Proline TV set not storing channels?

Osem · 22-01-2014, 17:19

Following up on my loft aerial success, I've spent the best part of today running coaxial cable from the new aerial into a downstairs bedroom to serve a Proline LCD tv (lvd1983wd) set in there. Once connected I did a 'first time installation' channel scan which yielded very good results but I found that after turning the TV off and back on again the channels no longer appear to be available. They're still in the channel list but it's as if the aerial has been disconnected and there's no signal. The aerial appears to be working fine but I have no manual for the TV so have been fiddling around wondering if I've been doing something wrong. I've found that for no apparent reason sometimes a channel scan yields a full list whereas other times it picks up few, if any, channels, maybe just 2 local TV test channels.

After scanning there's no option to save the results, the scan just ends and the set switches to TV display mode automatically at which point you can select the channels you want to view. I've heard that some of the older sets/digiboxes may have problems dealing with newer digital frequencies but this set appears to be locating the channels, albeit randomly, just losing them when it's turned off. The TV has been rarely used over the last few years as we could never get a signal in that room. It's therefore been left unplugged most of the time since we got it from a neighbour a few years ago, occasionally used by Osem Jnr. for his Xbox.

So the question is why do successive scans yield such different results and why aren't the channels found retained when the TV is turned off?

There is a menu setting for firmware update somewhere I believe but I'm reluctant to try this without knowing what I'm doing. I've also found a reference to this TV which indicates they were first on sale 6-7 years ago.

TIA as always.

Update:

After quite a lot of searching I found a question posted by someone else last year with the same problem on this TV, stating that the problem started after the digital switchover. Sadly nobody provided an answer...

Taf · 22-01-2014, 18:15

If it is an older set with an analogue tuner as well, chances are it is starting in analogue mode, and you have to press a button to change to digital mode.

I have seen this happen a lot! Keeping the set on should allow it to receive software updates (which should kill the analogue tuner), or you could try forcing it to look for them.

We have a few Panasonic DVDram recorders that seemed to have failed due to this situation (so I got them for a song). Eventually Panasonic sent me a update disk as they had stopped transmitting updates over the radio channels years before.

Osem · 22-01-2014, 20:35

Cheers for the feedback Taf. The remote has a DVB menu button through which the channel scan is selected. I decided to try a firmware update and after I selected this option the search process started but seems to have stalled on 83% progress. I'm not yet sure if this is a good or bad sign...

---------- Post added at 20:35 ---------- Previous post was at 19:27 ----------

Firmware update stalled totally so I cancelled it.

Just had a thought - if we can't get this to work properly would another option be to get a cheap Freeview box and watch TV via this? Despite being quite old the TV set is in very good nick and had been barely used when we got it.

**Chris** · 22-01-2014, 21:04

If its own tuner is bust, that should work, but perhaps test it on a borrowed Freeview box first to avoid wasting cash?

Osem · 22-01-2014, 21:10

Yes that'd be sensible. I'll fiddle around a bit more before I resort to a retail solution though. Makes me look thrifty and busy that way...

Osem · 23-01-2014, 08:13

Curiouser and curiouser... well it appears the channels are being stored, the problem seems to be that after turning the set on it takes ages for them to be displayed. I just turned the set on having left it on standby over night and it took 5-10 minutes for the channels to be available to view. Up until that point I just got the default screen and a 'no signal' message. It seems the longer the set's been off, the longer it takes to get itself up and running properly.

Taf · 23-01-2014, 10:11

Have you tried asking Comet if you can download a manual? It's their own brand, so they may even have other advice for you.

Osem · 23-01-2014, 13:24

Comet no longer exists so far as I can see but I will check online to see if I can get a manual somewhere so thanks for the idea anyway.

If not I'll probably just use a cheap digibox as it's a real pain waiting 10 mins for the TV to start up.

Ps there seems to be quite a few sites offering manuals to download but since I'm ultra cautious can anyone recommend a safe site to use please? TVM as always.

joglynne · 23-01-2014, 15:18

I have just had an unsuccessful look through the sites I use, espares seem to be the site with the most manuals available for Proline TVs. Unfortunately your set isn't listed Osem but you may find one of those listed by espares is a variant of the LVD1983WD.

http://www.espares.co.uk/usermanuals...ase=proline+tv

Osem · 23-01-2014, 18:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by joglynne

I have just had an unsuccessful look through the sites I use, espares seem to be the site with the most manuals available for Proline TVs. Unfortunately your set isn't listed Osem but you may find one of those listed by espares is a variant of the LVD1983WD.

http://www.espares.co.uk/usermanuals...ase=proline+tv

Awww thanks....