All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
E: This type of thing is usually experienced by viewers who reside in an area where the TV signal levels received are inclined to be a bit on the low side, this resulting in their TV or boxes tuner operating at a level that is hovering at just above that required to resolve a picture and with the slightest drop in level resulting in picture freeze.
Is your aerial at bungalow roof height? and do you use a booster? you should carry out a signal strength check on a channel whilst viewing it and making a note of the levels being indicated over around 45 seconds or so, giving an update on the result.
It would also be of assistance if your post code (or one from nearby) was provided. as its impossible to assess the levels expected at your location without this info.
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john: Yes, but did you check the signal strength / quality level immediately before you powered up the booster again? because where erratic reception is involved its essential that an "immediately before and after" checking procedure is involved otherwise any tests carried out are not really valid.
By the way, what markings are printed on the power unit referred to?
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john: No, because its a signal separator as well as being a power supply, the other point being that if it was faulty then the signal level would be exactly the same whether it was powered or not, the fact that there is a difference strongly suggesting that its perfectly OK.
If you were located in an upstairs flat then I would have been interested in the the result if you managed to borrow a set top aerial and connected that into the Humax's aerial input socket whilst it was sitting on a BBC channel, because considering the fact that your aerial might only be around 10 feet or so above an upstairs window level then "if" an overly strong signal was being received then a picture of sorts would be seen.
That said, its a pity that you cannot access the mast head amplifier as it might actually be defective and especially if water has gained access onto its internal PCB, the effect of creating all sorts of odd problems when powered.
However, the fact still remains that the direction your aerial is facing flies in the face of everyone else around you, and although "some" aerial installers are inclined to "go with the flow" and erect a new aerial facing the same direction as everyone else's, the fact of the sheer numbers thats seen facing Waltham is most likely because that the local installers are aware that it provides the best reception.
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r. bedford: That mentioned suggests that you are not using a standard Freeview receiver, therefore in order for anyone to be able to assist its necessary for same to know the brand and model number of the TV or box in question
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john: Yes please do!, because when dealing with problems such as yours it really does require an on site investigation to be made by someone armed with a proper signal meter, and as such look forward to your report on the aerial installers findings.
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Gweneh: Apart from one notable exception in Moor Road, all of the aerials in your area are seen to be pointing towards the Aldeburgh relay transmitter as reception from the Tacolneston transmitter is only predicted as providing a variable level of signal, and so unless your aerial has been repositioned to face towards Tacolneston Ch55 does not come into the equation as Aldeburgh's channels are 28 (BBC) - 23 (ITV) - 25 (HD channels).
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r. bedford: In addition to that said, I would be inclined to carry out a complete reset on whatever you are using and when it comes to setting it up again select DVB 8 (not 7) followed by "manual tuning" and enter the following channel / frequencies which apply to Midhurst.
(BBC) Ch55 / 746.0 Mhz - (ITV) Ch56 / 754.0 Mhz - (HD service) Ch58 / 770.0 Mhz - (SDN / ITV3 etc) Ch54 / 738.0Mhz - (ArqA) Ch59 / 778.0Mhz - (ArqB) Ch50 / 706.0Mhz.
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r. bedford: Thats inclined to indicate that the signal being received is too low for the tuner to lock onto, and something which might be caused by the same reason as yesterday evening as a weak signal engineering notice had been posted to this effect.
I noticed that you has said that nobody else seems to be having the same problem, are you referring to your immediate neighbours? and if you are then are they using an aerial system similar to your own?
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Jordi Corominas: If you are viewing a Freeview channel and wish to record a programme that's about to start then press the "Drive Select" button (top left hand side of the remote control) and select HDD, followed by pressing "REC" button when the programme starts, the important point being NOT to have a disc inserted into the tray as this will automatically switch the recording mode over to disc.
If though you want to record a programme from the EPG list then press "Guide" (top of large centre button) and select the programme from the list then pressing "OK", you should then see the timer recording icon (small clock hands) appear in the recorders display indicating that recording from standby has been activated.
At no time is it necessary to enter channel numbers or alter the AV inputs as only AV1 should be used anyway, this being to connect the recorder into the TV.
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Friday 11 October 2013 11:43PM
john: I somewhat suspected thats what you had done, which as said in my reply means that the signal is now attempting to pass thought an unpowered amplifier stage and which rather than amplifying is now acting like a high level attenuator thereby making the situation worse, therefore I would advise you to power up the booster again.
The other point being, that use the Humax as a guide as far as signal strength / quality indications are concerned rather than the TV as Humax boxes are more in line with the reality of the situation, 80% strength / 100% quality representing a good strong signal whereas most TV's give a somewhat exaggerated indication of the signal level.
Although I do not feel that this applies anyway, at least not at 30 miles away from the transmitter, but if you can find time you should drop in a Maplins and purchase a variable signal attenuator and insert it in line with the mast head amplifier / power unit output that feeds into the humax or TV and see if this makes any difference, albeit I doubt if it will as I stick by my previous statements as to the most likely reason for your problem.