All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
tony: Its not so much the analogue that is the problem, but the fact of Spain using a system with a lower sound sub carrier than is used in the UK, Spain using PAL-B/G with 5.5Mhz whereas the UK's PAL-I system uses 6Mhz.
Unfortunately there isn't any way around this because no adjustment is possible on Sky boxes to alter this as their modulators were designed for PAL-I only operation.
The crackling you here is because the sound is effectively off tune, a good TV engineer could alter this on your TV, but it wouldn't then work with local stations.
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Dave: Taking it that all the connections are in order, then I have to say that I suspect that the dish isn't actually on 28.2 but possibly 19.2, as although being nearly 10 degrees apart it is extremely easy to mistake one for the other when using any of these lower priced (under £20.00) signal meters, as although the pointer types can be slightly more accurate over the LED bar versions, even the pointer ones are inaccurate if the pointer is accidentally set too high whilst adjusting the dish.
Much as it might be inconvenient to do so, but I would check the alignment again, and once observing the signal indication on the reconnection of the meter try "very slowly" nudging the dish to the right whilst carefully watching for a dip in the meter, this being why the pointer should be kept low down the scale to show null points up.
By the way there are a few satellites all grouped together, namely 19.2 - 23.5 - 28.2 - 31.5, so it just shows how critical adjustments have to be, another thing that some people do who own small portable LCD sets is to couple them into the RF output socket on the Sky box and use them to view the strength / quality bars on whilst they are adjusting the dish, as the results obtained using this method are virtually as good as using a £250+ more professional type of meter. (portables set to analogue whilst doing so!).
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wol: Its impossible for anyone (even the most experienced!) to try and visually judge if their dish is correctly aligned, I suspect that yours is not and is possibly set for 19.2 degrees, this being an extremely easy mistake for anyone to make thats using any of these lower priced sat finders, as on these type of devices everything has to be done in super slow motion or the null point between the satellites is missed.
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Rob: Why don't you just spay the dish with satin black car paint such as sold by Halfords etc, as 45CM dishes are the standard used in most parts of England, albeit Sky versions being elliptical.
If you intend to use other Freesat boxes or TV's then you should purchase a quad LNB kit, these costing under £10.00 from various dealers on e-bay etc, and they come with adaptors to fit most commonly used dish arms, rectangular or round.
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Graham Harris: I take it you are meaning the full switchover? as you say you are already getting all Freeview channels which of course IS digital.
You haven't mentioned your location, however as you are already receiving Freeview OK then about the only thing that could go wrong after full switchover is receiving too powerful a signal, this easily rectified by removing the booster or fitting an attenuator in line with the TV's aerial socket.
I dont think you have anything to worry about though as your aerial should be fine.
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wol: Just to add, that "if" when you say No3/4 etc you are referring to a quad LNB's outlet stub position, then it doesnt matter what stub you connected the cable to as they are technically all exactly the same.
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Susan: This indicates that the signal is getting degraded by the extra cable length involved going downstairs, you should use a two way powered splitter upstairs with the aerial lead going directly into it, these available from various sources including Argos.
You then use the splitters first outlet position for the upstairs TV, and with the second outlet feeding the down stairs TV, results being virtually guaranteed if you use this system, this based on what you report is happening.
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andy: When you say the signal is good when tested at the dish and near the box, what does it actually indicate when viewed in the box's set up menu? (services - 4 - 6) 75% of the scale being the average for standard LNB's with more than one output.
Should it prove to be around this figure (or more) then carry out a check on what's indicated using only the No1 input connection on the Sky box, making a note of what's seen, then take the cable out of No1's socket and put the "second" cable into the "same" No1 socket, once again noting what the second cable shows as, this is the only way of determining if both inputs from the dish are equal.
I know that you said the box has been changed, but it wouldn't go amiss to try exactly the same test again but this time using only the Sky boxes No2 input, you may get slight variations to the first test but the relationship between strength / quality should be roughly the same ratio.
You could maybe give an update on what you find.
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Saturday 23 July 2011 8:47AM
anthony royle: It could possibly be, but it depends of what strength you are receiving the Freeview signal at in the first place.
Another thing is whether or not your aerial in the loft? as although loft aerials work OK in many locations they are more vulnerable to picking up interference from mains cables etc, and especially if they are connected back to something like a thermostat / timer switch with faulty contacts, these devices used in all heating systems and electric hot water tanks.
Of course even outdoor aerials can still be affected by the aforementioned, but maybe you could clarify on the points mentioned.