All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Sid Barnett: Meant also to add, that with everything set up this way the Sky box will (or should!) always over ride anything being viewed on the TV at the time "if" the Sky button on the remote is pressed, as a TV's Ext1 (or AV1) scart input socket is usually the only one capable of auto switching when the device connected into it is switched on.
If on an odd occasion it doesn't, flicking Sky into standby then back on again usually resolves the issue.
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neil: When you purchased the Sky Freesat card Sky should have authorised it along with the code applicable to your particular area of residence, as this effectively instructs the Sky box to tune to a particular transponder number that caters for your area when on certain channels.
The fact that you get London suggests that they didn't do that as London is a default setting, I would keep on at them as when I first obtained my card I was getting the incorrect news service, however this was sorted out by them altering my card via a download, this not taking effect until a few hours later.
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Steve: If you are viewing Sky Freesat in your bedroom via the Sky boxes analogue RF output socket, then nothing will change in this respect.
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Dale: Only channels 44 & 54 are presently being shown as having reasonable reception at the code mentioned, Ch49 listed as being variable along with Ch's 68/56 - 50 - 39 until 20th when all of these channels with the exception Ch50 show the same status, transmission ceasing on Ch39.
With regards to switching the mast head amp power supply off, this will likely result in the signal being that weak that its liable to drop under the reception threshold, so your idea of using an attenuator is the best policy "if" actually required, as the signal levels you report on the main high powered Mux aren't that grand, but it would be interesting to know what they show as on one of the other Freeview sets in your Dads house as indications aren't the same on all boxes, even if they are sitting side by side.
On the subject of the scart Freeview adaptor, its interesting that it still works at all as "some" are listed as not being 8K compatible, just out of curiosity what model is it?
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Dale: Yes, quite so! but its still only 14kw in relation to Mux1's 100Kw, and that's why (inc other reasons) its listed as being variable in reception for the given post code. (15mls away)
Equipment receiving lower powered signals is always more vulnerable to suffering from glitches in reception due to varying signal levels, this happening for all sorts of reasons, and if these signal variations cause the level to hover just above the reception threshold then problems start to occur, lower starting levels obviously worse in this respect.
The 40% strength / 75% quality you report for Ch49 isn't in my opinion that terribly much above the cut off threshold on many sets, and because of this these sets being most vulnerable to suffering from glitching of one sort or another, but as you probably will realise forecasting of digital reception in UHF bands is far from being an exact science, as in real life situations local conditions play a big part in what is actually received, rather than what has been worked out "in theory" as being possible.
Anyway, I will look forward to your findings regarding signal / quality levels found on some of the other sets in your Dads household, although a report made after 20th would be of even greater interest.
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Alan: Just a little question on your problem, when you say that the LED doesnt light up when connected to the new TV, does that also apply if the set isnt actually switched on?
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Ali: As the place is surrounded by beaches of one sort or another you really have to provide a more accurate location marker, this preferably in the form of your post code, or at least the name an area very near to it, this then enabling all reception possibilities to be checked on.
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allan jackson: Being virtually on the doorstep of the Emley Moor transmitter I would say the smaller the aerial the better, as anything too elaborate is likely to cause overloading problems come switchover in September.
Although the transmission frequencies involved would suggest a group "B" aerial, I would just use one of these wideband types as are obtainable from places such as Argos etc, as although dedicated band aerials generally have more gain than wideband types, that particular aspect is not something being sought after for reception at your location.
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Wednesday 13 July 2011 6:09PM
Sid Barnett: As your TV has three scart sockets its best to use this method.
Connect the Sky boxes scart socket marked "TV" to the TV's Ext1 - then connect the Sky boxes other scart marked "VCR" to likewise on the DVD recorder - finally connect the scart socket marked "TV" on the DVD recorder to the TV's Ext2.
Operation - If you want to record from Sky select Ext2 on the TV, this switching it over to the Sony DVD recorder which is permanently on Sky channel "if" the DVD's input selector is set to "VCR", (or whatever its called on that set) you can then select whatever type of recording mode you wish to use for your recording.
Once you have set this up, or started recording as the case may be, you can switch the TV back to normal viewing channels again, likewise if you want to view what you have recorded later on just select Ext2 again.
There is a simpler "daisy chain" method that could have been used, but this is not always advisable as "some" DVD recorders lock the TV on their input socket when they are powered up, even in standby, so its best to keep DVD equipments on a separate input on the TV.
Regarding aerial connections, you haven't mentioned the model of Sony DVD recorder you are using, but its always best to use a separate aerial feed to it as the loop through "might" falter when the device is in standby, this resulting in the "normal" TV channels going down, so the addition of a simple powered two way splitter would suffice, one output for the TV and the other for the DVD recorder.