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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.

M
Connecting it all up | Installing
Friday 25 August 2017 12:04PM
Peterborough

Julia Neal: Following on from Stevens advice, are you sure that the TV has no scarts or other analogue inputs at all? I'd be surprised if it didn't, especially if it was a 40in.

Although its a cheapish supermarket brand, I'd be surprised is there wasn't what are called RCA's (yellow, red, white) connections, which can be converted into a scart connection. Give us the model and we should be able to tell you.

If you have something with an HDMI, then, as Steve says, use that. But if it isn't, there still should be a chance to connect up an older Sky box.

And the TV already had a digital tuner - you dont need to buy another digibox, unless it hasn't got an HD tuner (if your not getting BBC1 HD, then you dont). An HD box (which what I use) should be no more than 40 pounds.

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M
Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmitter
Friday 25 August 2017 12:06PM
Peterborough

John Dawson: Steve's right - we have no idea if you can actually pick up a transmitter that carries that channel.

I've got the same box, and it works fine - have you read the instructions?

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M
Vintage TV
Saturday 26 August 2017 5:50PM
Peterborough

Anita Jones:Are you still tuned to the correct transmitter, and have you checked singal strength?

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M
I have a Panasonic TV with integrated Freeview how can I record
Monday 28 August 2017 5:06PM
Peterborough

Eluned Jones: If you cant get any channels on it from an aerial, check that its getting a proper signal (check your TV - if it is, then the aerial is working), and then check that the box isn't faulty. If you put your postcode into this site, you will see what sort of signal, etc you should be getting - I notice its often sold with indoor aerials - they are generally not very effective, and there that might be a reason for you not getting any signal, if you are using one.

Try using it at someone else's house - if your not getting a signal there either its the box and get your money back.

Having looked up that box on the net, it looks, to be honest, like rubbish. If you spent 25 on it, and you get it working, thats not too bad. But there is a reason why a decent PVR costs a lot more. Personally, I'd advise you to get one of these:
https://www.johnlewis.com…9313

A Humax under the bonnet, smart, 2 HD tuners and a 500gb HDD. Costs more, but a much better product. Or, if you still have your Sky dish, just use a Freesat PVR, also from Humax.

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M
True Entertainment
Monday 28 August 2017 5:10PM
Peterborough

Keith: Since there is this thing called Google, which would have taken you to the UK TV website, and then too the various channels, which tell you about streaming their stuff :


Channel Home | UKTV Play


, but instead you come on this this site, but to aa differnet webpage from the one you were asking about, and then moan that 'is this an info site only, if it is its as much usse as a chocolate teapot' - the answer to your question is obvious.

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M
Chudleigh (Devon, England) Freeview Light transmitter
Monday 28 August 2017 5:15PM
Peterborough

Daniel Smith: Your equipment might have done an automatic retune, and found the relay by accident - in which case do a manual retune. But since you've apparently done that, check which channels/muxes you get. Make sure you know which transmitter your getting.

If your getting the muxes you'd expect to get on Beacon Hill, check which transmitter it is. If it is Beacon Hill, then something is up with your system, and you losing the bulk of the muxes.

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M
Full technical details of Freeview
Thursday 31 August 2017 2:18PM
Peterborough

George: You could just go to a pound shop and buy another aerial lead - if you then get all the channels you should do (your in SW4, so that should be the full set), then you know it was rubbish aerial lead. If not, then the problem is further up the chain.

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M
When you can't quite hear the TV, subtitles are critical
Thursday 31 August 2017 2:20PM
Peterborough

Sharon Smith: I'm sure that the bulk of stuff on Iplayer has subtitles - just go to the settings. And if you've got a smart TV and the internet, you should have zero problems in connecting it up.

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M
Tacolneston (Norfolk, England) Full Freeview transmitter
Thursday 31 August 2017 2:33PM
Peterborough

Christopher Webber: I'm not that techincal, but I've sold TV's for some years, and I've seen all the arguments before on this site, over and over again.

As for your rephrasing of conned - who conned you? Whether you'd actually needed a new aerial is a moot point - a lot of people were fooled into getting a new 'digital' aerial, even though their existing one worked fine. In my case, the house I just moved into had an aerial which was about to fall apart anyway, as it turned out, which explained the need to buy a new aerial in any case.

Did you actually need a new STB? If it was a 2K model, then yes. But other than that - no. And while I was more than happy to sell people new TV's during DSO, there was not votal need to do so - as long as it could be fitted with a STB (and they all could), you were fine.

People complained about what they needed to replace, but in reality they generally didn't unless the thing wasn't working in the first place. The only exception was probably the VCR, which Digital UK explained was something people tended to forget about. So the analogue ones obviously did need changing, although even then you could fit one with a cheap STB, although it was a pain to use.

Digital UK sent everyone a decent booklet answering the major questions - if people then ignored it, thats not their fault.

'One point I have to bring you up on, you mentioned 'how would encryption work for radio) - As you must surely be aware, no TV licence is required for Radio, so no encryption would even be required. '

But BBC radio still has to be paid for - how do you do that? Adverts simply would result in the bankruptcy of the commercial stations, so thats not going to happen. Subscription? How? Internet, maybe, but broadcasting - no chance.

And even if people were willing to pay, how do you stop people who hadn't paid listening to it?

2018? Actually, some might need another aerial - and will no doubt endlessly complain about it.

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M
When you can't quite hear the TV, subtitles are critical
Thursday 31 August 2017 8:11PM
Peterborough

Sharon smith: If your on Freeview, its as simple as pressing the 'subtitle' button on your TV - the bulk of BBC programmes (even the news - although its automatic system is a bit hit and miss) will have them. The same goes for, I assume, the otjher PSB broadcasters - its a rule.

The other channels, maybe - its a frequent complaint but its do with cash, and the fact that they are not compelled to do it - the costs outweigh the extra viewers.

I just check on Iplayer via an Xbox, and looking randomly at the series 'Worlds Busiest Cities' that was on BBC2 last night, it clearly has a control called 'S' for subtitles to be switched on. And from using Iplayer at other times, it usually seems to have one, as far as I can remember. I havn't checked ITV, C4 or C5 - give it a go.

If you can't get Iplayer on your smart TV, tell us the make/model and your internet setup and we'll see if we can help.

If your friends are paying extra for this FREE service, something very strange is happening....

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