Digital TV - help! - Page 2

**Dreadful Scathe** · 27th-January-2006, 03:24 PM

yes they do

Its only another suggestion, no need to get all huffy

**Chicklet** · 27th-January-2006, 05:11 PM

slightly off topic but this thread is attracting the right kind of nutters so here goes - any one know if there is such a thing as a bounce box that will send NTL cable upstairs to another telly without cables?

danke sehr.

Lee · 27th-January-2006, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicklet

slightly off topic but this thread is attracting the right kind of nutters so here goes - any one know if there is such a thing as a bounce box that will send NTL cable upstairs to another telly without cables?

danke sehr.

Erm thanks.....

Argos will take care of that - tv senders

Lee

**Dreadful Scathe** · 27th-January-2006, 05:15 PM

yup you want a remote sender thingy like this - Ive seen them for less than £50 so shop around. They usually have the ability to send the remote control signal too, which is highly important i think you'll agree

**Minnie M** · 27th-January-2006, 05:45 PM

I bought one from Tesco's just before Christmas for £27 and it is great - plug it in and go

Trouble with me, if I record anythng, I never have time to watch it, or even worse forget what I have recorded

So...... having so much choice of viewing NOW .... is brilliant, don't want anymore channels, too much choice could have the opposite effect

Go for it Lynn - get a cheapee you will certainly get your monies worth from it

**ducasi** · 27th-January-2006, 08:56 PM

Not entirely on topic, but not entirely off topic...

My "Magic Box" (Philips PVR with 160GB hard disk and DVD+R burner) took a flakey on Sunday night, flashing its light on and off, and generally ignoring me. Even unplugging it and plugging it back in didn't sort it.

I've got loads off stuff on the HD that I haven't seen (including the last two months or so of Lost, plus in the DVD drive is a disk by a well-known fellow around these parts.

I don't want to lose any of these things, but I can't restore sanity to the poor, troubled soul...

**Dreadful Scathe** · 27th-January-2006, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ducasi

Not entirely on topic, but not entirely off topic...

My "Magic Box" (Philips PVR with 160GB hard disk and DVD+R burner) took a flakey on Sunday night, flashing its light on and off, and generally ignoring me. Even unplugging it and plugging it back in didn't sort it.

I've got loads off stuff on the HD that I haven't seen (including the last two months or so of Lost, plus in the DVD drive is a disk by a well-known fellow around these parts.

I don't want to lose any of these things, but I can't restore sanity to the poor, troubled soul...

I can send you all of Lost, I still have it all

you could just rescue the hard drive, copy the data onto a pc and put it back in to get the thing repaired - i doubt the issue is the HD, but you never know

**Lynn** · 28th-January-2006, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhythm King

Well I have both. All together now:

The antenna cable goes into the digibox
The digibox is connected to the VCR antenna socket
The VCR is connected to the antenna socket of the tv
The DVD player is connected to the scart socket of the tv
...

See, quite simple really...

[blonde]Thanks RK - that's almost the only answer on this thread I've understood!

[/blonde]

**El Salsero Gringo** · 28th-January-2006, 01:08 AM

Burn your television.

You won't be sorry.

ToeTrampler · 28th-January-2006, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Salsero Gringo

Burn your television.

You won't be sorry.

No, but Radio Rentals will be p*ssed off

**ducasi** · 28th-January-2006, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dreadful Scathe

I can send you all of Lost, I still have it all

you could just rescue the hard drive, copy the data onto a pc and put it back in to get the thing repaired - i doubt the issue is the HD, but you never know

I doubt the issue is the hard disk too... I'm wondering what format it is in, and where I can find 160GB to copy it to...

I think I might attack it with a screwdriver this afternoon... Although there's no doubt a warranty issue here. (It's still in warranty, but I don't trust them not to wipe my disk and lose my DVD.)

**David Bailey** · 28th-January-2006, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Salsero Gringo

Burn your television.

You won't be sorry.

I've got two TVs, two DVDs, a VCR, and Sky. And I've not watched TV for a couple of weeks now...

**Lynn** · 28th-January-2006, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Salsero Gringo

Burn your television.

You won't be sorry.

I reckon I wouldn't really. I've lived without TV for several months at a time and survived - oops no, I did pop in to my neighbour's once during that time to watch the opening of Stormont - OK almost without TV... (I did actually once live for a couple of months with no TV, radio, music, phone at all - just some old US Readers Digests and a jigsaw puzzle to while away the evenings

- and OK, I did get bored!)

