Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Taxi_Driver on 23 December 2006, 18:12:56
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My new toy arrived this morning :D
A Thomson DV3 Digital TV recorder......anyone else bought one from TopupTV?
My old freeview box (with topuptv slot) gave up the ghost a few months back and i borrowed another freeview box (without topuptv slot) but used to work ok, sometimes use to freeze(or go 'blocky') sometimes on certain channels but then my tv aerial signal wasnt brilliant . You couldnt watch C5 on analogue, it was to 'noisey'
Plugged it in.....ran the setup and search for channels......it fails to find any topuptv channels (but i think this a software prob......and according to topuptv website this should be fixed by the morning, as it should download a software upgrade during the night)
It carnt find ITV C4 or C5 and has about 15 other channels missing :(
Read in the manual about tuning probs that you need to have a good signal for C5 on analogue :(
So decided to check the aerial connections....found a couple of them had corroded.....so bought a couple of new plugs and remade the connections.....this has made a definate improvement....so much so that BBC1, 2 ITV C4 are perfect on analogue C5 is slightly grainy but certainly watchable
However it still cannot find the missing channels :(
According to the tuning info its getting BBC1/2 from the mendip transmitter.......but when i select for ie sky3......which it carnt get its trying to get it from the oxford transmitter......now not being that clever.....but they have to be in different directions! ::)
So......i'll leave it tonight to see if it downloads any updates tonight that sorts it out.......but im thinking im gonna get shafted by local tv aeriel shop to either put up a high gain aerial or have two aerials?? :-/
For those that dont know and i didnt till earlier.....the box has two aerial inputs but are at the mo connected together (it came with a box connecting the inputs together) and two seperate tuners
Any ideas?
Its also suppose to download a load of programmes tonight that i might want to watch....to fill up its 160GB hard disk.....i'll have to see what happens :-/
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Generally with freeview, you end up losing entire MUXes, so 6 - 15 channels at a time. All muxes will come from transmitter, not exceptions. Before BSB/Ondigital, aerials were sold optimised for specific frequencies (bands). With DTT, generally a wideband aerial is required, so if you're missing certain muxes it could be down to wrong aerial - though in this case its probably due renewal anyway.
Personally, I tend to use powered distribution systems, so each of my aerial connected devices have their own feed - so I have a 6 way one in loft, and a 4 way one behind the main telly, feeding the 2 twin tuners in the MCE, the DVD/HDD recorder, and the TV.
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I live about half a mile from emley moor tower, i can get a great picture with £1 shop aerial, including digital.
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Generally with freeview, you end up losing entire MUXes, so 6 - 15 channels at a time. All muxes will come from transmitter, not exceptions. Before BSB/Ondigital, aerials were sold optimised for specific frequencies (bands). With DTT, generally a wideband aerial is required, so if you're missing certain muxes it could be down to wrong aerial - though in this case its probably due renewal anyway.
Personally, I tend to use powered distribution systems, so each of my aerial connected devices have their own feed - so I have a 6 way one in loft, and a 4 way one behind the main telly, feeding the 2 twin tuners in the MCE, the DVD/HDD recorder, and the TV.
Probably will have to get a new aerial.....but strange how old freeview box used to be okish, it got itv c4 c5 which this new box wont :(
6 way one in the loft is good idea :y But was reading another site earlier 4 way one behind telly might not be a good idea as website says if more than a metre away from aerial its amplifying the noise just as much as the signal.....but i guess if it works ok for you.....:y
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Generally with freeview, you end up losing entire MUXes, so 6 - 15 channels at a time. All muxes will come from transmitter, not exceptions. Before BSB/Ondigital, aerials were sold optimised for specific frequencies (bands). With DTT, generally a wideband aerial is required, so if you're missing certain muxes it could be down to wrong aerial - though in this case its probably due renewal anyway.
Personally, I tend to use powered distribution systems, so each of my aerial connected devices have their own feed - so I have a 6 way one in loft, and a 4 way one behind the main telly, feeding the 2 twin tuners in the MCE, the DVD/HDD recorder, and the TV.
