Recording from a Samsung Smart TV

Jolly_Roger

droopsnoot

That's very interesting, thank you.

We are in the process of sourcing a new box, but having just moved home, we are all over the place at the moment!

Jolly_Roger

I decided to reactivate this thread given continuing problems.

We now have a modern Humax HD freeview box attached to our Samsung smart TV.

Using either manual or automatic tuning leaves a whole host of channels missing. All BBC channels are in place, but most non-HD channels are not available. In fact, the only one we can get is ITV4. Other anomalies include being able to get Quest + 1 but not Quest itself.

This problem is not faced by our neighbours, whose signal booster we borrowed, but it made no difference. It gets no more channels than our own signal booster, which we turned up to full strength, but with no improvement.

We plugged our old tv and non-HD Humax box back into the system using a signal booster, but got a similar amount of channels, the only differece, clearly, being it could not pick up the HD channels.

So, the problem can't be the TV, since we have tried two. Ditto with the set top box and with the aerial booster.

The aerial is mounted internally in the loft and is held securely in position; it doesn't sway or move out of postion at all.

The channels that we do receive all work fine.

So, where are the missing channels (the ITVs, Dave, etc)?

Cornucopia

The way Freeview works is that groups of channels are broadcast together on the same frequency. Therefore the tendency is for them to go missing in groups.

Here's a list... https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/multiplexes

Quest and Quest+1, for example, are on different multiplexes, and therefore that explains why you can receive one and not the other.

If your neighbours have good Freeview service then the most likely explanation is a problem with your aerial or its wiring. A loft aerial is not ideal unless the signal is very strong.

You can check theoretical coverage here... http://www.freeview.co.uk/availability

Jolly_Roger

I think you have it spot on.

Clearly, our aerial is not receiving some of those packages of signals. The ones we are missing come in groups, as you mention.
Does anyone have any idea of how easy (ie cheap!) it would be to get this problem corrected?

We have to have a loft-mounted aerial, since the convenent on the house forbids exterior devices.

Without an aerial booster it would be impossible to get TV.

What on earth can go so wrong with an aerial that it simply won't pick up channels? In our previous home, the aerial was on the roof, often got knocked around during high winds, but always found all the channels:D

debitcardmayhem

Have a look at this http://www.aerialsandtv.com/loftaerials.html

it will give you a few pointers

bsod

plug the box into the neighbours aerial, scan and save. if the channels are there, do not scan again.

plug box back into your aerial and test without the booster. signal amplification and the extra cables that come with them, and other electrical cables in the vicinity can introduce problems as well as solve them. one poor aerial cable in the loop can cause picture dropouts.

if the problem continues, it's interference, or your wiring, your aerial type, or your aerial position. buy a cheap portable aerial and test, by cheap I mean less than five pounds and not electrical, discount shops usually sell them. or get in the loft, and have a look and a wiggle.