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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.

J
Diagnostics - old version
Friday 25 January 2013 4:45PM

Mr Brian Lennon: If your TV is connected into the boxes AV1 output then it should do but not if using the AV2 out/in, otherwise any recordings that might be made via this connection would be subject to to varying volume levels.

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Martin Blamey: In addition to that said, its most likely the case that the signal is actually still there but is now sitting just under the level necessary to resolve a picture, you can check this by going into the TV's DVB tuning menu / "manual tune" then enter Ch39 but do NOT press search, because if the signal is still there its strength and quality will immediately be indicated.

Make a note what the indications are then change Ch39 to Ch42 and see what it comes up as being likewise noting the result, then change Ch42 to Ch45 and making a note of that also, as these sets of readings correspond to Wenvoe's three commercial multiplexes operating on 50Kw, the PSB's being on 100Kw.



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J
Feedback | Feedback
Friday 25 January 2013 5:39PM

sean baker: If you are referring to a Freeview box connected into a "normal" aerial then you would have this connected into your TV via a scart connection, the output from the magic eye being left exactly as it is by going into the TV's aerial socket, then you would select what you want to view by pressing the AV input button on your TV's remote control, this toggling between Freeview and Sky.

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Dave Lindsay: If connectors or any other types of terminations are protected from the elements by taking measures such as Mazbar has mentioned, then although the copper wire might lose some of its initial brightness (which always happens) the actual issue of oxidisation never really occurs to the extent that it causes any problems, this irrespective of whether the connectors / terminations are associated with transmission or reception purposes, although the former is by far the most critical as equipment can in some cases be damaged by an iffy connection.

That said though, I always give the threads of any connectors a thin smear of silicone grease.

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Dave Lindsay: Well as far as I am concerned your assumption regarding my answer is quite correct, although I have seen occasions where someone has placed a thin "O" ring over the threads of and "F" port and tightened the "F" connector down on this, I think that they must have thought they were dealing with a waste pipe on a sink or whatever.

I generally refer anyone who might ask me about how to fit an "F" connector to the undermentioned link, although you will probably have this anyway.

How to fit F Connectors to coaxial cable for Sky and Freesat

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IAN: Well although it wouldn't do any harm and indeed can actually be beneficial insomuch that there is no danger of the dish being knocked out of alignment, but results can be obtained far quicker by carefully dusting the bowl of the dish + the face of the LNB with a soft brush.

The other point being that anti-freeze only works at the time and doesn't have any lasting effect.

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LandlubberDave: I suppose the only aspect about the wind farm issue that could be classed as being slightly fortunate is by the fact of analogue transmissions having ceased, because reception on that mode of transmission can be totally devastated by wind turbines in quite an unbelievable fashion, of course knowing this fact is not really of any comfort as far as your own HD problem is concerned!

That said, there could though be a possible solution to your difficulty, but with this being totally dependant on whether or not you can receive a strong signal from your local Clacton transmitter (bar any obstructions) as although your Sudbury facing aerial is quite a bit out as far as rear reception is concerned, but this fact does not always hold the same importance where really strong signals are concerned, and by your relatively local Clacton transmitter (@ 1.8 miles) having a radiation power of 400watts ERP it "might" still be received at a reasonable (and consistent) strength on your Sudbury facing aerial, and if it was then you could use Clacton for the PSB channels and Sudbury for the COMs.

Fully appreciating that Philips TV's cannot really be classed as being the most user friendly as far as tuning menus are concerned, but you can easily check if Clacton is a possibility by accessing your TV's tuning menu system / manual tune and entering Clacton's HD mux Ch42 (642.0Mhz) but do NOT press search or scan, because on most Freeview devices as soon as the channel number (or frequency) is entered the signal strength / quality its being received at should immediately be shown.

It would though have been of assistance to know the model number of the TV in question.

By the way the other possible station to use for this type of action is Dover (@ 47 miles) and in that case its HD mux is Ch53 (730.0Mhz)

This test might not really come to anything, but its worth a try.


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J

Saturday 26 January 2013 7:26PM

Peter: It would have been of assistance to know the model number of the TV involved, but this type of thing can sometimes happen "if" a device is receiving a slightly "over the top" signal level and so if you have any type of booster in line then try by-passing it, as although Crystal Palace is located at approx 13 miles away you might still be receiving a signal of a level that's excessive for your TV's tuner, Samsung tuners in common with LG not coping as well as some when operating in this type of situation.

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Tony Hill: The answer is basically that exactly the same situation applies as in the UK insomuch that viewers have to go out every day to brush the snow off their dish, although there is more of a trend for people to spray their dishes with products that are really designed to disperse water from car electrics or they might even use other types of sprays intended for windscreens, although there are (or used to be) so called self adhesive electric heating elements of a somewhat iffy design as far as safety is concerned that were designed to be attached to the dish.

The reason I know this is because I have a son who resides in Canada and repeatedly asks me exactly the same question hoping that some magic remedy has came into being since the last time he asked, as clearing the snow from the dish is a "first thing in the morning" and likewise the evening daily routine for not only him but everyone else around him, its just a way of life across there!

Heating the dish is relatively easy to arrange by custom making the necessary to do the job, but the difficulty is when it comes to the surface of the LNB, this not only because of the critical nature of the device but by its vulnerability to damage.

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J
Divis (Northern Ireland) transmitter
Sunday 27 January 2013 8:47AM

Lynn Steenson: Thanks for the update on that test, but on once again reading over your various replies made I cant actually see you having mentioned that you receive the COM channels on anything at all, and so the question is do you? because if you don't then the issue of your main TV does not really come into the equation as the problem is purely one concerning signal levels.

The other point is that the substitute post code that you provided indicates as being roughly 41 miles away from Divis and at that distance its unlikely that anyone could suffer from an excessive signal level, this backed up by the fact of you being able to receive the PSB's OK and yet they transmit with twice the ERP of the COM's, and so dependant on your answer to my initial question insomuch whether or not you can receive the COM's on any of your devices, if the answer is no then I have a suspicion that you might well be suffering from an effect that sometimes happens with viewers at distances when a transmitter increases power insomuch that the signal received can actually drop.

Although this type of thing can be caused by the way the signal is radiated by the transmitter mast, it can also be an indication that the signal that was previously received had relied on a strong element of reflection from something such as a hill or a tall building, but that the increased signal power has changed the angle of reflection whereby someone further away than you might now be receiving a superior level of signal at your expense.

The problem is, that if the strength appears as being high but with no quality being indicated then amplification will not help the situation one iota, the only thing that's liable to have any effect (but not guaranteed to do so) is experimenting with aerial positions, and in cases where this type of situation applies high gain aerials make the situation worse as these work on the principle of focusing on the signal source.

Anyway, the latter comments will obviously not be applicable in your case "if" you can receive the Com's on your other boxes.

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