All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
DENNIS MARRABLE: It could well be! if the analogue signal used by the door camera system is going through the same distribution amplifier used to feed the TV's "if" its tuned to either the same, or very near to Ch54 from Mendip.
The only positive way of verifying (or not) if this is the problem being to temporarily pull its connection to the amplifier out, "not" switching the amp off or the TV's will obviously be affected.
If this proves to be the problem then the cameras analogue signal will require to be tuned elsewhere, the difficulty being that you have to watch you don't clash with one of the other five multiplex channels used by Mendip.
If the cameras modulator has a channel indicator set it to anything under Ch45.
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DENNIS MARRABLE: Just to add, if the analogue channel is changed then obviously each TV on the system will require re-tuning to pick the new channel up, this obviously done whilst the TV's involved are set on "analogue".
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simon: You are indicated as being only 4 miles away from the Crystal Palace transmitter and as such could be suffering from the reverse of what you suspect, insomuch that rather than the signal being weak it could be on the verges of being too strong, as the symptoms seen by the viewer are "exactly" the same in both these cases.
If you can access a set top aerial, try a test using that on the channels that you were having problems with, if the situation is slightly improved then you will require a low value attenuator to be placed in line with the aerial socket on your TV.
This said taking it that you aren't located in the ground floor of a property surrounded by other tall buildings, as in that case you could be suffering from a weak signal through screening from the signal.
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Joe Boyce: No! as Sky effectively still retain control of the recording side of the equipment and will disable it as soon as you cancel the contract, that is unless you start paying a £10.00 per month subscription fee to Sky for the dubious privilege of them allowing you to record whatever.
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Darren: In order to be able to assess the signal level expected at your location you will have to provide a post code, as the programmes you refer to are only transmitted on low power in many areas and so its important to know if this situation applies in your case.
The other thing that would help is knowing the model number of your Alba box, as even although you might well see the signal being indicated as good, its not always necessarily the case that its quite good enough to resolve a picture on boxes such as the type you mention.
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Becky: You are indicated as only being 12 miles way from the powerful Emley Moor station and as such "if" using an outdoor aerial could be suffering from severe signal overloading, as this can partially block your tuners operation.
If you are using any type of aerial amplifier disconnect it, or for a test try using a set top aerial to see if the missing programme channels return "after" having carried out a complete (factory re-set) re-scan.
If the missing channels return by using a set top aerial, then you will require to fit an in-line attenuator to the aerial socket of your TV or box. (around £4.00 or so)
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Darren: On checking the spec of the STB8 plus details of the stations shown as covering your area, indications are that the programmes you are having difficulty with are not transmitted from either of your two local transmitting stations, namely Ivybridge and Modbury which are both Freeview "light" PSB only stations.
This being the case you could be picking these programmes up from a few stations, e.g:- Plympton @ 7mls / 269 degrees - Beacon Hill @ 14mls / 74 degrees - Caradon Hill @ 24 mls / 292 degrees, that said Caradon Hill is shown as being the most likely place on the DRG trade view predictor, the problem with Caradon being that its indicated as being permanently poor for reception across all of its six multiplexes at
your "approximate" location, approximate because I used Ivybridge post office (Glanvilles Mill) as a test code.
By the way the aerial has to be horizontally mounted for all of these stations, its only Ivybridge and Modbury that requires it sitting vertically. (elements up and down)
With regards to your box, the problems are likely caused by it only being able to store 40 Freeview channels and 20 radio ones, this somewhat limited number basically because its a very basic device of an older design, this meaning that if it receives more than it can store it will just drop them when switched off.
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Darren: Yes! as I think that you would be continually struggling with such a limited device as the STB8, but with regards to ITV1 / 2 but not 3, this could simply because you are possibly picking ITV1 / 2 up from your local Ivybridge station and ITV3 from one of the others, which of course it would have to be as its not transmitted from a Freeview light station.
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Darren: Well, as an engineer I find it a bit difficult to recommend anything in the category of cheap, as "you get what you pay for" is always at the back of my mind, and so I would normally be pointing anyone making a request such as yours in the direction of a Humax device, basically because they are reliable boxes with excellent tuners coupled with good back up facilities from the manufacturers, however as the box you have is undeniably the most basic that can be had then practically anything (within reason!) would be better for you, and so a Bush device seen advertised in the Argos catalogue page 574 item No 532-2068 would I feel be an advancement to what you are presently using, as at least it has (or should!) use up to date software.
I would suggest though that you spend some time trying tests with your aerial in different positions within the loft, as in practically every case large differences in signal levels will be found whilst doing this, and because of the channel span involved between the various stations you should really be using a wideband aerial, if you don't already have one.
Channels used by stations reasonably within range.
Caradon: 28 - 25 - 21 - 24 - 27. (Rec / poor)
Plympton: 54 - 61 - 42 - 45 - 56. (Rec / poor)
Ivybridge: 52 - 49. (Rec / good)
Modbury: 62 - 59. (Rec / good).
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Thursday 29 December 2011 9:11PM
I.Oberski: Just out of interest, did you carry out the re-set / scan during the morning or early afternoon whilst the radio channels were actually in operation? because as you obviously realise BBC Alba takes over from 17.00 until 12.00 or thereabouts and any scans done during that period will not find a signal to store.