All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Ellyn: Please excuse if I am getting the wrong end of the stick, but it would appear that you are saying your main TV located downstairs is being used on a Sky HD box which I take it is coupled to the TV via a scart (or HDMI) lead, however the part I cant quite grasp is why you appear to be also feeding the same TV's aerial input from the Sky boxes RF1 analogue output?
It would also appear that the RF2 output on the Sky box is being used (via socket in wall) to supply the distribution amplifier in the loft, and it in turn is being used to feed the two bedrooms to enable them to view the same programme as the main downstairs TV?
If the aforementioned is the case then you have to ensure that both upstairs bedroom TV's are tuned to the channel you have chosen (or otherwise) for the Sky boxes RF output to operate on.
PS: I don't really see where freeview comes in to it? as everything mentioned refers to viewing Sky satellite broadcasts, if however you are meaning that you also have a freeview system running parallel to Sky (downstairs) with a freeview aerial in the loft, then the Sky boxes RF1 or 2 sockets should not be coming into the equation.
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Jenny McCabe: The term "digi box" usually always refers to a Sky satellite device and if this is what you are meaning then it not coming out of standby can indicate that the box is faulty. (affecting some Grundig types in particular)
Try unplugging it from the mains and leaving it about 30 seconds before re-connecting it again, then and after about another 30 seconds try it out, if it doesnt respond its defective.
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Strange fault! but as you report it doesn't happen in a vice versa fashion then that could indicate the problem is with a particular set, so for a test try swapping the sets over and see if the problem also changes place.
Just out of interest what brands are the sets and what method do you use to feed their aerial inputs?
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Jenny McCabe: Yes! best policy as cost wise they aren't really worth fixing as that type of problem usually requires a power unit repair, or worse should it be a main board problem (gives same symptom) the device effectively turns into a bucket job.
That said though, I did mean to qualify my comment insomuch that the "box being faulty" was based on the assumption that the remote control batteries were OK and that you got no response from pressing any of the front panel buttons.
The real test being to unplug the device from the mains, press AND KEEP HOLDING the back up button whilst you reconnect the mains, continue holding for at least another 30 seconds and if inside this time (about 15/20 secs) the four lights on the front panel doesn't come on accompanied by a message on your screen, then you can safely take it as being scrap.
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Not quite sure what's meant by a Maplin fin aerial? however if you have been receiving freeview perfectly OK with your previous set up and you haven't changed anything except for the new TV, then apart from your masthead amp becoming un-powered there is no reason why you shouldn't be getting freeview channels on your new TV.
You should carry out another DVB scan on your TV, but should this still fail to receive any DTT channels purely for test purposes reinstall your set top box coupled into your Samsung via a scart lead, and if this proves to be receiving OK as before then I would suspect a DVB fault on your new set.
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B Saberton: It would appear as though at certain times you are picking up Blackhill's lower powered HD Multiplex on Ch59 at just above the receivability threshold on your equipment with this being where the intermittent aspect of reception is taking place, so rather than carrying out complete scans all the time I would concentrate on carrying out a manual scan on Ch59 every day to observe what changes are taking place.
Also although you have already checked the aerial alignment I would do it again purely on Ch59, because as that's a lower powered multiplex transmitter you want to concentrate on that particular one, albeit this maybe being at the slight expense of some of the other Mux channels.
Your loft aerial at the distance you are from the transmitter should be perfectly OK so long as your loft roof isn't lined with any form of metallic based insulation, and if it isn't then I don't feel that much, if anything, would be gained by moving it elsewhere excepting "maybe" to a facia mount, although even at that any differences noticed are fractional at your distance from the transmitter.
It should be noted that numerous people like yourself (not necessarily posting on this particular site) have problems with reception from Blackhill even at relatively short near line of sight distances, and although quite frequently no official notification of any problems with the transmitter are seen it shouldn't be taken as being the absolute gospel, plus of course it should always be remembered that most of these difficulties will effectively vanish when the MUX's change to full power operation, then possibly the reverse of what's presently complained about is liable to happen, people who upgraded (over!) their aerials might start suffering from signal overload problems.
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Pamela Ruben: Considering you are so close to the Crystal Palace Multiplex transmitters (approx 1 mile) I would think that if any power had been reduced at the station you would hardly notice it, that said though as nothing has been reported power reduction wise I would have a check on the aerial connections to the freeview receiving equipment you are using, also if an indoor aerial is being used (as is likely at distance involved) make sure the direction it faces hasn't been altered.
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Alan - I realise Briantist has been / is advising on this, but going over all the replies you have given plus tests you have tried, it would appear that you are in effect saying that this noise is heard on the second TV from both RF1 and 2 outputs whether or not the eye is there or not.
I haven't seen you mention as to whether or not this second TV works OK on other analogue channels? so maybe you could come back on that point.
Although it would be most beneficial if you could carry out a test using a different 2nd set what you have actually reported could suggest that the problem is originating within your Sky box itself, possibly caused by a faulty modulator albeit this not really a common problem, however if a substitute second set is not available in order to make to make a conclusive test I suggest you take the aerial out of your MAIN TV then couple the Sky boxes RF1 output into the main sets aerial input, after having done that and making sure the main TV is on analogue (if freeview type set) select the Sky boxes RF1 output channel on it to check what result you get direct from the Sky box RF1 output (don't try on RF2 output unless you unpower it via the menu)
If you don't know what the Sky boxes RF1 output channel is just carry out an analogue scan on your main TV to pick it up, you will obviously lose the channels (except Sky box) by doing this but you can always rescan again after test is over.
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Alan: I meant to add that I noticed you had mentioned on a much earlier posting that the second TV is set to channel Ch21 for picking up the Sky boxes RF output, it should be pointed out that its not really advisable to use any bottom end (21/29) or top range (61/68) channels when selecting an RF output channel on a Sky box when there is any doubts about the modulator stability (ref my main posting) as a weak modulator will usually falter at extreme ends of the scale, so I would advise you to use channels within the ranges of about 30-60.
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Sunday 23 January 2011 3:37PM
Jim: Regarding your Humax 9200 freeview box, you simply connect it into your TV's scart 2 input socket and select this input on your TV's remote when you wish to view it, that is assuming that your TV has two scart inputs as you haven't mentioned what you are viewing on.
Regarding the aerial that you have been using for analogue reception, it should be pointed out that aerials don't discriminate in what type of transmission they pick up (analogue or digital) so its just really a case of trying it out on the Humax to see what you can get as if lucky it might well prove to be OK for freeview reception, this of course being totally dependant on where you might be located in relation to the nearest digital multiplex transmitter.
If it transpires that you can only receive a few stations more detailed advice can only be given with more info being provided on your location etc, your local post code (or at least first part of) being of considerable help.