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Published on by Brian Butterworth on UK Free TV For the last six years, I have answered many thousands of personal emails that you have sent to UK Free TV.
Sadly, I am unable to offer this personal service at the moment.
Until I can restore this service, please can you leave any questions you have on an appropriate page, where they will be answered as soon as possible, or below, if you can't figure out where to ask.
I have an old Sky+box [NOT HD]. No viewing card. I live in a flat that has a communal satellite with a single feed. I am able to watch the freeview channels when I connect to a normal set top box. However, when I connect my sky+ box [dish input 1] I am unable to view even the free to view channels. The Sky+ box throws error 29 - No signal.
My queries are:
1. Do I need a sky viewing card to view the free to viw channels?
2. If I dont need a viewing card, do i need to have both the Dish Input connected to view the "freeview" channels?
Please note: I am not interested in recording of any sort. I only want to watch the freeview channels on my sky+ box [I know I can watch them using the freeview box]; so as if I change my mind later on I can buy a sky viewing card to view free to air channels offered.
3. Would there be a possibility that my sky+ box is damaged / faulty?
4. If I need to split the feed compulsorily to view the channels, both freeview and free to air, then will there any disruptions to the quality of viewing. I am least interested in recording.
I have an old Sky+box [NOT HD]. No viewing card. I live in a flat that has a communal satellite with a single feed. I am able to watch the freeview channels when I connect to a normal set top box. However, when I connect my sky+ box [dish input 1] I am unable to view even the free to air channels. The Sky+ box throws error 29 - No signal.
My queries are:
1. Do I need a sky viewing card to view the free to air channels?
2. If I dont need a viewing card, do i need to have both the Dish Input connected to view the "free to air" channels?
Please note: I am not interested in recording of any sort. I only want to watch the free to air channels on my sky+ box [I know I can watch them using the freeview box]; so as if I change my mind later on I can buy a sky viewing card to view free to view channels offered.
3. Would there be a possibility that my sky+ box is damaged / faulty?
4. If I need to split the feed compulsorily to view the channels, both free to view and free to air, then will there any disruptions to the quality of viewing. I am least interested in recording.
Niket: If you have the single feed connected into your Sky+ boxes LNB1 input then you should be able to view "free to view" channels exactly as though you were using a standardSkybox, if you cannot then the box is faulty.
You should check if any signal is actually being received by pressing "services" and you will then see the main menu with "options" being highlighted, highlight the "settings" menu using the right arrow button and press select, then using the left / right arrow buttons scroll to "signal" and press select, this will then display the signal level indicator bars.
If any signal level is indicated it has to be equivalent of 60% or more for satisfactory reception, because if 50% or under then this is too low for reception and caused by the dish being slightly out of alignment.
A further update; i have done a signaltest and they are all poor, even the ones with a good picture. They are in single figures. Due to a deal between the developer and Virgin we are not allowed to have outdoor aerial or sat dish. My aerial is in the roof which i guess explains the poor signal. Can i boost it or am i not getting enough to boost?
Hi. Does anyone know why the (previously fine) Freeviewsignal in Dorking Surrey has suddenly plummeted this last 5 days (today is 11th Sept 2012)? ITV channels were really bad, then bBC1 got bad. Have tried re-tuning BT Visionbox several times and is same with a DTV we have. Yes this is one of the poorer reception areas (RH4 2RA) but signals been great for months. Has a transmitter failed? Friends in Claygate Surrey have had same problems in teh same few days. Nothing showing on the Freevie wsite . . It's so annoying. All ideas welcomed.
THANKS
You seem to have a fairly strong signal so roof ae may be OK - depending what is in the direction of the transmitter - and you have a choice of 4 at all points of the compass. I presume you know about H & V.
Always worth trying a booster - but don't tell Bryan who dislikes them.
NB That digital TV is a two stage process. You scan for channels, details of which are stored, then you receive. So if signal varies, once scanned you may or may not find it. But if you rescan and it is weak it will not appear when strong until you rescan.
Developer/Virgin deal sounds very dubious. How is it enforced on you? Presumably you have cable but must pay for it?
Niket: On re-reading your posting I see that you mention you have a communal satellite connection so obviously the dish is out with your control, but with regards to splitting the signal you cannot a satellite feed as its liable to cause a clash of polarity switching voltages, plus the LNB2 input on your box is the recording tuners feed.
