one channel, two frequencies - evil twins?!

I just installed a new rental topfield PVR8500.

Having done a service scan, I became very worried that I had no signal
(screen showed "no signal at Tuner 1)

I checked the aerial connection, and also noted that my TV,
on the aerial feed-through was fine.

I then found that SOME channels on the topfield
were OK, and some not.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...y/two_chan.jpg

Further probing in the EPG revealed that most named channels
(e.g. BBC4) were present twice. But only one works.

For example, I have BBC4 on:

channel 58, 770 Mhz, BW 8 Mhz, good strength and quality
channel 39, 618 Mhz, BW 8 Mhz, no signal

It appears that my scan found a full channel set of "good"
signals, and a weaker set, presumably from another transmitter.

It may be relevant that my machine is quite old.

Details he
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ppy/status.jpg

I would welcome advice on how to proceed. I presumably
need to delete (in some way) the "bad" channel assignments.

BugBear

bugbear wrote:
I just installed a new rental topfield PVR8500.

Having done a service scan, I became very worried that I had no signal
(screen showed "no signal at Tuner 1)

I checked the aerial connection, and also noted that my TV,
on the aerial feed-through was fine.

I then found that SOME channels on the topfield
were OK, and some not.

You seem to live in an overlap area between Tacolneston and Sudbury (some
where near the Norfolk/Suffolk border ?)

Taccy seems to be supplying you with plenty of signal, at least on Mux 1,
Sudbury is a poor signal. Erase the whole lot, and manually add each of
Taccy's muxes manually, by doing a manual search in the set up menu.

Menu Installation Service Search Search Mode: Manual

Enter each of these channel numbers in turn from the manual tuning option

Ch 63 (Mux 1)
Ch 60 (Mux 2)
Ch 53 (Mux A)
Ch 58 (Mux B)
Ch 61 (Mux C)
Ch 64 (Mux D)

You will then only have stored one set of the strongest version of channels.

Important: You must feed an RF input into both Tuner inputs sockets.


--
Mark
Please replace invalid and invalid with gmx and net to reply.

"bugbear" wrote in message
...
I just installed a new rental topfield PVR8500.

Having done a service scan, I became very worried that I had no signal
(screen showed "no signal at Tuner 1)

I checked the aerial connection, and also noted that my TV,
on the aerial feed-through was fine.

I then found that SOME channels on the topfield
were OK, and some not.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...y/two_chan.jpg

Further probing in the EPG revealed that most named channels
(e.g. BBC4) were present twice. But only one works.

For example, I have BBC4 on:

channel 58, 770 Mhz, BW 8 Mhz, good strength and quality
channel 39, 618 Mhz, BW 8 Mhz, no signal

It appears that my scan found a full channel set of "good"
signals, and a weaker set, presumably from another transmitter.

It may be relevant that my machine is quite old.

Details he
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ppy/status.jpg

I would welcome advice on how to proceed. I presumably
need to delete (in some way) the "bad" channel assignments.

BugBear

I would suggest you go to the Toppy forum and post there - they are a
friendly bunch g
http://forum.toppy.org.uk/forum/index.php

I had the same problem with my Humax you are correct about picking up two
transmitter
its because you are probably using a wide band TV aerial and not one
dedicated to
your local transmitter so your sensitive toppy is scanning from channels 21
to 68
and picking up everything it can.
You can delete the channels you don't want or delete the lot
and scan the 6 multiplex channels for your region manually.
Have a look at digitalspy forum
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/f...prune=30&f=125
here's a few more useful site to look at to find your channels and local
transmitter
http://www.ukfree.tv/txlist.php
http://www.dtg.org.uk/retailer/dtt_channels.html
http://www.wolfbane.com/cgi-bin/tvd.exe


"bugbear" wrote in message
...
I just installed a new rental topfield PVR8500.

Having done a service scan, I became very worried that I had no signal
(screen showed "no signal at Tuner 1)

I checked the aerial connection, and also noted that my TV,
on the aerial feed-through was fine.

I then found that SOME channels on the topfield
were OK, and some not.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...y/two_chan.jpg

Further probing in the EPG revealed that most named channels
(e.g. BBC4) were present twice. But only one works.

For example, I have BBC4 on:

channel 58, 770 Mhz, BW 8 Mhz, good strength and quality
channel 39, 618 Mhz, BW 8 Mhz, no signal

It appears that my scan found a full channel set of "good"
signals, and a weaker set, presumably from another transmitter.

