All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
William Floyd: The manual for this model indicates that HD reception is only possible when on Freesat mode, not Freeview. A way to verify if this is correct or not being to have a look at the EPG listings, if 101, (BBC1HD) or 103 ((ITV HD) is not seen? then the set is not fitted with an HD tuner which is necessary to view Talking pictures, as this programme is transmitted on COM7, an HD Multiplex.
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sue watts: If you are intending to run a coax cable from a spare port on the dish, then this "has" (no exceptions) to be connected into a satellite receiver of either the Sky or Freesat variety, as Freeview reception "only" operates on terrestrial based signals.
Although a Freesat receiver (even an HD type) is a relatively low cost device at around 50.00 or so, (Manhattan S2 being in mind) you could if you wish use the new feed from the dish to operate an old Sky box, these available from numerous sources for around 10.00 or so with no Sky viewing card being required, although without same the 101/103 news services will be centred on London, this being the default region on Sky boxes.
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Ed Hopper: Whether to change the polarity of your aerial or not really depends on what you are presently able to view, as reception in the Winchester area is indicated as being a bit patchy dependant on location.
Another factor that has to be taken into account being, are you able to view HD channels on your TV or box? if you are, then can you see 81 (Talking Pictures) and 112 (QVC Beauty) listed in programme guide? both being transmitted on Rowridges newer horizontal (only) COM7 & COM8 HD Muxes at much less power (approx 25Kw) than the other main Multiplexes on horizontal (50Kw), as does the LSO (local) Mux (Thats Solent 8) on an even lower power of only 10Kw.
The point about all this being, if you are presently able to view the aforementioned? changing the polarity of your aerial is likely to result in the signal level received from these Muxes taking a dive to the extent that they drop out of the box, whereas the signal level from the other main non PSB Muxes (COM4/5/6) will rise.
If as you say, you are quite happy with your reception, then you wont actually gain anything by making changes.
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Paul : Now you have proven that the problem referred to is purely confined to your Panasonic Plasma TV, the reception of Sandy's COM5 (C52) and COM6 (C48) Muxes apparently being OK on your smaller set, two possible reasons for this springs to mind.
The first being a glitch having occurred in the tuner. You state (15th @3.49pm) having already tried wiping then rescanning the channels, but did you carry this out using the "shipping condition" reset?, as this procedure is the "only" option available when attempting to overcome tuner glitch problems.
If though the aforementioned was tried, but failed to made any difference, then something you have already touched on might be required, insomuch a software update. The problem there being, that software updates for this model could well have been discontinued due to the age of the TV in question, (dates back to late 2008) a check made by myself not having found any, the only way of finding out for certain being by contacting Panasonic, likewise having sent a request to same to clarify the issue.
That said, irrespective of whether software updates are still available or not, it has to be said, that defects can sometimes occur in a tuner of a non-rectifiable nature.
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Ed Hopper: Thanks for the info. Maybe you could give an update regarding the issue of guide numbers 81 &112 once you have installed your new purchase. Although being able to receive (8) Thats Solent from Rowridges low powered LSO local Mux, indicates that you reside in a favourable location for reception from said station.
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Alex: Sky boxes (all) receive satellite television irrespective of whether a person pays a subscription or not, the latter only enabling you to view programme channels dedicated to the level of subscription you happen to pay.
The only other qualification being, that if the box referred to is of the Sky+ recording variety?, then you can only use this side (recording "and" playback of the box by having subscription, otherwise it performs as a standard device.
You can easily find out what you will, or will not be able to view by running through the programme channels "after" having removed your viewing card, any that requires same triggering a "please insert card" message.
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Alex: In addition to that said. I also meant to mention, that the other purpose served by the viewing card is to ensure that the local news seen on the box is applicable to the area you reside in, this achieved by Sky having programmed data associated with your post code into the viewing card when you first joined Sky, otherwise the local news service on a Sky box minus the card is that of the default region of London.
However, nothing to worry about there, as Sky subscription viewing cards automatically revert into being a standard viewing card when the subscription is cancelled, the card obviously remaining in the box.
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scott ashworth: Retunes should never be carried out simply because a picture happens to be breaking up, or indeed has vanished altogether, as all retuning does is to wipe out everything already stored in the tuner, the content of being difficult to recover if the level of the signal being received is on the weak side, i.e: not high enough for the tuner to lock onto.
The signal level received in your particular area possibly being somewhat lower anyway irrespective of any power reduction at Winter Hill, (albeit this makes matters worse) as the terrain indicator shows that the signal from same suffers from three line-of-sight obstructions within 2.5mls of your location, the largest of being approx 1 mile wide @ 0.5 miles from said location, obstructions always having a greater effect on reception the nearer they are to the receiving end of the equation.
The only option you now have of recovering the missing channels is by carrying out frequent retunes, hopefully returning during one of the retunes.
On the subject of Winter Hill. Time factors associated with "possible weak signal" notices are impossible to determine, especially if the work being carried out is connected in any way with the mast, such as the greasing of the guy lines, as it all depends on weather conditions.
Although even if not connected with the mast, the work might involve working "at times" in close proximity to high powered RF equipment, the blanket "weak signal" warning covering any occasion a power reduction might be required.
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Paul: Well, purchasing a Freesat HD receiver or even a PVR model of same, would certainly be a less costly way of solving your problems over that of replacing the TV, especially if a dish is already installed in your flat, and you are otherwise satisfied with the performance of the TV as far as its picture / audio quality etc is concerned.
Panasonic have not as yet got back to me re my query on software updates, although even if they are still available? I do have my doubts if installing same would make any difference to the situation, as COM5/6 is technically the same as COM4, you not having reported any problems with the latter, therefore, my suspicion based on this being that the problem is possibly down to a defective tuner, unusual, but not by any means unheard of.
Of course, all said is also based on the fact of you having reported that reception is perfectly OK on the other smaller TV, that is when the Panasonic's aerial connector is removed from the rear of same and plugged into the small set.
However, purely out of curiosity, as you have mentioned flat, its assumed that the problem referred to is not being experienced by anyone else? Another aspect I wondered about being, is the wall at the rear of your Panasonic that of a dividing one between two properties?.
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Sunday 15 November 2015 5:27PM
Paul: In addition to that said. With reference to your latest update, if the small TV performed OK when connected into the same outlet socket / jumper lead from used by your main Plasma set, then try resetting the Plasma using the "shipping condition" facility as seen on page 36 of your manual, should you still have it!