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Long saga and a rip-off?
I was in Surbiton over the weekend at the in-laws. At a birthday get
together I got chatting to their elderly neighbour who several months ago had a shiny new Triax Unix 52A on a 10' mast fitted to his chimney. The mast has a Fringe box which I has assumed was a splitter or filter as signal strength is high there, being barely 10 miles from Crystal Palace. My in-laws are still using an Aerialite 10A on their chimney with the original 40 year old co-ax. Sometimes there's an odd blip but 99% of the time DTTV reception is rock solid. Ghosting is an issue here on analogue, and the neighbour had an Aerialite Supreme group A directed at CP and a large Wolsey B (the one with the bow tie shaped elements) directed at Guildford. When those were removed, the neighbour told the rigger that the chimney they were on had offered much better reception in the past, and the chimney above the lounge had provided poor reception. Mr Rigger (who was recommended by the local Panasonic dealer) assured neighbour that he can get him perfect digital pictures for his new Panasonic TV with decoder on the lounge chimney. This chimney offers much easier access (although he had to remove the scrap from the other one) and a much easier cable run to the TV. Two hours later Mr Rigger is struggling with ghosty analogue, and severe pixilation on DTTV. He blames it on traffic, as from this chimney the aerial looks along the A3 (from almost the same height) straight at CP. Mr Rigger still claims this is the best chimney to use, although as far as neighbour could see no readings were taken anywhere else on the house. Mr Rigger then fits a Fringe masthead amplifier and shows neighbour some solid DTTV. He claims £550 (yes, five hundred and fifty pounds) from neighbour and scoots. Neighbour then spends some time setting up his new TV and discovers dreadful analogue with severe patterning and unwatchable DTTV on four muxes. I got dragged away from chatting at this stage of the sorry saga and paused only to offer assistance when we are next visiting to have a look at what can be done. Amazingly, AFAIK Mr Rigger has not been asked to return and neighbour is back to watching the free channels provided by his old cable (Telewest, now Virgin) socket. When I do get to look at it, I suspect that the patterning will be overloading due to the masthead amplifier, and I wonder if the DTTV problem is also due to high signal levels? I did advise trying the TV at 3am when traffic on the A3 will be negligible, and to try a plug in attenuator which he had left from years ago although I presume this will not be a valid test after all that amplification? |
Long saga and a rip-off?
"Doctor D" wrote in message et... Mr Rigger then fits a Fringe masthead amplifier and shows neighbour some solid DTTV. He claims £550 (yes, five hundred and fifty pounds) from neighbour and scoots. This is a case for Consumer Protection, surely? Bill |
Long saga and a rip-off?
"Doctor D" wrote in message et... When I do get to look at it, I suspect that the patterning will be overloading due to the masthead amplifier, and I wonder if the DTTV problem is also due to high signal levels? I did advise trying the TV at 3am when traffic on the A3 will be negligible, and to try a plug in attenuator which he had left from years ago although I presume this will not be a valid test after all that amplification? I wouldn't get involved as you will be the person they blame and phone every time something goes wrong or they can't play a DVD, or the doorbell goes funny. Tell them to call the person who installed the aerial and also tell them to complain to the CAI (they are rubbish anyway) and Trading standards. Never get involved with other peoples problems! |
Long saga and a rip-off?
"Bill Wright" wrote in message ... "Doctor D" wrote in message et... Mr Rigger then fits a Fringe masthead amplifier and shows neighbour some solid DTTV. He claims £550 (yes, five hundred and fifty pounds) from neighbour and scoots. This is a case for Consumer Protection, surely? Bill Quite. But they have to be notified before they can offer any assistance. This is an intelligent, coherent chap and I didn't get to the stage of finding out why they hadn't sought redress or rectification from the perpetrator. However, he asked some very basic questions, and now he knows close neighbours are getting perfect DTTV, I'm pretty sure he'll pursue this. As for Ian's comment about not getting involved; I always help people where I can, and they deserve it. I've never yet been "the person they blame and phone every time something goes wrong or they can't play a DVD, or the doorbell goes funny." If you never get involved when people have problems, I'm glad you're not my neighbour :-) |
Long saga and a rip-off?
