All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Ben Ward: Thanks for that update, but before you call out anyone I would like if you could carry out another test or two based on you having previously mentioned that you were getting a 100% strength and quality indication on the Humax, the first being that I would like you to try the same test again now that you have turned off the Humax's aerial power supply facility, because if the signal indicated on the Humax is not now 100% nor anywhere near it, then that's liable to indicate that there is a powered booster in line.
Further advice dependant on the result.
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Dave Lindsay / Kaz: The "only" way that it could be said with a reasonable level of accuracy as to whether or not a booster would help the situation is by knowing what signal level Ch42 & Ch44 is sitting at on a "manual test without scanning" as indeed as previously mentioned on my 4:15pm posting yesterday, although to ensure that the test is being conducted properly (for the TV) first try entering Ch52 or Ch49 and making a note of the strength / quality, then change the entry to Ch42 / Ch44 making similar notes and giving an update on both sets of readings seen.
If though anything seen (that is if at all!) on either Ch42 or Ch44 is observed to be violently fluctuating from zero to whatever then obviously a booster will not help, and so it gets back to what I mentioned about experimenting with the aerial position as its only this type of action that's liable to bring results, and indeed frequently does if carried out with an open mind without pre-conceived negative attitudes regarding position, although most with comprehensive experience wont have!
That said though, I really feel that the situation regarding reception is always going to have a strong element of hit and miss about it as far as reliability is concerned because of the tree problem, likewise would be inclined to go along with Mark Fletchers suggestion of resorting to satellite, either Freesat or Sky's free to view channels with that being the only way to guarantee 99.9% reliability of reception 24/7.
Kaz: Just out of interest, what model number of TV does you mother have?
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Mrs Thompson: If that's all you have done then the Freeview channels should still be there, look for a button on your remote control marked A/D (or DVB) and press it. By the way if you are referring to Pick TV when you mention Ch11 you cant tune that in individually as its part of a group of other programme channels such as (19) Dave / (20) Really / (29) E4+1 etc.
Any problems with the TV come back with its model number, or if you cant get the channels mentioned your post code, or at least one from nearby such as a shop, as this will enable the signal levels expected at your location to be assessed.
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kaz: Going by what you had mentioned regarding tuning etc I had a suspicion that a Sony TV might be involved, the tuning facilities in these sets not being very user friendly when it comes to using them for carrying out signal tests on, and if that model takes off as soon as the manual tune channel number is entered "without" actually requiring a second button to be pressed, then its not really of any use for the purpose intended.
However, and although I have serious doubts about the effectiveness of a booster in your mothers type of situation as the level / stability of the drop out channels are not known, but the booster referred to below is one of the best types to use for test purposes by it having a controllable gain level, the only problem being that if it does recover Ch42 & Ch44 when the gain is set to a high level its likely to be at the expense of the BBC / ITV by taking their signal levels over the top and causing blocking.
Still, I will be interested in your findings.
Argos page 650 item number 534/4235 and which doesn't seem to come into the 16 day exclusion clause that applies to quite a number of items, and so if its carefully unwrapped there shouldn't really be any problem with any refund that might be required.
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Sam J: No! as Freeview is a terrestrial based non-satellite system and likewise uses a normal aerial, Sky boxes in common with Freesat types always require to be connected to a dish.
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Kieran S: Assuming that you are referring to a Freesat PVR then these also require two input feeds, meaning that you really require to have what's known as a "shotgun" type of twin coax to be run from the dishes LNB provided its fitted with a quad block, as otherwise this would require changing.
There isn't really anything you can do with the cables as such as they cannot be shared or interfered with in any way, but though if you set the Sky+ box to record whatever and wanted to use the PVR on one channel, then you could temporarily swap the Sky+ boxes No1 input over to the PVR as its the Sky boxes No2 input that's used for recording, although I would try a test recording on the Sky+ box just to ensure that your particular device operates that way.
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Peter: Sky generally disables the recording / playback side of Sky+ boxes at the same time as cancelling your ability to view Sky dedicated programmes, but "if" you can still playback your recordings and never at any time re-connect the dish leads nor the telephone link then you stand a good chance of the situation staying as it is.
Its really boils down to you trying a test.
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Ben Ward: If the signal strength / quality on the Humax is indeed as you have reported then provided that you used exactly the same connections (jump lead from same socket) into the Panasonic then there is no reason whatsoever for it likewise not doing the same, that is unless the signal is slightly too strong or that the actual set has a problem, as although Humax tuners are undeniably excellent Panasonic types still has the edge on them for sensitivity.
Have you as yet tried resetting your Panasonic to its shipping condition? this then followed by an "Auto-set up" automatically starting after the set is switched on again. Another thing I would like you to try albeit that it might be a bit of a bother, is to leave the Humax on the same signal test screen that you had used for your report and then switch off the mains power supply to your 4 way splitter, this followed by a further check being made on the signal level that's indicated the Humax to see if it has changed any by doing this, which of course it should "if" the splitter is working OK, as this is the best way to verify for certain if a splitter or booster is working.
That said though, I noted in an earlier posting that you do refer to a second rooftop aerial, and if this is the case and your Humax / Panasonic is fed directly from this then there isn't any point in trying the power off check on the splitter, although you should still try the shipping condition test on the Panasonic.
NB: Regarding the Humax, although you haven't mentioned as such but its assumed that you did carry out a visual quality check the output from the Humax via a scart coupling into the Panasonic?
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Sunday 1 July 2012 9:14PM
Mik: In addition to what has been suggested by Dave Lindsay, should any problems arise with the carrying out of the procedure mentioned another line of thought to consider is that as each of your bedrooms have a Goodman's Freeview box installed are these being fed from a powered booster / splitter? as if they are then for a test try by-passing the booster and connecting the aerial directly into one of the outputs that feeds one of the problem boxes.
On the other hand though, if you are simply using a passive type splitter (unpowered) then it could be the case that your signal level is on the low side that's just giving a picture and no more, and the sensitivity of boxes vary from brand to brand and this is why some work and some don't, BT vision boxes unfortunately having somewhat inferior tuners.
However as you are located at only 7 miles away from the 80Kw Dover transmitter the possibility exists that your signal level could be slightly too high which can also cause the type of problem mentioned albeit its more likely to show up on the BBC / ITV channels that are being transmitted on twice the power of the commercials such as ITV3, but this has to be verified and with that being the purpose of the first test, as if the problem is rectified by by-passing any booster / splitter that might be fitted then the signal is excessively high and likewise an attenuator will be require to be fitted on the aerial input socket of the booster / splitter.