All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Emily: Can you view the following programme channels: (11) Pick TV - (24) ITV4? because if you can then there is no logical reason for not being able to view the SDN mux on C29, that is unless a fault exists on the communal distribution system as your C29 manual tune test should have resulted in a signal of sorts.
If you are on friendly terms with any of the other flat dwellers you should try and find out if they are able to receive Drama / ITV3 etc, because if not then this would save you from needlessly carrying out tests on your own system.
By the way, no engineering work is being carried out at Waltham this week and the station is fully operational.
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Emily: Most (but not all) properties in the category of being classed as a flat are fitted with TV sockets fed from a multi-output distribution amplifier with its input being connected into one single aerial, this arrangement being called a communal aerial system and which I assumed possibly applied to yourself by you having mentioned that you reside in a flat.
However, if this isn't the case then its still advisable to make an enquiry with a neighbour, because "if" you carried out the manual tune signal checking procedure exactly as described in my original reply (i.e: enter channel number but do not scan) this should have indicated that a signal was being received albeit with it possibly being too low for your TV's receiver to capture, and with "dependant on how low" with the easiest (and less costly) way of getting over the problem being by using a signal booster.
You can check if this procedure works on whatever you are using (as it doesn't on some devices) by entering Waltham's BBC mux on C49 or its ArqA mux on C56 as used by Pick TV / Dave / Sky news etc.
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rob: Although pikpilot has described a way of testing your cable runs using the minimum of technical measuring equipment ,i.e: an ohmmeter, if you do not possess such a device then I would suggest that you go into your Sony's tuning menu and select "manual tune" followed by entering C60 into the box but NOT being followed by pressing search or scan, because if any signal is being received on C60 then no matter how low it might be it should still be indicated on the strength / quality bars, the TV being allowed to remain on this mode whilst you move cables around and walk across the floor above the area where the cable is located whilst observing for any slight changes that might take place in the S & Q indications, because should any be seen then this would suggest a faulty connection somewhere in the coax run.
The point about this type of test being, that by entering a channel number into the manual tuning box but without pressing scan effectively makes the tuner act like a signal meter devoid of cut off threshold levels, this then enabling very low levels of signals to be viewed which would otherwise have been bypassed if search was pressed.
By the way, some Sony devices might not allow you to carry out the aforementioned test, and so you should initially try the test out using Oxfords BBC on mux channel 53 just to verify if it works. (also try C59)
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rob: Everything you have reported is inclined to suggest that the interference is possibly being picked up via direct injection into the TV's circuitry and with this being the reason why that nothing you have done seems to have made any difference to the situation with the exception of the test you had previously carried out of moving the TV away from its present location, because as mentioned in a previous reply some TV's are far more susceptible to picking up this form of interference more than others.
As things are, although being fully aware of the difficulties involved in moving larger TV's where stairs are concerned, but it would be interesting to know the result of the test if the TV was connected into your daughters aerial point, that is provided its not positioned directly above its present location in the living room?
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Rob : I am not really saying that your problem is definitely being caused by directly injected interference as its only a minority of devices that are, but the possibility of it actually being this reason is somewhat backed up by you having found that nothing else is seemingly affected except the TV.
Another point being, that although I did not mention this at the time but you might have been better purchasing the combined Tetra / 4G filter as mentioned in a much earlier reply (Sunday19th @ 12.33am) because the possibility always exists that the former might be playing a role in your problem, as interference from this source is not the same as from 4G whose effect is generally one of swamping the tuner resulting in a weaker signal level. The other point about the combined filter mentioned being that it could have been inserted into various points in the cable run including directly into the TV's aerial socket.
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Rob : Filters used for Tetra or 4G transmissions should always be fitted between the aerial and any amplification that may be used simply because if they aren't then the amplifier would be boosting the frequencies you are trying to eliminate.
4G transmissions are at a fractionally higher frequency than C60 and not actually on it, whereas Tetra transmission base stations are only transmitting at approx half the frequency, but with the first harmonic of this transmission being the problem as it can be exactly on C60 dependant on which part of the 390 - 395Mhz band its operating on, 393Mhz being half.
I only mention that the filter could be tried directly into the aerial socket purely for test purposes in case something was being picked up in the cabling.
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Rob : With regards to the second 4G filter that you purchased, I really do not think this would make any difference to your situation when you already have one fitted in the loft provided that its installed between the aerial and the booster, if not actually contained within said booster? as going by all the symptoms you have reported / tests carried out I very much doubt if your problem is connected with any possible 4G transmissions that may, or may not be taking place in the area, because if it was then the chances are that ArqA on mux C59 (11 Pick TV / 82 Sky news) would also be affected and maybe even the HD service on mux C57.
My line of thinking is along the possible direct injection interference referred to or issues connected with Tetra, especially when you have reported a possible source of this type interference being located nearby.
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rob: If the aspect of 4G interference is catered for within the booster / filter then you do not require another one to be fitted anywhere.
And with regards to your second question, Tetra interference can be of an intermittent nature dependant on its usage at a particular time due to the fact that its basically associated with emergency services, the demands on not being of a constant nature in the same way as applies in the case of domestic 4G.
That said, I do feel that your TV's location in relation to a possible source of interference from whatever is being used by your next door neighbour is possibly the main reason for your problem.
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Ron Hammond : With regards to your problem, then as ian from notts has mentioned its not really possible to assess your situation without having knowledge of your location, this preferably being in the form of a post code or one from nearby, e.g: a shop / post Office.
If though the signal drops out when you turn off the Sony then this suggests that the Sony is not capable (or set) to allow RF loopthrough in standby.
If you supply the model number of the device in question this can possibly be checked out for you.
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Tuesday 21 January 2014 10:53PM
rob: Yes, I also had suspicions that the quality and strength readings might have been accidentally reversed.
Anyway, you can maybe give an update if you manage to try the box out on another aerial.