New TCL TV .. some satellite channels have poor signal symptoms

celtic_oz · 13-07-2025 12:09PM #1

Using an 1080p LG 48" TV for 7 years with a satellite dish, no issues

Bought a 65" TCL 4K (model 65V6BK) from powercity

Swapped in and immediately some satellite channels have pixelation and green screen ( BBC 1 HD) for example

logged with powercity, told to call TCL, who gave instructions on how to update firmware etc.

Issue remains. Logged call with TCL who said engineer will be around to troubleshoot.

In the meantime get local installer to test satellite signal and says its very good (shows me BBC1 HD perfect on testing equipment) and obvious TV issue.

2 weeks later TCL engineer arrives sees issue and tests signal (announces signal good) - changes part and TV now working fine.

2 hours later symptoms back and back all the time

logged with TCL, one week later they collect TV and bring back to the office to test.

TCL announce TV is fine and no changes have been made and will return TV.

When the engineer delivers it back he verifies perfect picture on LG, swops TCL in and picture pixelated, test signal says signal is good and is baffled.

Call powercity who say TCL have reported TV is fine and no refund or credit against different TV will be offered.

Whats the next step here ?

The Cush · 13-07-2025 12:25PM

What did the TCL tech change that fixed the signal temporarily?

Is it possible to test the TV on someone else's dish?

Sensitive satellite tuner issue? Too much satellite signal? Attenuator?

Had to do this on a Sony TV many years ago.

celtic_oz · 13-07-2025 12:31PM

What did the TCL tech change that fixed the signal temporarily?

Motherboard changed apparently

Is it possible to test the TV on someone else's dish?

Not really, i'd imagine TCL did that back in the office -they said they did, so apparently it works with a different sat setup.

Sensitive satellite tuner issue? Too much satellite signal? Attenuator?
Had to do this on a Sony TV many years ago.

No idea, you had to do what ?

The Cush · 13-07-2025 12:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123630067#Comment_123630067

Downgrade the incoming signal a little

https://freesat.ie/products/ae5203dc?pr_prod_strat=e5_desc&pr_rec_id=a6fc14825&pr_rec_pid=4890251165743&pr_ref_pid=4890251198511&pr_seq=uniform

I purchased a few of these online at time to test, different values, frequency range up to 2400 MHz. Sits between the TV input and the incoming cable. Sorted my issue at that time.

celtic_oz · 13-07-2025 01:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123630115#Comment_123630115

ok I'll try that thanks

just found pictures of some of the signal tests

The Cush · 13-07-2025 01:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123630195#Comment_123630195

To my uneducated eye those figures look ok, no signal overload.

The assumption is the TCL tech tested it when he took it away.

The real test for you would be to connect it to another working dish

dxhound2005 · 13-07-2025 02:01PM

BBC One transmits on a few different transponders. Are they all giving trouble? Anyone using Freesat will find them on 101 and in the 900's

https://www.lyngsat.com/Astra-2E-2F-2G.html

https://rxtvinfo.com/freesat-channel-list-uk/

swoofer · 13-07-2025 02:07PM

My guess is the TV is picking up interference and is not as shielded as the LG. Can you reach the dish? What you may need is really good quality sat cable and even that may not fix it. Another LNB may work better. Check the sat connection at rear and look inside may be small bit of cable. Apparently these TV's are best for streaming.

Have you dect phone or lots of cable at back of tv?

And as cush says the attenuator may solve it.

The best test would be with another dish. A great price

celtic_oz · 13-07-2025 03:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123630294#Comment_123630294

nothing at the back of the TV except a small ethernet switch which was switched off for a while and the TV showed the same issues

Not sure how interference would only affect some channels? Its mad that 2 sets of eyes looked at the signal .. said no issue here and yet I have to somehow improve it.

I'll try the attenuator when it arrives.

andy1249 · 14-07-2025 08:15AM

I have very similar issues with a sat box would you believe,

The zgemma H82H cannot get a good signal on BBC1 HD and BBC news HD freezes after about 5 seconds watching it.

Do you know and can you post the chipset number of the TCL , there is a good chance its a similar if not the same chipset as the Zgemma H82H.

