return on my living room wall plate I get roughly 18V on the bedroom cable ( no voltage at the front of the plate ) but when I take a cable from RF2 to return I get roughly 9V on the bedroom cable

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William's 36 posts GB flag
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William
sentiment_satisfiedBronze

7:12 PM

But remember I only get a voltage to my main aerial cable when my sky box is switched on as if the back feed ( 13 to 18V ) is going back up the sat 1 cable into the triplexed module which is joined with the main aerial output marked " TV " and that's why when I take the main aerial cable into my " aerial IN " port on my sky box it cuts the sky signal ( without the attenuator ) but with the attenuator and through the box into return via RF2 I get both freeview and sky signal but only Half the freeview channels its strange

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William's 36 posts GB flag
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William
sentiment_satisfiedBronze

7:14 PM

The return output is a separate module/cable at the back but it is part of the master wall plate

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William's 36 posts GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

9:29 PM

William: Having read your latest postings I have to say that what you have found as the result of your various tests is as would be expected for the way your plate is wired up, but though that is the problem! as the 13/18 volts from the Sky box should not be appearing on the main aerial socket unless that outlet is supposed to be used with an isolater type connector.

Does anyone else in your building that you may have contact with use a satellite system? as it would be prudent to find out if they have been supplied an isolater adaptor for use with the plate.

Of course irrespective of that you can cure the problem by simply placing a small ceramic capacitor (value not critical but not under 100pf) in line with the main aerials output socket as that would kill the 13/18 volts being fed into the Sky boxes aerial input socket.

The other mod I would carry out is to either try and by-pass the capacitor on the bedroom wall plate, or if its a standard square socket you should purchase another with a straight through connection and swap the sockets over, as that would then allow your magic eye to operate.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

9:31 PM

William: Also meant to ask if you had managed to copy down the info on the plate in question, especially the model of.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Thursday, 27 September 2012
P
Paolo
6:08 PM

Last Monday I suddenly lost all my HD channels during a storm. All the other Freeview channels are fine, the aerial on the roof looks fine. I rescanned and rebooted my HD+ box (Humax HDR-FOX T2) several times to no avail. I also tried manual search and got no signal at multiplex C21 where all the HD channels are. Can anybody help? Could it be a transmitter problem? I live in Cambridge CB25 9EH and my transmitter is Sandy Heath (Central Bedfordshire).

Thanks a lot! (52.2418,0.2451) 

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Paolo's 3 posts GB flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

6:24 PM

Paolo: The user manual is here:

http://www.humaxdigital.c….pdf

Page 53 outlines the manual tuning procedure. There is a field called "Transmission" which needs setting to DVB-T2 which is that of HD broadcasts; standard definition ones use DVB-T.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
P
Paolo
7:00 PM

Dear Dave Lindsay,

I just tried and it worked.
Thank you so much for your help! (52.2418,0.2451) 

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Paolo's 3 posts GB flag
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Rob Walton
8:44 PM
Darlington

I need to buy a new tv and replace the old arial, any advice on a freeview sat system or just replacing the old arial?.

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Rob Walton's 2 posts GB flag
Rob's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Saturday, 29 September 2012
B
brian mayo
9:33 AM

Why after numerous resets does the picture & channels still lock up on my 7 year old Philips 32PF5200 TV, it was fine until the digital switchover in February, the aeriel & lead connections have been checked 3 times since then by professional installer who says best thing is get a new TV, but after only 7 years why is a set which cost in excess of £800 a write off, the pre-flat panel sets were never this short lived

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brian mayo's 3 posts GB flag
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steve
9:56 AM
Bishop Auckland

looking for help to correct sky via magic eye which was perfect prior to latest switch over in north east england. using channel 50 rf output picture there but unwatchable - tried channel 57 and 58 but nothing. any suggestions? thanks

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steve's 1 post GB flag
steve's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

10:55 AM

steve: Try C52.

Pontop Pike now uses 49, 50, 54, 55, 58, 59

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
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Stephen P
sentiment_satisfiedGold

6:37 PM

mayo - I presume you ARE the person on AV Forums with the same problem and a 6yo set?

If not, google for it and compare notes!

