Main/Popular channels disappearing from Freesat

amerden

I see there is another thread with a similar problem but not the same, so sorry for opening a new thread.

Can anyone help or have anyone a similar problem.

Bought a new TV recently with a built in satellite receiver, all worked well for a period of time, it then started to lose channels, not all, just some, all BBC & ITV with the exception of the HD channels, it lost C4 bur not C4+1, this has now happened four times within the last 3 weeks.

I have tried to restore channels individually without success, my only option is to do a full auto scan which works fine but looses all my preferred channel settings and takes an age.

Any suggestions or help would be much appreciated.

My setup is that I am running 4 tv's off a quad and have no problems with the other 3 tv's.

Pal

No channels gone on Freesat.
What type of TV is it ?

amerden

Its a Sony KDL32W5810, purchased in August.
And as you say there are no channels gone from FTA, my other 3 satellite connections/tv are fine, no loss of channels at any time over the last three years, also the tv that I replaced this one with never had a problem.

The Cush

Options to try

Do you have a DECT phone nearby?
Switch it and the base station off. Had this problem with a freesat receiver previously.

What size dish do you have?
The satellite tuner in the TV is pretty sensitive, could be too much signal. You might require an attenuator. Had this problem on my W5810.

Other options would be to check your connections at the TV and the LNB and maybe swap over the connection at the LNB (could be faulty output). Remember to power down the TV if you're fiddling around with the connections.

Good Luck.

amerden

Thanks The Cush,

There is a DECT phone in the hall about 10ft away, but never had a problem with my previous TV set nor with any other set in the house even with a phone being even closer to another box. I have an 80cm dish with a quad.

When you had problems with your W5810 did all the channels disappear or just some, with mine only some disappear, all BBC's & ITV's with the exception of BBC HD & ITV1HD, also channel 4 goes, but Channel 4+1 stays, on two occasions when it happened I switched off the TV at the mains waited 30 sec then back on again, the channels were restored to their original positions, other times I am not able to restore the channels even if I try and restore individual channels, I have to do a full scan.

Again thanks for the info.

scruffy66

You could swap one of your other Tv's around ,its the quickest way, if the problem follows the tv then there is something wrong with the tv's sat tuner.

amerden

Thanks Scruffy66,

Problem is that this is our main TV in our sitting room and the fault is so intermittent that we could be sitting in a bedroom or kitchen watching this TV for some weeks for the problem to recur, it happened on three occasions whilst we were watching TV and changing channels and another time we just turned the set on and the channels had gone.

I would much rather have a definite problem so that we could say it was the TV, that way I would return it for repair.

scruffy66

Ok Amerden, sounds to me that it could be the tv and that its something that you could put up with, if it happens so rarely. If you had a spare sat box and a 2 way power pass splitter and wire the box up aswell and then wait till the problem happens ,then switch the spare box on with the same channel on and if problem is replicated on the box. I think its the TV myself, good luck

amerden

Thanks Scruffy66,

The spare box sound like an option all right, will look into this.

Thanks again.

fat-tony

Something you mentioned earlier has me puzzled. You said that an auto scan takes ages. I have the same model TV and a Freesat scan is quick, whereas a non-Freesat scan (i.e. FTA) takes ages.
Have you set up your TV for the UK? With a GB or NI postcode? If not, then you are losing out on the best feature of this TV.
The DECT phone problem can be checked by getting a dial-tone on the handset and moving it near the TV or the cable while watching Channel 4 or whatever.

watty

Three scan methods

1. Freesat just reads a NIT from a predefined transponder. Very fast. Same as Sky EPG update.
2. FTA scans every transponder listed in Firmware, about x10 slower, possibly
3. Blind Scan either searches for transponders using all frequencies and settings (hours) or on €5,000 professional gear uses a built in spectrum analyser to find transponders, then it does (2)

amerden

Thanks fat-tony,

Yes set up as a FTA as was unable to use the UK option, thank you for the tip regarding the DECT phone.

If the phone is a problem, will it delete some channels or all channels or is a random thing?

fat-tony

Why can't you use the UK option on the Sony - do you need terrestrial VHF analogue? It's a pricey TV to use as a basic FTA satellite receiver. Shame to pay a premium to have all that Freesat and SaorTV capability and then not use it:(

As regards the DECT interference, it is in certain frequency bands (1880 - 1900 Mhz) which particularly affect the downconverted output of the LNB on certain transponders (a group of channels). The affected frequencies are around 11.630 - 11.650 GHz and again around 12.480 - 12.500 GHz. Depending on the phone, the interference may spread above or below these bands. Wireless routers may also affect certain channels. Note - this doesn't delete channels - it just prevents reception of them while the interference is occurring. If the channels are actually missing from the programme list, then some other gremlin is at work!

fat-tony

watty wrote: »

Three scan methods

1. Freesat just reads a NIT from a predefined transponder. Very fast. Same as Sky EPG update.
2. FTA scans every transponder listed in Firmware, about x10 slower, possibly
3. Blind Scan either searches for transponders using all frequencies and settings (hours) or on €5,000 professional gear uses a built in spectrum analyser to find transponders, then it does (2)