Zgemma box uses Hi3716MV431 chipset and the main processor is A7 Cortex.

If the TCL has remotely similar chipsets and processors then thats your problem and it cannot be fixed.

The bottom line , TCL is not a great make , honestly Id rather have my Walker 43 inch , and as Ive said on here plenty of times , that TV sucks , and would have gotten the LG instead except for wanting to try out the Saorview and FTA combined channel list.

If you bought the TV using your credit card , and I hope you did , then call the credit card company , arrange a chargeback as the unit is not fit for purpose , and they will do it for you.

Shop etc. has already fobbed you off with this piece of junk and its not acceptable these days in any way shape or form.

Avoid TCL like the plague , as with all these chinese brands , they look great on paper , and nearly always have a bug list as long as your arm that never gets fixed.

LG are South Korean , the kings of TVs at the moment , and are miles better than anything the chinese churn out.

celtic_oz · 14-07-2025 08:37AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123632432#Comment_123632432

thanks I'll try to find out.

On a tight budget for this TV, if powercity give credit what TV would you pick next if you had to pick from this list :

https://www.powercity.ie/groups/10/14?featureList=SCREEN%20SIZE-65%22

andy1249 · 14-07-2025 08:43AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123632494#Comment_123632494

LG OLED is the best TV on there by far , will wipe the floor with any LCD based TV.

They are seriously jaw dropping TVs in terms of picture quality.

If you dont want to spend that much , then LG nanocell are the second best on there easily.

Either way , I would stick with the LGs , they are the best by far.

celtic_oz · 14-07-2025 09:15AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123632432#Comment_123632432

Whats the Saorview and FTA combined channel list like on the walkers ?

the ability to use one list of channels for both satellite and saorview would be good where this TV is going

andy1249 · 14-07-2025 11:18AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123632617#Comment_123632617

Yes , you can combine a favourites list of Saorview and FTA channels , but only now and next and no EPG , and its a Walker , a cheap ass Vestel branded TV, listed as a 4K smart TV but hasnt had an update since it was bought and already some of the apps dont work , and it never had Disney + and by the looks of it never will.

It has bad viewing angles unless you looking at it straight face on , and you cannot tell the difference between HDR and non HDR , it simply hasnt got the range to display HDR properly , so I DO NOT recommend it , its pure shite , and given the fact that " Now & Next " turned out not to be good enough for the Missus , ended up buying a box for it regardless , so the only reason it was bought was pointless in the end.

There is an equivalent LG 43 inch nanocell for almost the exact same money , which is a much much better buy.

dxhound2005 · 14-07-2025 11:24AM

Not that it makes any difference to the discussion, but:

"LG produced its first television in 1966, when it was still called Goldstar. The black and white set was manufactured entirely in Korea at its Oncheon-dong factory near Busan. It was the first domestically produced television in Korea. Since then, the company has shifted its television manufacturing from South Korea to other countries. This is partly to enhance efficiency and partly to bring production closer to regional markets. All LG's TVs for the United States market, including the OLED evo C4 and OLED evo G4, are made in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. LG TVs sold in Australia and Asia are usually made in Indonesia, and TVs for European customers are produced in Poland."

I have a LG OLED and it is great. But I never used it to tune channels for years, until recently my combo box started giving trouble. I have it for Freesat, Freeview and Saorview now, and after a brief learning curve it is second nature getting anything I want without delay. I record to a USB stick, which is a bit flaky, looking at getting a SSD. I have my recordings on a long press of 4 on the remote, instant access.

TV's are designed to receive TV channels. But in recent times, the industry is emphasising internet functionality over TV reception. But anyone can learn how to get their favourite channels easily. Introducing a box and another remote into the chain is not going to simplify things. Especially if Enigma 2 is the recommendation.

celtic_oz · 15-07-2025 07:17AM

Powercity have given a final decision that no refund or credit will be provided.

dohouch · 15-07-2025 07:30AM

@celtic_oz on 13/07 you wrote "2 weeks later TCL engineer arrives sees issue and tests signal (announces signal good) - changes part and TV now working fine.— 2 hours later symptoms back and back all the time"

Sounds interesting!

swoofer · 15-07-2025 08:07AM

Thats a bummer and cant be right, TV showed the fault ie " When the engineer delivers it back he verifies perfect picture on LG, swops TCL in and picture pixelated, test signal says signal is good and is baffled." The bit about test signal is the key, signal is good TV is bad, cant see why he is baffled!! Its blatantly obvious. Did you tell power city you would buy the LG 65? You will have to get tough with Powercity the TV is faulty end of.

