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All posts by MikeB

Below are all of MikeB's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.


s hirons: Since there doesn't seem to be any problems with the transmitter, you need to check for a problem with your aerial system.

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ka-ja: Considering the fact that the total cost of on screen talent is actually a relatively small percentage of the total BBC budget, how would they save 'a fortune'?

And if they didn't have former footballers (and its not just football - former professionals are a staple of all sporting commentary), who would they employ? People found propping up a bar with an opinion? Random passersby? You?

I couldn't care less about football, or pretty much all sport, for that matter. But if there is going to be sports coverage, isn't it a better idea to employ someone who actually knows something about it to talk about it?


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Hani: When new TV's come out, the software should normally be updated automatically, especially since most are now smart. However, you can get software problems with some - Samsung had some problems two years ago, which were quickly patched.

However, if different makes of TV's/PVR's etc are all having the same problem, then its not you, its the trasnmitted signal, which is what it seemed to be in this case.

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james : If its that bad, why not just go Freesat?

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Trevor Harris: There already is a system for HD music - its called the internet. And why would I want to listen to HD music via the average radio speaker anyway?

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Chris Salmon: Follow Mike advice, and try disconnecting it from the mains for a couple of minutes. If it doesn't power up properly after that, then give up.

I used to have one of those, and it would lock very occasionally. But as Mike says, if its gone, then its gone. They are very cheap to replace, and my advice would be either to upgrade to an HD box (about 43 quid), which would allow you to watch more channels, even if you only have an old school SD TV, and of course HD if you have an HDMI equiped TV.

Or just go for a PVR, which should have two tuners.

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J Martin: Gee, thanks for that word salad

In fact you can listen on LW, FM, DAB or internet - its up to the individual. But if you want to listen to HD Audio, its not going to be on analogue.

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Peter Toye: at800 are know to be fairly cautious - a couple of years back I got a card, even though the possibility of having a problem was very remote. So its more an automatic thing, just in case. However, if people do have a problem, they can always get a filter free.

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dale: I've got one of the HD boxes, from Manhattan. Its OK (and came with an HDMI lead), but it does tend to lock up, etc, so you sometimes need to just pull the power lead out to get it to reset. Which is why its 43 pounds!

If your looking for a PVR, they should all be HD these days, and you can kill two birds with one stone.

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John King: Sandy Heath seems to be fine, and its certainly not atmospherics - if it was, I'd be hit as well.

Start with the basics - whats the signal strength like? And what sort of aerial are you using? If your starting to lose a mux, see if that is unusually low strength wise. It could be all the muxes are less than great, but we dont notice until one goes. If thats the case, then trace back the signal from the TV. A classic is the fly lead at the back - is it lose or damaged? Its a cheap and easy hit to replace it, and if you've still got a problem, then you can discount it.

Could be the aerial itself - everything degrades, and it could be that it needs replacement.

If the strength is very high, then that blanking out can also occur, because its overloading the tuner. If its too much, thats an easy fix.

And then there is interfrence from elsewhere - a dodgy thermostat, a cordless phones charger, etc. Might be next door, and their equipmnet - some time back it was reported by someone that there was interference from a next door neighbours Virgin box. Does it happen at any particular time, etc?

Again, changing the fly lead for something with better shielding can help - you might not be able to stop the rain, but you can get an umbrella. But hopefully you can track down the problem.

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