And as for wanting a new video recorder - I video things because I have to miss them because I'm busy doing other things - I've no idea why I then think I will find time to watch them!

I only want a video for things I really, really want to see (like SCD and Dr Who...) Part of my concern in getting digital is that I will have more programmes that I want to watch and feel obliged to record...

CeeCee · 28th-January-2006, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ESG
Burn your television.

You won't be sorry.

Ah wise words indeed.
When the dance competitions are on we could take our folding chairs, flasks of hot tea, selections of sarnies and gather outside Dixons/Comet watching one of their screens.

Seriously though, I’ve got a problem and would love some help.

Firstly, I’ve hardly understood a thing on this thread with all the technical jargon that’s been flying around. I nearly gave up and went back to one of the Dance Shoe discussions.

Secondly, would anyone object if I extend the subject of this thread to Digital TV/Radio-help?

I was lucky enough to be given a digital radio for my birthday. I’m upset because I thought digital radio was supposed to make radio entertainment more fun and exciting with clearer reception, simple channel selection and fancy features like pause, rewind and replay. I must be missing something because so far my new digital radio is rubbish. Sometimes when I’m listening to a station, the sound crackles then disappears and I have to resort to analogue to be able to hear it at all.

I’m guessing that this isn’t right so does anyone have any suggestions or explanations?

**ducasi** · 28th-January-2006, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CeeCee

I’m guessing that this isn’t right so does anyone have any suggestions or explanations?

Digital Radio is mostly just hype. The quality isn't always as good as FM, it (as you noticed) can break up and go silent where a FM signal would just become a bit crackly.

The main advantage is you can have more radio stations... Big advantage for the Government licensing them, and for the radio stations that are selling advertising.

That said, if you buy the right digital radio (like The Bug) you can do some clever things... Nothing though that wasn't theoretically possible with FM though...

CeeCee · 28th-January-2006, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ducasi
Digital Radio is mostly just hype. The quality isn't always as good as FM, it (as you noticed) can break up and go silent where a FM signal would just become a bit crackly.

Thanks for your response Duncan, you’re a star.
In a strange sort of way I feel heaps better now, as it's reassuring to know that the problem is with the radio and not me. Sadly, it doesn’t feel good to have been taken in by the hype. I was looking forward to the promised advantages of digital radio but I soon found that my old analogue radio is better, at least now I know why.

Quote:

Originally posted by ducasi
The main advantage is you can have more radio stations...

I wish I’d know this before because I wouldn’t have bothered. This is probably an attraction for the teenage population but as I listen to the same few stations out of habit, this is about as useful as the plethora of unwatched channels offered by cable TV.

Thanks for the link to the Mars Bar and Chips story board, made me chuckle. The Bug sounds cool, might just check it out!

LMC · 28th-January-2006, 03:53 PM

ooooh, we're in Chit Chat

<<< streaks through thread >>>

For 25 quid, it almost seems worth at least doubling the amount of pure cr@p available to me on the rare evenings I fancy slobbing out in front of the box. Does the TV have to be under a certain age for a set top box to work? Mine was donated to me by my aunt and uncle (I've never purchased a TV in my life) - it has SCART, so it's not that ancient, but is probably over 10 years old.

**ducasi** · 28th-January-2006, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LMC

it has SCART

That's really all you need.

**DavidY** · 28th-January-2006, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ducasi

Digital Radio is mostly just hype. The quality isn't always as good as FM, it (as you noticed) can break up and go silent where a FM signal would just become a bit crackly.

Rumour has it that the BBC didn't bid for enough bandwidth to hold all its stations properly, so they're forced to drop quality to fit them all in. Radio 4 for instance drops to low bit rates and they go from stereo to mono for some programmes. I think the technology can deliver decent quality if the bandwidth is there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ducasi

That said, if you buy the right digital radio (like The Bug) you can do some clever things... Nothing though that wasn't theoretically possible with FM though...

I like my Bug - I can record to MP2 (on an SD card) and listen later. Only snag is that expensive MP3 player like iPods don't read MP2 format - so I need to buy cheap and nasty MP3 players which do.

* Waves at LMC *

Ballroom queen · 28th-January-2006, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee

But it's a twin freeview box, and can record up to 14 days in advance, so you can watch a channel and record a channel, or you can record 2 things at the same time (and even watch a previously recorded programme). Can this dvd thingy do that.

Girls, how many time do you want to watch/record two things that are on a tthe same time?

Do you ever really lend people your recordings?

