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General => Technical Help => Topic started by: ann255 on Thursday 24 May 12 10:39 BST (UK)
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I wonder if anyone else has been having problems with TV coverage since digital switchover.
The latest problem is that certain channels disappear and when I view the programme guide nothing is listed for them. For a couple of weeks it has been channel 12 - Yesterday. I have not re-tuned as I have a number of programmes recorded in my dtr library and obviously do not wish to lose them. I am also not sure if that is the answer as this morning channel 12 has re-appeared with its listings, but channels 4 and 5 have disappeared from the guide PLUS I cannot get their pictures up on screen. Obviously channels 4+1 and 5+1 have also disappeared. However if I have already pre-set a recording it still records the programme even if the guide is blank.
The other problem that seems to occur is the set ‘freezing’. When it does this the only thing to do is switch the whole thing off at the power and then back on again. If it has ‘frozen’ during the day and a recording was set then it just does not do it. Alternatively if it ‘freezes’ whilst recording then it will just go on and on for hours until the TV is switched on and I discover it. This has happened twice this week so far.
I have 2 TVs, one upstairs and one down – both with dtrs, and these problems only relate to the main one downstairs which is plugged into the main aerial socket where there is also a signal booster professionally installed.
Doesn’t make sense to me, anyone got any thoughts, or where I can go for answers?
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http://www.ukfree.tv/transmittersmenu.php
Try this link. You type in your postcode or if you know whic transmitter you are under put that in. It has a lot of technical gobbleygook that someone understands first, but if you scroll down you get people like us saying ' I've lost a channel anyone else have the same issue' and I find that parts the most useful to me being no technical. We change later this year but the sites already been useful as it says when the transmitter is having some downtime in preparation.
Daughter lives in London so has just changed over and the only thing that restored her favourite channels was to retune the tv, nuisance though that is. Unplug everything from the mains for a couple of minutes then do a fresh install of channels. You will have to redo the timers for hard drives though!
With freezing, unplug everything from the power supply, leave a few minutes that seems to get rid of anything 'stuck' in the system. - bit like some mobile phones where you take the battery out to get back to normal.
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We are having similar experiences with channels "disappearing", and getting muddled up in the epg. A quick re-scan cures the problem, but we have to do this at least once a week.
We also have the occasional problem with pixellation - but not all the time.
I've been told this may be due to weather, and should improve when all the analogue transmitters have been turned off and the digital signal power is increased.
Not convinced about that, though!
'Hat.
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thanks candleflame.. Will investigate the website you mention. I know that unplugging does usually help. Also the re-tuning, but my understanding is that I will then lose everything I have recorded and stored in the library. Anyway am off to explore your website, I agree that often these are very helpful.
thanks Roger the Hat, will purge the library to watch all and then re-tune. Somewhat reassuring that it is happening to others and not just me. Pixellation is also a problem at times.
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Pixellation is due, I was told, to your aerial's alignment with the TV transmitters, and the weather.
It's worse when humidity is high, where I live.
I get it mostly on one channel (10 & its derivatives, Brisbane) but my friend 2 streets away, has problems with a quite different channel.
Dawn M
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We've not had any problems with our TV, but that's because we have are with Sky and have a disc.
However, this morning my clock radio came on but just made a noise, rather than Radio 4. I got up and went to look at it and none of the programmed channels worked, nor could I reset them, the radio just wouldn't pick up any programmes. So my OH turned his radio on and has the same problem. Neither are digital radios, but I thought radio wasn't going over to total digital yet.
Lizzie
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We had the same problems with the losses of channels. This was due to us switching off the digi boxes at the walls, and not leaving them on standby. (We were trying to cut down on the electric bill). The boxes/recievers need to be connected to the mains, due to constant upgrading of program data and software. Since leaving them on standby, we have lost none.
With one of the boxes, I still get "picture freezing" but went the lazy way. Bought a set of remote control switches from Aldi, and put one on the digi box. Now, when "picture freezing" happens, I switch the box off by remote and switch on again. It saves me geting out of my bed and climbing over a weight lifting bench to get to the wall socket.
One thing that does amuse me, we, the public were sold the "digital" idea due to the picture quality, and the lack of interference/breaks in transmission.
Hmmmm. I reserve my right to disagree there.
Regards
Malky
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I had exactly the same problems. Our switch over was at the end of January and for a while I only had seven channels and most of those were the late night sort .
It took about a month for a few more to appear, then finally after two months I was up to 74 channels. I now have a lot less problems with pixelation than I did before the switch over except for the Yesterday channel which is bad most of time but I can now get channels such as More4 which had totally disappeared before the switch over.
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I obviously have struck a chord with a number of you.
Anyway, would you 'adam and eve it' 2 hours ago tried the tv again and all was fully restored!!! Wonder how long this will last.
Result of last nights hiccups was I have not got the latest episodes of The Killing, or War Heroes in my Family on my dtr. I know I can watch them on IPlayer, but does anyone know if they are repeated on the tv within the next week.
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I had a similar problem with my HD/DVD recorder post April switchover. I turned off the signal booster, retuned, turned booster back on and was back to normal.
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For the benefit of the UK users.
Freeview updates the channel program information @03.00hrs on a daily basis.
