All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Daniel: You cannot (easily anyway) split an LNB signal, as a satellite box sends instructions (voltages) to the LNB regarding polarity (H or V) changing hence terrestrial and satellite are technically incompatible as far as their actual reception side is concerned, as so its only their analogue scart output signals than can be switched between each.
| link to this comment |
ross walker: You have posted this update under a different heading from your other postings, however getting back to scratch, on further checking that model is indicated as having both Freeview and analogue capabilities and with either manual or auto-tuning being possible on each of the modes, pages 35 / 37 in your manual showing how to do this.
Referring to Freeview, going back over your postings I don't see you having mentioned that you are actually receiving Freeview on your main TV, so the question is are you? and if you are what method are you using to couple the aerial into the Sky box as well as your main TV?
The only reason I ask is that you refer to not being able to pick up Freeview on the LG, which of course you wont unless the normal aerial is connected into the Sky boxes aerial socket, as the signal passes through the box and picking up the Sky's analogue signal in the process, then through the extension cable to your LG in the other room.
In other words if you have a co-ax between the Sky boxes RF output and your LG's aerial socket and with a normal aerial (for Freeview) coupled into the Sky boxes aerial input, then if you select "DVB" on the LG and select "auto-tune" it has to pick up Freeview "if" you can receive it where you are, some places being a bit iffy for reception from Craigkelly.
Likewise if the LG is set on "analogue" and "auto-tune is selected then the LG will pick up the Sky box no matter what channel the latter is set to.
What you are doing is really quite simple, and I feel that the reason you are having problems is that you are missing something when carrying out the set up procedure.
| link to this comment |
Jinny: Yes, but only if another lead is run from the LNB on the dish as satellite boxes cannot share a lead with another device.
As the Sky+ box uses two inputs then there might be a spare outlet in the LNB "if" the Sky installer has fitted a quad block to the dish, which he might well have done as the cost is minimal over that of a dual LNB, but if not then the LNB will require changing to a quad.
| link to this comment |
viv jones: Well, that has got to be good news, and maybe light at the end of the tunnel! however regarding the buzzing noise referred to there is a couple of things you could try to see if anything changes, first of all though I would like you to check for purposes of determining if the buzz is actually coming from the speakers or from the internals of the set, as larger screen Plasma TV's can unfortunately be notorious for this annoying type of problem (even some of the latest!) so whilst the noise is in evidence press the "mute" button on the Sony's remote control and see if the noise stops.
If it does, then on the Sky boxes remote control press "services - system set up - picture" then look down the list where you should see "contrast", if this is set on high change it to medium or even low, saving the result and observing the level of buzz.
If this makes no appreciable difference, then if you have another scart lead kicking about (preferably of the thicker better screened type) I would like you to change it with the one presently being used from the bottom scart connection on the Sky+ box to the TV, giving an update on results. (don't at this time alter their positions though)
| link to this comment |
viv jones: No, as you cant really not tune a Sky channel in properly, as its either there or it isn't.
The reason I suggested changing the scart lead is in case there is a bad joint (internally) on one of its earthing pins as that can cause video signal buzz, that being what a video signal sounds like if leaking into an audio connection.
I did also consider the possibility that the TV's scart socket pins could be oxidised which could also cause a bad earth, the way to clean them being to take out the scart plug and give the TV's socket a quick blast of WD40, the DIY spray used on car electrics as well as a multitude of other applications. Matter of fact if you have WD40 around you could maybe try that before purchasing another scart lead.
By the way, I also did consider that the SAT1 problem could well have been caused by this same reason, with the action of changing the scart connections over partially cleaning the socket pins, but that's just a theory!
