Question:
I've currently got an old Nokia OnDigital box that I'm using to watch the Freeview channels. However the picture on a few channels (eg BBC2, BBC Choice) isnt too good as the picture seems to 'stutter' as if there are frames missing.
The picture quality on other channels is excellent, and I had no problems on any channels when I used to receive ITVDigital.
Is this a hardware problem because I'm using an old box, and would it be improved by using a dedicated Freeview stb?
Or is it merely to do with my signal (bearing in mind I have a good aerial and received all ITVDigital channels perfectly)
Thanks
I have a Pace 735 and a Pioneer both ex-ITV-D. Neither of these causes any problems when watching Freeview.
I got my parents a Freeview box and they had the opposite problem, BBC channels were fine but others kept breaking up. When I looked at the signal strength it was only 50%. We tried another aerial and the signal strength went to 90% and we had all the channels with no break up. This was on the new small Pace box.
So, what's your signal strength? I think I remember seeing the old Nokia boxes were not good with a weaker signal. The new boxes are quite a bit faster as well :thumbs:
I thought they collected all of the crappy ondigital stuff anyway?
Mine used to pixellate all the time so I bought myself out and moved over to Sky, no probs since......
Originally posted by kirok1
[B]I thought they collected all of the crappy ondigital stuff anyway?
The itvDigital administrators threatened to, but I've certainly not had a letter from them.
My old itvDigital Pace box is happy receiving Freeview without any problems. Did you do a completely new reinstall of all the channels (Store channels as opposed to Add) as they did change all the frequencies, IIRC.
Didn't re-install, just got Sky to come out and got a whole new set-up. My old box was one of the Ondigital nokia ones.
Never flippin worked properly anyway.
that was just a signal problem though ;)
Thanks for all the feedback
The Nokia boxes are still being sold, albeit in non-Ondigital packaging. You could try forcing a software update because the BBC did change the digital signal to one that would have less problems but at the cost of less available channels. Maybe this will help resolve the problem. Am still surprised that folks come onto a thread like this and say 'going to sky' cured their problems. About a useful as a kick in the proverbials to someone who can't have Sky! ;)
I've noticed a few glitches on my old Phillips OnD box since reconecting it last Thursday - but it doesn't happen very often in fact only about twice so far!
It is almost definitely a signal problem and could be to do with your aerial. We've had some strong winds since OnD went tits up in May so maybe the aerial has moved?
The channel frequencies and mutliplexes could also have changed, but it sounds more like you're aerial to me.
BBC and ITV used to be on different multiplexes with OnD, and I guess they still are. So the glitch can manifest itself on BBC, but not ITV and vice versa.
Central heating, microwaves etc send big electromagnetic spikes which can muck up the signal causing 'ticks' in sound and pixelation in the picture. You may notice it now because your heating is on and it was off when ITVDigital went.
The new transmission standard adopted for Freeview (QAM64 vs. QAM16 can't remember whimore resilient signal.
My old Philips OnDigital still pixelates and stutters but not as badly as it used to.
Depending on how much time and money you're prepared to expend -
Make sure your aerial lead is not running next to mains leads.
Try a power filtering/surge protecting extension lead (a good idea on your TV anyway).
Use satelite double screened co-ax cable for the aerial downlead and fly lead from the wall socket to the TV.
Minimise the number of splitters and joins in the downlead.
Fit a masthead amplifier
Fit a new wideband aerial.
(I tried feritte rings and they had no effect at all)
Lots of useful information here http://www.maxview.ltd.uk/download.htm
And in the digital terrestrial forum at www.digitalspy.co.uk
The picture quality on other channels is excellent, and I had no problems on any channels when I used to receive ITVDigital.
Is this a hardware problem because I'm using an old box, and would it be improved by using a dedicated Freeview stb?
Or is it merely to do with my signal (bearing in mind I have a good aerial and received all ITVDigital channels perfectly)
Thanks
Answers:
I have a Pace 735 and a Pioneer both ex-ITV-D. Neither of these causes any problems when watching Freeview.
Answers:
I got my parents a Freeview box and they had the opposite problem, BBC channels were fine but others kept breaking up. When I looked at the signal strength it was only 50%. We tried another aerial and the signal strength went to 90% and we had all the channels with no break up. This was on the new small Pace box.
So, what's your signal strength? I think I remember seeing the old Nokia boxes were not good with a weaker signal. The new boxes are quite a bit faster as well :thumbs:
Answers:
I thought they collected all of the crappy ondigital stuff anyway?
Mine used to pixellate all the time so I bought myself out and moved over to Sky, no probs since......
Answers:
Originally posted by kirok1
[B]I thought they collected all of the crappy ondigital stuff anyway?
The itvDigital administrators threatened to, but I've certainly not had a letter from them.
My old itvDigital Pace box is happy receiving Freeview without any problems. Did you do a completely new reinstall of all the channels (Store channels as opposed to Add) as they did change all the frequencies, IIRC.
Answers:
Didn't re-install, just got Sky to come out and got a whole new set-up. My old box was one of the Ondigital nokia ones.
Never flippin worked properly anyway.
Answers:
that was just a signal problem though ;)
Answers:
Thanks for all the feedback
Answers:
The Nokia boxes are still being sold, albeit in non-Ondigital packaging. You could try forcing a software update because the BBC did change the digital signal to one that would have less problems but at the cost of less available channels. Maybe this will help resolve the problem. Am still surprised that folks come onto a thread like this and say 'going to sky' cured their problems. About a useful as a kick in the proverbials to someone who can't have Sky! ;)
Answers:
I've noticed a few glitches on my old Phillips OnD box since reconecting it last Thursday - but it doesn't happen very often in fact only about twice so far!
It is almost definitely a signal problem and could be to do with your aerial. We've had some strong winds since OnD went tits up in May so maybe the aerial has moved?
The channel frequencies and mutliplexes could also have changed, but it sounds more like you're aerial to me.
BBC and ITV used to be on different multiplexes with OnD, and I guess they still are. So the glitch can manifest itself on BBC, but not ITV and vice versa.
Answers:
Central heating, microwaves etc send big electromagnetic spikes which can muck up the signal causing 'ticks' in sound and pixelation in the picture. You may notice it now because your heating is on and it was off when ITVDigital went.
The new transmission standard adopted for Freeview (QAM64 vs. QAM16 can't remember whimore resilient signal.
My old Philips OnDigital still pixelates and stutters but not as badly as it used to.
Depending on how much time and money you're prepared to expend -
Make sure your aerial lead is not running next to mains leads.
Try a power filtering/surge protecting extension lead (a good idea on your TV anyway).
Use satelite double screened co-ax cable for the aerial downlead and fly lead from the wall socket to the TV.
Minimise the number of splitters and joins in the downlead.
Fit a masthead amplifier
Fit a new wideband aerial.
(I tried feritte rings and they had no effect at all)
Lots of useful information here http://www.maxview.ltd.uk/download.htm
And in the digital terrestrial forum at www.digitalspy.co.uk
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