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Stephen P's 1,173 posts GB flag
Sunday, 30 September 2012
R
Rafath Fernandez
3:02 AM

Tried evrerything SKY suggests. Still NO SIGNAL. Happening everyday. Felling cheated as paying a lot of subscription. Please help

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Rafath Fernandez's 1 post GB flag
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matt hope
8:13 AM
Burnley

i have sky tv in our bedroom running from a cable from rf outlet 2 in the back of my sky box downstairs. we use a magic eye to enable us to use the sky remote upstairs. for some reason we had to restoreto factory settings on the upstairs tv now for some reason it sky is not coming thru upstairs i can watch freeview but no sky it is saying no CA module inserted. never said this before can anyone help please

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matt hope's 3 posts GB flag
matt's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

9:43 AM

matt hope: Without knowing the model of TV involved have you set the TV in question back on its analogue mode rather than DVB?, and if you have completely reset it you will have to carry another retune "whilst set on analogue" so that it will find the Sky boxes RF2 channel again.

Should you still experience the problem please indicate the model of TV involved.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
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brian mayo
10:34 AM

Hi Stephen P. you've rumbled me, some possible clues on AV to my Freeview Freeze prob., such as being overpowered & to use a "Variable Attenuator" to check are a start before I throw in the towel & head off to Richer Sounds.
Wineboy (on AV Forums).

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brian mayo's 3 posts GB flag
M
matt hope
1:50 PM
Burnley

matt hope:
jb38 thanks very much that has got me sky back on upstairs. but the reason i did a full reset was that the sky picture upstairs was in black and white and after doing what you said it is still in black and white. the picture on digital tv is colour only when i try and watch sky is it black and white any ideas

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matt hope's 3 posts GB flag
matt's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

8:23 PM

matt hope: Thats is inclined to suggest the possibility that a strong Freeview signal is close (or on) the RF channel used by the Sky box, you should have a check to ensure that Sky's RF output channel used above 64 (pref 68/69) and if you have to change it then remember to retune the TV again (on analogue) to pick up the new channel.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Monday, 1 October 2012
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

6:55 AM

matt hope: Of course there is an easy way to verify whether or not the Freeview signal is responsible for the problem, and simply done by temporarily removing the normal aerials connection into the Sky box and checking the result of this action on the upstairs TV.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
M
Mike Held
8:56 PM
Milton Keynes

Our Milton Keynes location is almost midway between the Sandy Heath and Oxford transmitters. When I have to retune my freeview box it is 50/50 which transmitter is detected. I often end up with just a few TV channels listed as '800', '801', etc. It often seems to take 5 or 6 retunings to pick-up the Sandy Heath channels. Is there a way I can block out the Oxford signal - perhaps by covering the south-west side of the aerial?

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Mike Held's 1 post GB flag
Mike's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

9:18 PM

Mike Held: This might seem rather elementry, but I assume that your box does not have a manual tuning facility? as if it does then either reset the box or carry out a retune with the aerial disconnected as that will blank the memory out, then manually tune in Sandy's muxes one at a time, these being:
27 - 24 - 21(HD) - 51 - 52 - 48.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 2 October 2012
S
Stephen P
sentiment_satisfiedGold

12:32 PM

Mike H - Can you not switch the channels round so that the ones you want appear in 1/2/3/4/5 etc? Usually possible.

One trick is to unplug the aerial when the unwanted channels are bing scanned. Depends if the numbers are close or widely spread how achievable that is.

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Stephen P's 1,173 posts GB flag
M
matt hope
5:58 PM
Burnley

matt hope:
jb38 the rf channell is set too 68 and still black and white upstairs
the tv is a grundig GU37BLKSE model any more help please.

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matt hope's 3 posts GB flag
matt's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

9:37 PM

matt hope: If the picture on the Grundig looks perfectly OK apart from the fact that it's in black and white, then that suggests equipment failure rather than anything you have done, and with the problem being either with the Sky boxes modulator or alternatively (and more likely) with the colour decoding circuitry in the analogue side of the Grundig, this fault nearly always caused by crystal failure.

The only thing I can suggest is to try and borrow a small colour TV that is capable of analogue reception and then couple that into the link from the Sky boxes output, giving the borrowed TV an analogue scan to pick up the RF output channel from the Sky box for the purpose of checking the image obtained, black and white or colour, because if its colour then obviously the fault is with the Grundig.

By the way temporarily change the output on the Sky box from RF2 over to RF1 so as "not" to feed voltage into the borrowed TV's aerial socket.