Hi watty - I know why Freesat is quicker alright;). I deduced from the OP's reference to slow scanning that he wasn't using the Freesat option and it would appear that I was correct. If he didn't need/use Freesat and SaorTv, then it was an expensive purchase - the KDL-325810 is at least 200 euro dearer than standard 32" LCD with an analogue tuner.
You could buy a basic FTA sat receiver and still have change from the 200 euro.
I also have a Manhattan Plaza sat receiver which does pretty good blind scan - useful for those feedhunts!

watty

If there is DECT problem suspect bad coax connections or poor screen on coax. I have four DECT phones and one base + one charger right beside coax.

amerden

Hi fat-tony & watty,

I am going to do a factory reset at the weekend and try and set it up to Freeview and see how I get on, will I have any problem doing that as I'm not in the UK ?? It didn't seem to want to do it on initial setup but can't remember now what the message was when I tried.

fat-tony

Ok amerden, let's get the terminology right to prevent further confusion!

Freesat - this is a service supported/owned by BBC/ITV on satellite. It's a brand name and needs a special receiver (like your Sony!) or special PC software to decode the 7 day Electronic Programme Guide (EPG). It has mostly fixed channel numbers (e.g. BBC1 is on 101, BBC on 102 etc.). You input a post code to determine what ITV and BBC region you receive by default. I use SW1A 1AA (Buckingham Palace!) to receive BBC London on 101. If you put in a Belfast postcode you get BBC NI and UTV etc. In my opinion the programme guide is pretty good (similar to SKY subscription 7 day EPG), but you don't get the sports channels like SKY, but it's free! You have limited or no ability to pick what channels appear on what numbers - so you're stuck with 101, 102 etc. (same as SKY).

FTA - you can scan in whatever is available in the clear from the satellite, but you need to organise your own channel numbering and re-scan whenever there is a change in transponder or when new channels are added or deleted or moved.

Freeview - UK terrestrial (aerial) digital TV service. Really only available in the UK or with decent outside aerial and amplifiers on parts of the east coast (Wicklow/Wexford) or around the border with NI.

Saorview - Irish terrestrial digital service. In test (due to soft-launch at the end of October... maybe) and is available from the main RTENL transmitters and from some relays. At the moment you get RTE1, RTE2, TG4 and two test channels (one of which will be TV3 eventually) and the RTE news channel. Your Sony will pull in the service if you have an aerial and are in a reception area. By default it will scan the channels into the 800 range but this is not really an issue as it skips any numbers not allocated when you press the channel change button on the remote. You can re-number them if you like.

So if you are going try for genuine Freesat, just put in the postcode of choice and let it scan. If you do use the Freesat / UK country option, be aware that the VHF analogue tuner is disabled and you will only be able to scan in UHF terrestrial analogue channels (and of course Saorview). This may or may not be an issue for you depending on where you live. I get my analogue TV (RTE1, RTE2, TG4) from a UHF-only relay transmitter. It also transmits the digital service so it's all good.

Any questions, just post or pm me. I think the Sony is a great TV!

fat-tony

watty wrote: »

If there is DECT problem suspect bad coax connections or poor screen on coax. I have four DECT phones and one base + one charger right beside coax.

I'm not entirely convinced it's a DECT problem, channels affected are not exactly in the DECT range, so it may be something else entirely. I agree about the cable issue. In order to induce any interference in my place, I have to literally touch the coax with the handset and even in that circumstance only particular transponders are affected.

amerden

Thank you so much for the info fat-tony and for your generous offer of being able to pm you, hopefully after the weekend I won't need to bother you .

Sorry, I should have said "Freesat" in my previous post.

Dec4

If you do use the Freesat / UK country option, be aware that the VHF analogue tuner is disabled and you will only be able to scan in UHF terrestrial analogue channels (and of course Saorview). This may or may not be an issue for you depending on where you live.

Apologies for hi-jacking this thread but I have same KDL 32W5810 set and have no problems with loss of channels on Freesat mode. However DTT reception is weak and Saorview channels tend to pixelate and lose sound sync. I have good VHF reception but the VHF tuner on analog is disabled in Freesat mode.
Anyone know of any workarounds or solutions to this (preferably keeping Freesat EPG etc..)??
TIA,
Dec

watty

You need a better outdoor UHF aerial. Perhaps you only have a VHF aerial.

fat-tony

+1 to watty's reply. If you're picking up DTT from a VHF aerial, then maybe a basic UHF wideband aerial would sort out your DTT signal strength/quality. My DTT is rock solid from an aerial in the attic, but I'm close to a UHF relay station.

Dec4

Thanks gents,
the current aerial is one of those VHF/UHF rabbits ears types in attic, looks like a better UHF one is required. I'll take your (expert) advice...
ATB,
Dec4

watty

http://www.techtir.ie/radio-tv/uhf-aerials