TV stopped working, and weird phone stuff

espresso

suiko wrote: »

Yes, that was what I was expecting. Instead, though, the screen just showed something like "no signal detected", with no results for inividual channels. Do you have to be on a specific channel in "TV mode" for this to work?

When the signal detection screen is displayed it will show the result for the channel that was tuned in prior to navigating to this screen. Different channels are transmitted on different MUX see here for details (scroll down to Post-DSO Network if you have already switched), so compare signal on a MUX that works fine to one that you have problems with by changing to a channel on that MUX before selecting the signal detection screen.

suiko

Thanks for this. I'll have another look tonight.

suiko

OK...

Tested out a few channels, all on different MUX frequencies (??). These figuese fluctuated a bit, esp the quality ones (strength graphs only varied 1 or 2%).

BBC1 (which is fine): strength 50%, quality 100%
ITV1 (one of the worst channels): strength 49%, quality 50-70%
ITV4 (also bad, but only sometimes): strength 44%, quality 60-100%
Ch5 (middling): strength 48%, quality 50-80%

It definitely seems to be mostly an issue with football matches. Have not seen any problem with documentaries, say, tho of course that may be that I basically watch footie on the three latter channels and "serious" stuff on the others!

So... what, if anything, to do?

almillar

Freeview has 6 (maybe that's changing) multiplexes, or muxes. This is basically all of the channels broadcast in 6 groups. You're getting the BBC mux OK, but whatever mux the ITV channels, and Channel 5 are in, are weak. No cost solution is to make sure your aerial is really, properly aligned, and if you can DIY move it higher. Try it without any booster as some can interfere. Next step, new aerial I reckon...

suiko

Thanks, but it is fixed to the top of the back wall of my house, and it's only two years old anyway. Suppose I could try aligning it? Tho given my technical idiocy, it does seem much more likely that I'll make it worse than better. Otherwise, I can't really afford a new installation, so guess I'll have to put up with rubbish reception.

espresso

suiko wrote: »

OK...

Tested out a few channels, all on different MUX frequencies (??). These figuese fluctuated a bit, esp the quality ones (strength graphs only varied 1 or 2%).

BBC1 (which is fine): strength 50%, quality 100%
ITV1 (one of the worst channels): strength 49%, quality 50-70%
ITV4 (also bad, but only sometimes): strength 44%, quality 60-100%
Ch5 (middling): strength 48%, quality 50-80%

It definitely seems to be mostly an issue with football matches. Have not seen any problem with documentaries, say, tho of course that may be that I basically watch footie on the three latter channels and "serious" stuff on the others!

So... what, if anything, to do?

Your really are border line on both signal strength and signal quality!

Humax boxes do have sensitive receivers andI get low 90's for strength and 100 for quality on all MUX's using a home made loft aerial 25 miles from my transmitter.

You do need a better signal and you may be able to achieve this by using an aerial amplifier but the quality of these does vary considerably. At least you now know what your problem is.

suiko

Thanks. Unbelievably, I actually had an aerial booster, but it got thrown out along with all the other wires and stuff behind the telly after I got the Humax. But I guess that will be less expensive than the aerial. Any recommendations for such a device?

But then I am considerably more than 25 miles from the transmitter (the same distance again from the transmitter as the edge of the green area on here):

http://www.ukfree.tv/maps.php?key=subregion&c=23

So is it going to make any difference?

espresso

suiko wrote: »

Thanks. Unbelievably, I actually had an aerial booster, but it got thrown out along with all the other wires and stuff behind the telly after I got the Humax. But I guess that will be less expensive than the aerial. Any recommendations for such a device?

But then I am considerably more than 25 miles from the transmitter (the same distance again from the transmitter as the edge of the green area on here):

http://www.ukfree.tv/maps.php?key=subregion&c=23

So is it going to make any difference?

Reading back though this thread - Was it an aerial booster or was this a power supply unit for a masthead amplifier?

If you already have a masthead amplifier (see post #41) and now you have thrown away it's power supply, that would explain your poor signal. Your signal strength should have got stronger after the digital switchover, so more investigation required.

suiko

Right> I'm still not clear about the difefrence between an aerial booster and a masthead amplifier, but yes, from your earlier posts it does seem as if this was something they put in when they did the aerial. So I need another one of these Antiference units?

espresso

suiko wrote: »

Right> I'm still not clear about the difefrence between an aerial booster and a masthead amplifier, but yes, from your earlier posts it does seem as if this was something they put in when they did the aerial. So I need another one of these Antiference units?

Because the person who fitted your aerial didn't want to go onto the roof, I'm guessing that he fitted the aerial lower on the back wall of your house and then used some amplification to make up for the loss in strength due to it being lower.

This may have been a masthead amplifier at the aerial end (should be visible) AND a matching mains power supply unit (Antiferience) adjacent to the TV OR a mains powered amplifier at the TV end.

Before you buy anything you need to find out what you actually need.