Should you not be able to borrow a TV then if you have an old VHS tape machine around you could couple its RF output into the Grundig and retune same (TV) to pick up the VHS machines analogue signal, no tapes or aerial required as its only the modulator output you are interested in and with regards to whether anything seen is black and white or not.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Wednesday, 3 October 2012
M
Michael Frost
10:51 AM

Hi JB38. This will seem an extremely odd request but could I ask if you are the same JB38 that gives advice on 'Pechorin's' website? If you are I have tried to contact you for the instructions to bypass the dewpoint sensor on my JVC GR-DX97 camcorder. I'm not sure that I was submitting it correctly or that it was ever rec'd. If you aren't THAT JB38 please accept my apologies.

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Michael Frost's 1 post GB flag
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sally
11:10 AM

i want to know if the olevia 32ra108s is multi system,or ntsc thanku

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sally's 1 post HK flag
D
dean
9:14 PM

Hi, not that technical but had and used AV systems for years so familiar with setups, signal strength, installations etc.

I have noticed a problem and have been searching an answer for ages. With more than one make/ model of freeview tv that seems to be data related, not signal strength. I always keep updated with regular wipes and installations for new channels. (except sadly they're mostly selling channels).
But after tv has been on for at least a 1/2hr, the channel selection becomes frozen and eventually flashes through all the 'switched' channels, catching up with the frantic button presses. Also the epg data is missing. Just says 'No information available'. The only thing that resolves the problem is to switch off the set, wait 30 seconds and then switch on with full epg and channel change working normally again. I also notice that when switching through channels, ones with 'Loading interactive services' also seem to take ages and are much like a website bogged down with java ads and cookies hogging the cpu. Is this the future of digital TV? It isn't just my sets that do it either.

I am on Guildford transmitter, (tried london) and receive london regional.

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dean's 4 posts GB flag
A
Andie
10:28 PM
Altrincham

OK, I'm in a spin over my sky tv.
Currently have Sky+HD, subscribe to Sky Sports, Entertainment, phone with unlimited and basic broadband at a total cost of around £60 + calls. Have single subscription HD box in living room, and signal feed through RF to tv upstairs (changeover through magic eye).
Trying to reduce my costs.
Can I get all this on freeview with sky sports add-on? or any other options?
Please note I'm a technophobe, and it took me months to work out the RF feed, so please make it simple.
Thanks

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Andie's 1 post GB flag
Andie's: mapA's Freeview map terrainA's terrain plot wavesA's frequency data A's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

11:44 PM

Michael Frost: The answer is basically no, "but" I am aware who this is (a work colleague) and will ask the person concerned to check either the site or possibly the message board for your request, of course that is if they still give advice on that site as I am not sure whether they do or not.

Don't expect results before the weekend though as I wont see the person concerned before Saturday afternoon at the earliest.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Thursday, 4 October 2012
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

7:31 AM

dean: What you report suggests an actual fault condition within the set, and which could possibly be caused by a signal compatibility issue in relation to the new transmission modes being used on stations that's recently switched over to high powered operation.

The other possibility is that the signal levels being received are a little on the high side for the tuner, but a proper assessment cannot be made without knowledge of your location, this being in the form of a post code or one from nearby such as a shop.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
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steven brown
8:57 AM

When I press the text button it turns sky box off. Then after turning it back on it works ok..

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steven brown's 1 post GB flag
Friday, 5 October 2012
M
Mike Adams
3:05 PM
Worcester

Our TV signal has deteriorated drastically over the past 4 to 5 days. We live in Defford . I've reset the box as suggested and even tried a signal booster but to no avail. Is it transmitter related or the weather?

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Mike Adams's 1 post GB flag
Mike's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Saturday, 6 October 2012
R
Roger
10:47 AM
Newcastle Upon Tyne

Hi, I have an old Grundig Sky digibox through which I would like to use to get BBC 1 & BBC 2 on to a portable TV using an outside aerial but all I can get is "No satelite signal is being received". If it is possible to do what I want, how do I set the digibox to an aerial input rather than dish input and what settings would you recommend. I live in postcode NE13.

Any help would be appreciated.

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Roger's 2 posts GB flag
Roger's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Les Nicol
sentiment_satisfiedGold

12:30 PM

Roger: You cannot connect a SKY or any other satellite receiver, with the exception of a Technomate, Dreambox or similar that are equiped with both Satellite and Terrestrial tuners.
P.S. not all models of the above and those not listed have that facility.

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Les Nicol's 991 posts GB flag
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Stephen P
sentiment_satisfiedGold

4:39 PM

Roger you could get Freesat if you had a DISH, but if you have an aerial you need a Freeview TUNER - very cheap from Argos etc.

