STB Pass Through channels very fuzzy

[TooMuch2AM]

Hi All, this is my first post to NTHW so please be gentle!

I have NTL Digital through my PACE 1000 box and until a while back everything was fine (barring interactive, but that's another story!).

Then one day my VCR decided to pack in and simultaniously I lost all my pass through channels. Obviously I thought that the tuner on the now dead video was to blame, but even plugging the digibox directly into the TV with SCART, RF and even both yielded no results.

I've since replaced the VCR with a spanking new DVD Recorder (a Phillips DVDR70) and was hoping that might ease the problem.

Obviously not.

The DVD recorder is connected directly to the Pace box via SCART and RF and has the same problem tuning into pass throughs as my TV. Basically the pass throughs are there, but the quality of the transmission is awful - something akin to using a portable aerial.

Also, any attempt to tune a 'normal' channel (ie, not AV1/AV2 via SCART) to the digibox signal fails, not even finding a faint signal.

Is the pass through on my digibox stuffed, or is it something a little less fundamental?

Any suggestions are greatfully received!

All the best,
Mike

[altis]

Sorry for delay, I thought that someone else might have a go at this one.

When you talk about the pass-thru channels do you mean those that come from the cable or the ones from your own terrestrial aerial that are combined in the STB?

Are you telling us that the pass-thru worked before but when your VCR died the quality dropped? I guess it is possible, but would suggest that it is unlikely, that the VCR took out the pass-thru when it expired. More likely, perhaps, is that you disturbed or rearanged the connections somehow when you removed the VCR - they should look something like this:

[TooMuch2AM]

Thanks for the reply Altis.

I don't think it's a wiring problem to be honest as I pretty much ripped out my whole AV system whilst installing the DVD recorder.

Also, when the STB is connected to the TV directly with SCART & RF I still have the problem with fuzzy pass throughs (and a none existent cable feed apart from on AV1).

The pass throughs are the ones that come through the cable connection.

Thanks again!
Mike

[altis]

Mmmm...

Increasingly looks like something in the RF output of your STB has died. I guess it might have reconfigured itself somehow but checking that is outside my knowledge. Perhaps one of the NTL engineers can help. If this fails then it looks like you need to get the box replaced. They usually try to give you the same type of box but be aware that newer ones DO NOT have the pass-thru. However, all is not lost. There is a gizzmo called a bypass that the engineer should be able to provide for you.