Probably will have to get a new aerial.....but strange how old freeview box used to be okish, it got itv c4 c5 which this new box wont :(
6 way one in the loft is good idea :y But was reading another site earlier 4 way one behind telly might not be a good idea as website says if more than a metre away from aerial its amplifying the noise just as much as the signal.....but i guess if it works ok for you.....:y
Correct, amplify near aerial. The 4 way behind telly is not to amplify a poor signal, but to overcome the loses put on by 4 devices sharing a single downlead...
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Firstly C5 rule is rubbish - makes no difference!
I have no analogue C5 as it is not on Sutton yet all 6 muxes are.
TitsupTV - so you are the customer!!!!
Anyway it is worth getting a decent wideband aerial - which TX are you on?
Use CT100 coax and pu any amps as near the aerial as possible.
Mine is wideband, then amp in loft, long run of CT100, PSU for amp, TV (Sony IDTV), PVR (Pace Twin), VCR (a Beta one - SLHF950) then a long run upstairs to the bedroom TV (Relisys LCD using a Pace DTVA).
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My 2p worth.
Wideband antenna. Rotate it for best signal rather than point it where the source should be. Sometimes you can get a decent reflected signal from another source.
Replace downfeed with new, low loss coax. Make as few push connections as possible. (Go straight through a wall with the wire rather than use coax plug/socket).
Amp on or close to aerial.
Distribution box as necessary at other end.
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TitsupTV - so you are the customer!!!!
Yep i am ;D
Anyway it is worth getting a decent wideband aerial - which TX are you on?
Not sure what you mean Martin?....What you mean TX? Soz :-/
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My 2p worth.
Wideband antenna. Rotate it for best signal rather than point it where the source should be. Sometimes you can get a decent reflected signal from another source.
Replace downfeed with new, low loss coax. Make as few push connections as possible. (Go straight through a wall with the wire rather than use coax plug/socket).
Amp on or close to aerial.
Distribution box as necessary at other end.
Cheers Hillper.....
Had a new aerial about 7/8 years ago.......dunno what they stuck up there :-/ and had the cable changed as well at the same time.....and it does run str8 thro the wall no connections inbetween.....
So it looks likes getting new aerial (whatever type the local aerial shop says i need) :(
Carnt put an amp close to aerial as the cable runs over the roof, down the side of my house and then in on ground floor level
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Tx = transmitter.
The C5 rule is a bit general, but is normally squeezed in outside of the older 'bands' in many areas, so decent C5 (as well as other 4 channels) means a) your aerial is able to pick up weak signals, b) is probably wideband (though not always).
Each connector adds 3db loss, so don't join coax cable. Coax does degrade over time, esp if run outside (if outside, ensure its black), so old coax will have high loss (may also develop impedence problems).
Generally, newer boxes have better tuners, so I would expect better from your new box. If you are using a Y splitter, or a loopthrough type setup, this may degrade it though. (I've found DTT receiver loopthroughs tend to have a bit of loss)
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Tx = transmitter.
The C5 rule is a bit general, but is normally squeezed in outside of the older 'bands' in many areas, so decent C5 (as well as other 4 channels) means a) your aerial is able to pick up weak signals, b) is probably wideband (though not always).
Each connector adds 3db loss, so don't join coax cable. Coax does degrade over time, esp if run outside (if outside, ensure its black), so old coax will have high loss (may also develop impedence problems).
Generally, newer boxes have better tuners, so I would expect better from your new box. If you are using a Y splitter, or a loopthrough type setup, this may degrade it though. (I've found DTT receiver loopthroughs tend to have a bit of loss)
Soz was being a bit dumb there :-[ .....One tuner says its trying to use mendip transmitter, the other tuner says its trying to use oxford transmitter ::)
No connections on the aerial.....str8 from the aerial to the box ....but as i found a couple of corroded aluminium connectors....and replaced with new....it would suggest to me that water has found its way in :-/
But then i have a gas fire that vents directly into the living room.....it has a cat fitted so it wont kill me ;)
But obviously lots of water vapour gets into the room ::)
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Tx = transmitter.
The C5 rule is a bit general, but is normally squeezed in outside of the older 'bands' in many areas, so decent C5 (as well as other 4 channels) means a) your aerial is able to pick up weak signals, b) is probably wideband (though not always).