Stephen,
already tried the manuals - no help. LG support said that if no HD is showing the signal strength is too poor.
Paying VM £30/mth for a landline i don't want broadband and free TV. I can get broadband/landline for £14/mth so trying to get freeview via the aerial. A Management Co, also a deal done by developer, enforces covenants in the Title Deeds.
I thought Stockland hill would be best but i will try the other directions - as you say all points available.
Chris: Just out of interest I was wondering if you have the internal booster switched on or off? you will see this described on page 40 of your manual.
The other point I wondered about being, when you mention your aerial being in the roof have you any access to it? that is as far as being able to check on the direction its facing as well as its polarity angle.
We have a HD Free-view TV on the wall in the bedroom. We live in North West Norfolk and have to have Yorkshire;we would like to change to Freesat and have installed a 4 lnb dish. Is there a small freesat adaptor or box available.We have not got room for a big "Sky" sized box and "the management" is not keeen on too many wires hanging down the wall.
Mark Harriman: Re: Freesat adaptor query, not as far as Freesat is concerned, but if you purchased a Freesat HD box then you could use an HDMI lead to couple this into your TV, as HDMI leads and especially of the swivel end for right angle use types such as sold by Lidl stores are far more acceptable appearance wise over a thick scart lead.
The diplexer combines the feeds from the aerials and ensures that only one aerial is allowed to provide each frequencychannel. Thus, there is a particular channel where it "splits" and one aerial is allowed to feed channels below that and the other above it. Prior to switchover, Belmont's channels were low down and King's Lynn's were in the middle of the band and this meant that one diplexer was needed because its inputs "split" somewhere between the two.
Following switchover, King's Lynn carries all Public Service channels (BBC One, BBC Two etc, ITV1, ITV2, Channel 4, Channel 5, the four HDs and a few others). This is only the same as many other small relays do. Those who can't receive from a full-service transmitter cannot receive the COMs (this being around a 9% of the population who can receive terrestrial television).
Unforunately after switchover, whilst one of Belmont's COM channels (those that King's Lynn doesn't broadcast) is below the frequency that KL uses (as was the case before switchover), the other two are above that of KL, so two diplexers will be needed and either two aerials on Belmont or a splitter for the Belmont aerial. Obviously a KL aerial will also be needed.
Obviously, this may be starting to get costly, although I am throwing it to you as a suggestion for perhaps the "only" way for you to receive Anglia regional programming *and* the COM channels. It assumes that reception from King's Lynn or Burnham is possible at your location.
Or you could have two aerials and not combine them, but instead feed them into different receivers. This would mean that two diplexers wouldn't be needed and that a second aerial on Belmont wouldn't be needed (or a splitter for your single Belmont aerial).
So, if you only ever watch the local news and other local programming as its broadcast, then you might just have a set-top box (without recording function) for this and use it only at times that BBC One or ITV1 is broadcasting different regional content. At all other times use Belmont for these and all other channels.
JB38; yes booster is set to on in the TV. Going to go up in the loft and try different aerial directions. First will probably buy a meter to save on the trial and error. Are the cheap noes ok? eg £15 to £20 in Maplins.
Chris: Well there are only really two positions to try, these being 71 degrees with the aerial horizontally mounted for Stockland Hill @ 20 miles, or 280 degrees with the aerial mounted vertically for Exeter St Thomas @ 1.8 miles, this latter station being a Freeview PSB only relay.
Although the meter you refer to does serve a purpose I find it somewhat difficult to recommend their use, as the most important aspect of a digitalsignal, namely quality, does not always run in parallel with the indications of strength on the meter, and its much better to approximate the position of the aerial and then go into the TV's tuning menu / manual tune and enter the BBC mux channel number of the station you have pointed the aerial towards but do "not" scan it , as on most equipment as soon as the channel number is entered the strength / quality of the channel number entered will (or should) be immediately indicated.
If it appears to be OK then you could carry out an auto-tune, but if it appears to be on the low side or alternatively the quality is observed to be fluctuating, then inconvenient as it may well be but its best policy to go back to the loft and try swinging the aerial around a few degrees to either the right or left checking after each action, as you will soon know where the best position is.
