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All posts by jb38

Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.


B Hall: I really do think that you will be severely limiting your recording options by going down the route of recording from the TV, as you have to remember that its only possible to record what you are presently viewing, whereas a Freeview PVR would give you the best of all worlds as its a totally flexible easy to use type of device with the ability of being able to record one channel whilst viewing another, or alternatively recording two different things at the same time. I am of course referring to the more commonly available twin tuner types.

The other point about PVR's being that they are totally self contained units that record purely from their own inbuilt tuners and "not" from any external devices.

As far as cost is concerned there isn't really that much difference between a PVR of the type mentioned and a DVD recorder with built in hard drive such as would be required for the purpose that you have indicated, plus recorders of that type all have built in tuners, so you couldn't escape that.



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Robert Aven: If your new TV is definitely digital only then its not possible to use the magic eye system, that said though its not so much the magic eye thats causing the problem but the fact that the signal being sent along the same co-ax the eye is connected to is analogue, so only an analogue TV can pick it up.

Are you absolutely positive that there isnt a DVB/TV button on the remote control? as on the models that have that TV means analogue.

It would be interest to know the model of TV thats involved.

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Heather: If No2 input proves as being erratic no matter what cable is connected into it then its the box at fault, so if you have a contract with Sky then they should replace it, Amstrads of the age you have mentioned not exactly unknown for developing problems albeit is usually in the power unit.

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Diagnostics - old version
Tuesday 21 February 2012 8:21PM

David Jackson: Pleased to hear that you have seemingly sorted the problem out and hopefully "not" just for the time being, as CB DXers (especially if SSB users) are a real dedicated bunch of people who as I mentioned in my previous reply can be found using all sorts of transmission and booster devices, with most of being capable of causing devastation to TV viewers reception if they are unfortunate enough to be located within about a 25m radius of the CB users aerial.

And by the way, you are certainly correct about Sky, as thats the reason why both Sky and Freesat are so reliable as virtually nothing can interfere with their reception except heavy thundery type rain clouds.

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Feedback | Feedback
Tuesday 21 February 2012 8:43PM

Kerri Powles: Its the Sky card being plugged into the box that dictates which news region you will be viewing, as if its set up without a card it reverts back to the default setting of London, so do you have your old Sky card plugged into it?

If though you dont have the old card any longer then you will have to enter the frequency etc of the ITV region you require using the other channels facility you will see offered on the menu, that said though it upsets the smooth operation of the box because you have to exit the other channels facility if you want to view BBC or any other channels.

The other point is that ITV1 can mean anywhere, so what region are you in?

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Connecting it all up | Installing
Tuesday 21 February 2012 9:14PM

Stuart: You only require to connect the Virgin+ box to the TV using the HDMI lead with this leaving the TV's scart socket for use with the DVD player, the problem might be with the Wii as I notice it does not have either but uses a multi plug with a connection lead for A/V / component / and "S" video output connections, so you will have to ensure that any TV you purchase has either of the "first two" input facilities mentioned, although scart adaptors with AV (phono) input sockets on the back of them are available from places like Poundland and similar, although if it was connected this way you would also require to purchase a "selectable" two way scart connection box, its common lead connected into the TV's single scart socket.

This said though assuming that you do have the special Wii connection leads? its the one with a multi plug on one end (for box) and coloured phono plugs (x3) on the other end for an AV connection into a TV.

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Connecting it all up | Installing
Tuesday 21 February 2012 10:51PM

Stuart: Just in addition to that said, the only reason I mentioned the scart adaptor is just in case by any chance the TV you purchase does not have phono plug AV inputs albeit it most likely will have.

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Feedback | Feedback
Wednesday 22 February 2012 12:34PM

David: As far as Film4 and 5* are concerned, I cant really see any particular reason for you not receiving them unless the signal received from the other higher powered muxes isn't that good by being only just above the reception threshold, whereas the lower powered commercial muxes that the programmes mentioned are on being underneath it.

You should try manually tuning in Mux Ch48 (ITV3 / 5* etc) and see if they come in that way, if they do then carry out another manual tune on Ch52 (Film4 etc), its just that sometimes a dedicated tune will capture channels that's passed by on an auto-tune.

It would appear that Oxford "will" be a much better bet over Mendip but only from April 18th when it switches over to high power operation, as at present its commercial multiplexes are operating on low power and its doubtful whether you would receive them or not, albeit it is indicated that you should.

Oxford is at @ 26miles / 83 degrees compared to Mendip @ 51miles / 226degrees

If its easy to turn your aerial around to face Oxford its certainly worth a try, as the PSB transmitters are presently on high power (100Kw) and that would give you an idea of roughly what to expect come switchover, "roughly" being used as the commercial stations even when switched over will still only be operating on half the power of the PSB transmitters.



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Feedback | Feedback
Wednesday 22 February 2012 1:09PM

Lisa: According to the charts Hannington "is" presently transmitting HD channels, although if you have correctly entered the post code then Hannington is not indicated as being the station that covers your area, as continual variable reception on PSB channels is seen indicated and "poor" for the commercial ones from April 4th, as they are presently not showing at all.

Mendip on the other hand does give better indications but not at any time as far as SDN (ITV3 etc) or ArqB (Film 4 etc) is concerned, as both give permanent indications of being variable.

Obviously variations can exist with these trade view predictions as there are always pockets of good reception located within an area that's generally classed as "iffy" for reception, but that's what's indicated for your area.

By the way the HD channels from Hannington are on Mux Ch39, so you should try a manual scan on that channel to see if anything comes in, as I am a bit suspicious that you TV's tuner might not be capable of receiving an HD signal, and so to enable this to be checked on maybe you could indicate the model of TV involved.

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Freeview transmitters | Transmitters
Wednesday 22 February 2012 1:19PM

JohniMac: These indications do not look terribly far out as far as I am concerned, but when you havent indicated your location (pref: post code) its not really known what strength of signal you are forecast to receive, the HD level being the one I wondered about, so maybe you could also indicate what device these levels are being seen on as they can vary from one piece of equipment to another.

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