The problem with digital signals if alignment of aeriel not correctly aligned/low signal:
1) As has been reported freezing of the picture/picture breaking up.
2) Stations missing/reappearing in a haphazard way.
3)Duplication of channels, channels 1-99 then go 800.
It has been even reported that some TV sets when used with an amplifier have similar problems, that is to say the signal strength is too strong.
If the installation has been in some time the cable connecting the aerial has degenerated (8yrs typ life)
so signal is weak even in a good area.
(There is no such thing as a 'digital aerial', just put about by some installers for extra money)
Brian
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We also have the occasional problem with pixellation - but not all the time.
I've been told this may be due to weather, and should improve when all the analogue transmitters have been turned off and the digital signal power is increased.
I had dreadful problems with pixellation with my television at the caravan, but they have increased the digital signal in readiness for the change over next week and now the picture is perfect, so dont give up hope Roger.
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Once analogue signal off be prepared to retune as signal will still be varied.
Brian
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You lucky people, holding on to analogue for so long.
We were switched to the fantastic digital in 2009, and no, it was not a change for the better.
The slightest change in weather caused freezing, pixellation and sometimes complete loss of service.
No favours done as far as I'm concerned.
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I fear these problems are something we will have to learn to live with as our lives become more and more "digital". All these devices depend on interpretation of data streams where one single bit misinterpreted can make nonsense of an entire block of data, hence the freezing or pixellating, among other things. With analogue TV you just got a slightly less than perfect picture which was usually still watchable, even through the "snowstorm" in the worst cases, but with digital it is a case of "all or nothing", hence the picture freezing or pixellating as blocks of data are lost.
One of my favourite digital quirks is the delay of the Greenwich time signal on DAB radio so it is broadcast about 2 seconds late . . . ;D
We had a slightly different problem after analogue switch off a few weeks ago. The TV picture was very grainy, even watching a DVD . . . I finally found it was caused by the TV aerial still being plugged in to the TV as well as the SCART connection to the set top box. Once I pulled the aerial out the picture was much improved. Yes, we still have a CRT TV, and have no intention of changing it 'til it gives up the ghost.
Mike.
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Yes, we still have a CRT TV, and have no intention of changing it 'til it gives up the ghost.
Mike.
we are not giving up our CRT set until we have to either! We have cable so the problems are not too bad (fingers crossed) but I have a friend who has experienced most of the problems described in earlier postings
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(There is no such thing as a 'digital aerial', just put about by some installers for extra money)
Brian
For the benefit of users other than UK - sorry Brian but there is a difference, at least out here in the antipodes ;D ;D ;D
The bits that stick out from the main bit (dunno what it's called) are a different length. Shorter I think but don't quote on that specific.
Dawn M
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I wonder if anyone else has been having problems with TV coverage since digital switchover.
I have 2 TVs, one upstairs and one down – both with dtrs, and these problems only relate to the main one downstairs which is plugged into the main aerial socket where there is also a signal booster professionally installed.
Doesn’t make sense to me, anyone got any thoughts, or where I can go for answers?
What dtr do you have ? Make and model
thanks candleflame.. Will investigate the website you mention. I know that unplugging does usually help. Also the re-tuning, but my understanding is that I will then lose everything I have recorded and stored in the library. Anyway am off to explore your website, I agree that often these are very helpful.
thanks Roger the Hat, will purge the library to watch all and then re-tune.
Retuning does not generally wipe out recordings.
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Elektra, dtr downstairs Alba Aldtr160, and upstairs Bush Bu11fvrsd50. Both seem to be behaving at the moment.
Note what you say re retuning, but too much in there for me to take a chance.
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Dawn
[The bits that stick out from the main bit (dunno what it's called) are a different length. Shorter I think but don't quote on that specific.]
The word is diapole.
Brian
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You expect me to remember that? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Thanks
Dawn M
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Elektra, dtr downstairs Alba Aldtr160, and upstairs Bush Bu11fvrsd50. Both seem to be behaving at the moment.
Note what you say re retuning, but too much in there for me to take a chance.
Ok, I only asked as there is a software problem with some Bush,Hitachi and other makes and you mentioned in another post that you had a Hitachi
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I don't know if the Australian/Kiwi's have the same problem that happened in the UK.
Certain DTR's were deemed to be unsuitable, because of age?
(As I recall (in UK) the standard for digital receivers was ammended and subsequently when set to receive the new digital signals all that was received was mush. - My choice of word :-[)
Your local dealer should be able to advise if the make/model of DTR is quoted.
Brian
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Yes you are right Elektra, I did previously have a Hitachi. I couldnt resolve the problems I was having with it (the other post) hence I purchased a new dtr.
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(There is no such thing as a 'digital aerial', just put about by some installers for extra money)
Brian
For the benefit of users other than UK - sorry Brian but there is a difference, at least out here in the antipodes ;D ;D ;D
The bits that stick out from the main bit (dunno what it's called) are a different length. Shorter I think but don't quote on that specific.
Dawn M
ALL radio and television signals are analogue - the difference is in the way that the analogue signal is modulated when used for 'digital' transmissions. The long aerials with the bits sticking out of different length are called Yagi arrays, named after the Japanese gentleman that invented them :)