As far as a new scart lead is concerned, its not necessary to fork out any more than about £6.00 or so for one, as so long as its a thick heavy cable it doesn't matter who makes it as they are basically all the same, but don't entertain these thin cable versions as seen on some market stalls etc, as the screening is no use on these types and which can cause background ghosting etc.
| link to this comment |
viv jones: I knew I would forget something! what I also meant to ask is now that you have changed the scart leads over which of the three scart sockets on the TV does the scart lead from the Sky box go into? these being numbered from the left 1 / 2 / 3 when viewed from the rear.
| link to this comment |
ross walker: That's OK, but although I fully realise that you don't pick any Freeview up on the set in question do you receive it on your houses main TV? the reason for asking being that you refer to the LG as being a "second" set, but if your main TV doesn't get freeview either then there is no point in going along that route when discussing the LG.
| link to this comment |
Sharon: Choosing the best RF output channel to use is always done by an engineer referring to the six Freeview multiplex channels used by the transmitter that covers the area, as other than that it doesn't matter what channel you use.
That said, some Sky+HD boxes are known to have a very low modulator output and that can cause a weak snowy picture if a long lead is being used to feed a second TV, not knowing your location I cant advise on channels to avoid, but I would set it back on 68 and after setting the second TV on analogue (if dual Freeview / analogue) let it auto-tune to scan and pick up 68, if you don't get anything set the sky box on 65 and carry out the auto-tune again.
You just really keep coming down about 5 channels at a time until you get satisfactory results, if though you provide a post code I can advise on what channels not to use.
| link to this comment |
Graihagh: If your TV is Freeview then the Sky facilities you mention are of no real use to you as you require a normal aerial. That being said though, indications are that you could be in a difficult reception area for Freeview reception as Heathfield (@ 22mls / 91 degrees) indicates the main BBC and ITV channels as being variable until June13th, albeit that the remaining muxes appear to be reasonably OK, no HD though until June 13th.
The other presently available alternative is Midhurst (@ 19mls / 275 degrees) as its main PSB muxes are shown as possible and that includes SDN (ITV3 etc) and also MuxB (BBC 4 / CBeebies etc)
Using the degree angles given for reference, you should have a look up at aerials on nearby rooftops to get an idea of what station is being used by others local to you.
I will say a completely safe bet would have been if you had purchased a Freesat receiver, as provided the Sky dish was working when the previous occupiers left then you could have just screwed the "F" connector onto the rear socket and that would be you ready to view, after having auto tuned it!
| link to this comment |
Tuesday 10 January 2012 9:50AM
Lee: Going by your update report, and in particular the symptoms seen on the upstairs TV's, suggests that a fault "might" be in existence somewhere on this cable or the connectors used on, so I would unscrew the co-ax plugs and double check that a single strand of wire from the braiding isn't shorting across to the inner connector, as although a weak snowy analogue picture from a Sky boxes modulator can be caused by more than one reason, this being coupled to a loss of an otherwise OK Freeview signal might be through a short circuit in existence.
That possibility being said though, as you have previously mentioned that you aren't switched over as yet in your area I decided to have a check on the signal expected at your location using the code now provided, and there tells a story! insomuch that I see you aren't actually predicted to be able to receive a Freeview signal of any substance from the five transmitters indicated as possibilities for covering your area, namely Crystal Palace - Dover - Heathfield - Margate or Bluebell Hill, with unfortunately this forecast not to change very much except from 27th June when the PSB muxes from Dover are indicated as coming into the equation, albeit that the three commercial muxes permanently remain in the category of a poor level of variable.
Fully admitting that these predictors have elements of unavoidable errors due to the fact that they cannot cater properly for local conditions like reception black spots etc, or in cases such as I feel likely applies in your case, i.e: pockets where reception is possible, the predictions given cannot be totally discounted, and so just to get an idea of the level of signal you are getting maybe you could carry out a signal check on BBC1 / ITV1 & ITV3 also noting the Mux channel associated with the reading, because although you might get a signal that appears to be OK its possibly hovering just above the reception threshold, but by being stable is giving the impression its OK.
Anyway have a check at the co-ax connectors etc, giving an update on this plus the signal test.
This is a link to the reception indicated that I referred to.
Postcode Checker - Trade View