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Stephen P's 1,173 posts GB flag
Sunday, 7 October 2012
R
Roger
10:02 AM
Newcastle Upon Tyne

Thanks for comments Les & Stephen - I did think that because the Grundig digibox had an aerial input as well as dish input, there must be some way to use aerial only.

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Roger's 2 posts GB flag
Roger's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

10:36 AM

Roger: Just to add to that already said by Les Nicol & Stephen P

The aerial socket on your Grundig Sky box is an input used in conjunction with the boxes RF1/2 sockets, because if a coax is run from either of these sockets to a remotely positioned second TV (set on analogue if a dual standard set) it will enable the Sky programme on the main TV to be viewed on the second TV.

The plus point being, that if the normal aerial is then connected into the socket referred to then the Freeview signal passes through the box and onto the second TV along with the Sky programme, this enabling the second TV to view either Sky or Freeview, the latter of course only being applicable if the TV being used is not an old analogue only set.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 9 October 2012
J
John P
6:10 PM

Just got a nice letter from Sky today saying what a great service they provide and by the way we are going to increase your line rental by £2.25. On my calculations thats a 18% price hike! Does anyone agree that this seems a bit steep even for Sky. I wish my salary increased by that much.

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John P's 1 post GB flag
E
ELEANOR
9:45 PM

i recently purchased a bush freeview box and i am frustrated at not getting epg on all channels.went out one night and was unable to record anything on the bbc channels.my previous box was a sharp and i had less problems.

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ELEANOR's 2 posts GB flag
G
gladys moore
10:49 PM
Wallsend

Hi,since change over my epg is not working bought another one same thing happening why is this tried everything means i can not record please help thanks glad

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gladys moore's 1 post GB flag
gladys's: mapG's Freeview map terrainG's terrain plot wavesG's frequency data G's Freeview Detailed Coverage
E
ELEANOR
11:05 PM

did try by unplugging mains and aerial from box.retuning then plugging back in.gets some of the channels giving info but not bbc.my son says hes going to move the aerial.just hope i dont lose the lot. (HALIFAX,WESTYO) 

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ELEANOR's 2 posts GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

11:45 PM

ELEANOR: The BBC is generally the one thats always picked up but not always some of the others, however its not possible to determine what type of reception you should be having and from where without knowledge of your location, a post code or one from nearby eg: a shop being suffice, as the details you entered have an error of some sort and do not give access to the reception predictor.

Please also mention the model of Bush box you are referring to.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Wednesday, 10 October 2012
R
Robin
4:04 PM

Hi,we have a TV with built-in Freeview,the TV is HD ready but because it is only standard Freeview we cannot get any of the HD channels.Is there any gadget that converts built-in Freeview to HD freeview?

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Robin's 1 post GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

5:21 PM

Robin: Unfortunately not! as the only way around the problem is to purchase a Freeview HD box and couple it into your TV using an HDMI lead, this in effect turning your TV into a monitor.

As far as the HD channels are concerned, at the present time they are just HD versions of the standard programmes and as such not different in programme content.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Thursday, 11 October 2012
T
Trev Cape
12:49 PM

When I leave Sky shortly can I utilise the sky dish for Freeview progs? and what do I need to do? This is only a stop gap measure while I get Freesat sorted out!My Sony bravia tv has freeview built in. If my misses cant get Eastenders life is over for me!
On the subject of Freesat I want to get the latest Humax HDR1000s which as a bonus records two progs etc. My question here is that the existing sky set up has only one cable to the skybox. Do I need to add another cable (LNB)I think its called to the terminal block on the dish to obtain two prog recording. Many thanks for any help in advance.
Trev


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Trev Cape's 2 posts GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

1:26 PM

Trev Cape: You do not have to do anything at present as a dish is 100% technically compatible with Sky and Freesat, and when you cancel your Sky contract your box just reverts to you being able to view everything as before except Sky dedicated package channels, you can check what you will be able to view by simply removing your card and running through the EPG listings.

The Humax box you are thinking about is an excellent device, albeit that its just the large hard drive version of the lower capacity models, but as far as your LNB is concerned if you have carried out an inspection and it doesn't have a spare port then quad LNB conversion kits are available for around the £10.00 mark from various e-bay outlets, these in many cases being exactly the same type as used by Sky engineers.

These kits are simplicity to fit by virtually being push fit into the end of the "rectangular" arm, if its a round type then some kits contain an adaptor, so its best to check what type of arm your dish has.

