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[Taxi_Driver]

My new toy arrived this morning  

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  :-/

[TheBoy]

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.

[STMO123]

I live about half a mile from emley moor tower, i can get a great picture with £1 shop aerial, including digital.

[Taxi_Driver]

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    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.....

[TheBoy]

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    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.....

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...

[Martin_1962]

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).

[Hillper]

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.

[Taxi_Driver]

TitsupTV - so you are the customer!!!!

Yep i am  

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  :-/

[Taxi_Driver]

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

[TheBoy]

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)

[Taxi_Driver]

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  

[Martin_1962]

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

[TheBoy]

I imagine Newbury would be your closest?

[Chopsdad]

I'd send you some co-ax cable but I've used it up cleaning out my breathers.  It works fine for that.  

[Taxi_Driver]

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  
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