Channel 5 Signal

[Solinari]

I use my broadband coaxial cable for a TV signal (split the cable) and it works very well, the Virgin Media engineer told me it carries a TV signal. This has worked fine for as long as i have had it but yesterday Channel 5 has a sound and flicker problem, that is every time it flickers the sound cuts out for a second.

I was hoping it would be sorted today but it's not and i was wondering if anyone else is getting this and if it will ever get sorted.

Originally Posted by Solinari

I use my broadband coaxial cable for a TV signal (split the cable) and it works very well, the Virgin Media engineer told me it carries a TV signal. This has worked fine for as long as i have had it but yesterday Channel 5 has a sound and flicker problem, that is every time it flickers the sound cuts out for a second.

I was hoping it would be sorted today but it's not and i was wondering if anyone else is getting this and if it will ever get sorted.

the analogue channels available on the cable service are being phased out, so even if your problem is sorted out in the short term, in the longer term none of the 1-5 channels will work.

Originally Posted by Solinari

I use my broadband coaxial cable for a TV signal (split the cable) and it works very well, the Virgin Media engineer told me it carries a TV signal. This has worked fine for as long as i have had it but yesterday Channel 5 has a sound and flicker problem, that is every time it flickers the sound cuts out for a second.

I was hoping it would be sorted today but it's not and i was wondering if anyone else is getting this and if it will ever get sorted.

You're lucky that your house is still connected to the analogue TV signal at the tap in your nearby street cabinet. Unless you're actually subscribing to analogue cable TV, you're not entitled to this service (except in a few locations where VM still has a service obligation, but that's almost certainly not the case for you). If you report it as a fault, they will either tell you to unplug your TV from the cable because it's not meant to be plugged in in the first place, or else send someone to disconnect the TV feed in the street.

If I were you I'd keep your head down and hope it sorts itself out.

[Solinari]

I don't think that's true. It's only a terrestrial TV signal and the engineer was the one that told me about it. I don't think this has anything to do with the analogue service and the phasing out of it, the terrestrial TV signal is carried through the cable and does not require a set top box.

I doubt reporting a fault would do anything anyway, it must be affecting other people as well. I doubt i am doing anything wrong, it's a terrestrial signal and gives me nothing other than 1 to 5. The TV signal is carried on my broadband cable that goes in to the cable modem, i am sure everyone that has cable broadband will find they have a terrestrial TV signal too, i would appreciate if someone could tell me if they have this problem with channel 5.

Originally Posted by Solinari

I don't think that's true. It's only a terrestrial TV signal and the engineer was the one that told me about it. I don't think this has anything to do with the analogue service and the phasing out of it, the terrestrial TV signal is carried through the cable and does not require a set top box.

I doubt reporting a fault would do anything anyway, it must be affecting other people as well. I doubt i am doing anything wrong, it's a terrestrial signal and gives me nothing other than 1 to 5. The TV signal is carried on my broadband cable that goes in to the cable modem, i am sure everyone that has cable broadband will find they have a terrestrial TV signal too, i would appreciate if someone could tell me if they have this problem with channel 5.

It has nothing to do with the nationwide phase out of analogue tv, it is to do with the internal phasing out of the concurrent terrestrial tv signals within the Virgin Media network.

'Everyone' with cable broadband won't be able to tell whether they have a problem , as many have already had the signals discontinued. It is being done on an area, by area basis.

This will also affect people with a set top box fitted with an 'analogue bypass', who currently can watch one program via the stb & record a different terrestrial program at the same time.

Originally Posted by Solinari

I don't think that's true. It's only a terrestrial TV signal and the engineer was the one that told me about it. I don't think this has anything to do with the analogue service and the phasing out of it, the terrestrial TV signal is carried through the cable and does not require a set top box.