Interference is usually on a few frequencies and this is only a stop gap but bbc transmits on more than one frequency and I dont know how that tv organises channels, it may show all bbc1 or just one. have you tried other bbc1 versions, like BBC North West, Wales etc. Also look if its a V channel or H. Same applies to ITV more than one frequency. I dont think the person from TCK was an engineer. If you get interference on all BBC = fault, if you get good BBC on some = fault. Same with itv. But at least you could watch something.

To get the different versions of bbc i use kingofsat

https://en.kingofsat.net/find.php?question=BBC+HD

Are you handy? has the dish got a quad lnb? can you reach dish?

Can you find the signal meter on tv and see if its either steady or fluctuating?

If all the above is gobblydegook say so. You just want a tv that wroks. I would get back to tcl and explain the bit about the signal thats the key and you have the lg as proof. So say you have been on boards and a sat experts has said. signal is good tv is bad = faulty tv, its as simple as that. Same with POWERCITY and i believe you can take them to the small claims court, costs about 20 euro buy you will win.

Then buy next tv from richer sounds.

This will explain how guarantee is supposed to work.

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/consumer/shopping/guarantees-and-warranties/

https://www.ccpc.ie/consumers/shopping/faulty-goods/

You are being fobbed off by powercity and they hope you will just give up. feedback for PC is dreadful

celtic_oz · 15-07-2025 08:35AM

Did you tell power city you would buy the LG 65? You will have to get tough with Powercity the TV is faulty end of.

yes, said credit against different make was ok, have logged a call with CCPC and sent powercity a written complaint

Interference is usually on a few frequencies and this is only a stop gap but bbc transmits on more than one frequency and I dont know how that tv organises channels, it may show all bbc1 or just one. have you tried other bbc1 versions, like BBC North West, Wales etc. Also look if its a V channel or H. Same applies to ITV more than one frequency. I dont think the person from TCK was an engineer. If you get interference on all BBC = fault, if you get good BBC on some = fault. Same with itv.

all bbc1 hd and utv1 hd are unwatchable

I'm not doing anymore troubleshooting I dont live in the house, 2 sets of professionals took out their signal testing kit and checked the signal and said it good. One showed me BBC1 HD crystal clear on the same channel / frequencies as the TV was using for that channel.

muffler · 15-07-2025 08:38AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123636293#Comment_123636293

Power City fobbed you off initially by telling you to contact TCL. That was wrong as your contract is with the seller. I would suggest you contact CCPC and let them deal with it or at least they will advise you what your next steps are.

In saying that you will first of all need to check the TV on a working satellite system and if necessary replace your lnb and cables if necessary.

swoofer · 15-07-2025 08:47AM

Muffler, the LG works perfectly and the sat engineer proved the signal. Its a duff tv.

Op let us know how you get on.

Antenna · 28-07-2025 01:13PM

Is it that ALL HD channels (inclucing the other BBC/ITV HD regions) are bad and non-HD (i.e. SD) channels are OK?

Certainly seems to be a receiver issue..

celtic_oz · 31-08-2025 07:51AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123677236#Comment_123677236

it is just some HD channels but the important ones BBC 1 HD ( EVERY region ) same with some ITV etc cant remember them all now was about 5 or 6.

Update : CCPC finished the investigation and ultimately just sent a note thanking the buyers and said they have a strong case and should proceed to the small claims court and cannot do anything beyond this.

Buyers are hesitant to take it further, they are elderly. I had an old Amiko Alien2 combo box and stuck it in. All channels perfect from the same connection point and now they just use the TV like a big monitor.

Lesson learnt: if you have a problem with Powercity products be prepared to go to the small claims court.

Aside just seen this

New TCL TV .. some satellite channels have poor signal symptoms

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