My Freeview box has no EPG, is blank on FIVE, ITV3, ITV4, ITV2+1, has no sound o
To deal with the problem you must clear the channel list completely and then rescan - if your box has it in the menus, please the 'installation menu' to do an initial scan or a reset to factory settings or First Time Installation. You MUST delete the entire existing list of channels. On most boxes this technique can be also be used:
Try this:
1) unplug your Freeview box (or idTV) from the mains;
2) unplug the aerial from the Freeview box by disconnecting the cable from the 'RF in' socket;
3) wait 30 seconds;
4) plug Freeview box (or idTV) mains back in;
5) do a complete scan for channels - it will fail without the aerial. (This may be in the installation or initialization menu, and is distinct from any 'add channels option'). Once this is done your channel line up should be empty;
6) reinsert aerial by reconnecting to the 'RF in' connection;
7) do a complete scan for channels again.
The Freeview channel line-up provided by six "multiplexes" - each of which carry five or more TV channels, radio channels, text services and EPG data. In this diagram each ROW represents a multiplex. If you are still missing a whole multiplex (ie everything on the row) you may need to replace your aerial with a wideband type, purchase a larger aerial or you may have interference from a VCR, games console, Sky Digibox or similar.
7:20 PM
jb38: Thank you for this detailed reply. I did restore the set to "shipping condition" and no change after re scan. The baffling thing is the good channels are very good indeed! Maximum signal strength and signal quality. the bad channels are all alike too, maximum signal strength, 0-2 signal quality. This varies a lot over the course of the day but at no time are the bad channels unaffected for more than a few minutes. I tried attenuating the signal strength, no change there either. It's a pain in the arse as this big Panasonic took a lot of heave hoing to get here. My guess is that I've been ""updated"" into obsolescence. It all began with those fancy adverts for Freeview Play. I can remember thinking. "Oh dear, why do they have to tinker with something that has seemed almost too good to be true for 5 years. This is going to cost me!"
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12:45 AM
jb38: The +1 stations are now at rock bottom on the quality scale. Dave is but a distant memory and Yesterday is just that! My viewing pleasure has been reduced by about half since the beginning of November. Looks like Freeview has left me behind. So hello Freesat? I have a dish on the outside of my flat, still wired up. At least satellite signals are good just about everywhere. I wonder if this isn't all a plot to drive us into the clutches of Murdoch? I do know he hates the idea of free tv.
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8:10 AM
Paul: Of course I could just get rid of the tv and start reading again. This may be the best thing that's happened to me in years. Interesting to note that my mobile signal has suffered too, virgin mobile, they use the Orange masts. This part of Bucks/Beds has always been a poor signal area MK17 8. Things have simply got worse over the years.
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8:14 AM
Paul: Well, purchasing a Freesat HD receiver or even a PVR model of same, would certainly be a less costly way of solving your problems over that of replacing the TV, especially if a dish is already installed in your flat, and you are otherwise satisfied with the performance of the TV as far as its picture / audio quality etc is concerned.
Panasonic have not as yet got back to me re my query on software updates, although even if they are still available? I do have my doubts if installing same would make any difference to the situation, as COM5/6 is technically the same as COM4, you not having reported any problems with the latter, therefore, my suspicion based on this being that the problem is possibly down to a defective tuner, unusual, but not by any means unheard of.
Of course, all said is also based on the fact of you having reported that reception is perfectly OK on the other smaller TV, that is when the Panasonic's aerial connector is removed from the rear of same and plugged into the small set.
However, purely out of curiosity, as you have mentioned flat, its assumed that the problem referred to is not being experienced by anyone else? Another aspect I wondered about being, is the wall at the rear of your Panasonic that of a dividing one between two properties?.
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9:35 AM
jb38: In addition to that said, a signal check carried out a few minutes ago up in Stamford, indicated Sandy's COM4 / 5 & 6 as being perfectly normal, ie: 90% strength / 100% quality, although COM 5's quality does have a tendency to fluctuate between 85% and 100% now and again, something not terribly unusual, as reception of C52 in this area is known to drop off quite considerably during summer months.
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4:41 PM
jb38: I am not disputing the signal strength. What I am saying is that something in the nature of the information my tv is receiving has changed. Why should half the stations have perfect quality and the other half next to none? If they all come from the same transmitter? Only certain wavelengths seem to be affected.
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5:07 PM
Paul: when you got an aerial man out to check your tv what did he say was the problem?
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8:42 PM
Mazbar: I'd love to hear what the problem is as well! My only thought was that a cable had been damaged in such a way to kill certain muxs, but being perfect on others. It would be nice to have a solution to the mystery.
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12:13 AM
Paul : I was in no way inferring that the signal strength was being disputed!, as well as the fact of me being fully aware that the issue is with the quality of the signal and not its strength, having only reported the strength & quality of the signal received from the muxes in question in the Stamford area being purely for information purposes.
However, and although a long shot, the reason for me having enquired as to whether or not the problem is also being experienced by anyone else in the area is based on "flat" having been mentioned, and the fact of interference possibly emanating from another same located nearby in the same property.
As although instances of TV reception problems being caused by interference radiated from equipment used in an adjoining property is somewhat rare, it does on occasions exist, said interference being of the nature of only affecting some channels.
The other aspect about interference of this nature (direct injection) being, that it mostly only affects TV's of the older variety with insufficient screening of the sensitive areas of the PCB circuitry, newer models being superior in this respect.
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3:27 PM
jb38: Coo, direct injection interference, that is something I have yet to rule out. I must admit, interference did occur to me as a possible cause. I will try turning this beast to a different angle and see if that has an effect. It is like a rabbit warren here, more like a bee hive to be honest! Anything could be getting to my distinguished old Panasonic. I did change all my lights to LEDs. Hmm
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