By the way, Stockland Hills BBC mux is Ch26, and Exeter St Thomas's BBC mux being Ch44.
Can anyone tell me why my main aerial FEED is zapping my satellitesignal when I try to connect it to the aerial in port on my HD box the reason for having to do this along with a cable from the RF2 port is to get freeview/digital channels and analogue/sky channels to my bedroom TV
William : If what you are meaning is that as soon as you connect the normal aerial into the Sky boxes aerial input for purposes of passing the Freeviewsignal through the box its killing the analogue signal sent out by the Sky box, then its likely that the RF outputchannel used on the Sky box is the same as a powerful digital channel from the Freeview transmitter that covers your area.
You will have to go into the Sky boxes installation menu and change the RF output channel used, unfortunately I am unable to advise on which ones to avoid as you have not given your location, a post code or one from nearby is suffice as this will enable your Freeview channels to be assessed.
William : It goes without saying that you will of course have to rescan (in analogue) your remotely positioned TV to pick up the new RF channel used by the Skybox.
I have 2 sky inputs to "dish 1 input" and "dish 2 input" from wall plate to HD box and a HDMI cable to my LIVINGROOM TV this all works perfectly for viewing sky HD in my LIVINGROOM.
But when I take a flying lead from my main aerial socket on the wall marked "TV" and touch it against either cables marked DISH INPUT 1 , DISH INPUT 2 , AERIAL IN , OR RF2 it cuts my sky signal only when I touch my normal aerial cable against RF1 on my box the sky signal stays.
So forgetting about my normal aerial for a second if I take a cable from RF2 on my sky box to my bedroom TV I can watch sky on analoguechannel 68 which is fine but i get no freeview/digital which is obvious as my main aerial isn't connected but when I try to introduce my main aerial cable via the "aerial IN" my sky signal goes I can get either freeview/digital to my bedroom via the return port on my LIVINGROOM wall plate with a flying lead from TV port or analogue only from RF2 but not both in my bedroom and can't get my magic eye to work either in my bedroom because of this
William : What you are reporting suggests that you have a voltage leaking from somewhere that shouldn't, as you do appear to be using the correct connections for what you are doing, but though when you say that the signal vanishes when you touch the main aerial against Dish 1 or 2 inputs are you meaning against the "side" of the "F" connectors or sockets? as if you mean the centre then it will short the boxes power supply.
By the way Ch68 (the default channel) is OK for your area as none of the transmitters use it, but the other thing I wondered about was as you use a magic eye on the Sky boxes RF2 output does its light go out when you touch the main aerial onto the Sky boxes "aerial in" socket?
Another question being, do you have exclusive use of the dish and normal aerial? just asking in case its a communal distribution system.
The both are communal dish distribution systems and I can't get access to them when I touch my
Main aerialcable when it's plugged into Tv at the wall ( which is from my communal aerial ) against just the side metal work of both dish input cables ( when connected ) its cuts the signal .
Suspecting that it may be a faulty box but its only 2 months old I tried to cut out the cabling through the box altogether so I put a cable from my main aerial along with a cable from RF2 in a splitter into the return port to send both to my bedroom without going through the box this gives me freeview/digital "AND" analogue to my bedroom Tv and my sky signal remains and I can use it as normal record , pause playback etc but my analogue reception in bedroom this time is really bad very snowy/fuzzy
janette Thursday 13 September 2012 9:36AM Newcastle Upon Tyne
Hi i can recieve itv and channel 5 on the tv in the bedroom but not on my tv down stairs they are run off 2 different arials in the loft .... if i take the tv upstairs i get the channels can anyone tell me if this is something to do with the ariel or the switch over?? im in newcastle upon tyne.
janette: It's probably the case that at the time the TV performed the automatic tuning scan, the signal that carries ITV1, C4, C5 and others wasn't quite good enough.
Try manually tuning to UHF channel 55 for these service (if the TV allows manual tuning).
Jannette: It is likely that this won't be an issue when they have switched to full power on 26th. It is the weaker signal that is making it hit and miss for you.
We have freeview and have a Humax digital recorder connected to my TV in the living room. We also have a signal booster. Recently, we lost all digital signal through my analogueaerial and replaced it with a digital aerial fitted to my roof. I think !
