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All posts by jb38

Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.


Richard: Just a small addition to what's been said, if you want to try a few tests scrub the channels on one box and carry out a manual tune using the individual Mux channel numbers seen listed for each of the stations shown on the Wolfbane link.

You can then make a note of the results and then carry out a manual scan of the individual Mux's that gave the best signal / quality indications, this time saving the results.

All said though box allowing! as some boxes don't have this type flexibility in their tuning system to allow things to be done this way, also its maybe best to wait until after the 22nd of this month when the second stage of Blackhill switchover takes place.

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Mike Dimmick: (2.35pm posting) Yes, and as Richard has since confirmed, you were obviously quite correct regarding the true meaning of Ch22, as all comments made by me were based on taking at face value Richards 9.24pm posting where "UHF"channel 22 was mentioned, that said though I do admit to having wondered how such a strong signal could be received at Erskine, especially considering its just over 20 miles or so away from Darvel with a PSB1 maximum ERP of only 20Kw, this compared to Blackhill's PSB1 on an ERP of 100Kw.

I had just put this doubt I had down to the possibility that Blackhills signal wasn't being received quite so good in the Erskine area, something that actually applies in many parts of Glasgow let alone to the West of it, and of course if that was the case then Darvel could appear as a better bet for reception, and indeed as is used by some friends of mine who reside in the South of the city, them magically managing to escape the effects of the ever present Whitelee's wind farm menace.

However, to finalise, as it transpired the Ch22 being referred to was Ideal Worlds EPG channel number and not the multiplex channel number, not exactly the best of examples to use for determining the cause of a possible problem.

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That's OK Richard, a fully understandable error! - Digital television has the unfortunate side effect that although it may well offer a far wider selection of programme choices etc its reception by any means other than satellite can introduce a whole range of difficulties for the average viewer, and who in most cases has hitherto enjoyed years of reasonably stable analogue reception, and I am quite sure that even when all the transmitters in the UK have been switched over to their final powers / frequencies that its almost inevitable that there will still be a constant flow of people with a range of queries over what ever existed with analogue transmissions, DTT just invites it!

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Alan: If you are still within the mandatory years contract then Sky will charge for the remainder of the time to run plus possibly a pro-rata charge for the box, if however you are outside of this time then no charge will be made.

You can still use the Sky box to watch all free channels, however, although free, some are encrypted (Ch5 and some ITV areas) and it depends on whether or not Sky will leave access to them on the viewing card, others will possibly know better than me about this, as if not you will have to fork out (believe £25.00) for a free viewing card from Sky, a bit of a contradictory statement but that's the way it works, the card said to last 5 years although I have never had to make any repeat payments for mine.

The Sky dish is perfectly OK with a "Freesat" box, as the dish doesn't discriminate against what is connected to it.

"Freesat" being what I take it you meant, as Freeview is received via a normal aerial.

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Karen McKinlay: It could be that the channel being used for the RF output on the Sky box is clashing with another broadcast channel, that is "if" you are using the Sky box to feed other analogue channels through to the kitchen TV.

Try changing the Sky boxes RF output to another channel a few away from where it is presently set for, carry this out as per instructions shown at the top of the page, I would have advised you on a suitable channel but cant, as you haven't mentioned where you are located.

I am also not sure what you mean by "freeview"? as what you are doing is not connected with that, unless of course you are just meaning non Sky subscription satellite channels.

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Karen McKinlay: Forgot to add, that once you have changed the Sky boxes RF output to another channel remember to follow that action by carrying out a rescan on the TV to enable the new channel number to be received.

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June Witham: Just to add to James Watt's posting, non dedicated to Freesat boxes can be a nightmare for finding specific channels, however if you enter 10818V - 22000 - 5/6 into the set it should receive BBC West service. ITV West country (South) is 10832H - 22000 - 5/6, but it may not respond and come up with unavailable or whatever, as I am not sure if its one of the free "but encrypted" channels, as some are some aren't!

Ignore the post code section in the menu, as its only purpose is to show the dish angles used in various countries, the box being sold world wide.

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Mark Sanders: The answer is NO on both your queries, as what you do with equipment that's outside of its original contract period is really your own business.

The only thing that you will possibly find is that some channels, although free, will not work without a card, 5* and ITV1 in some areas.

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Mark Sanders; Just an addition to clarify another little point, being that all you are really doing is what many people do, that is use their old Sky box to watch channels that do not require a subscription.

The only thing though that I would recommend is, if any problems cropped up with your new box / dish combination during its guarantee period I would temporarily uncouple the connection you made to the spare outlet on the new quad block, as although some service engineers would not bother about this its best not taking the chance of providing an overly officious type an excuse to "manufacture" a link between what you have done and the cause of the new equipment failure, as some are always looking for ways to justify making a call out charge.

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max: Irrespective of the other channels lost, if you had also previously carried out reset No1 method (as shown above) and the BBC channels are still missing then this might indicate a fault with the box.

You should carry out a signal check on the box by pressing > services > 4 > 6 and you should expect to see both signal and quality indications filling about 3/4 of the scale.

I would try another shot at reset No1 again though.

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