Lee

I bought a Humax PVR9200T before Xmas and its FAB. I have 2 freeview tuners, so you can record 2 things at the same time - and yes things can overlap, you can watch something else while 2 things are recording, and you can then copy stuff you want to keep onto VHS or DVD if you have a VCR or DVD recorder, and yet I do borrow / lend recordings.
You never have to scrable around looking for a tape or the right part of the tape as you record onto a hard drive, you get one week in an elctronic program guide - just press record and its in teh timer, and you can program up to a year in advance if you know / can gues the time + date of program.
I love it.
I couldn't get a DVD recorder (yet) as my (old) telly has no scart socket.
However, in the future I will get a DVD recorder.
Hope that helps

27th-January-2006, 03:24 PM	#21 (permalink)
Dreadful Scathe Papa Smurf Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Planet Scathe Posts: 10,222 Status: hidden from Lou Blog Entries: 4 Rep Power: 7 Rep.: 2394	Re: Digital TV - help! yes they do Its only another suggestion, no need to get all huffy __________________ "defiantly a pork soared" -fletch "This is a discussion forum, not some sort of hippy poetry-reading commune" - TAFKADJ

27th-January-2006, 05:11 PM	#22 (permalink)
Chicklet Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Glasgow Posts: 2,467 Status: No Status Blog Entries: 1 Rep Power: 3 Rep.: 448	Re: Digital TV - help! slightly off topic but this thread is attracting the right kind of nutters so here goes - any one know if there is such a thing as a bounce box that will send NTL cable upstairs to another telly without cables? danke sehr.

27th-January-2006, 05:15 PM	#24 (permalink)
Dreadful Scathe Papa Smurf Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Planet Scathe Posts: 10,222 Status: hidden from Lou Blog Entries: 4 Rep Power: 7 Rep.: 2394	Re: Digital TV - help! yup you want a remote sender thingy like this - Ive seen them for less than £50 so shop around. They usually have the ability to send the remote control signal too, which is highly important i think you'll agree __________________ "defiantly a pork soared" -fletch "This is a discussion forum, not some sort of hippy poetry-reading commune" - TAFKADJ

27th-January-2006, 05:45 PM	#25 (permalink)
Minnie M Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Hove Actually Posts: 6,780 Status: Is the summer over ??? Rep Power: 5 Rep.: 2020	Re: Digital TV - help! I bought one from Tesco's just before Christmas for £27 and it is great - plug it in and go Trouble with me, if I record anythng, I never have time to watch it, or even worse forget what I have recorded So...... having so much choice of viewing NOW .... is brilliant, don't want anymore channels, too much choice could have the opposite effect Go for it Lynn - get a cheapee you will certainly get your monies worth from it __________________ --ooOoo-- Age is a question of mind over matter, if you don't mind, it doesn't matter Leroy (Satchel) Paige (1906-1982) Mickey Mouse's girlfriend, Minnie, made her film debut, along with Mickey, in "Steamboat Willie" on November 18, 1928. That date is recognized as her official birthday.

27th-January-2006, 08:56 PM	#26 (permalink)
ducasi Lovely Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 9,646 Status: back down with a thump. Blog Entries: 1 Rep Power: 6 Rep.: 3281	Re: Digital TV - help! Not entirely on topic, but not entirely off topic... My "Magic Box" (Philips PVR with 160GB hard disk and DVD+R burner) took a flakey on Sunday night, flashing its light on and off, and generally ignoring me. Even unplugging it and plugging it back in didn't sort it. I've got loads off stuff on the HD that I haven't seen (including the last two months or so of Lost, plus in the DVD drive is a disk by a well-known fellow around these parts. I don't want to lose any of these things, but I can't restore sanity to the poor, troubled soul... __________________ Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

28th-January-2006, 01:08 AM	#29 (permalink)
El Salsero Gringo Ceroc Teacher Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: London Posts: 4,881 Status: No Status Rep Power: 4 Rep.: 2374	Re: Digital TV - help! Burn your television. You won't be sorry.

28th-January-2006, 03:53 PM	#37 (permalink)
LMC Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In the corner Posts: 4,508 Status: No Status Rep Power: 4 Rep.: 2319	Re: Digital TV - help! ooooh, we're in Chit Chat <<< streaks through thread >>> For 25 quid, it almost seems worth at least doubling the amount of pure cr@p available to me on the rare evenings I fancy slobbing out in front of the box. Does the TV have to be under a certain age for a set top box to work? Mine was donated to me by my aunt and uncle (I've never purchased a TV in my life) - it has SCART, so it's not that ancient, but is probably over 10 years old.