Satellite Television Tuning
Up until last week I have never used satellite on my tv and so not familiar with all the ins and outs. My television is an Avtex with a DVB-S2 tuner built in. The CL that I was on had a satellite cable to each pitch as using a normal aerial would get no reception. I tuned in the tv as per the handbook but got very little joy. Although it told me that it had found 167 stations, when I looked on 'guide' all but 5 stations said "no information" and it was only the five that I could receive anything from. What was also strange was that although I was in Cornwall, the 'local' news was for Humberside and Lincolnshire!. I tried retuning but this didn't get me any further. I discussed it with the site owner who tested the cable to the pitch but couldn't suggest anything other than it could possibly / probably be something connected with the tv. Does anyone have any suggestions and tell me where I was possibly going wrong?
Comments
-
As above, things are always changing in the Satellite tv arena, just like at home on DTV the odd retune/update is required.
some proprietary ones like Sky manage all this themselves which makes life pretty straightforward.
0 -
I retuned several times and only got the same 5 stations scattered throughout the whole list of 165 that the tv said it had found. All others showed "No Information" and weren't live. I even checked with the site owner that I had selected the correct satellite (Astra 2E which was the default). It's the first time I've relied on a satellite and, hopefully the last, if this is going to be a problem. I suppose an email to Avtex may help.
0 -
John
Just a thought, if the supplied signal, via a cable, is already coming via the sites satellite tuner have you tried connecting a cable from the bollard (which I assume is where the site cable comes to?) directly into the TV and using the normal aerial as a source rather than the satellite tuner? It might be worth a try. If you managed to get a full range of programmes I am sure you will find the local TV channel.
David
1 -
I was interested in this as our Avtex has a satellite tuner and apart from an initial test I haven’t used it since we bought it 3 years ago. Don’t know if it will help but it seems there are software updates availableHERE certainly for our model. It seems you have to download onto a USB thumb drive and then insert it into the TV. A bit difficult for us now as unless I crank up the old windows machine none of our devices has a USB slot.
0 -
I sort of agree with David....you don't actually know what's coming down the pipe. These channels might already have been bundled into an RF package just like site supplied 'normal' tv aerial cables.
If you have access to a dish, try a normal set up and scan, this will eliminate any problems with the tv.0 -
Just to clarify, the CL had a large satellite dish with long cables running to each of the 5 pitches. If the pitch user's tv wasn't satellite enabled the owner would loan a decoder box. As our tv was satellite enabled we decided that we wouldn't need to borrow one. As far as we knew, all the others on site (that had a tv) were picking it up ok. It was really a case of what, if anything, we were doing wrong. I'll look into SteveL's suggestion about a software update but, to be honest, in 8 years that we have had the tv it is the only time when we have needed the satellite facility. I'm just very curious about why it didn't work as, perhaps, it should. Unfortunately I don't know anyone with a satellite dish that I could test the tv with as per YT's suggestion.
Just looked at Avtex link. It doesn't appear a as though there is an update available.
0 -
Your tv might be sd signal up grade to hd free to view box and connect to tv bbc so signal now defunct this will work done it for my mate
0 -
So we know a bit more now. Basically you are getting a raw feed direct from the LNB on the dish by the sounds of it.? This may sound silly but you are feeding that into the F socket on the TV rather than the Co-Ax? If you have not already done so I think I would connect the cable from the dish directly into the TV by putting the cable through a caravan window and just see if the direct feed into the satellite tuner improves the signal, sometimes running it through the caravan system can weaken the signal strength. If all else fails you still have the option of the loan of a decoder.
David
0 -
If the TV is 8 years old it will be as Vulcan says the transponder list will need updating. You will need to go into the "Advanced" menu and add missing transponders/make corrections to the list from consulting a web site like >Lyng Sat<. I doubt that the available software updates will apply for such an old set but ring Avtex and ask, they are very helpful people.
peedee
0 -
Originally I did put it through the caravan system but then direct to the f satellite input on the tv, (through the window). It made no difference. The loan of the decoder by the CL owner is a bit academic now as we left the CL a week ago.
Thanks for your comments peedee. I’ve emailed Avtex and await a reply.
0 -
John
I don't know if this is helpful to you but I found this article in the latest MMM about updating the software on an older Avtex TV. I have attached a photo of it which I hope you can see. If using a laptop right click on the photo and select open in new window.
David
1 -
Thanks, David. I've saved the page. The problem that I will have if I do what is suggested is that I have no way of testing it. I don't have a satellite dish and I don't know anyone that has. It could be a long time before we visit a CL that has a dish. It seems that my TV needs an upgrade. Thanks again.
0 -
It seems that my TV needs an upgrade.
You can due it manually which is what I did. It is a bit laborious to to go through all the transponders listed on Lyng Sat but if you just select the transponders with the channels which interest you, you may only have to check or make a few changes via the "Advanced" menu. Once you have acquired the channels of interest, use the move or favourite function to make them easier to access.
peedee
0
