All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
johnmc: That model of TV is a dual standard type with an analogue tuner as well as a Freeview one, but as was mentioned by Dave Lindsay has to be set on analogue to be able to pick up the Sky boxes RF modulator, the analogue mode being selected by pressing the button that's usually located underneath No (9) button on the remote control, likewise pressing it again when you want to return to Freeview.
If though this is a new installation then you will have to go into the Toshiba's analogue tuning menu and carry out a channel scan to enable the Toshiba to find the Sky boxes RF output automatically, then once done you can allocate the Sky boxes position "on the TV" to programme position (1) or indeed any position you wish.
The only point I wondered about being, that when you had said that the magic eye worked on the downstairs TV was this just for a test as its intended to be used on the 32C3035D?
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D Ruff: With regards to your TV losing channels after having been switched off, then this is usually caused by the TV trying to store more channels than its memory capacity is capable of doing, hence when the set is unpowered they drop out.
The only way to get around that problem is by either carrying out a "factory reset" on the TV this sometimes called "default setting" on some devices, or alternatively proceeding as though you were going to carry out another auto-tune but exiting it as soon as you press "search" or "scan", as that wipes out anything stored in the memory without upsetting any other settings, but no matter what method you use carry out a normal auto-tune after having blanked the channels out.
And as was mentioned by Dave Lindsay, it would be of assistance to know the model number of the TV in question so that certain aspects of its tuners specifications to be checked out.
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Frank: Just a little point concerning Waltham, "if" by any chance you are receiving your signal from there, then engineering work has being going on all of last week and with randomly timed breaks in transmission having taken place during the entire week.
The other point being, that although unfortunately its a commonly done thing, but you should try to refrain from the immediate temptation to carry out a re-tune if a blank screen is discovered when a programme channel has been selected, as 99% of the time the channel will still be stored in your TV's tuners memory but is being received at a strength that is just under the reception threshold level for your TV to resolve a picture, but as soon as you press "search" or "scan" then everything already stored in the tuners memory is immediately wiped out and requiring frequent re-scans to recover them, whereas all that would have been necessary was for checks to be made now and then to see if they had recovered.
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Graham Brookbanks: Although you have not specified any particular channels that are the main subject of complaint, the question would be "if" you have turned your aerial around to its vertically mounted position? as the vertically polarised transmissions from Rowridge are all on 200 kw whereas on horizontal the commercials are restricted to 50kw.
However, as you are located at only 22 miles away from Rowridge have you tried a test using a set top aerial? as if you receive a reasonably good signal by using that then it can indicate that rather than by tying another booster you should be incorporating an attenuator in line to avoid overloading your tuners input stage.
My reason for saying this is, that Samsung tuners are not particularly sensitive and will work with an excessively high level of signal that can cause problems to TV's or boxes with more sensitive tuners, and so a test using set top aerial gives an approximate indication of the signal strength being received in a given area.
You cannot actually trust db indications taken on cheaper types of signal meters unless of an electronic type in the price range of around £100.00+ or so absolute minimum.
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Graham Brookbanks: The other point I meant to mention was that its not so much the signal strength thats important but more its quality, and should you be located in a somewhat iffy area for reception then the quality will usually be seen to fluctuate quite considerably even although the strength may not be doing so to the same extent, so maybe you could give an indication of what its observed as being.
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Matt Fresha: Sandy Heath's Ch52 (Pick TV/Dave etc) is the only one thats presently indicated as being on low power, all others being OK but with a slightly fluctuating signal on Ch48.
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Robert: Thanks for your latest update, and all said noted.
PSB1/BBCA started at 200Kw on Ch23 and if anyone situated relatively close to the station could not receive it on an indoor aerial then it was most likely because that the signal strength received was still too high for the tuner in the receiver to cope with, this being very dependant on the brand of device used as well as its screening ability as far as resisting high powered RF signals being picked up directly by its internal circuitry, PVR's usually being better in this respect because of them being contained in a metal casing.
Of course in these type of situations other peculiar effects such as apparent null points can be observed if one wanders around in decreasing circles with a signal meter strung around their neck, but every situation is different for a variety of reasons making it whereby no one single answer is ever possible, and with this being why RF engineering gets classed as a "black art", as problems are generally sorted out as they are found, as its impossible to forecast every eventuality in advance.
Regarding your wire aerial test, what you have reported roughly tally's up with what I expected, but the only downside of that type of test is, that although the signal strength is at a more acceptable level for the receiving equipment it is however very susceptible to fluctuations from movement close by, and this does not necessarily mean in your own apartment but those adjoining it.
To be able to get a better idea of the situation you could try a much more reliable test, and for which you will require a short length of coax enough to stretch between the TV's aerial socket and your window ledge, the coax braid and core at the window ledge end being connected into an electrical (5amp) terminal strip. You then require a stiff piece of wire to construct a small loop having a maximum diameter of about 6" or so and connect this into the terminal strip, thereby in effect constructing a small loop aerial.
Temporarily fix this just inside the window ledge so that the signal received has the very best chance of NOT being affected by movements from within the room nor suffer if the walls of the property are wet should it have happened to rain, but leave the TV on its signal checking screen (channel you watch most) whilst you are fixing the loop with the best orientation for reception.
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Bob: Plus just to add, that it also depends on the grade of cable that has been used to interconnect the various aerial sockets and whether or not any of them terminates on a wall plate that is electrically isolated, as that would block a satellite dishes LNB control voltages.
All satellite boxes whether Sky or Freesat sends commands in the form of two voltages back to the dishes LNB for polarity switching purposes.
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Robert: Just in case you were wondering, the first two paragraphs of this reply is in answer to the question you asked under the other thread heading of: "Freeview on the Crystal Palace transmitter".
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Sunday 3 June 2012 3:49PM
P. Kelleher: The Sky card is not required to receive the majority of programmes with the exception of those dedicated to a Sky package, and so if you get a "no signal" warning then press "Services - 4 - 6" and check if anything is indicated on the signal strength / quality bar, if not, then it could be that your dish has moved slightly out of alignment or that there is a problem with the coax lead from it.
Of course it could even be the box at fault, so disconnect it from the mains for a minute or two before reconnecting it again and letting it go through its usual "searching for listings" procedure.