Each connector adds 3db loss, so don't join coax cable. Coax does degrade over time, esp if run outside (if outside, ensure its black), so old coax will have high loss (may also develop impedence problems).
Generally, newer boxes have better tuners, so I would expect better from your new box. If you are using a Y splitter, or a loopthrough type setup, this may degrade it though. (I've found DTT receiver loopthroughs tend to have a bit of loss)
Soz was being a bit dumb there :-[ .....One tuner says its trying to use mendip transmitter, the other tuner says its trying to use oxford transmitter ::)
No connections on the aerial.....str8 from the aerial to the box ....but as i found a couple of corroded aluminium connectors....and replaced with new....it would suggest to me that water has found its way in :-/
But then i have a gas fire that vents directly into the living room.....it has a cat fitted so it wont kill me ;)
But obviously lots of water vapour gets into the room ::)
There is your problem - which TX does the works welll box use?
Which one does the pants one use?
It is doing a trick I last saw on one of the Turkish built noddy boxes - it finds the first TX not the strongest TX.
You need to either filter out the wrong one, or pull aerial out at correct times
Mendip is 59 55 62 65 56 67
Oxford is 34 68 51 52 48 29
So you should use Mendip but pulled Oxford wrongly - if you see the channel numbers pull aerial until 55
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I imagine Newbury would be your closest?
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I'd send you some co-ax cable but I've used it up cleaning out my breathers. It works fine for that. :-X
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Tx = transmitter.
The C5 rule is a bit general, but is normally squeezed in outside of the older 'bands' in many areas, so decent C5 (as well as other 4 channels) means a) your aerial is able to pick up weak signals, b) is probably wideband (though not always).
Each connector adds 3db loss, so don't join coax cable. Coax does degrade over time, esp if run outside (if outside, ensure its black), so old coax will have high loss (may also develop impedence problems).
Generally, newer boxes have better tuners, so I would expect better from your new box. If you are using a Y splitter, or a loopthrough type setup, this may degrade it though. (I've found DTT receiver loopthroughs tend to have a bit of loss)
Soz was being a bit dumb there :-[ .....One tuner says its trying to use mendip transmitter, the other tuner says its trying to use oxford transmitter ::)
No connections on the aerial.....str8 from the aerial to the box ....but as i found a couple of corroded aluminium connectors....and replaced with new....it would suggest to me that water has found its way in :-/
But then i have a gas fire that vents directly into the living room.....it has a cat fitted so it wont kill me ;)
But obviously lots of water vapour gets into the room ::)
There is your problem - which TX does the works welll box use?
Which one does the pants one use?
It is doing a trick I last saw on one of the Turkish built noddy boxes - it finds the first TX not the strongest TX.
You need to either filter out the wrong one, or pull aerial out at correct times
Mendip is 59 55 62 65 56 67
Oxford is 34 68 51 52 48 29
So you should use Mendip but pulled Oxford wrongly - if you see the channel numbers pull aerial until 55
Dont know what the old box used.....carnt get to that info as far as i can see :(
On new box it says for example tuner1 Mendip 55 BBC1 .....and that works fine :y
Then if ive got sky3 selected is says tuner2 Oxford 48 Sky 3 and no pic :(
I can manually change tuner2 to say Mendip 55 but it makes no difference :( still no pic :(
Just checked it this morning, it hasnt downloaded anything last night that i can see......but doing a rescan
it now finds 9 frequencies (was only getting 7 yesterday) and the full 94 channels, was only getting 79 yesterday
Now i have BBC1/2/ITV/C4/C5 etc but C5/Sky3 plus some others just put up a no signal symbol
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I imagine Newbury would be your closest?
Hhmmm so would I tbh :-/
But if i have a look down the road everyones aerial is either pointing at the Mendip TX or 180 degrees at the Oxford one or they have 2 aerials and both
Mind you thinking about it Newbury TX might be closer, but White Horse Hill are probably in the way :-/
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Just been having another play and noticed I can get UK History and it says its getting it from Oxford TX?
Very odd :-/ As aerial points towards Mendip......unless its picking up a reflection :-/
I guess I need to get aerial shop out and either add another aerial pointing towards oxford or have a wideband aerial fitted pointing towards Mendip or both :-/
Either way i need to call Topuptv as Ive noticed my viewing card is giving the wrong number for the package I subscribe to so maybe why I carnt see some channels :-/
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So you want Mendip then, you need to find away to ignore Oxford.
