All posts by Les Nicol
Below are all of Les Nicol's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
P>s> Mike, the 100% should show on eg: BBC 1.which is on a higher powered transponder. This will give you a somewhat lower reading om True Movies on the lower powered transponder but give you a stable and perfectly acceptable picture. Apologies if I am confusing you a bit, I was assuming that you readings were from diagnostics whilst you were tuned to a receivable channel.
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Briantist and any one else interested who currently has a Humax DTR. - "What Satellite" September' issue. - Turn Your Humax Freesat-DTR into a media Powerhouse and more........Page25; gives a walk through on downloading and installing firmware and a 10 package bundle of software,that extends the functionality of the receiver by some measure.
Needs a reasonable level of IT knowledge to undertake but,not of an "Expert" to set this up. So will be within the scope of most users. Certainly does what it says and comes with individual un-installers for each of the packages where one might want to remove any or all of them.
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Briantist - Mike Dimmick - There was an article in last weeks Dumfries & Galloway Courier where discusion regarding a re-drawing of the ITV franchise lines eg:- STV North, East,West and a new South area to take in the Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway. Whilst the only Scottish Tory MP David Mundwll, is opposed to this, there seems support from the SNP qho are looking for control of broadcasting Scotland wide. As it seems likely that Westminster are likely to devolve other centralised areas of government to Holyrood, in Edinburgh, I wonder if this will be one of them??
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Briantist:- Scottish Border's ITV area. Can't see there being much of a loss to ITV in this one, as much of their programming is networked through STV currently and I can't see that changing. What an STV South component would do is improve news and current affairs output that would be more focused to Scottish issues in this area, rather than what we get here currently, resulting from the amalgam of Border and Tyne Tees with minimul newa and current affairs outputted from Newcastle.
Like the the wider question of Independance from the UK, I don't think there is any appetite here by the electorate for Broadcasting to have any major change by control moving to Scotland. However on a personal level I didn't think that the SNP would be in the political position they are up here as of the last elections. So I have to conclude "Never say Never" !
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Mark Aberfan - KB Aerials - Being located in the Scottish Borders area unless one can receive Selkirk or Caldbeck, it seems that much of what I posted earlier regarding "Freeview" Lite is being confirmed. We were the first area to go digital and it has very much registered, although not at the start, that "Freesat" is the better option unless of course viewers that can afford to line Murdochs, pockets further, opt for SKY.
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Briantist - KB Aerials Sheffield. Info/advertising on the rolling Digital Switch Over program. I would go along with your comments on this, However There could have been more up front info on channel choice reduction if served by "Lite" transmitters and the alternative cable - if available - or satellite reception options setting out the cost implications of Pay Per View services against the "Freesat" option.
See Mark Aberfan's post on 15th of September and mine of 16th under "What Price for an Aerial installation".
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Brian - Now here's an interesting story that brought a smile to me and other locals. - My local Pub/Restaurant decided to cancel SKY put in principally for customers following sport; this after their monthly subs had reached the somewhate staggering some of £830.
During the period of notice the landlord had a phone call from SKY to say that an offical would be making a visit to the premises regarding the illegal showing of SKY on the premises. The agent duly turned up and met with the landlord who was able to provide the confirmation of notice of termination condirmed by SKY in witing covering the dates were it was alleged breach of contract.
This matter closed.
However, there was further persual where SKY presented him with an outstanding bill for one pence arrears. The Landlord had paid his account in full and again the evidence on paper and through Bank statemnets to prove settlement in full and simply ignored the demand.
This was followed up by another notifcation advising that they would pursue settlement through the courts. This eventuially ended up in the local Sheriff court. - Outcome £360 awarded to the Landlord with a follow up cheque for £37. I've seen both cheques which came from a SKY Subscibers Payment Account - Now that'sw "Justice4" !!!!
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Ian Turpin - Either way you will be on safe ground as far as the survival of the platforms are concerned. You can get a modern LCD/LED TV with both tuners onboard. A "Freesat" or "Freeview" PVR will give you more flexibility.
If You are served by a "Freeview Lite" transmitter then "Freesat" is the better option.
Although "Freesat" is a relatively new platform - not a Broadcaster as such - but providing an EPG it is backed by the BBC and ITV and it's more than meeting expectations as far as take up is concerned.
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Brian -
Manhattan Plaza HDR-S Out December.
Our goal with the product is to target the normal person with a non-motorised dish that wants to benefit from all that freesat and the other FTA channels that ASTRA 28.2 has to offer. Ill try and describe some more of the product for you:
- Unlike most TV recorders the Plaza HDR-S is whisper quiet in operation due to its fanless design and use of the latest hard disk technology from Western Digital. It is also extremely compact in size (W280mm, D170mm, H40mm).
- The Plaza HDR-S keeps things organised for you by automatically grouping your recordings by series. The channel banner allows you to see up to 24 hours ahead so you dont have to leave watching live TV to see whats on later.
- You can create a list of your favourite channels and then easily find what you want to watch using the dedicated button on the remote to either show only those channels in the Programme Guide or cycle thru your favourite channels using the Channel Banner.
- If over 150 Freesat channels are not enough the Plaza HDR-S can automatically add hundreds more non-Freesat channels. Combine them with freesat channels on your favourites list for true power viewing.
- Make a direct digital connection to your HDTV using HDMI for perfect picture and sound or use the digital optical audio output to connect to an external sound system. Those with older equipment havent been forgotten as the HDR-S boasts both twin SCART outputs and left/right analog audio outputs too. The ethernet port connects the Plaza HDR-S to your network and theres a USB port for offline updates.
There will be 320GB and 500GB models available and they will be priced significantly below the competition.
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Wednesday 31 August 2011 8:46PM
Mike Ford - The channels mentioned are on a lower powered Transpoder and can be subject to picture break up or loss of picture where the dish may have moved with wind strength slightly or in heavy rainfall. Your signal strength and quality shown is normally quite acceptable, but the dish really needs to be configured (peaked) on true movies and I think you then should find your diagnostics registering 100 per cent on both signal and PQ (Picture quality). I would check your connections to the receiver first as dusting, moving the receiver,can see them come loose, particularly where the screw on Sat Cable connectors are fitted rather than the compression terminations that are totally secure. Also visually check for changes in the dish line of sight to the Satellite cluster, such as trees in leave and increased growth.