All posts by MikeB
Below are all of MikeB's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Michael Dalton:
If you have Sky plus, then a simple swapout for a Freesat box will allow you to record, but Freeview is available on far more recorders, and its standard to use the TV's internal tuner to watch, while recording on the two tuners in the PVR.
Please get a recorder, rather than just relying on Iplayer, etc. Not everything is available on streaming services (and if it is, then often only for a week), its dependent on your broadband speed, and a capped download package might give you very little left over after watching a couple of programmes.
Steve P has suggested some options, but there are others which are probably easier and/or cheaper.
The first is to buy a PVR with Iplayer, etc. The Humax T2 is currently about £180 on the High Street, and has that. You can make it wifi for about £29 (Powerline, etc can also be used). The Youview box has all 4 channels on demand, but is not wifi capable at present. About £225 on the High Street.
The next option is to buy a cheap Blu-Ray player thats come out in 2012/3 - £59.95 for the basic Samsung 5100. No wifi (and not capable) and 2D, Samsung has all 4 channels on demand. Such players are all smart, and is the cheapest way to make your TV smart as well. Panasonic, Sony & LG will just have Iplayer at present, but otherwise very similar. Expect to pay about £99 for a wifi model.
Panasonic and Samsung also do machines which are both Blu-Ray players and recorders - so smart as well - about £299.
Steve did suggest the PC/tablet option - you can plug one in via an HDMI, or stream via Apple TV/Roku. Plugging it in is a bit of a pain, but is at least very cheap.
What is the make/model of your TV? It might have some of the functions already.
| link to this comment |
Brian Greensides: Just looking at your 30/9 post, the fact that bypassing the amp seemed to cure the problem makes me think it was my now standard reply to reception problems - too much signal!
Although your a fair distance from the transmitter, power levels seem to have gone up recently, and so 70% strength, 100% quality sounds perfect.
| link to this comment |
mark: Your in North Norfolk, which is always a problem for TV reception, and according to the terrain plot, you've got something blocking the signal about 3-5km away no matter which transmitter you use.
Your licence allows you to own/watch TV, it does not mean your going to get a decent signal - thats geography and physics. My advice - go Freesat.
| link to this comment |
rob: have a look at the differences:
Detailed comparison Freeview/Sky | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice
Personally, I'm not sure the extra channels on the Sky package are anything to get excited about ('Holiday & Cruise'?), and your paying £25 if you've still using Sky equipment, and £175 as a one off if you dont (and £50 if you move).
I cant see if you can record, but if they charge you a tenner a month for that as well, your talking £150 pa. You can buy a cheap Freesat PVR for that.
| link to this comment |
M. Reeves - check your signal strength. Although there is a weaker signal because of engineering work, there seems to be a rise in strength after such work, and your signal could be too high.
A postcode would allow us to check where you are, terrain, etc, but the other thing could be that your signal is just about OK normally, but with a weaker signal, it just drops off. North Norfolk is a right pain for reception, so try looking at both too weak and too strong a signal.
| link to this comment |
Steve: Look at your terrain plot - there is something in the way about 15-18km from you. There are no engineering or other problems with the transmitter.
Start by putting to one side possible causes. Are the aerials/cables actually connected properly? Are they old, or portables? Are they in a loft? What is the signal strength - very low, or going from low to high (too much signal). It could be your all having the same problem, or it could be your having different problems at the same time!
| link to this comment |
HoodedOracle: There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the transmitter, and in fact after engineering the signal power tends to go up, to the point where its often too much.
Your only 24km from the transmitter, so low signal is unlikely to be a problem. You should get something at least, even with engineering work.
I'd check the signal chain, starting from your TV and work backwards. Aerials might not suddenly stop working, but cables can, etc.
| link to this comment |
Thursday 19 September 2013 10:27PM
Donna: Which transmitter are you tuned into? Huntshaw Cross is a full transmitter, and your so close (just 4km), the signal must be really strong. I'm surprised your TV hasn't got too strong a signal (could have been the source of your sound problems?). If you cannot find it on scan, you can try a manual scan - its on RF Channel 50 for the BBC.
One of the reception gurus might be able to give more help.