sony bravia tv & sony digital recorder

[RogerS]

OK Roger the first one, strength, has a green line all the way across which I assume is 100%, because there is no other table to look at and quality is quoted as high verbally.
...

You can't make that assumption. Unless it specifically says it in the manual then High could just as easily refer to signal strength.

Question - can you see the channels that I have listed on your TV ?

 

[devonwoody]

OK Roger.

Got a bathroom leak this morning, seel gone in the shower uinit so will most probably ditch tv for a few hours.

 

[dedee]

Oh dear, this whole thread has left me exhausted and filled with dread.

We've just made the decision to ugrade the 14" Portable (our only TV) and the VHS to an LCD (Panasonic probably) and a DVD recorder.

After reading this thread I am not looking forward to trying to get it all to work in French! I suspect we won't be able to set up in English as TNT (French Freeview) is in English and if we do need to 'phone for help we will need the TV in the same language as the helpline - Gawd Helpus.

Andy

 

[devonwoody]

My advice is to return to the UK and then chat to our friend Roger.

 

[RogerS]

Oh dear, this whole thread has left me exhausted and filled with dread.

We've just made the decision to ugrade the 14" Portable (our only TV) and the VHS to an LCD (Panasonic probably) and a DVD recorder.

After reading this thread I am not looking forward to trying to get it all to work in French! I suspect we won't be able to set up in English as TNT (French Freeview) is in English and if we do need to 'phone for help we will need the TV in the same language as the helpline - Gawd Helpus.

Andy

And haven't they got that funny SECAM stuff or have they seen the light of day and gone PAL?

C'mon - dw - get that bathroom leak fixed! No time for idle chit-chat :wink:

 

[devonwoody]

Oh dear, this whole thread has left me exhausted and filled with dread.

We've just made the decision to ugrade the 14" Portable (our only TV) and the VHS to an LCD (Panasonic probably) and a DVD recorder.

After reading this thread I am not looking forward to trying to get it all to work in French! I suspect we won't be able to set up in English as TNT (French Freeview) is in English and if we do need to 'phone for help we will need the TV in the same language as the helpline - Gawd Helpus.

Andy

And haven't they got that funny SECAM stuff or have they seen the light of day and gone PAL?

C'mon - dw - get that bathroom leak fixed! No time for idle chit-chat :wink:

I have now had to cook lunch and consume half botle of Shiraz so no more telly playing today.

 

[dedee]

Oh dear, this whole thread has left me exhausted and filled with dread.

We've just made the decision to ugrade the 14" Portable (our only TV) and the VHS to an LCD (Panasonic probably) and a DVD recorder.

After reading this thread I am not looking forward to trying to get it all to work in French! I suspect we won't be able to set up in English as TNT (French Freeview) is in English and if we do need to 'phone for help we will need the TV in the same language as the helpline - Gawd Helpus.

Andy

And haven't they got that funny SECAM stuff or have they seen the light of day and gone PAL?

Oh yeah- forgot that but surely that will not make the install harder, will it?

Andy

 

[RogerS]

No, Andy - just being flippant - sorry if I worried you there for a moment :lol:

 

[devonwoody]

I think that 57% is a red herring. Quality is good.

Your recorder gives a better indication of signal than your TV so check what quality levels you get on your recorder for

BBC1
BBC3
BBC4
ITV1
Channel 4
Five
Dave
Five US
Five Live
The Hits

Please document them and let me know

rf channel signal strength signal quality


BBC1 52 51% 100%
BBC3 after 7pm
BBC4 after 7pm
ITV1 61 62% 80%
Channel 4 61 62% 100%
Five 58 45% 100%
Dave 56 42% 100%
Five US 58 45% 65 to95%
Five Life 58 45% ditto fluctuating
The hits 64 55% 100%


I got these signal figures from the dvd recorder this morning after setting up the loft aerial to its best position.

They are very poor so I assume I have got to get a new aerial?

 

[RogerS]

Hi dw

I reckon that you are right but also consider a new downlead.

I guess my main concern is that looking at that other site that gave details of all the local relays that come off Beacon Hill, there seems to be a very wide range of aerials and of different polarisation and so you need to make sure you get the right one. I think that you may be in one of those dodgy areas where all bets are off and it's a case of suck-it-and-see. There is a site around where you stick in your post code and it tells you what aerial type you need but the resolution of that site might not be good enough. It might be worth your while paying an aerial contractor to do it for you.

I'm also a bit confused re one of your earlier posts where you said that you had to have your aerial inside and with attenuators. I think that that was as far as analogue is concerned.

If I was in your situation I think I'd first of all get a long length of proper digital signal capable cable. Then mnake a temporary connection to the existing aerial and then run it down the stairs and into the back of your recorder/TV. And take another look at the Five US and Five Live measurements. If no improvement then you'll need a better aerial.

Let us know how you get on

Roger

 

[CNC Paul]

Hi Woody

I had to use a scart lead (I think) to do it.
The reason for using the scart cord is that I have got to find a way to record so that I do not use the HD lead, because the picture keeps breaking up if that is left to pass signal.

:?

I had a similar experience with my Sony, added a separate audio lead and it stopped breaking up ( sounds stupid but it worked )

My 4 year old Plasma started to get green vertical lines recently...... The repairman said it was the mounting bracket I made :evil:




Paul

 

[devonwoody]

Thanks Roger, I left a telphone call with an aerial installer to call.

Paul I have managed to dispense with the scart lead. back on the hdmi lead, beginners problem!

 

[devonwoody]

Tried a new aerial over the weekend and only got 66 channels whereas the old aerial receives 86 channels. So that is going back.

Found this on the web if anyone is interested.

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/ ... /ra323.htm

 

[misterfish]

Oh dear, this whole thread has left me exhausted and filled with dread.

We've just made the decision to ugrade the 14" Portable (our only TV) and the VHS to an LCD (Panasonic probably) and a DVD recorder.

We very recently upgraded our old TV and video and ended up with the shorlist of Sony and Panasonic. After reading this thread I'm glad we decided on Panasonic for both an LCD TV and a DVD/Hard disk recorder. Setting it up was no problem and we were watching the best quality picture we've seen in years within minutes of taking it out of the box, The recorder took a little longer to get used to but the manual gave us all the details we needed. We have SCART leads going from the Sky box to the TV and to the Recorder and an HDMI lead from the recorder to the TV.

We would highly recommend the kit we have (TX32LXD700 and DMR-EX77EB)

Misterfish

 

[RogerS]

DW - did you ever get this sorted out?

For info, I came across this very useful website http://sam-radford.me.uk/ that covers, in a practical way, a lot of this digital stuff

 

[devonwoody]

Thanks Roger, BBC1 & 2 are perfect for DVD recording 3 to 5 are rubbish.

So I am putting up with that at the moment awaiting for digital to settle down.

In the meantime I have upgraded our living room set up (40") and gone to a virgin upgrade that includes a v box which comes tomorrow and I will start screaming if I dont get pefection on those others.

 

[devonwoody]

Pleased to report that I got the virgin (cable) v box installed, and its good.

Perfect reception, downloads two programs to harddrive, and watches a third. High definition previews look good, would make my old grandmas TV an embarrassment if it came back.
Transfers harddrive recordings over to the old vcr.(DVD's are only one hour remember)
Plenty of channels to watch, there were at least three premiership live football matches (or was it two) available.
broadband, 200minutes telephone anywhere anytime, and TV plus recording for £28 per month, cheaper than my old landline phone bill .