All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
David: You are not on your own regarding having this type of problem with your new Amstrad Sky HD box, as its a well known problem caused by the box being much more critical in operation, in other words the magic eye detecting circuitry just works and no more, and I am unaware of any devices that can enhance the operation of the magic eye in the way you have asked.
For a test, I would first of all cover the IR sensor on the Amstrad to make sure that it "doesn't" respond to the remote commands, once satisfied the sensor is blanked out, then couple the magic eye directly into the Amstrad box and try changing channels, if this is OK then the box is being affected by the cable run, so should you use wall plates make sure that the plugs are screwed in tightly.
However on the other hand, if its not OK then about the only thing you can do is to purchase a different brand of magic eye, or even make a complaint to whoever sent the box, as to reiterate this "is" a known problem with some people even replacing their co-ax with top quality types to try and help overcome the difficulty, which in simple terms is through the bad design of this part of the circuitry.
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ken thurlow: The very fact of you stating that you don't want anything complex would instantly suggest to me that you would be better off buying a twin tuner Freeview PVR for recording and playing back TV programmes, these being extremely "simple to operate", and the twin tuner aspect meaning the ability to record two separate programmes at the same time, should this be required!
As far as playing DVD's is concerned, you can get a reasonable quality device for about £30 / £40 from lots of sources, Philips players usually being very reliable!
The using of two separate devices keeps it simple, and with the combined cost of a DVD player and PVR being on average less than the cost of the type of machine you are thinking about, that is if you are thinking along the lines of purchasing something that will last.
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Ed: Noting everything that's been said so far really only suggests something I think that you must have suspected yourself by now, that is of the problem being caused by factors that are totally out of your control and as such having no real option but to wait until switchover in April of 2012.
However, that said, I don't know if you already have one fitted as you haven't mentioned it, but the addition of an aerial amplifier mounted as near as possible to where the down lead enters the property usually always helps in situations such as yours where problems are caused by signal level fluctuations due to external reasons, as the higher the starting level of the signal, the less likely that any drop would let it dip under the reception threshold, the reason for sudden cut outs.
Of course this purely depends on just exactly how low your signal has dropped to when the picture has cut off, because if the indicator has dropped down to under about 20% or so then there is no real point in trying anything, but if its dropped to around 40% then an aerial amp could well help the situation for the time being. By the way the upper figure mentioned just being approximate, as it depends entirely the sensitivity of your receiving equipment.
One thing I will say is, that when you do manage to get a period where all channels are being received do NOT be tempted to carry out another scan if they vanish again, as they are STILL in your box, and when the signal rises will come back again themselves, whereas not if you have carried out another scan.
To finalise, as soon as the signal vanishes on Ch22 carry out a signal strength check, using what has been said as a guide in deciding your actions.
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Rea: Have you any idea where you are supposed to be receiving your TV from? as none of these channels you have mentioned match any of the possibilities seen on the trade predictor for reception at the given post code area, your local Dumfries transmitter being on Ch43 - 46 - 50, the latter used for HD.
The other main station Caldbeck, being on Ch 25 - 28 - 30(HD)
You should try carrying out a manual tune on Ch25 and see what comes up, if nothing try the same but on Ch43.
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Keith Hook: The trade predictor does not indicate reception of Anglia as being possible when using the post code provided, at least not at the very low levels being forecast for of the only three Mux's shown, these being Ch's27 - 24 - 21, with the first two being poor and the latter variable.
Sudbury indicates good reception on Ch's 44 - 41 - 47, with the other two Mux's Ch49 being variable and Ch54 showing as poor, something that unfortunately does not show any signs of improvement until 27th of June of next year when channel changes and power up enables all six Mux's to be received, the changes concerned really only being associated with the latter three Mux's.
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Dave W: If referring to Sudbury, MuxD(Ch50)hasnt actually changed as far as its power is concerned, this very low compared to the main Mux's, so if its reception wasnt good before then nothing has really happened that will change it.
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Ian: Purely for information purposes, the trade predictor for your post code presently indicates reception from Bluebell Hill being possible on Ch's 59(BBC.A) - 42(MuxC) - 39(MuxD) - 45(MuxB)
Sudbury on the other hand showing a superior signal on Ch's 41 - 44 - 47, but with Ch49 being poor with Mux's B,C & D not possible.
Predictors, even trade ones, having to be taken with a pinch of salt, as local conditions dictate what in reality is actually possible.
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Mike Dimmick: I think that's exactly what I said! that being Sudbury as indicating good reception on the three Mux's mentioned, and which I am well aware transmits Anglia East.
I did intend to put "Sandy" in brackets behind Anglia but pressed send before noticing I hadn't! and of course with no editing facility being available unable to add the qualification, Sandy by the way being mentioned as Keith's statement could be viewed two ways.
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Jessica: Without wishing to intrude on what Mazbar has said, but just to add that "if" this only happens on the TV that the VCR is used with then the chances are that its RF output channel is clashing with the digital one.
If this does apply, then you can alter the VCR's RF output channel on the rear of older models, or if a later type of VCR via the menu.
This of course only applies if you are feeding the aerial to the TV via the VCR, i.e: looping in / out.
By the way on older VCR's you will see a small hole with 21 - 68 circling it, a small flat screwdriver being all that is necessary to "slowly" turn the adjuster whilst viewing the TV channel with the problem.
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Tuesday 19 July 2011 4:20PM
johnny: I would do as ian has suggested and leave the Sky boxes RF output channel on Ch36, as this appears to be a free channel as far as DTT transmissions covering your area are concerned.
You haven't actually confirmed what ian had asked, insomuch whether or not you are using a magic eye? as if not use the Sky boxes RF1 output and turn off the power to RF2, as this isn't required.
Although this might well be an inconvenience to do, but I would temporarily place the upstairs TV near to the Sky box and link the TV to the Sky boxes RF1 with a jumper lead, as this will show instantly if the Sky box is giving out a good quality picture, which it should do!
If that's OK, then take the set upstairs and plug the aerial back into it again whilst still on the Sky boxes RF1, this confirming (or not) if your cable / connections are OK.
"If" you are using a magic eye, then place it back in line with the TV and change the RF1 back over to RF2, switching the power back on for same, any inferior picture seen after doing so then being pin pointed to the magic eye link arrangement.