After fitting the LNB swap the existing "F" plug onto the new block (any port) and check that the reception is still OK on the TV, if it is then run a second coax cable from the LNB to the Sky box.

Apart from the satellite grade coax you will require two "F" connector plugs, one for each end of the cable.

By the way exercise caution when fitting the kit to avoid any possibility of disturbing the position of the dish arm, as in most cases if it isn't moved then reception will still be OK.

Finally all ports are independent of each other and so any can be used, two for the Humax and another for a Sky box in a different room, this leaving one as a spare.



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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Friday, 12 October 2012
B
Brian
2:31 PM

G: how do I connect a dvd recorder to tv which has only one scart socket which is being used sky+box

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Brian's 2 posts GB flag
D
Daniel
3:50 PM
Luton

Hi, is there any chance of any dedicated sports channels appearing on freesat or free to air television on satellite in the future? I'm obviously not expecting a sky sports or anything top of the range, but something like a british eurosport, espn classic or a foreign sport channel. Thanks for any help or information, Daniel.

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J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

4:50 PM

Brian: Is there a reason why you are not using the usual method of connecting a DVD player / recorder into the Sky boxes 2nd scart socket? as by doing that you can record Sky's "free to view" programmes and possibly a few others, then when you wish to play a DVD the TV will automatically switch over to the player as soon as the player is taken out of standby.

Other than doing things this way you would require to purchase a two way switchable scart splitter but used as a combiner.

Item referred to: Argos 534/9656

Buy Alba 3 SCART to 1 SCART Selector at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for HDMI cables, scart leads and accessories, HDMI cables, scart leads and accessories.


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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Saturday, 13 October 2012
A
Alan Peachey
sentiment_satisfiedBronze

11:45 AM

What is the new channel broadcasting on Transponder 12560v on Astra? At the moment they are showing. The Lucy Show, The Lone Ranger etc. Thanks.

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T
Trev Cape
2:42 PM
Reigate

Thank very much for your advice
Trev Cape

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Sunday, 14 October 2012
P
Pete
4:00 PM

Hi Brian,

Your New Look Freeview Transmitter page, eg. Freeview reception at BA1 XXX, now only shows my predicted "Best" TX (Bath) and not all available at my Location as it used to.

This may be clearer and simpler for most, but it is no use to me as I have my aerial pointed at the Main (more distant but still 100%) TX at Mendip and not the Bath Local Relay.

You used to show all transmitters at a location, with the "Best" first, and even those that appear to be out of sight. This was very useful as on occasions I did get odd tuning events where a much more distant and normally out of sight TX (Stockland Hill) would be tuned due to atmospherics and I could tell what it was and why this was happening (much further away but in exact same direction as my aerial pointed at Mendip).

The DigitalUk site still lists Bath and Mendip as alternatives for me (Bath first of course - They have dropped Box which is now only given as a possible on the BBC page). Maybe you could add a Tab or Option (?) for ALL as well as the current BEST (set as default) Transmitter, so that we can get back the excellent Tuning and Terrain info for all, not just the supposed "Best" which in my case, and no doubt many others, is not the best !

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Pete's 15 posts GB flag
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Pete
4:12 PM

Hi (again)

Just looked at some others info, from above posts, and they do show alternatives that are presumably definite line of sight transmitters - My address must be erroniously returning that Mendip is not visible.

It would be good to add back the presumed "out of sight" transmitters as per your old method, but maybe you could put them below a big red line to point out that they may not be visible/useable at the current location. I think they used to have a different Icon ?

Keep up the good work
Cheers
Pete

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Pete's 15 posts GB flag
S
Stephen P
sentiment_satisfiedGold

5:35 PM

+ UK digital TV reception predictor
Paul - try this?

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Pete
8:21 PM

Thanks Stephen - Very useful.

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Pete's 15 posts GB flag
B
Big Mart
sentiment_satisfiedBronze

11:31 PM

Hi, does anyone know if the teletext service will ever be broadcast on the HD service?

