Freeview box problems
Discussion
Hope someone on here can advise if i need a new aerial 
I have just installed a Humax PVR-9300T to our main tv, as the digi switchover is within the next few weeks. The PVR has found 60odd tv channels, but some of these (including ITV, C4 and C5) are viewable but not watchable (if that makes sense). The picture and sound is jumpy, almost like when a damaged/worn DVD disc plays up.
Is this a sign that our aerial needs updating? We have never touched the aerial in the ten years we have been living here, and the house is 30odd years old, so maybe the aerial is too?
Thanks
I have just installed a Humax PVR-9300T to our main tv, as the digi switchover is within the next few weeks. The PVR has found 60odd tv channels, but some of these (including ITV, C4 and C5) are viewable but not watchable (if that makes sense). The picture and sound is jumpy, almost like when a damaged/worn DVD disc plays up.
Is this a sign that our aerial needs updating? We have never touched the aerial in the ten years we have been living here, and the house is 30odd years old, so maybe the aerial is too?
Thanks
Edited by Phooey on Sunday 31st July 15:13
I don't know where on a Humax box but on out TVs with Freeview yuo can either see or find via a menu option the signal strength and quality.
Before switchover I picked up BBC if the weather conditions were suitable and signal strength registered 3 out of 10. After switchover it's now 10 with quality 9.
Put your postcode in digitaluk to find out what signal strength is predicted for you. Keep the trade box ticked and you get a lot of technical stuff, uncheck it and just get a list of channels.
Before switchover I picked up BBC if the weather conditions were suitable and signal strength registered 3 out of 10. After switchover it's now 10 with quality 9.
Put your postcode in digitaluk to find out what signal strength is predicted for you. Keep the trade box ticked and you get a lot of technical stuff, uncheck it and just get a list of channels.
Thank you for the replies so far.
How do you do an update? I googled 'Humax update' and it all got a bit technical. I also found out i paid £30 too much from Richer Sounds. Barstards.
The digitaluk sight says my switchover is on the 17th August. I am tempted to put the aerial lead back into the back of the tv to be able to view ITV, C4 and C5. Then once the switchover is completed i will try this Humax thing again. The missus will kill me if she can't get Coronation Street though
How do you do an update? I googled 'Humax update' and it all got a bit technical. I also found out i paid £30 too much from Richer Sounds. Barstards.
The digitaluk sight says my switchover is on the 17th August. I am tempted to put the aerial lead back into the back of the tv to be able to view ITV, C4 and C5. Then once the switchover is completed i will try this Humax thing again. The missus will kill me if she can't get Coronation Street though
If it's switching I'd wait until the power has been turned up before getting a new aerial. In the Yorkshire area the power boost is 21 times the current level. Also if the box is set to "auto update" then as of today a "new" for the Humax 9150 and 9300 update is being sent out OTA. It will be sent until the 3rd August so it should update itself.
telecat said:
If it's switching I'd wait until the power has been turned up before getting a new aerial.
This... It sounds like it's the 'lower power' channels that you're having trouble with, which will probably be resolved once the power's ramped up - infact even if not, I'd check the cable quality before messing about with a new aerial...As an aside (infact it may be if help!) it took me several months to work out that when I moved into my current place, I'd hooked the TV up to the Radio-frequency filtered output (extreme moving-fatigue and an odd male/ female set of connections were to blame!)... It still worked on the higher-strength channels, but was causing break-up on the others - plugged into the correct TV socket via an adapter and haven't had a signal problem since!
telecat said:
If it's switching I'd wait until the power has been turned up before getting a new aerial. In the Yorkshire area the power boost is 21 times the current level. Also if the box is set to "auto update" then as of today a "new" for the Humax 9150 and 9300 update is being sent out OTA. It will be sent until the 3rd August so it should update itself.
Thanks for that telecat. I have done an update today. I went into the menu system on the PVR and pressed the update button. It told me an update was ready, so i let it get on with it. Took about 10minutes and then it told me to go to default setting - which i did, and the PVR then did an auto-retune. Unfortunately certain channels (including ITV/C4 and C5) are STILL unwatchable. I have just got off the phone to Humax Customer Support - the chappie recommended doing a manual tune rather than auto. This should be interesting. Think i might wait until i have had a few beers 
Failing all this, i will ignore the Humax PVR box untill we have officially switched, then if it still gives me grief... i will call in the professionals
Anyone recommended a *good* aerial installer in the East-mids, Nottingham South (Bingham) ?
