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All posts by jb38

Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.

J
Loft aerials | Installing
Sunday 9 October 2011 10:16AM

Ian Davies: Yes, that's correct, the only thing I do notice though on checking your reception possibilities is that the Freeview PSB only (limited channels) Haden Hill is showing as superior for reception over Sutton Coldfield, so if you are using Sutton and any glitches start to appear after making your alterations by feeding the aerial through the Virgin box, then the inclusion of an amplifier in line between the aerial and Virgin box should correct that. (about 6/10dB would suffice)

Although if this does occur you could make another posting updating the situation.

Remember though to keep the RF modulators output channel spaced two channels either side of the multiplex channels being used by the station you are receiving from.

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David: You should be aware that this is a known defect in these boxes but which only ever really affected BBC channels, this problem being in existence even prior to any transmission changes made at switchover, so switchover isn't the issue, however I have since heard that some owners of these devices are finding that ITV channels have now failed as well, this being backed up by what you have reported.

To my knowledge no solution to the problem has been found as yet, although should anyone know anything to the contrary I would certainly like to know about it, as I am aware that some 7260H models suffering from this problem having been lying in two separate workshops for a considerable time now, with Philips being less than helpful to say the least, the preset channel memory being suspected as having developed a fault, but with spares (tuner) not being readily available because of the devices age.

Philips did publish (on their website) a few software updates to allegedly overcome some of the other problems that these recorders suffer from, however it certainly had no effect on this particular one.

By the way the software they published was to enable a software upgrade CD to be burnt, the file being a ZIP format type to enable an ISO file to be extracted and burnt.

Models applicable being DVDR 7250H 05 / 31 / 58 and the DVDR 7260H 05 / 31 / 58.

There could of course be another reason all together for your problem, but it sounds suspiciously like another case of the aforementioned.


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J
Diagnostics - old version
Sunday 9 October 2011 6:07PM

Ian: You will have to delete anything stored then manually tune in the two multiplex channels you require.

I don't know what Humax model you have, but carry out a factory reset on it to blank out the channels, or you could just take out the aerial a carry out a re-scan with it removed, although a factory reset is the best.

Once the channels are blanked out (check nothing in EPG) re connect the aerial (if removed) and manually tune in BBC Mux Ch26, store what's received, then manually tune in Mux Ch23, once again storing channels found, use the "add channels" or "find channels" to load the remaining four multiplexes.

(You are indicated as receiving Freeview from The Wrekin)

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J
Connecting it all up | Installing
Sunday 9 October 2011 7:35PM

PJ: There should be no difference whatsoever with the new VCR as far as it operating with the kitchen TV is concerned, provided that is nothing has actually been changed in the kitchen.

The only thing I wondered about is whether the new VCR is coupled to the lounge TV via a scart lead? as if that's the case then the VCR's RF output channel will most likely be set on a different channel to the one previously used by the kitchen TV, so either the kitchen TV requires re-tuning whilst its set on ANALOGUE to pick the VCR's RF output up, or alternatively the VCR's RF output requires altering to match the channel used on the kitchen TV. (provided you haven't scrubbed it by re-tuning)

You have to be careful though, as you might adjust the VCR's RF output to a channel that clashes with a Freeview one, that's why it would have been better to tune the new VCR to suit the kitchen set, as I take it Freeview was OK with the previous set up.

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J
ITV 3
Sunday 9 October 2011 8:12PM

James Helsby: I would be inclined to carry out a complete reset to blank out anything stored, then try another auto-tune after having done so, the blanking out of anything stored being of prime importance as the info stored could have become corrupted.


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P.R.: This could possibly be due to the PVR receiving a signal that's on the verges of being too powerful, and you should take measures to reduce this slightly by the inclusion of a simple attenuator in line with the aerial socket.

Of course another check you could make is to try a set top aerial, that is should you be in a situation whereby that would work!

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Paul: Yes, Hannington might well be, but I think you are overlooking the fact that apart from it being roughly 50 miles away from Oxford its also only transmitting on low power (20Kw), so if any signal was actually received (which is very doubtful) then its most unlikely to be at any level that a box could lock onto.

Emley Moor is the only station that does transmit on high power on both Mux Ch's 51 & 52, but once again at a distance that it also can be disregarded for the same aforementioned reason.

Sutton Coldfield does not use Ch50, it having been previously used by Ch4 analogue, although I assume that you have seen this error on Wolbane's site (or what was) when they refer to the PSB3 Mux, as it should be Mux Ch40.

As it was anyway, the box being used did not show channel numbers in the progress bar, making this part of the info supplied to be a bit on the academic side, although I will agree that the aerial out procedure until a certain channel is reached is always a bit iffy, especially when so many stations have their multiplexes weaved between that of other stations.



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sue: Your nearest station is Wenvoe (@ 7mls / 233 degrees) although you are also forecast as being able to receive Mendip (@ 30mls / 131 degrees) at the same level, although I do have my doubts about that indication, that said, there is also a Freeview "Light" (limited channels) transmitter called Mynydd Machen (@ 6 mls / 16 degrees) although its indicated as being variable for reception, but because it uses low channel numbers it may be shoving the ones you want up into the EPG 800 ranges, so check up there to see if this applies.

If by the way it does, then you should blank the channels stored out by scanning without the aerial connected, (or reset box) then before reconnecting the aerial start another auto-tune whilst watching the channels rise in the progress bar, and as soon as they pass about Ch35 reconnect the aerial and that will allow Wenvoe (or Mendip) to load. This said taking it that channels can be seen in the scanning progress bar, as in some boxes they cannot!

Freeview is terrestrial, and you should in theory be able to receive Wenvoe on that aerial, but this being totally dependant on whether or not you are in a screened location.

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Confused: To be perfectly honest, the reception possibilites on your particular code cannot by any means be classed as good, as there is a mixture of either variable or poor being indicated, the only ones that dont being ArqA / ArqB (Mux Ch34 & 29) from Crystal Palace, albeit still not sparkling!

I would suggest that you reset the recorder to blank out channels stored, then using manual tuning you should try entering Mux Ch22, that being ITV1 from Crystal Palace.

If this procedure captures it then use the "add (or find) channels" to regain any of the others that was previously received.



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J
Connecting it all up | Installing
Monday 10 October 2011 9:23PM

PJ: If the old VCR is connected up again and is playing through to the kitchen TV, then that virtually confirms that its just the RF output channel on the new VCR that needs adjusted to match the channel used on the kitchen TV, the only reason the new VCR is playing in the lounge being because its connected via a scart lead, this cutting out the RF side of the equation.

If the new VCR is one of the last made then its RF output channel will likely be adjusted via a menu, however if its an older type then look at its rear panel and you will see a small hole with 21 < - > 68 around it, all you then do is put the kitchen TV on the "analogue" channel used by the old VCR, and with the aid of a small flat ended screwdriver turn the adjuster "slowly" clock or anti-clockwise until the picture shows (or sound is heard from) the kitchen TV.

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