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Big Mart's 83 posts GB flag
Friday, 19 October 2012
S
Sue
3:07 PM

We are moving to a house without a dish, we have a freeview ready tv and 3 sky boxes, but I have a 4 year old who needs more than cbeebies for entertainment. We r not allowed to instal a dish and so what is my best option to get the most channels for my daughter, I am 6 months pregnant and rely on the tv right now especially as Winter is coming and we will be getting out less

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Sue's 4 posts GB flag
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jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

5:27 PM

Sue: If you are not allowed to use a dish then you don't really have any choice but to use Freeview, this being provided that the property you are moving to has a suitable aerial connection for your Freeview TV and that you will be in an area covered by a Freeview transmitter, but unable to advise on this as a post code (or one from nearby e.g: a shop) is necessary to access this information.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
S
Sue
6:45 PM
Cardigan

jb38,

we r moving in with Mother-in-law and I know that she has basic freeview through her tv (as far as I can remember) post code is SA43 2SQ if that helps, I am looking into buying a freeview top up box, will this help me in your opinion? Thanks for input so far

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Sue's 4 posts GB flag
Sue's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
S
Sue
6:54 PM

jb38

The one I am ordering is a 'hitachi hdr 255 freeview recorder', pretty useless when it comes to these things and I have probably just ordered something that will be of no help to me what so ever!

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Sue's 4 posts GB flag
D
David Spencer
7:17 PM

Hi,

Since Dave moved on Freeview a few weeks ago, and then today following the HD channels shift to the 100s, my Sony KDL 32EX723 tv's EPG is missing these channels.

I can watch the channels normally, the tv "knows" where they are/ their new channel nos, they're just missing from the EPG.

I thought it might fix itself over time, but Dave hasn't re-appeared in the EPG as Ch12 and that moved a few weeks ago now.

Any suggestions to get the EPG working fully again?

Many thanks,
David

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David Spencer's 13 posts GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

8:48 PM

Sue: The area covered by the code provided is indicated as being able to have excellent reception from the Preseli transmitter located at just under 8 miles away, although if your mother-in-law already uses Freeview will you be connecting the Hitachi into this via a scart lead? as if you are then take the aerial of the TV and plug it into the Hitachi, then connect a jumper lead from "aerial out" on the Hitachi and into the TV.

By the way these Hitachi recorders (PVR's) have the most user friendly of all PVR's as well as them being very responsive to commands, not sluggish like some.

However in common with many Freeview devices their operating software has to be kept up to date, and in the case of the HDR255 range over air downloads are taking place from 10.00am on the 22nd Oct and finishing on the 24th at 09.00am, and so do not switch the box off completely during this period but leave it in standby when not being used, and preferably with it sitting on BBC1.

Also check under the "configuration" menu that "low power" is NOT activated, as that can cause a problem with software updating.



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J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

9:06 PM

David Spencer: When you carried out a rescan on the 17th to update the EPG listings (that is presuming that you did!) did you carry out a "first time installation"? or alternatively if not an option a "factory reset" or "default setting", as this really has to be done to completely clear the tuners memory before a rescan is carried out.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
S
Sue
10:01 PM

Sue: Thanks jb38, I will follow your instructions once box arrives. Very much appreciate your help.



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Sue's 4 posts GB flag
D
dave macready
11:43 PM

Now that summer is finished my Sandy Heath reception is back to near 100% perfection. Even ch5+1 is at bang up full strength.

I got almost nothing of Wimbledon and only 50% of the Olympics due to co-channel interference, a MUCH bigger and longer lasting wipeout than I ever had with analogue tv. But the BBC and digital tv services seem loath to comment. Am I to be denied tv every summmer? And very cold winter days? AND certain foggy days? Can I get a 50% reduction on my TV license?

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dave macready's 7 posts GB flag
Saturday, 20 October 2012
D
Donna
1:10 PM

Hi, I no longer subscribe to virgin but still have all the wires,if i buy a virgin set top box can i plug it in to my existing cables and receive free to view channels?
Thank you :)

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Donna's 1 post GB flag
S
Stephen P
sentiment_satisfiedGold

2:23 PM

I vaguely recall that you cannot - but hope someone sure will confirm/correct.

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Stephen P's 1,173 posts GB flag
T
Tracy
2:25 PM
Colchester

We used to be able to watch sky upstairs but since the digital changeover we can only pick up a very fuzzy picture. Any ideas?

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Tracy's 2 posts GB flag
Tracy's: mapT's Freeview map terrainT's terrain plot wavesT's frequency data T's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

2:52 PM

Tracy: This could be caused by the UHF channel (frequency) that you are using to output the analogue picture to your upstairs TV now being used for digital in your area.

The Sky box puts out a signal on your aerial lead on a UHF channel (frequency). You need to use one that is not used by a Freeview transmitter that is being picked up by your aerial else the digital (Freeview) signal will interfere with the analogue picture from the Sky box, the effect on the analogue picture being that it will be more grainy.

