Sound Crackly?

Reaps^ · 29-03-2004, 16:04

Hi

After things got too late to get Digital, I had to end up getting analogue.

I have linked up the sound outputs to my receiver (Amp), but the sound every now and again crackles, is this a known problem with any analogue boxes?

Thanks

Tristan · 29-03-2004, 16:18

While this is well-known on (Bromley) digital systems, this is the first I've heard on analogue. Can you tell us any more about when it happens? When the sound is very loud, perhaps?

Reaps^ · 29-03-2004, 16:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tristan

While this is well-known on (Bromley) digital systems, this is the first I've heard on analogue. Can you tell us any more about when it happens? When the sound is very loud, perhaps?

usually when someone speaks.. usually women.. some sort of speaking usually gives a few crackly

I turned the volume on the cable box very low and used my amp to make it loud.. still crackles.

I've put it into the tv on its own and its still a bit crackly here and there.

I'm a bit picky about how good my service is tbh, but i would like to know if theres a fix at all?

Reaps^ · 29-03-2004, 17:45

It's only happening on Sky One

30-03-2004, 23:49

Either your recieving equipment needs fine tuning or the modulator at the headend is faulty. Try fine tuning and let me know it doesn't work, I'll speak to the headend guys if they haven't already picked it up.

garyparson · 31-03-2004, 15:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tristan

While this is well-known on (Bromley) digital systems

You know that, I know that, anyone on Bromley who has had to listen to this awful popping and crackling for the last six months knows this. Ring customer service.. 'never heard of that one sir' arrrrggghhh fcuk off....

31-03-2004, 17:08

Reaps has analogue cable. So its a Nicam issue, either reception or modulation.

Tristan · 31-03-2004, 17:25

That's a good point, actually.

Reaps, does your TV have a function whereby you can change between mono and stereo sound? If it does, can you tell us whether the crackling happens on both of these, or just the stereo?

NICAM audio signals are carried separately from mono signals. So if it happens on both signals, it's likely to be a reception issue. If it's only on the stereo signal, it's probably a fault in the NICAM encoder at the headend.

Reaps^ · 31-03-2004, 18:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tristan

That's a good point, actually.

Reaps, does your TV have a function whereby you can change between mono and stereo sound? If it does, can you tell us whether the crackling happens on both of these, or just the stereo?

NICAM audio signals are carried separately from mono signals. So if it happens on both signals, it's likely to be a reception issue. If it's only on the stereo signal, it's probably a fault in the NICAM encoder at the headend.

It happens on both, i've tried changing my amplifier to mono mode and stereo mode, but its still the same.

I dont think I can modulate the signal my end, can I?

It's quite damn annoying

It's as if they are sending out too much of a loud signal and my cable box cant lower it enough, even if i put the volume down on the box it still crackles :|

31-03-2004, 18:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaps^

It happens on both, i've tried changing my amplifier to mono mode and stereo mode, but its still the same.

I dont think I can modulate the signal my end, can I?

It's quite damn annoying

It's as if they are sending out too much of a loud signal and my cable box cant lower it enough, even if i put the volume down on the box it still crackles :|

The feed to your amp, where does that come from, your TV or a VCR? That device needs to be fine tuned or as Tristan says put it into mono mode.
The amp is merely changing the stereo signal it is recieving from the receiving device into mono, that stereo signal is already faulty.

Reaps^ · 31-03-2004, 19:12

I've already said that i've tried it in mono and/or stereo.

The feed comes directly from the Analogue Cable Box, using the white output on the back, near the RF outs.

I cant fine tune the box can I ?

Tristan · 31-03-2004, 19:55

Do you mean red and white outputs? Or is there only one? In which case you're only getting mono anyway. In fact, thinking about it, there probably isn't a NICAM decoder in the box anyway...

So, for future reference, if your TV or video has audio-outs, you will get better sound through these.

None of which really helps us with your problem, except that it isn't a fault in the NICAM decoder at the headend, probably jsut the modulator...

31-03-2004, 20:02

How many audio connectors are there on the back of the box? I don't work with analogue boxes, so I don't know.

altis · 01-04-2004, 13:35

Reaps, by 'Analogue Cable Box' what sort of box do you mean?

altis · 01-04-2004, 21:12

I've found some pictures of the back of some analogue boxes that have stereo audio outputs. Reading some of the words that go with them makes me suspect that they actually use the 88-108 MHz FM radio service for this. These boxes possibly predate Nicam too. This also explains why I can listen to Sky 1 using the FM hook-up!

Round here Sky 1 is loud but I never listen to it for long enough to identify any 'crackling'. However, I do listen to Sunrise and that is definately loud and distorted. I think some levels need checking.