Two ntl TV Issues...

RileyM · 02-11-2006, 20:42

Firstly, I'm farily new to ntl TV as i've only had in for about a month. I live in the Cambridge area, and today noticed something about my NTL TV service.

For the entire day Channel 5's new channels Five Life & Five US, have been intermittent. It works for abit, (maybe a minute if i'm lucky) then picture and sound goes off. This only seems to be on Five Life & Five US, as all other channels were fine. When calling ntl, they did mention people in the Cambridge area with a postcode of CB4, may experience problems. However, i'm in the CB1 area. When i spoke to a CS agent, i was told to check the Scart lead. 1stly, why would it be the scart, when ALL other channels are shown with NO interuptions? Also when Five Life & Five US go blank, and i press the "TV" button the Mini Guide appears, so the singal is getting from the box to the TV perfectly.
I tried checking the Event Log on the box and noticed two entries from this morning, both with "Cannot lock to..." (or something you that effect). Could this be a possible cause? After later examination i've noticed i've been getting this for a few days now.

Next, has anyone been watching the Tottenham footie match on itv 4 this evening? Is it just me or so the lines on the pitch look very jagged? Later during the half time interval, i also noticed that the edges of some people's jackets were also really jagged? If this ntl or itv?

Thank in advance. I'd really appreciate you help.
RileyM

Nedkelly · 02-11-2006, 21:23

Doing the same here been on and off all night .

RileyM · 03-11-2006, 07:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nedkelly

Doing the same here been on and off all night .

At least now i know it ISN'T the scart as customer services told me to check.

spiderplant · 03-11-2006, 21:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by RileyM

Next, has anyone been watching the Tottenham footie match on itv 4 this evening? Is it just me or so the lines on the pitch look very jagged? Later during the half time interval, i also noticed that the edges of some people's jackets were also really jagged? If this ntl or itv?

Do you have a Pace box with the TV format set to "4:3 letterbox"? If so, change it to "4:3 normal" and the problem will (mostly) go away. Some channels, such as itv4, use a low video resolution that the Pace boxes don't handle well in letterbox mode.

RileyM · 06-11-2006, 07:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiderplant

Do you have a Pace box with the TV format set to "4:3 letterbox"? If so, change it to "4:3 normal" and the problem will (mostly) go away. Some channels, such as itv4, use a low video resolution that the Pace boxes don't handle well in letterbox mode.

Oh ok. Thanks for that. So is this problem only one Pace boxes? Also, does it happen in 16:9 mode as well?

~RileyM

spiderplant · 06-11-2006, 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by RileyM

Oh ok. Thanks for that. So is this problem only one Pace boxes? Also, does it happen in 16:9 mode as well?

Only Pace boxes in 4:3 letterbox. In fact only the older Pace boxes. The 4000 and 4010 don't do it.

RileyM · 07-11-2006, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiderplant

Only Pace boxes in 4:3 letterbox. In fact only the older Pace boxes. The 4000 and 4010 don't do it.

It appears as if all the ITV channels (apart from ITV 1) suffer from this, i also noticed it on Sky Two.

I have a new Pace STB (only installed about a month ago), i think its a 4001

Why do ntl broadcast these channels in resolutions that there STBs cant handle properly? Or is it a case of they are just broadcast in the same resolution as they are received from the broadcasters?

~RileyM

spiderplant · 07-11-2006, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by RileyM

Or is it a case of they are just broadcast in the same resolution as they are received from the broadcasters?

Yes.

Just set your box to "4:3 normal" instead of the hideous screen-area-wasting "4:3 letterbox" and it'll be fine.