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Thread ID: 124640 2012-05-09 05:12:00 Issues with reception - freeview Sanco (683) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1274327 2012-05-09 05:12:00 Last week or so you helped me make a choice on a freeview set top box. I eventually chose the Aerialbox T1020 Terrestrial.

Now I seem to have (some) issues with reception and some channels stutter a bit occasionally. I had the freeview satellite flavour before this and never had any issues with picture etc., so the question is whether the terrestrial typ of freeview is prone to these types of issues and if there is anything I can do to solve them. My rooftop aerial is in tip top order and aside from these frequent stutterings everything else works fine. Could it be the top box also?
Cheers
Sanco (683)
1274328 2012-05-09 06:18:00 Think it is the box. No problem with Freeview Terrestrial here in Napier.
:)
Trev (427)
1274329 2012-05-09 06:40:00 Is it something that can happen with these boxes? Sanco (683)
1274330 2012-05-09 06:59:00 Is it something that can happen with these boxes?

It isn't particularly likely to be the box but it could happen and a box change might fix it. More often it is signal issues and realigning the antenna slightly can cure it. All of the digital channel signals are transmitted as a single block and rely on the decoder to sort them all out, so any lumps of data that may have a bounced image on them (or a reflection within your cable due to a bad termination at the antenna or the STB) can cause these issues.

My signal is far from good, the antenna is very old, my analogue reception had deteriorated badly, and I have an internal signal distribution system with many outlets, including a long underground link to the man-shed, but I usually get 100% reliable performance on all channels. Just once every few months I experience the break up that you describe, but it only lasts a few seconds.

Even if you had good analogue reception, it is no guarantee that your digital will be the same quality. Satellite isn't immune either, it can get wiped out in bad weather more easily than terrestrial, so you've been fortunate on that score.

I had two dud STBs in a row before I got sorted, so that can happen too. You could also try updating the box software, I've set mine to update regularly and ever since then, my boot and channel change speeds have improved immensely.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)
Billy T (70)
1274331 2012-05-09 07:05:00 Thank you Billy for the info. I should try to update the software before I go any further and see what happens. Now, by software you mean the firmware? I can find that on the website, but I don't think I have seen a software update for it mentioned. Failing that I will try changing the box at bond and bond, if they will change it for me that is. Sanco (683)
1274332 2012-05-09 08:06:00 Billy probably means the firmware, which is up to 1.2a Speedy Gonzales (78)
1274333 2012-05-09 08:37:00 I'm on my second Zinwell box. First one replaced under warranty.
:)
Trev (427)
1274334 2012-05-09 08:38:00 Thank you Billy for the info. I should try to update the software before I go any further and see what happens. Now, by software you mean the firmware? I can find that on the website, but I don't think I have seen a software update for it mentioned. Failing that I will try changing the box at bond and bond, if they will change it for me that is.
They will send it away to get it checked out.
:)
Trev (427)
1274335 2012-05-09 08:39:00 It stutters on this. Probably because I'm using a mini aerial. But most of the time its fine Speedy Gonzales (78)
1274336 2012-05-09 10:23:00 Billy probably means the firmware, which is up to 1.2a

Yep, That one! I keep forgetting the difference: Firmware you can kick, software you can only swear at!

Actually, the box 'programming' is probably somewhere in-between soft and firm-ware, because I always thought firmware was embedded and a much more significant exercise to change.

Maybe it is squidgyware, so you can start by calling it names and then if it doesn't smarten up its ideas, you drop kick it across the room.

Cheers

Billy 8-{) :D
Billy T (70)
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