Previous aerial/booster seemed to work well to send signal to other TV’s in the house but now I’ve lost the signals to all but the main TV. I've also read on here that signal boosters aren't required/don't work with Freeview ? Anyway, any suggestions ?
William : That's an interesting test that you have carried out as in theory it should not work, the reason being that when the Sky link to the bedroom instantly fails when you touch the outer of the main aerials coax connector onto the sides of the "F" connectors whereby electrically bonding them together, this in effect is exactly the same as what you are doing in your test, as the outer of the Sky boxes RF2 socket is at the same potential as the outer on the Sky boxes aerial input socket, which of course is the same as the outers of the "F" connectors because the chassis electrically bonds them together, the only difference with what you are doing is that you are linking them through a splitter which will possibly electrically isolate the inners from each other.
Now that you have discovered this, I would like you to revert to your normal connections "but" though feed the normal aerial into the Sky box via the splitter and not directly into it, giving an update on results.
This is unbelievable I have done what you said and when I take the main aerial into a splitter and straight into my box marked "aerial IN" it cuts my sky but still sends freeview/digital (only) to my bedroom via the RF2 into the return port even when I then unplug the main aerial from my sky box and leave it lying on the floor just with RF2 into my return port to my bedroom I am STILL seeing my freeview this is getting weirder
Ok so now my bedroom Tv is gone as well now with just Rf2 it's as if it was still holding some sort of digital charge for 5 mins to give me freeview in my room I need to connect my main aerial back into my return port with my splitter and RF2 this is the only way I can get freeview and a fuzzy sky pic in my bedroom atm
And I may also add that when I put the main aerial and a cable from RF2 into a splitter my sky signal cuts off it isn't until I plug them into the return port on my wall plate that the sky signal comes on and if it's not plugged in firmly my sky signal goes this is the weirdest thing I've came across in my life
William : Well I am certainly inclined to agree with your statement of weird, as there is obviously something a bit oddball about the communal facilities you are using, and I am still a bit suspicious about the standardaerial facility you are provided with insomuch that there might be a defect in the system that is allowing voltage to come down the line, as this is something that can happen if someone else on the communal system is using a device that's defective in the electrical sense, as it passes along the cabling.
The problem you have is that the Skybox in effect links the coax braiding of the satellite feeds to that of the normal aerial and it appears that this is killing the Sky signal, which of course it shouldn't do!
Regarding the Freeviewpicture still being seen without the connection being made, this is something usually experienced in high signal areas, but your G51 area does not really come into this category as two of the more local relays (Glasgow West Central / Cathcart) are only low powered transmitters.
But though I have another test that I would like you to try, that is using a short piece of thin insulated wire bared at one end and pushed into the Sky boxes normal aerial socket, but with the other end of the wire (not bared) and carefully pushed into the end of the coax plug that would normally be inserted into the Sky boxes normal aerial socket, try to loop it around the centre pin inside the coax plug.
The idea being to try and pick up enough Freeview signal to allow the 2nd TV to show a Freeview picture but done without an electrical link existing between the communal aerial system and the Sky box, i.e: completely electrically isolated.
I would normally have requested you try and borrow a set top aerial as that would do exactly the same thing, but I doubt that a set top aerial would work in your locality.
William : I had also meant to say that with regards to your magic eye I presume that you have switched the power on for the RF2 out via the installers menu?
If you have then connect the magic eye directly into he Sky boxes RF2 to make sure that it is working OK, if it is but not in the bedroom then that indicates that you have either a short circuit on the link cable between the two positions or that you have a Non-DC pass splitter installed on the coax, and this would require changing to an alternative type that does have DC by-pass.
Can you explain carefully where the piece of wire needs place between is it the "bare end" into "aerial IN" in the back of skybox and the "un-stripped end" into the end of my co-ax end which is still plugged into my main aerial point on the wall plate marked " TV "
Stuart Owens Friday 14 September 2012 4:22PM Wrexham
Why is there two Al Jazeera channels on two separate EPG numbers? Both broadcast on COM6 so can't they timeshare on the same EPG number?