It may be relevant that my machine is quite old.

Details he
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ppy/status.jpg

I would welcome advice on how to proceed. I presumably
need to delete (in some way) the "bad" channel assignments.

BugBear

In article ,
bugbear wrote:
I just installed a new rental topfield PVR8500.

Having done a service scan, I became very worried that I had no signal
(screen showed "no signal at Tuner 1)

I checked the aerial connection, and also noted that my TV,
on the aerial feed-through was fine.

But have you plugged up the aerial to the Toppy as per the instructions
which are slightly confusing? It has twin tuners and won't work properly
unless this is done.

On mine there are four aerial connectors arranged in a square.

Looking at the back the aerial goes to the top left.
Link top right to bottom left with the supplied lead.
TV to bottom right.

--
Small asylum seeker wanted as mud flap, must be flexible and willing to travel

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
bugbear wrote:
I just installed a new rental topfield PVR8500.

Having done a service scan, I became very worried that I had no signal
(screen showed "no signal at Tuner 1)

I checked the aerial connection, and also noted that my TV,
on the aerial feed-through was fine.

But have you plugged up the aerial to the Toppy as per the instructions
which are slightly confusing? It has twin tuners and won't work properly
unless this is done.

On mine there are four aerial connectors arranged in a square.

Looking at the back the aerial goes to the top left.
Link top right to bottom left with the supplied lead.
TV to bottom right.


Yep, all done.

Aerial - tuner 1 in,
tuner 1 out - tuner 2 in, (supplied tiny cable!)
tuner 2 out - TV

BugBear

Mark Carver wrote:
bugbear wrote:
I just installed a new rental topfield PVR8500.

Having done a service scan, I became very worried that I had no signal
(screen showed "no signal at Tuner 1)

I checked the aerial connection, and also noted that my TV,
on the aerial feed-through was fine.

I then found that SOME channels on the topfield
were OK, and some not.

You seem to live in an overlap area between Tacolneston and Sudbury
(some where near the Norfolk/Suffolk border ?)

Very good! I'm in Diss.


Taccy seems to be supplying you with plenty of signal, at least on Mux
1, Sudbury is a poor signal. Erase the whole lot, and manually add each
of Taccy's muxes manually, by doing a manual search in the set up menu.

Menu Installation Service Search Search Mode: Manual

Enter each of these channel numbers in turn from the manual tuning option

Ch 63 (Mux 1)
Ch 60 (Mux 2)
Ch 53 (Mux A)
Ch 58 (Mux B)
Ch 61 (Mux C)
Ch 64 (Mux D)

You will then only have stored one set of the strongest version of
channels.

Wow. Detailed answer! I'll do this tonight.


Important: You must feed an RF input into both Tuner inputs sockets.

yep, done.

BugBear

bugbear wrote:

Yep, all done.

Aerial - tuner 1 in,
tuner 1 out - tuner 2 in, (supplied tiny cable!)
tuner 2 out - TV

You might like to replace that supplied cable with a decent one, particularly
as you're working at the top of Band V. My one is a very good 6dB attenuator
at UHF Ch 66.


--
Mark
Please replace invalid and invalid with gmx and net to reply.

Mark Carver wrote:
bugbear wrote:

Yep, all done.

Aerial - tuner 1 in,
tuner 1 out - tuner 2 in, (supplied tiny cable!)
tuner 2 out - TV

You might like to replace that supplied cable with a decent one,
particularly as you're working at the top of Band V. My one is a very
good 6dB attenuator at UHF Ch 66.



Any recommendations that are easy to follow?

(either typed or pointed to)

I can just about fly a soldering iron, but that's my limit.

BugBear

bugbear wrote:
Mark Carver wrote:
bugbear wrote:

Yep, all done.

Aerial - tuner 1 in,
tuner 1 out - tuner 2 in, (supplied tiny cable!)
tuner 2 out - TV

You might like to replace that supplied cable with a decent one,
particularly as you're working at the top of Band V. My one is a very
good 6dB attenuator at UHF Ch 66.



Any recommendations that are easy to follow?

(either typed or pointed to)

I can just about fly a soldering iron, but that's my limit.

Two co-ax plugs soldered each end to a short length of CT-100 grade cable
would be ideal, with a sex changer fitted accordingly.

Unfortunately many ready made fly leads are of similar poor quality to
Toppy's, unless someone can point to a decent one, (that isn't lossy etc at
the top of the UHF band) ?

--
Mark
Please replace invalid and invalid with gmx and net to reply.