V+ Can VM TV customers please answer this poll to help identify a possible fault.

RichardCoulter · 09-05-2013, 16:06

There have been instances of a blue box appearing at the top right hand of the screen, with the numbers 888 appearing in it in white.

This may be a fault as, although the VM receive the teletext derived signal intended for DTT and Freesat customers, this should not be shown.

VM use a different system to generate subtitles, as do Sky.

If you are experiencing this issue, could you please provide any more info. you have in the main thread eg which channes, what times, which boxes are affected etc.

It is mandatory to affix a prefix on this forum, so I have selected V+, but this applies to all boxes.

Many thanks

spiderplant · 09-05-2013, 16:32

Some broadcasters put an "888" marker at the start of the programme to indicate that subtitles are available on teletext page 888. It's actually part of the video, not anything that VM are adding, and not a fault.

kop32 · 09-05-2013, 16:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

There have been instances of a blue box appearing at the top right hand of the screen, with the numbers 888 appearing in it in white.

This may be a fault as, although the VM receive the teletext derived signal intended for DTT and Freesat customers, this should not be shown.

VM use a different system to generate subtitles, as do Sky.

If you are experiencing this issue, could you please provide any more info. you have in the main thread eg which channes, what times, which boxes are affected etc.

It is mandatory to affix a prefix on this forum, so I have selected V+, but this applies to all boxes.

Many thanks

I sense a mass compensation claim coming..............

BenMcr · 09-05-2013, 16:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

This may be a fault as, although the VM receive the teletext derived signal intended for DTT and Freesat customers, this should not be shown.

VM use a different system to generate subtitles, as do Sky.

As far as I'd expect analogue teletext and '888' aren't the default (or even possible) on any platform anymore - they all use DVB subtitles.

spiderplant · 09-05-2013, 17:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenMcr

As far as I'd expect analogue teletext and '888' aren't the default (or even possible) on any platform anymore - they all use DVB subtitles.

Actually that isn't true. Most on channels on VM (and satellite) do still broadcast teletext page 888 subtitles. The box converts them to DVB subtitles itself before displaying them.

BenMcr · 09-05-2013, 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiderplant

Actually that isn't true. Most on channels on VM (and satellite) do still broadcast teletext page 888 subtitles. The box converts them to DVB subtitles itself before displaying them.

Fair enough, you learn something every day

Sirius · 09-05-2013, 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by kop32

I sense a mass compensation claim coming..............

paul nolan · 09-05-2013, 18:35

you're not trying to access channel 888 are you? I remember something similar happened when my nipper got some rusk stuck on the '1' button.

RichardCoulter · 09-05-2013, 19:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiderplant

Some broadcasters put an "888" marker at the start of the programme to indicate that subtitles are available on teletext page 888. It's actually part of the video, not anything that VM are adding, and not a fault.

It looks like it's composed of characters generated by teletext as opposed to being on the video (like the BBC used to fade up and then down "888" to alert viewers that subtitles were available).

Quote:

Originally Posted by kop32

I sense a mass compensation claim coming..............

Why do you say that?

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul nolan

you're not trying to access channel 888 are you? I remember something similar happened when my nipper got some rusk stuck on the '1' button.

spiderplant · 09-05-2013, 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

It looks like it's composed of characters generated by teletext as opposed to being on the video (like the BBC used to fade up and then down "888" to alert viewers that subtitles were available).

Do you have subtitles enabled? If so, it's possible that it's actually in the teletext data. Which channels are you seeing this on and when?

RichardCoulter · 12-05-2013, 16:55

I often do have subtitles enabled a lot of the time, but can't remember if I had them on during the incidents below. I watched a recording of the show and tried to see if "888" was a part of the recording, it didn't appear to be.

The last time I noticed it happen was on Fri night on BBC1. It appeared on the Graham Norton show at various times, not just at the beginning as one would expect

OLD BOY · 12-05-2013, 17:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Why do you say that?

RichardCoulter · 12-05-2013, 19:30

Just to add that I watched a recording of The Andrew Marr Show shortly after it's broadcast this morning and 888 appeared again (also on a BBC1 programme.)

I rewound the PVR and noted that they weren't present on the same segment of footage, so I have a feeling it could be a TV fault, especially with the results from the poll too.

How and why does this happen? I'm more intrigued than anything else as this is happening on a CRT TV that is due to be replaced.

nodrogd · 12-05-2013, 19:47

Interesting. Page 888 still exists on digital text on Freeview (not sure about Freesat). It carries an expalnation of how to get subtitles on digital TV.

andy_m · 12-05-2013, 19:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Just to add that I watched a recording of The Andrew Marr Show shortly after it's broadcast this morning...

From hospital?