Rigger's Diary - cowboys (part 2)
 

As promised here is the sequel. I took the old girl a nice Panasonic Freeview
box and spent over half an hour trying to show her how to work it. She was keen
to learn and I think she'll be OK. She was astonished and delighted that she
would be able to get BBC4. She was under the impression that it was only
available on satellite. Her TV set is an elderly Hitachi and it didn't
recognise the pin 8 signal or the auto widescreen signal. There was no chance
of showing her how to change the Panasonic from 16:9 to 4:3 and vice versa, so
I left it set for 4:3. This meant that widescreen programmes were streched
vertically, but I don't think it will bother her. As it happens I know her
son-in-law so I'll ring him tonight and mention the problem. The Hitachi needs
a press of the AV button every time the new box is switched on as well, and
this was quite a hurdle during the 'lesson'. I tuned the VCR in and it emerged
that she had never used the VCR since her husband's death simply because she
couldn't figure it out. This had been a real nuisance to her, but I'm not sure
that the VCR lesson, following immediately after the DTT lesson, went home.
Interestingly, the RGB picture from the new box was very much better than the
analogue reception. The difference was striking. This was purely to do with the
TV set, as the analogue signal was OK.
This tale might add something -- I'm not sure what -- to the discussions in
this august journal about the phasing out of analogue TV.
When I removed the old cable that fed the second set I found that Mr Oldham had
left me a lovely exhibit for the Rogues' Gallery. The cable had been joined
using belling plugs and a line connector. The joint was roughly wrapped with
tape and since the cable ran along the inside of the gutter it was under water!
An excellent photograph!

Bill

http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/index.html

Bill wrote:
Her TV
set is an elderly Hitachi and it didn't recognise the pin 8 signal or
the auto widescreen signal. There was no chance of showing her how to
change the Panasonic from 16:9 to 4:3 and vice versa, so I left it
set for 4:3. This meant that widescreen programmes were streched
vertically, but I don't think it will bother her. As it happens I
know her son-in-law so I'll ring him tonight and mention the problem.

Does the Panasonic box not have a 16:9 letterbox setting ? That would
solve her problem.

Bill wrote:
Her TV
set is an elderly Hitachi and it didn't recognise the pin 8 signal or
the auto widescreen signal. There was no chance of showing her how to
change the Panasonic from 16:9 to 4:3 and vice versa, so I left it
set for 4:3. This meant that widescreen programmes were streched
vertically, but I don't think it will bother her. As it happens I
know her son-in-law so I'll ring him tonight and mention the problem.

Does the Panasonic box not have a 16:9 letterbox setting ? That would
solve her problem.

Does the Panasonic box not have a 16:9 letterbox setting ? That would
solve her problem.

Well I tried all permutations and nothing seemed to give correct aspect ratio
on both widescreen and 4:3 broadcasts. Maybe I missed something. I must admit
it was Friday afternoon.

Bill


http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/index.html

Does the Panasonic box not have a 16:9 letterbox setting ? That would
solve her problem.

Well I tried all permutations and nothing seemed to give correct aspect ratio
on both widescreen and 4:3 broadcasts. Maybe I missed something. I must admit
it was Friday afternoon.

Bill


http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/index.html

"Bill" wrote in message
...

When I removed the old cable that fed the second set I found that Mr
Oldham had
left me a lovely exhibit for the Rogues' Gallery. The cable had been
joined
using belling plugs and a line connector. The joint was roughly wrapped
with
tape and since the cable ran along the inside of the gutter it was under
water!
An excellent photograph!

When I moved into my shiny brand new house in October I had Telewest come
and deliver the internet to the house - Thats right the whole lot on a huge
hard drive :)

Anyway, the guy lifted the small hatch the builders had made in the floor to
split the incomming cable (cable was fitted by the builders into the living
room). Once opened the coax cable had been joined with "chocolate blocks"
bent back on it's self and "insulated" with tape!

The TW guy had a fit and took it away to show his boss....

--
Craig

"Bill" wrote in message
...

When I removed the old cable that fed the second set I found that Mr
Oldham had
left me a lovely exhibit for the Rogues' Gallery. The cable had been
joined
using belling plugs and a line connector. The joint was roughly wrapped
with
tape and since the cable ran along the inside of the gutter it was under
water!
An excellent photograph!

When I moved into my shiny brand new house in October I had Telewest come
and deliver the internet to the house - Thats right the whole lot on a huge
hard drive :)

Anyway, the guy lifted the small hatch the builders had made in the floor to
split the incomming cable (cable was fitted by the builders into the living
room). Once opened the coax cable had been joined with "chocolate blocks"
bent back on it's self and "insulated" with tape!

The TW guy had a fit and took it away to show his boss....