Try using a variable attenuator to tune in then remove it.
My Pace Twin handles multiple TXs perfectly and I have just fitted a 100GB HDD to it
I think a REPUTABLE local aerial chap may be required
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My recommendation would be to get a DAT45 aerial with MRD device (about 50 quid on ebay).
Its pretty selective so doesn't suffer so badly from side lobes picking up other transmitters and the MRD is the perfect amplifier as ts sat on the rear of teh main element and also matches it to the cable.
You need good screened cable as digital is very prone to errors due to multipath pickup.
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Get in touch with Zoltron - he did a great job of mine in return for a timing belt on his car - knows his stuff and is a great bloke.
My new toy arrived this morning :D
A Thomson DV3 Digital TV recorder......anyone else bought one from TopupTV?
My old freeview box (with topuptv slot) gave up the ghost a few months back and i borrowed another freeview box (without topuptv slot) but used to work ok, sometimes use to freeze(or go 'blocky') sometimes on certain channels but then my tv aerial signal wasnt brilliant . You couldnt watch C5 on analogue, it was to 'noisey'
Plugged it in.....ran the setup and search for channels......it fails to find any topuptv channels (but i think this a software prob......and according to topuptv website this should be fixed by the morning, as it should download a software upgrade during the night)
It carnt find ITV C4 or C5 and has about 15 other channels missing :(
Read in the manual about tuning probs that you need to have a good signal for C5 on analogue :(
So decided to check the aerial connections....found a couple of them had corroded.....so bought a couple of new plugs and remade the connections.....this has made a definate improvement....so much so that BBC1, 2 ITV C4 are perfect on analogue C5 is slightly grainy but certainly watchable
However it still cannot find the missing channels :(
According to the tuning info its getting BBC1/2 from the mendip transmitter.......but when i select for ie sky3......which it carnt get its trying to get it from the oxford transmitter......now not being that clever.....but they have to be in different directions! ::)
So......i'll leave it tonight to see if it downloads any updates tonight that sorts it out.......but im thinking im gonna get shafted by local tv aeriel shop to either put up a high gain aerial or have two aerials?? :-/
For those that dont know and i didnt till earlier.....the box has two aerial inputs but are at the mo connected together (it came with a box connecting the inputs together) and two seperate tuners
Any ideas?
Its also suppose to download a load of programmes tonight that i might want to watch....to fill up its 160GB hard disk.....i'll have to see what happens :-/
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My recommendation would be to get a DAT45 aerial with MRD device (about 50 quid on ebay).
Its pretty selective so doesn't suffer so badly from side lobes picking up other transmitters and the MRD is the perfect amplifier as ts sat on the rear of teh main element and also matches it to the cable.
You need good screened cable as digital is very prone to errors due to multipath pickup.
Multipath is not a problem but signal swamping from analogue transmitters is.
We should have gone 8k and not 2k - my 1999 TV is 8k compliant
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Cheers the replies :y
I think its aerial shop time......as even if i got the stuff Mark suggests, Im not going up on my roof to install it......i havent got a roof ladder, and im not good with heights :( and aerial shop isnt going to want to fit summat ive bought.
I think best plan is to go for what they suggest......and make sure they change the cable as well.....its the brown type at the mo......this way if i still get probs then....and ive had fitted what they suggested then as far as i see its still their prob ::)
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Multipath is not a problem but signal swamping from analogue transmitters is.
We should have gone 8k and not 2k - my 1999 TV is 8k compliant
Unfortunately, multipath is a problem, being digital its to easy to cancel the signal out using a slightly delayed path mixed (via coax or similar)....hence the screend cable and/or MRD or mast head amp (to significantly increase the coax siganl amplitude).
On analouge this often shows as a ghost (normaly a pretty big one).
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Multipath is not a problem but signal swamping from analogue transmitters is.
We should have gone 8k and not 2k - my 1999 TV is 8k compliant
Unfortunately, multipath is a problem, being digital its to easy to cancel the signal out using a slightly delayed path mixed (via coax or similar)....hence the screend cable and/or MRD or mast head amp (to significantly increase the coax siganl amplitude).