Yup get onto Ted Forsyth at Kingston Council. I certainly would.
Brian -- Brian Gaff....Note, this account does not accept Bcc: email. graphics are great, but the blind can't hear them Email: __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________ "Bill Wright" wrote in message ... "Doctor D" wrote in message et... Mr Rigger then fits a Fringe masthead amplifier and shows neighbour some solid DTTV. He claims £550 (yes, five hundred and fifty pounds) from neighbour and scoots. This is a case for Consumer Protection, surely? Bill |
Long saga and a rip-off?
Blimey, and I thought bah humbug was my reputation at Christmas!
Brian -- Brian Gaff....Note, this account does not accept Bcc: email. graphics are great, but the blind can't hear them Email: __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________ "Ian" wrote in message ... "Doctor D" wrote in message et... When I do get to look at it, I suspect that the patterning will be overloading due to the masthead amplifier, and I wonder if the DTTV problem is also due to high signal levels? I did advise trying the TV at 3am when traffic on the A3 will be negligible, and to try a plug in attenuator which he had left from years ago although I presume this will not be a valid test after all that amplification? I wouldn't get involved as you will be the person they blame and phone every time something goes wrong or they can't play a DVD, or the doorbell goes funny. Tell them to call the person who installed the aerial and also tell them to complain to the CAI (they are rubbish anyway) and Trading standards. Never get involved with other peoples problems! |
Long saga and a rip-off?
....snip...
"Brian Gaff" wrote in message . .. I also know as this is just up the road that high buildings like Tolworth tower contribute to the ghosting in that part of the world. I think trading standards, or what they now call consumer direct, might be interested in the details of this rigger. Not called bodgit and run are they? Around here you actually get a less multipath ridden signal on a lowish aerial screened by buildings except in the desired direction. Or there's Bill's "2 aerials, carefully aligned to cancel ghosting" article - would that help where you are? Paul DS |
Long saga and a rip-off?
"Doctor D" wrote in message ... If you never get involved when people have problems, I'm glad you're not my neighbour :-) I agree with this, but unfortunately people can sometimes get the wrong idea. I did a favour for a housebound person, went to the shops and got her DVD player and set it up for her. Now it seems to be under guarantee to me! I suppose I'll have to explain the facts, gently of course. Bill |
Long saga and a rip-off?
"Brian Gaff" wrote in message . .. Around here you actually get a less multipath ridden signal on a lowish aerial screened by buildings except in the desired direction. I had to do this at my second house. It looked very odd. See http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/albertsattic/056.html For Brian's benefit this shows me looking like Che Guevara in glasses messing about with a home made aerial on my back wall. God, it makes me cringe! The past should be abolished! Bill |
Long saga and a rip-off?
On Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:30:25 +0100, Bill Wright
wrote: For Brian's benefit this shows me looking like Che Guevara in glasses messing about with a home made aerial on my back wall. God, it makes me cringe! The past should be abolished! I'm not too keen on the present. The future looks a bit bleak as well. What to do? |
Long saga and a rip-off?
"Paul Ratcliffe" wrote in message ... I'm not too keen on the present. The future looks a bit bleak as well. What to do? The present is the best time I've ever been in. I would hate to go back to the 60s and 70s, with two and a half TV channels mostly in black and white, gramophone records and dodgy reel to reel tape, no internet, no computers, cars that broke down every verse end, Post Office monopoly on communications, trying to make catalogues using lettraset and glue, fog so bad you had to stop driving and walk, no central heating, corporal punishment in schools, little or no nursery provision for the under 5s, dreadful road accident statistics, almost no motorways, medical science far less advanced from now, no routine screening for breast cancer, inflation touching 26%, etc. The good old days? Old people who talk about the good old days are talking out of their arses. Bill |
Long saga and a rip-off?
