All posts by MikeB
Below are all of MikeB's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
walter: You can believe that if you want, but its like believing we are all perfectly logical, unbiased and don't respond to emotion - none of these things are true. And of course even if you are only buying what you need, the shop or manufacturer of that product uses part of the money they get for their advertising budget. One way or another, your paying for commercial TV.
If everyone could pay a fee if they want, and possibly a token one at that, how would that actually work? Sky doesn't do that, and neither does Virgin - you pay what they demand. Since you cannot block someone from picking up a TV or radio signal, how is that supposed to work for the BBC?
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Dave: To follow on from Brian's answer, can I ask why you bought a scart/hdmi adapter?
It would help to have the make/model of the TV and VCR/DVD combi, but pretty much every TV still has an analogue input somewhere, even if its slightly obscure.
The VCR/DVD combi sounds like it might have a Freeview tuner, in which case all it needs to do is to be connected to the aerial (if it doesn't, then you could use the old freeview box). The old TV and digibox disappear, and the new TV connects via some sort of adapter (often in the box). Even the latest 4K TV still has RGB on the back (which often double up as RCA's), and an adapter for scart/RGB can be had for less than a fiver from Amazon InLine
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Ivan Marriott: To follow up JB38's excellent advice, this is an old problem. I also use Waltham, and when I used a cheap Goodmans digibox (which didn't manually tune), it would pick up Belmont first, since both transmitters are broadly in the same direction.
It sounds like your TV is doing the normal automatic rescan, but has accidently found Belmont.
You should certainly do as JB38 says, but if Belmont still comes up, then blank out the tuner again, and then leave the aerial lead unconnected for about the first 40% of the scan, and then put it back in. Hopefully it should then pick up just Waltham. It used to take me about 3 tries to catch it, so my advice is never retune if you can avoid it!
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dave: Ok - she had the VCR rigged up using the freeview box as a digital source (which is a PITA), and then that fed the CRT - the aerial to the TV was kind of redundant.
The TV has at least Freeview, so the existing setup could continue. Now I have to admit as to having zero experience with that brand, so I have no idea what is on the back of it. If it has a manual, then look to see what connections it has. Its got 2 HDMI's, but almost certainly (for a TV from that brand and price) it should have either RCA phonos or RGB. If its either, you have zero need of that box. If it does not, I'd try to return the TV, since you spent 50 pounds or more trying to make that TV work, whereas I'm fairly sure I could find you a better TV for less than you paid for both, with a lot less hassle.
Yes, that box will work, because its basically taking a feed from the VCR (which is itself taking a feed from the digibox), converting it from analogue (which the digibox had converted from digital) to an digital form and a connection which you know the TV has.
To be perfectly honest, its not an elegant solution. If she really does need a video recorder, then she is going to have to put up with the existing setup, or find a digital one somewhere second hand, which would at least get rid of the digibox, and hopefully would have an HDMI on it.
Or scrap the lot and get a modern decent PVR with HDMI (Humax or Panasonic) - easier, and you'll be out perhaps another 80 notes after taking back the scart/HDMI adapter.
Best thing - look at the back and the manual, and tell us what you see. For purely academic interest, could I ask how much you paid for the TV and the convertor?
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Rekha Sharma: Pretty much all modern PVR's are HD with twin tuners - Humax or panasonic would be my recommendations. 130-250 would be the price range, with about 180 being average. These will often now have wifi and are of course smart.
I'm on Waltham, and I'm certainly getting 108 and CBS Drama, so check your signal strength.
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John Rowson: If your getting 'no signal', then the TV/box is telling you just that. BBC channels might be OK (although since we have no idea where you live or what transmitter your using, we cannot really say), but it sounds like you have a problem with your aerial system - most likely a damaged cable, etc. If BBC signals are strongest, than they might still just about work, whereas the rest have gone kaput. If its the trasnsmitter, you can ask people nearby, and can check the state of the transmitter by looking on this site.
Dont retune - if everything was fine before, it will essentially 'untune' your set, which makes things worse. Instead, check signal strength on all muxes - if the BBC ones are just holding on, then its an aerial system problem. Follow the signal path back from the TV. It could be as simple as a lose or duff aerial lead - which are cheap to swap out. If that doesn't work, follow it up. If its on the roof, then most likely you'll need a professional to look.
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Ted Boller: Most sets these days auto scan for new channels, so its likely that its just appeared on peoples EPG. Thinking about it, its a bit of a climbdown for C5, which had refused to HD their channel on terrestial for years, so perhaps they are not shouting about it for that reason! Of course there isn't that much I'd like to watch on C5, HD or not....
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alexei romanov: Last August, you complained about signal problems and not getting BBC.
I replied 'However, a decent bet is that your aerial has a problem, perhaps a frayed cable, etc. Check your signal strength (obviously make sure your tuned to the transmitter your meant to be) - and then check your system. It might be something as simple as a loose or broken aerial lead from the back of the set.'
You concluded it was engineering work. Now your system has died. My advice still applies.
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Wednesday 11 May 2016 6:05PM
Christopher Wilton: Why would that particular mux be hit, and why for so long? I suspect you might have a dodgy wire somewhere.