I doubt reporting a fault would do anything anyway, it must be affecting other people as well. I doubt i am doing anything wrong, it's a terrestrial signal and gives me nothing other than 1 to 5. The TV signal is carried on my broadband cable that goes in to the cable modem, i am sure everyone that has cable broadband will find they have a terrestrial TV signal too, i would appreciate if someone could tell me if they have this problem with channel 5.

I'm afraid it is true.

The fact the engineer told you about it doesn't mean it's part of the added value of the service. In fact, at any point, without notice, an engineer installing cable for one of your neighbours could decide that he needs the tap that's currently feeding analogue 1-5 down your line, and disconnect you in order to provide them the service.

I used to use the cable for precisely the same purpose you now use it - simply for analogue 1-5, but when I eventually decided to subscribe to digital, the analogue signals were cut off by the engineer doing the install because he needed the tap.

Incidentally, everything comes down the same cable; analogue, digital, telephone and internet.

The sudden degradation in channel 5 on your line won't be related to the eventual analogue switch-off on cable, however Homealone is quite right, Virgin Media is now undertaing its own analogue switch-off programme and you will find, fairly soon, that all five analogue channels you're currently getting will vanish from your cable.

Originally Posted by Chris

I'm afraid it is true.

The fact the engineer told you about it doesn't mean it's part of the added value of the service. In fact, at any point, without notice, an engineer installing cable for one of your neighbours could decide that he needs the tap that's currently feeding analogue 1-5 down your line, and disconnect you in order to provide them the service.

I used to use the cable for precisely the same purpose you now use it - simply for analogue 1-5, but when I eventually decided to subscribe to digital, the analogue signals were cut off by the engineer doing the install because he needed the tap.

Incidentally, everything comes down the same cable; analogue, digital, telephone and internet.

The sudden degradation in channel 5 on your line won't be related to the eventual analogue switch-off on cable, however Homealone is quite right, Virgin Media is now undertaing its own analogue switch-off programme and you will find, fairly soon, that all five analogue channels you're currently getting will vanish from your cable.

thanks Chris

This post by the ever informative Spiderplant refers

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/34666428-post1.html

[Solinari]

I seriously doubt i am not entitled to use my broadband cable as a source for a terrestrial TV signal, i don't think they could need the tap currently feeding 1 - 5 because as you said everything comes down the same cable. I can't see how they could stop 1 - 5 coming down the cable in order to provide someone else a service, that doesn't make sense.

It is conceivable that Virgin will stop sending the terrestrial TV signal in the near future but i can't see how a problem with channel 5 flickering and sound cutting out every second can have anything to do with it. I subscribe to digital and i had analogue before that, because i had analogue the engineer that originally installed it many years ago tuned in 1 - 5 using the terrestrial signal that comes down the cable which uses different frequencies to the normal TV aerial, because of that i kept the TV tuned in to these frequencies. I can't see how i am not entitled to get 1 - 5 through my broadband or digital cable and if i am not then how would one go about getting the right? My guess is they can't because they aren't channels you pay for.

Originally Posted by Solinari

I seriously doubt i am not entitled to use my broadband cable as a source for a terrestrial TV signal, i don't think they could need the tap currently feeding 1 - 5 because as you said everything comes down the same cable. I can't see how they could stop 1 - 5 coming down the cable in order to provide someone else a service, that doesn't make sense.

It is conceivable that Virgin will stop sending the terrestrial TV signal in the near future but i can't see how a problem with channel 5 flickering and sound cutting out every second can have anything to do with it. I subscribe to digital and i had analogue before that, because i had analogue the engineer that originally installed it many years ago tuned in 1 - 5 using the terrestrial signal that comes down the cable which uses different frequencies to the normal TV aerial, because of that i kept the TV tuned in to these frequencies. I can't see how i am not entitled to get 1 - 5 through my broadband or digital cable and if i am not then how would one go about getting the right? My guess is they can't because they aren't channels you pay for.

You are only 'allowed' to connect VM cables to their authorised equipment - i.e. an stb or modem provided by them. Direct to a TV isn't counted as 'authorised' so you will not be able to get the 'right' to do it.