You need to establish whether this is the likely cause. If you power on the Sky box and turn on the upstairs TV and select the Sky channel. Then remove the aerial lead going into the Sky box (the one that comes from the aerial). If the level of interference on the Sky picture on the upstairs TV reduces as a result, then this tends to suggest that it is interference from a digital signal.

Find out what RF channel number your Sky box is using by following the instructions here:

How do I change the RF output channel on a Sky Digibox? | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice

If this appears to be the problem, then let us know which RF channel it is using and we can suggest which one(s) you might be able to use at your location.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
T
Tracy
5:08 PM
Colchester

Tracy: Thanks for your help. I followed your instructions and the picture upstairs was perfect. The rf channel number was 60 and i tried changing it to 68 but this didn't help.Can i just leave the arial lead out of the sky box?

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Tracy's 2 posts GB flag
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L
Laura
5:19 PM
Sowerby Bridge

Sorry to sound ignorant if you have already answered this but I don't have an Ariel for my house and the only thing I can get is Sky which has currently become a rip off. I would like to view channels for free using my sky box and satalite but how do I go about this? How can I find out what I will be able to watch?

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Laura's 1 post GB flag
Laura's: mapL's Freeview map terrainL's terrain plot wavesL's frequency data L's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

5:54 PM

Tracy: The purpose of the incoming aerial being connected into the Sky box is to allow Freeview broadcasts to be viewed. If you do not watch Freeview on the upstairs TV, and you have no other TVs connected to the output of the Sky box, then the incoming aerial is surplus to requirements.

If the TV adjacent to the Sky box is connected to the Sky box and you only wish to have Freeview available on it (and not on the upstairs TV), then you could feed the incoming aerial directly into that TV.


Since 27th June 2012 the Sudbury transmitter which serves your area has been broadcasting on C60. If you change it, you will need to retune the TV. If it has manual tuning where a UHF channel can be entered, then you can enter the same channel number, else you will have to scan.

C51 might be available. You can use somewhere from C61 to C68 because it isn't used at the moment, but the 4G mobile networks are likely to use those channels so you would probably have to change it when they come on air.

Once you have changed the output of the Sky box to C51 and retuned the TV, if the picture is a bit grainy, unplug the incoming aerial lead to see if it is interference from something that is being broadcast.

If this proves to be the case, then 54 may be a possibility.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
J
John B
9:15 PM

Having reception problems but only on the sd channels where the signal quality fluctuates between 20-60% and now and again goes to no signal,also the picture breaks up a bit, yet on HD channels it is perfect 100%.Seems worse at night and have tried redoing all connections, changed leads and is still no betterPoiting to hanninton transmitterThe aerial is about 8 years old and also has a masthead amp going in to o triax loftbox.
Any ideas of possible faults please before I call an installer

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John B's 1 post GB flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

9:33 PM

John B: Being in the dark as to your location, it is impossible to have any idea as to what sort of signal area you reside in.

However, it could be the case that you have too much amplification, although this usually affects HD signals before the SD ones.

Whilst signal strength meters on receivers are in no way scientific, 100% strength could be an indication that the signal level is too high. The result is much the same as too low a signal level. As the signal level increases over that which the receiver can tolerate, the strength and quality will start to fluctuate and jump up and down.

At switchover the power of digital signals increased. In some cases, installations fitted for reception of the pre-switchover low power signals is OTT after switchover.

The strength of Hannington before switchover was restricted generally to the east so as to protect against interference with the Guildford transmitter. Consequently the difference between the strength of the pre-switchover signals and the current signals in that area is very big and an installation fitted to receive the pre-switchover signals could be boosting the current signals too much.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

11:42 PM

Tracy: Are you sure that when you changed the Sky boxes output to Ch68 that you had scrolled down and selected "save changes", this action followed by retuning your TV whilst on analogue to pick up the new RF output channel used by the Sky box? as what you have said suggests that you haven't as Ch68 is clear of interference from any Freeview transmitter in the UK.

By the way you do not require an aerial to be connected into a Sky box unless you want to feed normal Freeview to other rooms along with the Sky boxes signal, if you do not require this then couple the aerial directly into the jumper lead that would normally be connected into the Sky boxes RF1 or 2, this enabling Freeview in other rooms minus the Sky signal.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Sunday, 21 October 2012
B
becky
1:33 AM

help please
i have sky+ hd box. no hd subscription. fed up of paying £26pcm for discovery channels that now show unrelated stuff. i'm now out of contract. and am loath to pay £279 for humax 1000s freesat box.
can i use sky+hd box to the same (rewind tv guide excluded) ie. p, rw, record etc?
cheers



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becky's 2 posts GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

7:09 AM

becky: No! because Sky retains access to the recording / playback side of the box on a permanent basis and which will be disabled around the same time as your access to Sky dedicated package programmes.

