new digital tv with cable problem

hully · 03-10-2007, 13:44

The arrangement I have had that has been working fine is that the scart output from the ntl box goes to the TV in the lounge and then I feed the RF output through a seperate RF cable buried in the walls upstairs to a TV in the bedroom.
This has shown channels 1-4 and 8 was tuned into cable.

But now that I have changed the bedroom tv for a digital one, I can only receive these channels on the analogue tuner. I cannot see any freeview channels unless I plug in a portable aerial which isn't convenient.

If I try plugging in both at the same time with a cheap splitter, then I again cannot see the freeview channels.

I don't really want to get another NTL box as this will cause a lot of disruption in getting the cable up to the bedroom.

help.

Itshim · 03-10-2007, 15:08

Surely you need a freeview tuner to get a freeview signal Virgin boxes wont give that to you .

hully · 03-10-2007, 15:14

I meant that I can't see the freeview channels available from the TV itself unless I connect in a seperate indoor aerial and disconnect the feed from the NTL box that is located downstairs. If I try connecting both with a 3 way connector, I no longer see the digital channels from the TV.

Itshim · 03-10-2007, 16:39

If I understand you. You have a "Freeview" tv & run virgin to it.

If so my LG freeview TV is set up & yes on one scart is Virgin the second one is from an aerial,for Freeview.
On the Tv I go to DTV for freeview & av1 for Virgin The HD recorder picks up the analogue signals(via V box) & I can view them by going to (in my case) AV2

sstainer · 03-10-2007, 17:36

looking at yr request for help as itshim mentioned freeview channels would it be that the signal for them be coming in via the cable line or an external tv aerial?

if external should work no problem if via cable sadly you wont get them at all

PaulH225 · 03-10-2007, 19:09

If your STB has an RF input (my Samsung 2110 has), then you can plug your portable aerial into that and you'll get the Freeview channels piped out the RF output along with the analogue cable signals.

However, you may have issues if the channels that VM broadcast 1 - 5 on clash with the channels that your local Freeview MUXs are transmitted on.

It may or may not work, but it's worth a shot.

Itshim · 04-10-2007, 09:32

[quote=PaulH225;34407846]If your STB has an RF input (my Samsung 2110 has), then you can plug your portable aerial into that and you'll get the Freeview channels piped out the RF output along with the analogue cable signals.

Are you saying that by putting aerial in to the STB it acts as a freeview box?

piggy · 04-10-2007, 19:45

[quote=Itshim;34408070]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulH225

If your STB has an RF input (my Samsung 2110 has), then you can plug your portable aerial into that and you'll get the Freeview channels piped out the RF output along with the analogue cable signals.

Are you saying that by putting aerial in to the STB it acts as a freeview box?

i think what he is saying that putting a aerial into the virgin stb will then allow the o/p to tune in freeview and watch vigin rf wise on his upstairs tv (thats what i would do)

PaulH225 · 05-10-2007, 09:52

[quote=piggy;34408376]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itshim

i think what he is saying that putting a aerial into the virgin stb will then allow the o/p to tune in freeview and watch vigin rf wise on his upstairs tv (thats what i would do)

Yes, thanks piggy, that's exactly what I was trying to get at..

That's what I currently have set up at home.. In fact mine's a little different now since I had V+ installed yesterday.. Aerial feed from my internal aerial goes to my twin tuner freeview pvr in the bedroom, then into my V+ in the front room, into my dvd recorder then onto my LCD TV.

hully · 08-10-2007, 12:00

I have re-checked my wiring and now have the aerial and cable combined and then upstairs.
I can get some digital channels ok but not all. I get SKY3 for instance but not BBC1,BBC2,ITV or Channel4. Is this signal strength or interference?

PaulH225 · 09-10-2007, 08:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by hully

I have re-checked my wiring and now have the aerial and cable combined and then upstairs.
I can get some digital channels ok but not all. I get SKY3 for instance but not BBC1,BBC2,ITV or Channel4. Is this signal strength or interference?

Yeah, that sounds like a signal problem to me. It's possible that your cable signal is interfering with the Freeview signal. However, based on the fact you're losing BBC, ITV and C4 and they're on 3(I think!) different MUXs, I would think that's not likely to be the case. I had a similar issue when I boosted the terrestrial signal before I sent it down the cable to the living room. Taking the booster out solved my problem.

Have you checked the freeview signal downstairs, before it goes to upstairs? Is the signal ok there?

hully · 09-10-2007, 09:05

Yes I get Freeview on the TV downstairs ok.
I still only have an old analogue aerial fitted on the outside. I am only about 7 miles from the Sandy Heath transmitter.
I have a new digital aerial but haven't been able to fit it yet as it is in quite an awkward position and I need to get someone in to fit it.

PaulH225 · 09-10-2007, 10:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by hully

Yes I get Freeview on the TV downstairs ok.
I still only have an old analogue aerial fitted on the outside. I am only about 7 miles from the Sandy Heath transmitter.
I have a new digital aerial but haven't been able to fit it yet as it is in quite an awkward position and I need to get someone in to fit it.

If you're getting all the Freeview channels ok downstairs but not upstairs, then it sounds like the signal is degrading on the way upstairs. You could try fitting a 2 way booster between the cable rf-out, the downstairs tv and the cable going upstairs, you'd need to be careful not to boost the signal too much as that can make the problem even worse! Also worth double checking the connectors on the cables are fitted properly and that the shielding/braiding isn't coming into contact with the central core. (There's a good article here: How to wire a Belling-Lee connector)

Looking at the channels the Freeview MUXs are broadcasting on, I'd suggest setting your cable RF output somewhere in the 50s. The freeview MUXs are on C39,C40,C42,C43,C45,C46 and C67 and the analogue channels are between 21 and 31. Is there any interference on the analogue rf from the cable box upstairs?

hully · 09-10-2007, 10:26

what do you mean by :
"I'd suggest setting your cable RF output somewhere in the 50s"

Is there any interference on the analogue rf from the cable box upstairs?

I don't have a cable box upstairs, just a digital TV, but if I switch over to the Analogue tuner I can see BBC1, 2, itv and channel 4 and the cable channel.

PaulH225 · 09-10-2007, 10:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by hully

what do you mean by :
"I'd suggest setting your cable RF output somewhere in the 50s"

Is there any interference on the analogue rf from the cable box upstairs?

I don't have a cable box upstairs, just a digital TV, but if I switch over to the Analogue tuner I can see BBC1, 2, itv and channel 4 and the cable channel.

Regarding the first point, looking back, you should be ok without changing the cable RF output. If you get all the Freeview channels downstairs, it shouldn't be interfering. I thought maybe moving might help, but if your signal is fine downstairs then you shouldn't have a problem.

The second point, I meant, is there any interference when you view the cable channel upstairs. In hindsight, I should have probably said "when viewed upstairs". Really, it's a question of is the cable channel quite grainy and snowy or have wavy lines across it when you watch it upstairs or is it as good as BBC1 was when you used to watch it through the old tv aerial on the roof?