All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
mark kelly : If indeed you are a resident of the UK mainland, then carry out a signal strength / quality check on the Sky box (not Freesat), if both the S&Q indications are around 70%+ then thats OK, if though the quality is lower than the strength then the dish requires slight re aligning, this usually always being in the horizontal (Right / Left) plane.
Should both both indications be around that mentioned, then as you have reported that this problem affects all boxes the problem could possibly be caused by the dish not having a continuously clear view of the S/SE sky line, maybe by being intermittently obstructed by such as tree foliage etc, or that the dish to wall mounting is slack and is allowing the wind to move the dish, as only the very slightest of movement will knock the picture out!
As far as dish sizes are concerned, zone 1 dishes are OK for Southern England, Zone 2 (as used in Scottish installations) being better by capturing more of the signal.
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Nigel: Once again thanks for the update, pleased to know that the problem has now been rectified by replacing the "F" connectors, a stray strand of wire coming into contact with the centre core of the coax being a relatively easy mistake to make due to the wire being so fine.
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Christopher Reid: Mast head amplifiers amplify RF signals within the range of frequencies they are designed to operate over irrespective of whatever the transmission mode of the signal might be, and so the answer to your question is no.
That said, some of the latest types incorporate a 4G filter to help eliminate the possibly of your reception being interfered with should any 4G stations come into being in your area.
Apart from that, if the mast head amplifier has been operating perfectly OK, then nothing will really be gained by replacing it.
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David Parker: In order to eliminate any possibility of a fault having developed in your Toshiba's tuner, try retuning the TV again but whilst its temporarily connected into the aerial point used by your main set. If this results in the TV operating as normal, switch the set off completely for 3 or 4 minutes before switching it back on again and checking that the channels are still OK.
If they are, then try it back in the conservatory again but do not retune it, as the channels will already have been stored.
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Adrian Marsh: The Toshiba manual does not indicate that this model is fitted with a DVB-T2 tuner, this type of tuner being necessary for Freeview HD reception, the HD side of the set purely referring to he LCD screen being capable of producing an HD picture via a device connected into the TV via its HDMI socket.
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shahera: You cannot use any form of splitter on the output from a satellite dishes LNB, as a satellite box (any type) sends control signals (voltages & tones) back to the dishes LNB instructing it to switch bands as well as polarities, any more than one box connected into the system being liable to clash with each other dependent on the channel selected.
If you wish to use a Freesat box as well as Sky box "at the same time" as each other, (two rooms) then this requires the LNB fitted on the end of the dish arm being changed for a quad (4 output) type, this then enabling both a Sky and Freesat box to operate independently of each other.
By the way, the quad block was mentioned purely because that dual output types are considered obsolete, and if the LNB is changed, then another cable will have to run from the LNB to wherever the box is located.
You can of course use a Sky box "or" a Freesat same on a single downlead, but only provided that the output from the LNB is fed into a two way switch designed for satellite operation.
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Brian Symons: Purely for information purposes, I have just tried Vintage TV on 242 whilst the TV is connected into the internet and its working OK with me, a programme titled "Tartan tunes" being on, Vintage TV on Freeview by being a data service only being viewable via an internet connection, whereas without on Freesat 515.
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stella seale: Purchase whats known as a powered two way aerial splitter, this device having one socket for the aerial input and two output sockets, one for each of your TV's.
Splitters of the type mentioned sold by such as Argos.
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stella seale : Managed to find an Argos catalogue, a device suitable for the purpose mentioned being on page 507 item 23, cat number 108/0287 @ £13.99.
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Tuesday 16 September 2014 12:22AM
Nigel : Thanks for the update, however the content of insomuch that the magic eye had previously been working but for no apparent reason had stopped doing so, somewhat changes the situation, as my reply was "not" based on having knowledge of this fact, likewise it was assumed that you had purchased a second eye (with PSU) because you were unable to get the first one to work.
However, if the magic eye illuminates perfectly OK when its plugged directly into the I.O modulators output, but "not" when its connected to the other end of the coax cable from the RF modulators output, then this can only be caused by (1) a "DC" short circuit (not RF) on the cable, or (2) by a voltage drop occurring along the length of the cable, this being something which is not the norm "if" the cable is continuous as the power required to illuminate the eye is extremely low, and although you might be using the additional power supply, this is basically to increase the strength of the "signal" to enable the box to be controlled over an extended length of coax cable and "not" for the light.
If you personally installed the coax between the two locations and have any cable left, then temporarily fit a couple of coax connectors onto the cable and use this to test if the eye still operates with a length of cable between the I.O. port and the eye.
By the way, on the subject of Ch68, there is no reason whatsoever why Ch68 cannot be used, as many use this channel including myself, the 60's (at least from 62) being a safer range to use as nothing transmits in this frequency range, hence the analogue signal from the I.O. modulator is reasonably safe from being interfered with by another transmitter.
This of course, is "only" applicable if you are feeding the DTT signal into the I.O's aerial socket to enable Freeview to be viewed upstairs as well as the programme on the Sky box, if not, then it doesn't matter what channel is used.
I do have to say, that many people experience problems using Sky links, as they can be a tad erratic in their operation, especially so where SKy+HD boxes are concerned, numerous complaints having been made by owners of these devices when they were first released concerning non-operation of the Sky link control system, and so its possible that your problem might be caused by the box having a low output.
Two questions : (1) Have you double checked that the RF sockets power is definitely switched on. (2) Do you possess a "simple" DC voltmeter that can also measure low value resistance?