NTL small black box on the back of pace unit?

ashsparks · 28-01-2006, 10:29

Hi All

Can anyone help? I recently had NTL cable added to my account and went for the base pack. THe engineer came and sorted it all and we were up and running. But....... I was not getting all the channels included in the pack, error on the screen something about card not being ok or something like that.

So I called tech support and they asked for the number on the card and the serial number on the bottom of the pace box. And then said someone will call me 48hrs mmmm must be a bigger problem.

Now here comes the good bit, as I was strugling to see the serial number that small black box on the back of the unit came off, no problems I thought it just pushes on agian. Oh was that a mistake as I pushed it back in as I thought and turn all on again and got nothing just a black screen. So I started checking all connections. Guess what one of the connections in the small box has a pin which goes in to the cable it bent and broke off!!!

So I just put the cables straight into th back of the pace unit and took the small box of and hey it works. But whats the box for? and how come it works without it. Oh by the way not got all the base pack channels I have ordered, still waiting for support and there 48hr contact.

SLM · 28-01-2006, 10:34

I would ring back and explain about the box coming of when you where asked to look at all the connections. I am not from an area that needs those black boxes but I think they are to keep interference down on the terrestrial channels. But someone will be along soon who will know.

monkey2468 · 28-01-2006, 11:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashsparks

Hi All

Can anyone help? I recently had NTL cable added to my account and went for the base pack. THe engineer came and sorted it all and we were up and running. But....... I was not getting all the channels included in the pack, error on the screen something about card not being ok or something like that.

So I called tech support and they asked for the number on the card and the serial number on the bottom of the pace box. And then said someone will call me 48hrs mmmm must be a bigger problem.

Now here comes the good bit, as I was strugling to see the serial number that small black box on the back of the unit came off, no problems I thought it just pushes on agian. Oh was that a mistake as I pushed it back in as I thought and turn all on again and got nothing just a black screen. So I started checking all connections. Guess what one of the connections in the small box has a pin which goes in to the cable it bent and broke off!!!

So I just put the cables straight into th back of the pace unit and took the small box of and hey it works. But whats the box for? and how come it works without it. Oh by the way not got all the base pack channels I have ordered, still waiting for support and there 48hr contact.

Its either a bypass or combiner for terrestrial channels 1-5 through your tv channs. (depending on weather you have an outside ariel or you get terrestrial from NTL)

spike7451 · 28-01-2006, 12:35

As said above,it's either a by-pass (for off airs <BBC1-C5>without a external aerial) or a combiner (mixes Cable & external aerial) It'll need replacing.Bear in mind here,NTL'll probably charge for the call out as it's not their doing in their eyes.
Spike

SLM · 28-01-2006, 13:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by spike7451

As said above,it's either a by-pass (for off airs <BBC1-C5>without a external aerial) or a combiner (mixes Cable & external aerial) It'll need replacing.Bear in mind here,NTL'll probably charge for the call out as it's not their doing in their eyes.
Spike

If its accidental damage ntl will not charge. They will only charge if its plain misuse or the customers equipment.

PS1 · 28-01-2006, 20:31

It was ntls fault you needed to lift the box and look for the nagra.If all had been up and running perfectly then you wouldnt of had to touch the box!

Nor · 28-01-2006, 22:46

Funnily enough I called NTL today to request a new little black box. I was getting a terrible reception on the TV in the living room. Checked the RF cable on the TV and it was secure, looked at the one coming out of the little black box and it was hanging out of it's socket. Went to straighten it up and it just fell off.

Looks like the solder joints had gone. NTL fella coming out on Monday to fit a new one. Could have done it myself, but they wouldn't send the little box out on its own. Seems a waste of NTL's time and money, but there you go.

SLM · 29-01-2006, 17:19

In a way Nor it is not a waste of time, the fault tech that comes out will also service your box so in the long run it saves ntl money and there are a lot of people out there that are frightened of touching the stb, so they just blankett all faults in this manner.

Angua · 29-01-2006, 17:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLM

In a way Nor it is not a waste of time, the fault tech that comes out will also service your box so in the long run it saves ntl money and there are a lot of people out there that are frightened of touching the stb, so they just blankett all faults in this manner.

Also unless you have very precise instructions you could easily bend that pin again doing it yourself.