--
Craig

Anyway, the guy lifted the small hatch the builders had made in the floor
to
split the incomming cable (cable was fitted by the builders into the
living
room). Once opened the coax cable had been joined with "chocolate blocks"
bent back on it's self and "insulated" with tape!

The TW guy had a fit and took it away to show his boss....

But surely that makes an excellent splitter if you wrap it with tin foil and
ensure the outer braid is touching it.......???? ;)

Anyway, the guy lifted the small hatch the builders had made in the floor
to
split the incomming cable (cable was fitted by the builders into the
living
room). Once opened the coax cable had been joined with "chocolate blocks"
bent back on it's self and "insulated" with tape!

The TW guy had a fit and took it away to show his boss....

But surely that makes an excellent splitter if you wrap it with tin foil and
ensure the outer braid is touching it.......???? ;)

"Bill" wrote in message
...
Does the Panasonic box not have a 16:9 letterbox setting ? That would
solve her problem.

Well I tried all permutations and nothing seemed to give correct aspect
ratio
on both widescreen and 4:3 broadcasts. Maybe I missed something. I must
admit
it was Friday afternoon.

Never buy a Friday afternoon aerial from you then eh?

"Bill" wrote in message
...
Does the Panasonic box not have a 16:9 letterbox setting ? That would
solve her problem.

Well I tried all permutations and nothing seemed to give correct aspect
ratio
on both widescreen and 4:3 broadcasts. Maybe I missed something. I must
admit
it was Friday afternoon.

Never buy a Friday afternoon aerial from you then eh?

Never buy a Friday afternoon aerial from you then eh?



I get even worse on Saturday, and on Sunday I'm just atrocious!

Bill
http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/index.html

Never buy a Friday afternoon aerial from you then eh?



I get even worse on Saturday, and on Sunday I'm just atrocious!

Bill
http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/index.html

In article , Bill
writes
Does the Panasonic box not have a 16:9 letterbox setting ? That would
solve her problem.

Well I tried all permutations and nothing seemed to give correct aspect ratio
on both widescreen and 4:3 broadcasts. Maybe I missed something. I must admit
it was Friday afternoon.

if it was a TUCT20 then the correct setting is 4:3 for a non-widescreen
telly (you don't ever need to change it), but there's a bug in it in 4:3
mode which displays the aspect ratio wrongly. (Everything is stretched a
bit horizontally making people look fat).

If everything was stretched vertically you must have got it set to 16:9.
--
Tim Mitchell

In article , Bill
writes
Does the Panasonic box not have a 16:9 letterbox setting ? That would
solve her problem.

Well I tried all permutations and nothing seemed to give correct aspect ratio
on both widescreen and 4:3 broadcasts. Maybe I missed something. I must admit
it was Friday afternoon.

if it was a TUCT20 then the correct setting is 4:3 for a non-widescreen
telly (you don't ever need to change it), but there's a bug in it in 4:3
mode which displays the aspect ratio wrongly. (Everything is stretched a
bit horizontally making people look fat).

If everything was stretched vertically you must have got it set to 16:9.
--
Tim Mitchell

BTW Bill, how can an aerial rigger specialise in BOTH domestic and
commercial aerial systems. Surely you'd be a specialist rigger if you
specialised on one or the other or something specific, like 101 ways to
clip a length of CT100 to a pole.... or are you a specialist because you
actually know what you're doing?!
;-

BTW Bill, how can an aerial rigger specialise in BOTH domestic and
commercial aerial systems. Surely you'd be a specialist rigger if you
specialised on one or the other or something specific, like 101 ways to
clip a length of CT100 to a pole.... or are you a specialist because you
actually know what you're doing?!
;-

"Mat Overton" wrote
| BTW Bill, how can an aerial rigger specialise in BOTH domestic and
| commercial aerial systems. Surely you'd be a specialist rigger if
| you specialised on one or the other or something specific, like
| 101 ways to clip a length of CT100 to a pole.... or are you a
| specialist because you actually know what you're doing?!
| ;-

Specialist in this context means "No, I don't do cookers, mate"

Owain

"Mat Overton" wrote
| BTW Bill, how can an aerial rigger specialise in BOTH domestic and
| commercial aerial systems. Surely you'd be a specialist rigger if
| you specialised on one or the other or something specific, like
| 101 ways to clip a length of CT100 to a pole.... or are you a
| specialist because you actually know what you're doing?!
| ;-

Specialist in this context means "No, I don't do cookers, mate"

Owain

Specialist in this context means "No, I don't do cookers, mate"

Do you know many aerial installers that do??? No - Don't answer that! ;)

Specialist in this context means "No, I don't do cookers, mate"

Do you know many aerial installers that do??? No - Don't answer that! ;)

"Bill" wrote in message
...
Never buy a Friday afternoon aerial from you then eh?



I get even worse on Saturday, and on Sunday I'm just atrocious!

