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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.


Francesc: Its a footprint problem, as you are a bit South of the coverage extremities for the new Astra 2F satellite, it sweeping around from roughly just under Nantes and then upwards again near to Stuttgart, and although its obvious that the footprint published is not by any means exact its by far the best policy to make some local enquiries with regards to the minimum dish size required etc.

However, I take it that you have refreshed the boxes memory by disconnecting it from the mains supply and then reconnecting it again after having waited about 30 seconds or so between both actions?

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Bob: Well, I don't really quite know how to follow that!! except that is to say that I'm really pleased to hear that you have successfully managed to sort the problem out in time for your eagerly awaited event, and with the problem only really having been rectified by your "careful" adjustment of the mounting pole, something which although being a relatively simple task is one which frequently results in failure by many who try to correct dish alignment problems, and with this being basically because that they fail to realise the precision involved and usually swing the dish around as though it was an aerial used for analogue TV reception rather than carrying out a series of fractional moves at a time and with frequent reference being made to the TV's signal checking screen after every move, unless that is they are fortunate enough to be able to view the TV from the dish or via a mirror.

I would though scribe (with something sharp) a thin line on the pole and also on its mounting bracket just in case it should move again at any time, as it would provide you with a reference marker point to turn the pole to before carrying out some fine trimming using your rather "sizeable" TV's signal checking screen, and an ideal device for this purpose, because between it and your 5:1 sound system blasting out I dare say that one could forget that they are not actually at the event, and especially so after a few cans of Fosters Gold!!

Cheers / jb.

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Bob: No, you should not require to do anything else, I only mentioned what I did because many people have their dishes clamped to things like scaffolding poles and such likes and with the actual pole being clamped to a railing or whatever, and when you mentioned about turning the pole that the dish was mounted on I automatically assumed that you possibly had a similar set up, and what I was referring to was purely the pole clamp and not the dish.

But the main thing is that you do not require to make any changes to what you are using, if that is its been previously satisfactory prior to the glitch that you have rectified.

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Bob: These indications are perfectly OK! and indeed can even be classed as being at the higher end of the norm for an average installation and so you don't really have anything to be concerned about, but as far as satellite signal levels are concerned the general rule is that the quality level of the signal being indicated should never at any time be under that of the strength when tested under normal reception conditions, e.g: neither snowing nor thundery rain clouds being overhead, because if the quality is lagging the strength then that's when picture glitches or intermittent audio squeaks are liable to be experienced during even a light rain shower, the lag generally indicating that the dish alignment requires some fine tuning to correct the problem.

That said though, I have tested out quite a number of satellite installations that were installed by Sky engineers a couple of months or so earlier and found them to be somewhat less than perfect, and they were using professional (although not top range) equipment to install them, there in again there are engineers "and" engineers if you get my drift!







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Gareth Jones: As you are indicated as being located at only five miles away from the Wenvoe 100Kw transmitter your problem might actually be caused by receiving a grossly excessive level of signal which is causing instability in your TV's tuner, and if this happens the receiving device usually always gives false signal strength readings due to the measuring circuitry being corrupted.

Although the proper way of testing for this is by using a variable attenuator in line with the aerial input, you can get a rough idea of the signal strength you are receiving if you try using a standard set top aerial, or alternatively if one is not available just use a short length of wire (about 4 feet or so) connected into the aerial socket on the TV, because if the signal is strong a picture of sorts will be received.

Further advice dependant on results.



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Gareth Jones: Just to add a little point that I had meant to include, when you carried out an auto-tune on your TV using the bedroom socket and nothing was received then nothing will be received when its moved back into the living room again unless you carry out another auto-scan, as the one carried out in the bedroom will have blanked out the TV memory store.

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Gareth Jones: All I mean by a short length of wire is to use "any" type of wire (a piece of lighting flex or even bell wire) carefully pushed into the "middle" of the TV's coax socket, and with my only reason for requesting this test being because of you having mentioned the problem with HD reception and a slightly "over the top" signal level will always affect HD reception first, LG tuners being quite prone to adverse performance when used in this type of situation and likewise the possibility of this applying has to be eliminated first, because if nothing is received on an auto tune with the wire aerial being used then the excessive signal issue does not apply.

However, should it subsequently be dismissed as a possible reason then the problem is likely to be caused by the total reverse of the situation, whereby there is a break in the continuity of the cable between the aerial and the TV socket, and caused by such things as a booster or distribution amplifier in the loft that's been left unpowered, and so this aspect should be checked out.

Just out of curiosity though, is the aerial that you referred to as being on the roof exclusively for your use or is it communal? and what's been said is on the assumption that your aerial is connected straight into your TV and NOT going through anything else that is not powered up?

Under is a link to a suitable attenuator, although I would refrain from purchasing the device unless the short wire test resulted in a picture of sorts being received.

0 - 20db attenuator - E-bay store (£3.15 free delivery:

TV Aerial Attenuator Variable 0-20Db Freeview Digital | eBay


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G.B.Perry: As you are referring to an "aerial" as well as a card, then is your problem associated with a Sky satellite box or a Freeview top up box?

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jan: You failed to mention what device you are referring to, i.e: Freeview, Freesat or a Sky box, but if you are referring to the latter two then this is most likely because there is a fault on the LNB2 input, you can check this by swapping the two LNB inputs over because if it is faulty then the "no signal" warning will be there all the time.

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Ruth: You can use any one of the two, it doesnt matter which because both inputs are identical, and you should not really have to do anything with the Pace box either as far as tuning in is concerned, because as soon as you power it and wait until it starts to respond to the remote control, and when it does it will automatically start to search for listings.

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