On analouge this often shows as a ghost (normaly a pretty big one).
I've seen digital survive MPI but if we had gone 8K it would not be a problem - oh for single frequency networks.
That said I am all for cutting analogue off now, and getting some HTDV muxes - this will affect how I vote next election
Careful with the beer (analouge)
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Multipath is not a problem but signal swamping from analogue transmitters is.
We should have gone 8k and not 2k - my 1999 TV is 8k compliant
Unfortunately, multipath is a problem, being digital its to easy to cancel the signal out using a slightly delayed path mixed (via coax or similar)....hence the screend cable and/or MRD or mast head amp (to significantly increase the coax siganl amplitude).
On analouge this often shows as a ghost (normaly a pretty big one).
I've seen digital survive MPI but if we had gone 8K it would not be a problem - oh for single frequency networks.
That said I am all for cutting analogue off now, and getting some HTDV muxes - this will affect how I vote next election
no government will support stopping analogue before proposed date - that would be suicide....
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Multipath is not a problem but signal swamping from analogue transmitters is.
We should have gone 8k and not 2k - my 1999 TV is 8k compliant
Unfortunately, multipath is a problem, being digital its to easy to cancel the signal out using a slightly delayed path mixed (via coax or similar)....hence the screend cable and/or MRD or mast head amp (to significantly increase the coax siganl amplitude).
On analouge this often shows as a ghost (normaly a pretty big one).
I've seen digital survive MPI but if we had gone 8K it would not be a problem - oh for single frequency networks.
That said I am all for cutting analogue off now, and getting some HTDV muxes - this will affect how I vote next election
no government will support stopping analogue before proposed date - that would be suicide....
Not now it isn't more people rely on digital now than analogue, promise them more TV they will go for it!
I don't know anyone on analogue now, my only fully working VCRs are by the PC the one still under the TV requires a motor repair, I will do that sometime as I need to copy some SuperBeta mode tapes
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Not now it isn't more people rely on digital now than analogue, promise them more TV they will go for it!
I don't know anyone on analogue now, my only fully working VCRs are by the PC the one still under the TV requires a motor repair, I will do that sometime as I need to copy some SuperBeta mode tapes
For main TV perhaps, but I bet all those portables in kitchen and kids rooms are analogue...
As are many TVs of the older generation. And people who can't afford digital. And everyone else those silly surveys miss out...
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Not now it isn't more people rely on digital now than analogue, promise them more TV they will go for it!
I don't know anyone on analogue now, my only fully working VCRs are by the PC the one still under the TV requires a motor repair, I will do that sometime as I need to copy some SuperBeta mode tapes
For main TV perhaps, but I bet all those portables in kitchen and kids rooms are analogue...
As are many TVs of the older generation. And people who can't afford digital. And everyone else those silly surveys miss out...
Hmm bedroom has a DTVA on it - all the wrinklies I know now have Freeview boxes, the MIL has an IDTV, my parents have an IDTV and a FV VCR/DVD recorder.
If they can afford a licence a one off £25 for a basic box is not too painfull
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If they can afford a licence a one off £25 for a basic box is not too painfull
Its the complexity that puts many off.
Also, there is a benefit so you don't have to pay tv licence....
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Not now it isn't more people rely on digital now than analogue, promise them more TV they will go for it!
I don't know anyone on analogue now, my only fully working VCRs are by the PC the one still under the TV requires a motor repair, I will do that sometime as I need to copy some SuperBeta mode tapes
For main TV perhaps, but I bet all those portables in kitchen and kids rooms are analogue...
As are many TVs of the older generation. And people who can't afford digital. And everyone else those silly surveys miss out...
My tv in the kitchen is on analogue.....what will i happen if i have to cook without the tv on :-/ ;D
PS just happens to be a Sony ::)
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PS just happens to be a Sony ::)
>:(
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PS just happens to be a Sony ::)
>:(
Mind you tv in the bedroom is a Sony as well......it works well.....but prob coz it hasnt been turned on for ages....probably months....ummm id guess nearly a year tbh ;)
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PS just happens to be a Sony ::)
>:(
Mind you tv in the bedroom is a Sony as well......it works well.....but prob coz it hasnt been turned on for ages....probably months....ummm id guess nearly a year tbh ;)
All joking aside, older Sony stuff was OK. Its the newer stuff thats crap.