In other words your Sky+ box defaults back to being a standard box.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Monday, 22 October 2012
R
RON CAMPBELL
10:45 AM

I HAVE A FREEVEIW SAT WITH THREE DIGIBOX LNB FEED TWO HAVE WORKED FINE AND FOR A WHILE SO DID THE THIRD ONE -- THEN IT SHOWED AN LND ERROR AND THUS COULD NOT GET ANY CHANNELS. rigged up an apple tv for a time and wathed that then this friday I pluged the hdmi LEAD FROM THS LNB AND HEY PRESTO OFF IT WENT NO PROBS UNTIL I TURNED IT ON SUNDAY SAME LNB FAULT NO CHANNELS - IT APPEARS TO BE AN INTERMITTENT FAULT - ANY SOLUTIONS IDEAS ? MY DIGIBOXES ARE HUMAX THREE YEARS OLD

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RON CAMPBELL's 1 post GB flag
J
john
4:29 PM

Took a skybox+ to another house, put the cable in, kept coming up no signal, do I have to somehow tune it in, or change settings on box? Many thanks,

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john's 1 post GB flag
S
Stephen P
sentiment_satisfiedGold

5:09 PM

What is at the other end of the cable?

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Stephen P's 1,173 posts GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

5:10 PM

john: When you connect a Sky box to the mains supply it will automatically start searching for channels without having to do anything, if "no signal" is indicated then it simply means that the box could not find the default transponder signal.

Use the following procedure to check if any level of signal is being indicated, as it could still be there but just not at a high enough level to produce a picture, so check on this by using the following procedure.

Press "services" and you will then see the main menu with "options" being highlighted, highlight the "settings" menu using the right arrow button and press select, then using the left / right arrow buttons scroll to "signal" and press select, this will then display the signal level indicator bars.

Both strength and quality should be indicating the equivalent of approx 55% minimum to produce a picture, if under then the dish is slightly out of alignment.

Further advice dependant on reply.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

9:03 PM

RON CAMPBELL: If the intermittent reception problem is confined to affecting the same box all the time, then you should unscrew the "F" connector on the LNB used by it, then further unscrew it from the coax to check for any signs of water having crept into the plug, giving its internals a wipe with a cotton bud or similar in case any moisture is lurking around, similar treatment (using a tissue) given to the end of the coax, then making sure that all of the braiding is pulled back over the outer cover screw the connector back onto the coax again and try a test.

You should also check the "F" connector at the box end just in case a single strand of the braiding has caught around the middle core of the coax, matter of fact its maybe best you try this "first" before taking action at the LNB end.

Should though the problem still be there after having carried out these procedures, then try swapping the "F" connector port on the LNB used by the box in question over with a port used by one of the other boxes, as if the port is defective then the fault will show up on another box.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 23 October 2012
G
Gordon
5:36 PM

Had a fault with freeview on our tv Called out engineer New wideband aerail now fitted . Now TV Doesnt work at all he said water has got into old aerial cable . and it has got into the tv tuner and buggered it up Up until yesterday we could still get certain bands from the UHF 41-47 NOW A BIG FAT ZERO Is this a common problem?
Have a 5 year guarantee on TV

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Gordon's 2 posts GB flag
T
Terry brady
7:14 PM

I have a HD box in my living room with a magic eye in my bedroom to change channels been working ok for at least 3 years bought a new HD box from sky they also installed the new one now my magic eye does not work I have checked the rf 2 outlet and channel 60 both boxes the same but the new one will not work put the old one back and it is all ok I have remade all connctions as well any ideas as this is driving me mad and my son wants my old box to replace his sky plus
Thanks

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Terry brady's 1 post GB flag
A
Alan Maybury
11:33 PM

How can I connect three sky + boxes to one sat dish

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Alan Maybury's 1 post GB flag
S
Stephen P
sentiment_satisfiedGold

11:37 PM

Gordon water in cable perfectly possible.

affeting tuner barely credible.

only affecting AFTER replacement bovine excrement.

Did he leave you with all working or not?

Have you paid him?


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