"Doctor D" wrote in message et... I was in Surbiton over the weekend at the in-laws. At a birthday get together I got chatting to their elderly neighbour who several months ago had a shiny new Triax Unix 52A on a 10' mast fitted to his chimney. The mast has a Fringe box which I has assumed was a splitter or filter as signal strength is high there, being barely 10 miles from Crystal Palace. My in-laws are still using an Aerialite 10A on their chimney with the original 40 year old co-ax. Sometimes there's an odd blip but 99% of the time DTTV reception is rock solid. Ghosting is an issue here on analogue, and the neighbour had an Aerialite Supreme group A directed at CP and a large Wolsey B (the one with the bow tie shaped elements) directed at Guildford. When those were removed, the neighbour told the rigger that the chimney they were on had offered much better reception in the past, and the chimney above the lounge had provided poor reception. Mr Rigger (who was recommended by the local Panasonic dealer) assured neighbour that he can get him perfect digital pictures for his new Panasonic TV with decoder on the lounge chimney. This chimney offers much easier access (although he had to remove the scrap from the other one) and a much easier cable run to the TV. Two hours later Mr Rigger is struggling with ghosty analogue, and severe pixilation on DTTV. He blames it on traffic, as from this chimney the aerial looks along the A3 (from almost the same height) straight at CP. Mr Rigger still claims this is the best chimney to use, although as far as neighbour could see no readings were taken anywhere else on the house. Mr Rigger then fits a Fringe masthead amplifier and shows neighbour some solid DTTV. He claims £550 (yes, five hundred and fifty pounds) from neighbour and scoots. Neighbour then spends some time setting up his new TV and discovers dreadful analogue with severe patterning and unwatchable DTTV on four muxes. I got dragged away from chatting at this stage of the sorry saga and paused only to offer assistance when we are next visiting to have a look at what can be done. Amazingly, AFAIK Mr Rigger has not been asked to return and neighbour is back to watching the free channels provided by his old cable (Telewest, now Virgin) socket. When I do get to look at it, I suspect that the patterning will be overloading due to the masthead amplifier, and I wonder if the DTTV problem is also due to high signal levels? I did advise trying the TV at 3am when traffic on the A3 will be negligible, and to try a plug in attenuator which he had left from years ago although I presume this will not be a valid test after all that amplification? Unbelievable. I've seen this before too. An old guy local to me had a huge wideband high gain stuck up by another firm who charged him about £500, and it was hopeless. Analogue not even watchable, and barely one mux coming through properly. He didn't call them back or even ring to complain. He just called me out. |
Long saga and a rip-off?
On Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:30:25 +0100, "Bill Wright"
wrote: "Brian Gaff" wrote in message ... Around here you actually get a less multipath ridden signal on a lowish aerial screened by buildings except in the desired direction. I had to do this at my second house. It looked very odd. See http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/albertsattic/056.html For Brian's benefit this shows me looking like Che Guevara in glasses messing about with a home made aerial on my back wall. God, it makes me cringe! The past should be abolished! Bill That pic is bloody hilarious!!!!!!!!!! And BTW, the past technically is abolished, as it has already happened. And there is no present, only past and future. Marky P. |
Long saga and a rip-off?
On Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:15:59 +0100, "Bill Wright"
wrote: "Paul Ratcliffe" wrote in message ... I'm not too keen on the present. The future looks a bit bleak as well. What to do? The present is the best time I've ever been in. I would hate to go back to the 60s and 70s, with two and a half TV channels mostly in black and white, gramophone records and dodgy reel to reel tape, no internet, no computers, cars that broke down every verse end, Post Office monopoly on communications, trying to make catalogues using lettraset and glue, fog so bad you had to stop driving and walk, no central heating, corporal punishment in schools, little or no nursery provision for the under 5s, dreadful road accident statistics, almost no motorways, medical science far less advanced from now, no routine screening for breast cancer, inflation touching 26%, etc. The good old days? Old people who talk about the good old days are talking out of their arses. Bill I do believe that the times now are the best we've ever had, but i'm sorry, reel to reel tapes were the best format ever! And what about the 8-track tape? Songs fading out, 'kerchunk', fading back in again, bad wow & flutter.... Ah, fantastic :-) Marky P. |
Long saga and a rip-off?
