All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
julie: In addition to that said, it might make it somewhat easier to make a decision on the option best suited to your requirements if the Freesat options were mentioned in advance.
Two possibilities exist, although both are dependant on the type of LNB fitted on the end of the dish arm, because if the Sky box referred to is of the older standard "non" Sky+ type? the LNB will likely be of a single port output type only capable of being used by one satellite device, therefore have a look up at the dish where the coax is connected into and check if you can see any unused downward facing stubs (ports) sitting adjacent to the existing connector, if there are, then that makes it somewhat easier, but if not then the LNB would require to be changed to a standard 4 output (quad) version, the actual LNB itself costing only around £10.00 or so.
The two possibilities referred to are :
(1) Use your existing Sky box. You can easily find out which channels you will be able to view (or not) after you cancel your subscription by removing the Sky viewing card and running through the EPG list, or alternatively, by just selecting the channels you view the most, if the card is required a message will pop up on the screen requesting you to insert the card.
(2) If you decide to use the existing Sky box in the living room, then the Freesat option need only be installed in the new location, otherwise a Freesat box (or TV) would be required in both locations, albeit that the satellite feed presently used by the Sky box can be used by the Freesat box as its 100% compatible.
However, irrespective of choice this is where the LNB referred to comes into the equation, as a coax cable will require to be run from one of the other ports on the LNB to feed the Freesat box (or TV) installed in the new location, the previously mentioned cable linking the living room to the second location "not" now being required with this option.
Two points to note. If you are using a Sky+ box? then the recording / playback side of the box will be disabled when you cancel your subscription. The plus point being that the LNB on the dish will already be one of the twin or quad output variety, "but" though, if you are thinking along the lines of being able to record Freesat programmes, then twin tuner recorders require two input cables from the LNB, meaning that if your existing LNB is of the older two output type? it will still have to be changed to the quad version previously referred to.
Any queries on this, just ask!
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Alan Cooper: The channels referred to along with Sky news (132) are transmitted on Oxfords COM5 Mux Ch59, if Sky news is also missing? go into your TV or boxes tuning menu / manual tune and enter Ch 59 into the box, but pause at this point to see if anything is indicated on the strength / quality bars, if it is press scan or search.
By the way, the pause procedure does not work on some brands of equipment, and so press search (or scan) even if nothing is indicated.
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JimTaylor: Purely for information purposes. Both of those channels you mentioned, i.e: All Jazerra Arabic (EPG 134) and Jewellery maker (EPG 64) are broadcast on Mendips COM7 transmitter Mux Ch33, ironically this being the only one out of Mendips eight multiplexes that's indicated on DUK's trade view predictor as only providing a variable level of reception in your area, whereas the rest indicate good.
That said, you always have to take indications given on reception predictors with the proverbial pinch of salt, as signals can be affected by the terrain, something that's not necessarily taken into consideration.
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MikeP: No intrusion on your reply intended, as I was checking one or two of the details of what I had said and pressed post without checking.
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John Watson: The coax feeds from the LNB mounted on the end of the dish arm to both the Humax Freesat box downstairs and the standard Sky box upstairs are, or should be, totally independent from each other with the exception of where the three (2 x Humax box / 1 x Sky box) coax cables are connected into the actual LNB on the dish.
The problem you have reported would suggest that they are not, and that two of them are possibly linked at some point.
Leave the Humax box switched off, and the Sky box on sitting on any channel, then try unscrewing each of the "F" connectors on the Humax box one at a time, checking the Sky box after each "F" connector is removed, replacing same if nothing has changed before removing the next, if though neither the two has made any difference check what happens if both "F" plugs are left disconnected.
Further advice dependant on the outcome of this test, also that said is on the assumption that the Freesat Humax box referred to is a twin tuner PVR? (recorder)
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jk: The Craigkelly transmitter is not reported as suffering from any technical problems, therefore this suggests that the problem is caused by something connected with your installation, as five sets are involved then the powered splitter would be the prime suspect, check that the power supply to same has not accidentally switched off, if though it hasnt, try bypassing the device by connecting the downlead from the aerial directly into one of the TV feeds, or if possible, directly into one of the TV's.
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Mr Andrew Hewston : Bromsgrove already transmits HD programmes on Mux Ch30 / 545.8Mhz, if though you are referring to the new COM7 HD service? then this station is not on the list of extended view HD transmitters.
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jk : A further check made on the RT investigation site confirms that seen on DUK's transmitter engineering site, insomuch that no engineering work is taking place and no faults with the transmitter have been reported.
Although you are only located at 9 miles away from Craigkelly, due to the terrain in your area the signal path from the mast reaching your location is at a very low angle, this making it more vulnerable to reacting to slight changes in atmospheric conditions as well as changes to the surface of the terrain, e.g: reflections from wet foliage such as trees, this type of thing manifesting itself more so in cases where the signal level that a TV or box is running at is not that terribly much above the cut off threshold for reception, any slight dips and its under the level, this level varying from brand to brand dependant on the sensitivity of the tuner.
Craigkelly serves large parts of Edinburgh as well as Fife, and I would think that numerous complaints would have been made by viewers in said areas if the transmitter was completely down, but as far as I am aware none have been made.
To check if that said is liable to apply in your case, go into your TV or boxes tuning menu and select manual tune, then enter Ch27 (Craigkelly's BBC1) into the box but pause at this point, (do not press scan) because on most (but not all) equipment if any signal is there, no matter how low, the level will be indicated.
Have you made any enquiries with anyone in your immediate vicinity?
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Catherine Minahan: Your latter statement is correct. If though you wish to retain the facilities mentioned you should indicate this fact to Sky at the time of cancelling your subscription, as they have (or did anyway) a system in operation whereby for a charge of £10.25 per month you can retain this facility, although they will fully explain this to you as my info might be out of date.
Of course, needless to say, most Sky viewers decline to take up this offer and purchase a twin tuner Freesat recorder, the dish and two leads from being 100% compatible with Freesat devices..
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Friday 24 October 2014 8:25AM
julie: If, as I assume, you accidentally typed "area" rather than aerial? then "if" you are able to achieve satisfactory Freeview reception via the aerial referred to, the best policy would be to connect the coax cable coming down from the aerial into a two way powered splitter, then run a coax cable from the splitters second output into the converted garage.
If though on the other hand your Freeview reception is somewhat erratic?, this only mentioned as it would appear your location is screened by trees, then another option could be to cancel your Sky subscription and use the Sky box for the viewing of normal non-subscription channels, the choice of programmes being far in away greater than from the local PSB only Freeview transmitter.
If this method was chosen, then what was previously said with regards to running a coax into the converted garage would still apply, the coax to the second location connected into the Sky boxes RF2 output. The only pitfall with this system being that the TV in the converted garage would only be able to view the same programme as that being viewed in the living room.
But though it all depends on the answer to that said in the first paragraph, because other possibilities exist based on what Dave Lindsay has suggested.