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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.


Nedbod: You complained about the BBC puling the Iplayer radio app about 3 weeks ago (using pretty much the same words), but I pointed out at the time that the BBC must know exactly how many users of the app there. Its an on demand service, and they can easily monitor the number of IP addresses accessing the site, downloading data, etc.

Since relatively few people use their TV's to listen to DAB radio, the number of people using the app must be tiny, and since there is a cost invovled to support the app for the TV platform, its simply not cost effective.

If they did support the app, people would no doubt criticise them for wasting money on something that was barely used (rather like the provision of LW, which must be at least £100 per year per listener, yet shouts go up should it be withdrawn). Seemingly they cannot win.

If you've bought a TV from a decent brand in the last year or two, I can assure you that it does have a webbrowser. The £15 you've spent on cables is relatively low, considering you can spend £85 on one HDMI cable if you wish, and c.£600 for a new Smart TV, Humax recorder and cables is hardly excessive.

Try via the browser, and if you do go down the tablet route, I saw a link the other day to Argo's outlet shop on Ebay - Samsung refurbed Galaxy Tab's for £59.

You may want to use the app, but if nobody else is, what are the BBC to do? In exactly the same way, you might demand that the music industry release all albums on 8 track, because thats what you have in your car. You can ask, but its unlikely to happen.




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Untitled
Friday 8 August 2014 5:39PM

Margaret Shaw: Nothing has reported with regards to the transmitters, so the most likely problem is a loose or corroded connection, or water getting into the system somehow, and killing the signal until it drys out. Since the signal is lost on both TV's, you can assume that any problem is 'upstream' of where the signal splits.

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Full technical details of Freeview
Saturday 9 August 2014 5:46PM

P Stoney: Have to tried checking your aerial lead? It sounds stupid, but a loose or fallen out aerial lead is a favourite problem. If they are fine, then start checking upstream - is probably a broken or loose lead/connection.

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John Martin: Unfortunately life is like that - its the Benthamite 'greatest good of the greatest number'. In fact the BBC indulgies minorities more than most - look at BBC4, LW, etc. Certainly not a lot of money there.

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Full technical details of Freeview
Wednesday 13 August 2014 7:54PM

simon: Since my kids have just been watching Tv using Waltham, and there has been nothing reported, logically its at your end. Could be a frayed cable which has finally let go, moisture in the system somewhere, etc.

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Full technical details of Freeview
Thursday 14 August 2014 10:39AM

graham: If your getting a signal to your TV via a digibox, check that the scart leads are connected properly - on scarts, if one or two pins are not connecting properly, thats what happens.

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Full technical details of Freeview
Thursday 14 August 2014 10:46AM

Jo: A postcode would be a big help, since we'd know which transmitter your using, and see if it had a problem.

You shouldn't have retuned, since the TV cannot find anything, even if your system starts working again, but the first thing to do is to check your aerial system.

If your TV has 'no signal', thats the TV doing its job - its telling your your aerial isn't working. Start with the aerial lead, and work back to the aerial itself if possible. It could be no more than the aerial lead is loose or has fallen out, but if you see nothing wrong, trace the signal as far as you can. Its likely something has broken, moisture is in the cable, etc. Since you say other sockets are not working, that points to the problem being before or at the split (powered splitter failed?).

If your arial is on the roof, and you can't get access, you'll have to call someone out. Remember no 0800 or mobile only numbers, and since you can buy a whole system for a round £150-200, thats a guide as to how much you should pay. If someone says you need a 'digital aerial', then they are talking rubbish, there is no such thing.

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Max: Although your only 32km from the transmitter, there is something blocking the signal path 1-3km away from your position. It could be that you've also got a problem with your aerial, and its dropping out the Com 7 channels, which are weaker anyway.

Tom: You've given no indication of your position, so there is not a lot that can be said, other than the obvious - check your aerial system, because the TV is telling you there is a problem getting any signal at all. Since Sandy Heath has no reported faults, the problem is likely to be at your end.

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BBC iPlayer | Watch TV online
Friday 15 August 2014 6:03PM

harry atkins: How are you getting Iplayer? Via a TV, a tablet, PC or games machine, etc? You need to give more information.

Unless you are trying to say that your not getting a TV signal, in which case you need to give more information, including a postcode.

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