In article , Marky P
scribeth thus On Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:30:25 +0100, "Bill Wright" wrote: "Brian Gaff" wrote in message m... Around here you actually get a less multipath ridden signal on a lowish aerial screened by buildings except in the desired direction. I had to do this at my second house. It looked very odd. See http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/albertsattic/056.html For Brian's benefit this shows me looking like Che Guevara in glasses messing about with a home made aerial on my back wall. God, it makes me cringe! The past should be abolished! Bill That pic is bloody hilarious!!!!!!!!!! And BTW, the past technically is abolished, as it has already happened. And there is no present, only past and future. This is why Doctor Who and his Tardis are a complete fraud, if they existed in the future then they'd be here now in the past relative to the future;!.. -- Tony Sayer |
Long saga and a rip-off?
"tony sayer" wrote in message ... In article , Marky P This is why Doctor Who and his Tardis are a complete fraud, if they existed in the future then they'd be here now in the past relative to the future;!.. Nice drop of whisky Tony? Bill |
Long saga and a rip-off?
They were certainly streets ahead of audio cassettes in terms of
quality. On Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:15:26 +0100, Marky P wrote: On Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:15:59 +0100, "Bill Wright" wrote: dodgy reel to reel tape i'm sorry, reel to reel tapes were the best format ever! |
Long saga and a rip-off?
In article , Bill Wright
scribeth thus "tony sayer" wrote in message ... In article , Marky P This is why Doctor Who and his Tardis are a complete fraud, if they existed in the future then they'd be here now in the past relative to the future;!.. Nice drop of whisky Tony? Bill Nah bruvver!! it stands to yer actual reason dunnit!.. Think abaht it. If them time machines are around they'd be coming back from the future to the past i.e. now!... -- Tony Sayer |
Long saga and a rip-off?
"tony sayer" wrote in message ... In article , Bill Wright scribeth thus Think abaht it. If them time machines are around they'd be coming back from the future to the past i.e. now!... Ohhh arr! I sees what you mean. So them time traveller blokes would clean up at the bookies for a start! Bill |
Long saga and a rip-off?
In article , Bill Wright
scribeth thus "tony sayer" wrote in message ... In article , Bill Wright scribeth thus Think abaht it. If them time machines are around they'd be coming back from the future to the past i.e. now!... Ohhh arr! I sees what you mean. So them time traveller blokes would clean up at the bookies for a start! Bill Well no .. cos the bookies have time machines already;!... -- Tony Sayer |
Long saga and a rip-off?
On 27/09/2008 14:56, tony sayer wrote:
In article , Bill Wright scribeth thus "tony sayer" wrote in message ... In article , Bill Wright scribeth thus Think abaht it. If them time machines are around they'd be coming back from the future to the past i.e. now!... Ohhh arr! I sees what you mean. So them time traveller blokes would clean up at the bookies for a start! Well no .. cos the bookies have time machines already;!... which they use to travel into the past and kill each person who invents time travel. |
Long saga and a rip-off?
On Sat, 27 Sep 2008 11:53:17 +0100, tony sayer wrote:
Think abaht it. If them time machines are around they'd be coming back from the future to the past i.e. now!... So why apart from the Jon Pertwee era, which was set in the future, is current Dr Who always set contemporaneously with the BBC audience time frame? Since Davies took over, all of the companions have been a) from Greater London b) from the current time period obviously reflecting Davies' and BBC's notion of the target viewer. Previous script writers were much more imaginative with companions from ancient Troy, the distant future of earth, the Jacobite uprising, an Australian etc etc |
Long saga and a rip-off?
In article ,
J G Miller wrote: Previous script writers were much more imaginative with companions from ancient Troy, the distant future of earth, the Jacobite uprising, an Australian etc etc C'mon. Who would believe an Australian? -- * I like you. You remind me of when I was young and stupid Dave Plowman London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. |
Long saga and a rip-off?
On Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:31:29 +0100, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
C'mon. Who would believe an Australian? QUOTE Janet Fielding (born Janet Mahoney, 1957, Brisbane, Queensland) is an Australian actress, known for her role in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who as Tegan Jovanka. UNQUOTE |
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