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PS just happens to be a Sony ::)
>:(
Mind you tv in the bedroom is a Sony as well......it works well.....but prob coz it hasnt been turned on for ages....probably months....ummm id guess nearly a year tbh ;)
All joking aside, older Sony stuff was OK. Its the newer stuff thats crap.
I was serious! lol!! I have a Sony tv wall mounted in my bedroom....prob is theres no power socket anywhere near.....so its not been turned on since ive lived here...just over a year now ::)
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If they can afford a licence a one off £25 for a basic box is not too painfull
Its the complexity that puts many off.
Also, there is a benefit so you don't have to pay tv licence....
I sometimes wonder if people who would get confused deserve TV - but then it would hurt ITVs ratings
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Was at my bro's today and whats he bought ?? a huge Plasma :o :(
Didnt like to say why? You shoulda got an LCD!
Only thing going for it was it was a Panasonic.....reasonable make i guess.
His missus choose it......bet you carnt guess the reason for it.....
It had to fit in a specific place.....so measured the area it had to go in.......and it was the only one in the shop that measured exactly right dimensions ::)
Fair play tho.....theres only a few mil around the case and surround its been shoved in ;D
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Panasonic make excellent plasmas :y
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Panasonic make excellent plasmas :y
Panasonic make good Plasma "TVs" Pioneer make good HD Plasma "TVs" Fujitsu are good for Plasma panels.
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I must admit it did a fairly good pic.......but surely LCD's are the way to go now :-/
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I must admit it did a fairly good pic.......but surely LCD's are the way to go now :-/
I prefer LCD but poor LCD and poor Plasma are both horrid
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I must admit it did a fairly good pic.......but surely LCD's are the way to go now :-/
I prefer LCD but poor LCD and poor Plasma are both horrid
Now heres a question ive been wondering about.........usually in the high street giants when you are buying a cd/hifi whatever.....the salespeople usually have a 'demo' cd that shows off the bass/treble response of the units and generally makes the unit sound 'brilliant' .....but in the real world of your own collection of cds the perfromance can be a bit 'flat' and is usually recommended you take your own cd in to try in the units for comparision.
Does the same apply for large screen tv's? Do they run a 'demo' dvd on them to make them look better than they really are?
Its just i wondered into a high street giant the other day and they had about 30 tvs on all lined up in 3 rows of ten all playing the same advertising dvd......picture qualitity on them all was blooming good.....in fact you couldnt tell them apart qualitity picture wise......size of screen ranged from 32" to over 40" and they all looked brilliant stood about 3/4 feet away :-/
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I must admit it did a fairly good pic.......but surely LCD's are the way to go now :-/
I prefer LCD but poor LCD and poor Plasma are both horrid
Now heres a question ive been wondering about.........usually in the high street giants when you are buying a cd/hifi whatever.....the salespeople usually have a 'demo' cd that shows off the bass/treble response of the units and generally makes the unit sound 'brilliant' .....but in the real world of your own collection of cds the perfromance can be a bit 'flat' and is usually recommended you take your own cd in to try in the units for comparision.
Does the same apply for large screen tv's? Do they run a 'demo' dvd on them to make them look better than they really are?
Its just i wondered into a high street giant the other day and they had about 30 tvs on all lined up in 3 rows of ten all playing the same advertising dvd......picture qualitity on them all was blooming good.....in fact you couldnt tell them apart qualitity picture wise......size of screen ranged from 32" to over 40" and they all looked brilliant stood about 3/4 feet away :-/
Different discs are more of a test for different players.
Take along a good disc out of your collection, something well encoded with few artifacts, insist on best connection.
Some players can upscale via HDMI, some can do progressive via component, do not test composite or svideo
Best should be
HDMI
then RGB via seperate cables (projectors sometimes use this)
Then RGB SCART and Component - this is down to the TVs and the DVD players transcoders and lead quality. DVDs store in component most TVs like RGB, somewhere along the line it gets converted.
Then SVideo then composite then RF