Al Jazeera Eng is on air 1800-2300 on ch.83 and Al Jazeera 6-8 is on air 0600-0800 on ch.84. Surely they could timeshare on the one channel number to save being on two different channel numbers at different times of the day?
William : No! as the reason I suggested trying this is because that going by what you have reported it appears to be the case that when an "electrical" connection is made between the main aerial and the outer casings of the "F" connectors (in effect all metalwork) that this is whats cutting the signal out.
The approximate post code that you provided was suffice to verify that your Sky boxes modulator was not being swamped by a Freeview signal on the same channel and so that possibility can be left out of the equation.
Regarding the wire referred to, the whole purpose of this is to "induction" couple your main aerial system into the Sky boxes normal aerial input so that the signal could transfer into the Sky box without an actual electrical connection being made between both, as this in theory should allow the Freeview signal to transfer without the electrical component linking both which should stop the Sky signal from cutting out.
The wire having a proper connection into the Sky boxes aerial socket is just done for convenience, and the un-stripped end is to ensure that an electrical connection is "not" made between the wire in the Sky boxes aerial socket and the lead that goes to the wall plate, as signal transfer does not necessarily require a positive (wire to wire) connection to be made.
If you were an enthusiast in this field I would normally have suggested that you use two small capacitors (100pf each) to link the boxes braiding to the normal aerials same, and do likewise with the inners of both coax's, as this method gives a stronger signal.
Induction transfer was the reason for your TV receiving Freeview whilst the cable was on the floor not connected to anything.
I can see some 100pf capacitors on eBay fairly cheap but they are ranging from 50V to 15KV any particular ones and when I get them shall I just hold them in place between the 2 points of contact ( braidings and inners )
William: Simply imagine that you have a piece of coax that you have just chopped in two and you want to join it up again, the only difference being that instead of joining the inner to the inner you do it through one capacitor (inners of each cable joined via the capacitor) and with exactly the same thing being done with the braidings.
This of course should not be necessary and will only "in theory" stop your Sky signal from cutting off, as I suspect that there might be a potential difference between the outer of the coax plug and the "F" connectors same, although only a voltmeter would reveal that.
William: Set it on a 250 volt or slightly more AC range and check if anything reads between the outer of the coax plug and the side of the "F" connectors, the latter connected into the Skybox but the coax connector "not". (free standing)
Should nothing be indicated then try it with the meter set on DC, giving an update on results, and now I am aware you have a meter get someone to view the remote TV position to check if the signal cuts out when you have the meter across these two points.
Another thing that I should have suggested a few postings ago was to temporarily position the remote TV near to the Sky box and connect it into the boxes RF1 socket with a jumper lead, then see if it still cuts out when you connect the main aerial into the box, as I want to eliminate any possibility of a problem existing with your wiring.
Thank you Stephen P and JB38 for your guidance and encouragement to keep going. I now have a full set of channels including HD, in fact more than I had with Virgin. Very happy!
Update!
~Got everything working this afternoon, turned off and then around 7pm turned on; watching HD then suddenly at about 7.15pm loss of lots of channels, had around 50% signal and 100% quality on 22,23,25,26,28,& 29, then lost 22,25 & 28 with zero signal and under 15% on the rest. Checked Stockland hill status, no reported problems; aerial is ok, booster is on. Any suggestions?
Chris: Do "not" be tempted to alter anything, as what you have said suggests that the problem could be caused by either atmospheric reasons or that there is a problem at the transmitter, as transmitter problems are not always reported for some hours after the event and on occasions can even be on the next day.
Should you be on speaking terms with a neighbour you could maybe make an enquiry with them, or possibly someone else local.
But once again, do not alter anything for the time being.
Chris : Although I am not suggesting that you alter anything for the time being as all you will do is to lose all the settings you have already made, but what I wondered was whether or not the aerial that you use is exclusively yours and is "not" shared by anyone else?
Problems caused by atmospheric conditions are quite commonplace in the South of England around this time of the year and are frequently the cause of disruption to reception, but its folly to try and alter anything as all that does is to compound the problem whereby when the signal returns to normal the settings on the TV arent!
Stuart Trayner Sunday 16 September 2012 9:17AM Dundee
Currently I receive freeview from a partial transmitter at taybridge, can I install a new aerial or other device to receive full freeview. Do not want to subscribe to cable or satelite