So how do you recover for Monday then?

tim


Bill
http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/index.html

"Bill" wrote in message
...
Never buy a Friday afternoon aerial from you then eh?



I get even worse on Saturday, and on Sunday I'm just atrocious!

So how do you recover for Monday then?

tim


Bill
http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/index.html

No, but conversely I'm sure there are sparkies who think they can install
aerials.

"Mat Overton" wrote in message
...
Specialist in this context means "No, I don't do cookers, mate"

Do you know many aerial installers that do??? No - Don't answer that! ;)

No, but conversely I'm sure there are sparkies who think they can install
aerials.

"Mat Overton" wrote in message
...
Specialist in this context means "No, I don't do cookers, mate"

Do you know many aerial installers that do??? No - Don't answer that! ;)

I get even worse on Saturday, and on Sunday I'm just atrocious!

So how do you recover for Monday then?


We'll draw a veil over Monday, shall we?

Bill
http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/index.html

I get even worse on Saturday, and on Sunday I'm just atrocious!

So how do you recover for Monday then?


We'll draw a veil over Monday, shall we?

Bill
http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/index.html

BTW Bill, how can an aerial rigger specialise in BOTH domestic and
commercial aerial systems. Surely you'd be a specialist rigger if you
specialised on one or the other or something specific, like 101 ways to
clip a length of CT100 to a pole.... or are you a specialist because you
actually know what you're doing?!

It's a laugh really, the way people use the word 'specialist'. Like me you must
have followed these scruffy vans down the road and marvelled at the very wide
range of trades in which the owners claims to be 'specialists'. Sometimes the
claim is of specialist knowledge over an almost unlimited range of activities:
'Specialists in all aspects of construction.'
'Specialists in plumbing, heating, air conditioning, electrical installation,
lightning protection and building maintenance.' They should add 'Your DIY
attempts laughed at' and 'Prognostications of doom'.
I think the word 'specialist' has become so debased in the commercial sphere as
to be virtually meaningless. I use it in an attempt to convey the general idea
that our range of activities is limited, but what we do we do well, but I don't
think the word really gets that message across.

Bill


http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/index.html

BTW Bill, how can an aerial rigger specialise in BOTH domestic and
commercial aerial systems. Surely you'd be a specialist rigger if you
specialised on one or the other or something specific, like 101 ways to
clip a length of CT100 to a pole.... or are you a specialist because you
actually know what you're doing?!

It's a laugh really, the way people use the word 'specialist'. Like me you must
have followed these scruffy vans down the road and marvelled at the very wide
range of trades in which the owners claims to be 'specialists'. Sometimes the
claim is of specialist knowledge over an almost unlimited range of activities:
'Specialists in all aspects of construction.'
'Specialists in plumbing, heating, air conditioning, electrical installation,
lightning protection and building maintenance.' They should add 'Your DIY
attempts laughed at' and 'Prognostications of doom'.
I think the word 'specialist' has become so debased in the commercial sphere as
to be virtually meaningless. I use it in an attempt to convey the general idea
that our range of activities is limited, but what we do we do well, but I don't
think the word really gets that message across.

Bill


http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/index.html

if it was a TUCT20 then the correct setting is 4:3 for a non-widescreen
telly (you don't ever need to change it), but there's a bug in it in 4:3
mode which displays the aspect ratio wrongly. (Everything is stretched a
bit horizontally making people look fat).

If everything was stretched vertically you must have got it set to 16:9.

Ah! I thought there was something funny happening! I tried 4:3 and it looked
awful. Maybe the telly was already stretching things horizontally and the bug
made things much worse.

Bill
http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/index.html

if it was a TUCT20 then the correct setting is 4:3 for a non-widescreen
telly (you don't ever need to change it), but there's a bug in it in 4:3
mode which displays the aspect ratio wrongly. (Everything is stretched a
bit horizontally making people look fat).

If everything was stretched vertically you must have got it set to 16:9.

Ah! I thought there was something funny happening! I tried 4:3 and it looked
awful. Maybe the telly was already stretching things horizontally and the bug
made things much worse.

Bill
http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/index.html

Bill wrote:


It's a laugh really, the way people use the word 'specialist'. Like
me you must have followed these scruffy vans down the road and
marvelled at the very wide range of trades in which the owners claims
to be 'specialists'.

I liked the "Specialist in acrilic sign's" scruffy van I saw the other day.

Fetch me a bargepole, Matron.

--
Tony

Bill wrote:


It's a laugh really, the way people use the word 'specialist'. Like
me you must have followed these scruffy vans down the road and
marvelled at the very wide range of trades in which the owners claims
to be 'specialists'.

I liked the "Specialist in acrilic sign's" scruffy van I saw the other day.

Fetch me a bargepole, Matron.

--
Tony