I know we aren't being much help, but the reality is you have been using a service for free, for quite a while, which will soon be taken away.

Your alternatives for a 'future-proof' solution are another digital stb (cable or satellite), an aerial for Freeview, or a dish for the new Freesat service.

tinstaafl, I'm afraid ...

Originally Posted by Solinari

I seriously doubt i am not entitled to use my broadband cable as a source for a terrestrial TV signal, i don't think they could need the tap currently feeding 1 - 5 because as you said everything comes down the same cable. I can't see how they could stop 1 - 5 coming down the cable in order to provide someone else a service, that doesn't make sense.

Doubt as much as you like - nobody is here to persuade you, or get offended if you refuse to believe what we're saying. But that's how it is.

You're not entitled to connect a TV direct to the cable because your TV is not 'authorised equipment'. The tech may have told you you can do it, and he was right, you can, and many people do, but that doesn't change the fact that technically it's not allowed.

The tap in the street cab can be deployed by a VM tech to supply any VM service to any other house in your locality. You may not like it, you may not see how it can be, but that's how it is.

It is conceivable that Virgin will stop sending the terrestrial TV signal in the near future

It's more than conceivable. They have a timetable, which is already in force. And it will cut off analogue cable in your part of the world sooner than the terrestrial signal will be cut. There's a thread with all the information in it, elsewhere on this forum.

but i can't see how a problem with channel 5 flickering and sound cutting out every second can have anything to do with it.

It almost certainly has nothing to do with it. But all the stuff I have already told you is the reason why you can't do anything about it.

I subscribe to digital and i had analogue before that, because i had analogue the engineer that originally installed it many years ago tuned in 1 - 5 using the terrestrial signal that comes down the cable which uses different frequencies to the normal TV aerial, because of that i kept the TV tuned in to these frequencies. I can't see how i am not entitled to get 1 - 5 through my broadband or digital cable

You're not entitled, because your TV is not authorised equipment. Only a digital STB, and analogue STB, or a cable modem is authorised.

and if i am not then how would one go about getting the right? My guess is they can't because they aren't channels you pay for.

You can't get that right. They're not selling analogue in your area any more. And just because you're entitled to receive the five public service channels, does not mean you're entitled to receive them via analogue cable when you're not an analogue cable customer.

News story at DigitalSpy:

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitalt...witch-off.html

I'd pay particular attention to this bit:

"The programme starts in May 2008 and will be a long term project, with customers in Coventry and Glasgow being the first," said the Virgin spokesman.

So you really don't have very long. I'd think about installing a terrestrial aerial and getting a cheap Freeview box for that TV.

---------- Post added at 12:20 ---------- Previous post was at 12:12 ----------

You should also keep an eye on this thread:

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/11...ff-starts.html

Where some of our members with inside info are posting imminent analogue switch-off areas. The info appears to be more up-to-date than that in the DS news item.

[Solinari]

It seems to have sorted itself out. I wasn't expecting to be able to phone Virgin Media up and ask them to sort this i know it's not something they can fix, i was more interested to know if anyone else had this problem.

[VMboy]

Originally Posted by Solinari

I use my broadband coaxial cable for a TV signal (split the cable) and it works very well, the Virgin Media engineer told me it carries a TV signal. This has worked fine for as long as i have had it but yesterday Channel 5 has a sound and flicker problem, that is every time it flickers the sound cuts out for a second.

I was hoping it would be sorted today but it's not and i was wondering if anyone else is getting this and if it will ever get sorted.

Did this issue ever arise again? with CH105? I ask as I am having the same problem as you did with the Channel 5 sound and flicker problem.

This was an issue with analogue service. It can't be the same as you now have, as you have digital service.

[VMboy]

Originally Posted by Chris

This was an issue with analogue service. It can't be the same as you now have, as you have digital service.

Seems like there is an issue with CH5 SD digital signal as mentioned here.

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/35356386-post7.html