Unwatchable telly

[Alec]

No, this isn't some kind of Eldorado retrospective; my telly has been suffering increasing levels of "interference" to the point where it is almost not worth bothering with.

I've tried to find some pictures of the kind of thing I'm getting but to no avail. There are big lines across the screen, that predominantly green thing is happening toward the bottom and of the screen sometimes, and it goes blank now and then, just for good measure.

So what should I be troubleshooting?

 

[simonlewis]

So what should I be troubleshooting?

Get the aerial checked out if that is fine treat yourself to a nice new telly, from what you mention with green lines i'm guessing a new telly.

 

[abacus]

If it’s only on the input then change the cable, if it affects the whole TV (Including Tuner and other inputs) then there is nothing you can do but get the repair guy in. (It’s unlikely to be user fixable)

Hope this helps

Bill

 

[Alec]

Thankyou both. I'll report back when I've investigated all that.

 

[BenLaw]

Is it in warranty?

 

[Alec]

Yes, it came with a free Pana warranty, if I registered it...

I'm getting sound drop-outs on the radio through the freesat but that's not what you mean, or is it?

 

[daveh75]

Is this with all sources or just Freesat?

Sounds like the picture blocking/freezing/green screening and sound drops/pops you get from signal/reception issues

 

[Alec]

No pops as yet, but I've had the rest. I've only been using the freesat. Should it even have problems with a disc if its the telly?

 

[Alec]

The Dark Knight Rises is playing OK, and recorded programmes play OK, as long a they were recorded before the problem started.

 

[chebby]

The Dark Knight Rises is playing OK, and recorded programmes play OK, as long a they were recorded before the problem started.

So are you watching/recording via the Freesat tuner in your Humax or the Freesat tuner in your telly?

If via Humax - swap external coax (from dish) to Panasonic - bypassing the tuner in the Humax - and see if problem persists.

If via telly - swap external coax (from dish) to Humax - bypassing the tuner in the telly - etc.

This will isolate which tuner is playing up (if a tuner is the problem).

If problem is still there - whatever tuner is used - then it's dish/cables. (It would be a colossal coincidence if both tuners were knackered at the same time.)

 

[Alec]

Thanks Chebby. I always watch Freesat via the Humax.

 

[chebby]

Thanks Chebby. I always watch Freesat via the Humax.

With a co-ax 'fly lead' into the back of the Panasonic?

If so, put the Humax into standby (not powered off) and the tuner duties will be picked up by the Panasonic's tuner automatically. You will know this has occurred because you'll see the Panasonic EPG rather than the Humax EPG.

If the Humax and TV are only connected by an HDMI lead, then just take out the co-ax lead from the back of the Humax and pop it into the Freesat co-ax input on the telly.

I have both co-ax fly lead and HDMI connections between TV and Humax so I can get digital audio from the Humax passed through to the TV (and then to my hi-fi with an optical connection from the TV).

 

[Alec]

Well, I noticed the orange-y "surround" light was going off on the soundbar every time there was a problem with the picture, but now it's got to the stage where, when I put something on, all I get is a few seconds of sound, then nothing. No picture at all.

I need to get someone to give me a hand trouble-shooting; hopefully I'll have doen that before the weekend's out.

EDIT - even with older recordings I'm getting the "channel is scrambled..." alert (which I usually associate with weather - rain in th edish or something...) and nothing more.

 

[Dougal1331]

Have you enquired about getting it replaced?

It shouldn't matter that you haven't 'registered' as long as you have the original reciept- if it is still in the warranty period, it is not 'fit for purpose' whether registered or not, surely?

EDIT or is it the box that's dying? Too early in the day for me...

 

[Alec]

Not sure which, if either, is dying yet Dougal.

Its nearly OK today, so maybe there's something in the dish or something...?

 

[BenLaw]

Have you done what Chebby suggested yet?

 

[Alec]

No, I've got some mobility issues so need to wait 'til I can get help. I'm hoping that'll be this evening.

EDIT No obvious problem with the dish upon a very superficial inspection.

 

[daveh75]

Its nearly OK today, so maybe there's something in the dish or something...?

What's the weather been like were you are and what's it like now?

Also on your Foxsat, go into Menu>Settings>Diagnostics and see what the signal level/quality is like

 

[Alec]

It's still and dry, but was the opposite yesterday. I've just never had problems to this degree...

Signal strength is 100% and quality 60-70%, with the odd fluctuation.

 

[daveh75]

The signal quality is a little low.

As the problem seems dependant on weather, it sounds like that either the dish has moved (or was misaligned to begin with) and poor weather is causing the signal levels to drop further, or you've got some water ingress either because the LNB connections are insufficiently weather proofed or the cable has degraded and become porous or is damaged.

 

[Alec]

The signal quality is a little low. As the problem seems dependant on weather, it sounds like that either the dish has moved (or was misaligned to begin with) and poor weather is causing the signal levels to drop further, or you've got some water ingress either because the LNB connections are insufficiently weather proofed or the cable has degraded and become porous or is damaged.

Blimey. So what do I need to do if that's the case?

 

[chebby]

Blimey. So what do I need to do if that's the case?

Get the local aerial fitters in to adjust, replace cable etc.

 

[Alec]

Long story short, we fund a loose cable at the Humax end, and since being re-placed, all has been well...so far...

Thanks all.

 

[chebby]

Long story short, we fund a loose cable at the Humax end, and since being re-placed, all has been well...so far...

Thanks all.

I get my coax 'fly leads' made here...

http://www.aerialsandtv.com/onlinecableandmisc.html#CustomCables

Only a few quid each and made with proper double screened cable (CAI approved) and good quality co-ax connectors with brass inserts/clamps. No 'boutique' rubbish.

 

[Alec]

Thanks Chebby. I'll leave well alone now unless anything else goes wrong. We thought it may be at the dish end at first as, when tapped, one of the cables caused problems, but then we found it was loose at the box and so far, so good.