Analogue signal just suddenly got worse.

[Kula]

Hi everyone.

I am looking for a bit of assistance.

Basically 6 months ago I upgraded from the Analogue TV service to the Digital TV service.

When the engineer arrived I asked if it was still possible for me to receive the analogue signal through the same cable allowing me to record the digital service but watch an analogue terrestrial channel at the same time. He said no problem and proceeded to install the Digital Set Top Box - 2 scarts out, 1 to tv and the other to Video and the RF cable to back of TV.

I basically viewed the digital service through the scart leads and the analogue service through the RF output (the RF output also carried the digital signal as well so I could tune my TV to receive the digital signal on channel 6 6). All was fine and I was happy with my setup.

About a week ago I was recording a Digital channel through Scart Lead and switched the tv to the RF input in order to watch an analogue terrestrial channel but the signal was awful.

I have spent the past week trying new cables, removing scarts etc and this has made no improvement. And to top it all off I am now unable to receive a digital signal through the RF output from the set top box.

I phoned CS and described the problem but the girl I spoke to said I had no problem because if I am able to view the digital service there is nothing wrong with NTL's equipment. I explained that I used to be able to get Analogue terrestrial and Digital signal from RF but now that had stopped (well no digital and very poor analogue). She basically kept saying that NTL's equipment was not at fault and there was nothing she could do.

I have tried 2 tv's and 2 video recorders and all have the same problem when taking the signal from RF - No digital signal and poor analogue signal.

Am I missing something here or does it sound like NTL equipmant fault??

Ps sorry about the long post.

If theres a problem its either with the passthrough within the STB or the RF cable from your box to the TV. I would check the RF cable looks OK first. Try replacing the RF cable.

If it looks like the box then call CS back, tell them you don't use scarts, and their box is faulty.

[Kula]

Thx for the reply m8.

I have checked 3 different RF cables with 2 different tv's and its the same with them all

I did explain this to the girl in CS and she said well if your STB works on scart then its not faulty. She said bringing in the RF output into the equation just complicates things and that if I ask for an engineer and its not NTL's equipment that is at fault I have to pay £25.

She couldn't seem to grasp the fact that the RF wasn't outputting the digital signal and said I was just complicating things. And in the end she just said "well it's either your equipment or our equipment that is faulty"

I have arranged an engineer to come on Saturday morning.

One thing I did stipulate at the time of upgrading to Digital was that I wanted Analogue put-through. And the guy that I spoke to when ordering digital said that this was no problem at all ( as long as NTL are broadcasting an analogue signal I will have that capability).

So I have basically deduced that the Set Top Box is faulty and I will be looking for a replacement on Saturday.

One other thing I forgot to mention to the CS girl was that when I noticed the problem I immediately tried a different cable but when I took the RF cable out of the back of the tv it definately had a "current" running through it. I didnt get an electrical shock but it felt like the same voltage u feel if you wet your finger and then place it over both the connections on a 9v battery. I don't know whether this has anything to do with it or not (touching the cable end now does not have that effect). I should really have mentioned this to the CS girl but I ended up being so frustrated at what she was saying I forgot.

Originally Posted by Kula

One other thing I forgot to mention to the CS girl was that when I noticed the problem I immediately tried a different cable but when I took the RF cable out of the back of the tv it definately had a "current" running through it. I didnt get an electrical shock but it felt like the same voltage u feel if you wet your finger and then place it over both the connections on a 9v battery. I don't know whether this has anything to do with it or not (touching the cable end now does not have that effect). I should really have mentioned this to the CS girl but I ended up being so frustrated at what she was saying I forgot.

I wouldn't be worried about it mate. These days most equipment doesn't have an earth and equipment have floating grounds, if you get in between two grounds at slightly different levels then they even out, through you!! You will not have damaged it by unplugging the RF lead.

[sirsimon]

have you tried to just plug in the cable to the tv aerial socket on wall terestrial tv i.e bbc and itv /ch4 etc to see if cable is ok or not if it is the it would seem yr stb is or has had it for this part also try rf cable from stb to tv nothing else connected to tv or stb temp, ok

[Kula]

Lo peeps.

Just to let you know the engineer arrived today between the specified hours of 8am to 1pm ( arrived about 10:30).

I briefly explained the problem he did the appropraite checks and confirmed that the RF output was not working prpoerly and he installed a new set top box, phoned HO to send channels/package to new box/card.

All in about 10 mins work.

All my channels came back within 10 mins.

Excellent work NTL

If only the girl in CS, that i reported the fault to in the first place, hadn't been so adamant that there was no fault I would have considered this whole experience faultless (so to speak).

Thx again for the advice guys.

Glad its resolved.