Thanks everyone for the replies
It is possible that the channels you are having problems with are being received from the 'wrong' transmitter. That is, the Humax is finding a weak signal from a distant transmitter and allocating channels 1, 2, 3, etc to the weak signal. If so, then the strong signal from the 'correct' transmitter will have been allocated numbers starting at 800. Check your EPG and see if you have any channels stored there, and if so are these channels giving you a stable picture. More modern boxes, such as the later HD boxes allocate the strongest signals to the proper channel numbers and relegate weaker signals to 800, etc.
I live in Lincolnshire and the correct transmitter is Belmont (East Yorks and Lincs). However, if I use auto when searching for channels on my old Humax it finds channels from Waltham (East Midlands) first and stores them in 1, 2, 3, etc. It then finds the Belmont channels and stores them as 800, 801, 802, etc. The work around is to do a manual tune rather than auto, but you will need to know which manual frequencies to use. The new firmware update might have resolved this issue, but it is a fairly common issue because most Humax boxes have sensitive tuners.
I live in Lincolnshire and the correct transmitter is Belmont (East Yorks and Lincs). However, if I use auto when searching for channels on my old Humax it finds channels from Waltham (East Midlands) first and stores them in 1, 2, 3, etc. It then finds the Belmont channels and stores them as 800, 801, 802, etc. The work around is to do a manual tune rather than auto, but you will need to know which manual frequencies to use. The new firmware update might have resolved this issue, but it is a fairly common issue because most Humax boxes have sensitive tuners.
spiralp said:
It is possible that the channels you are having problems with are being received from the 'wrong' transmitter. That is, the Humax is finding a weak signal from a distant transmitter and allocating channels 1, 2, 3, etc to the weak signal. If so, then the strong signal from the 'correct' transmitter will have been allocated numbers starting at 800. Check your EPG and see if you have any channels stored there, and if so are these channels giving you a stable picture. More modern boxes, such as the later HD boxes allocate the strongest signals to the proper channel numbers and relegate weaker signals to 800, etc.
I live in Lincolnshire and the correct transmitter is Belmont (East Yorks and Lincs). However, if I use auto when searching for channels on my old Humax it finds channels from Waltham (East Midlands) first and stores them in 1, 2, 3, etc. It then finds the Belmont channels and stores them as 800, 801, 802, etc. The work around is to do a manual tune rather than auto, but you will need to know which manual frequencies to use. The new firmware update might have resolved this issue, but it is a fairly common issue because most Humax boxes have sensitive tuners.
Thank you for the reply - i will bear the above in mind.I live in Lincolnshire and the correct transmitter is Belmont (East Yorks and Lincs). However, if I use auto when searching for channels on my old Humax it finds channels from Waltham (East Midlands) first and stores them in 1, 2, 3, etc. It then finds the Belmont channels and stores them as 800, 801, 802, etc. The work around is to do a manual tune rather than auto, but you will need to know which manual frequencies to use. The new firmware update might have resolved this issue, but it is a fairly common issue because most Humax boxes have sensitive tuners.
re the manual tune, i did this about an hour ago - i went through each channel - from 21 to 60? and stored all the results. It took about 30 minutes altogether. ITV was stored at number 3, and also somewhere high up (may of been 800ish?). Unfortunately both channels were still giving exactly the same problems.
I do need to have the aerial updated anyhow. The electrician some time ago mentioned we may need an amplifier on it as he couldn't find anywhere to put another 2 sets on it, so left them unconnected for the time being. I just haven't got around to finishing the job. What i need is an installer who is worth his salt - one who can change/update the co-ax, aerial, and all sockets. Might as well start from scratch and install the best.
Sheffield is fairly close to you (Nottingham?). I can recommend A.T.V (Aerials and Television) http://www.aerialsandtv.com/index.html
spiralp said:
Sheffield is fairly close to you (Nottingham?). I can recommend A.T.V (Aerials and Television) http://www.aerialsandtv.com/index.html
Website looks very informative. AA routefinder says 55miles, Mmmmm. Tbh though, i am more than happy to pay a tad more if it means getting the right kit and installer to do the job. I don't do cowboys Thanks for the link
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