Need a hand with High Definition TV (Scrambled Broadcast)

[Danny]

Hey Guys,

We were lucky enough to have delivered on saturday, a Plasma screen TV :sm_headba for our viewing enjoyment, and as usual, I'm the one who had to set it up being the only one with any technological knowledge in the house.

Knowing nothing about Digital TV, and the Digital set top boxes that come with the screens, I had a guess, connected the Set top box to AV input 1 and clicked "auto tune". Lo and behold I tuned the box to recieve all Digital Variants of 7, 9, 10, and ABC (They look great!).

I tuned the TV itself to pick up all the normal analogue TV stations. What this means though now is that to watch Digital TV, I have to put the TV on AV1 so as to watch the signal from the set top box. I also have to change channel with the Set top box remote and not with the TV remote. That sorta ****es me off.

ANYWAYS....

The point of this thread is to find some help with one problem i'm having with the Digital TV. As those of you with DTV recievers will know, the respective channels also have a "High Definition" Channel as well, for when movies and other selected TV shows are shown in true DVD quality and dolby surround.
During the normal daytime broadcasting time, the High Definition channels either show Random pretty landscapes to the tune of cliched opera music and trendo bopper jazz, or just the station logo.

While we're having no trouble whatsoever picking up 7 Digital, 9 Digital, 10 Digital, and ABC Digital, The High definition channels arent working properly. We can sort of get 7 HD and ABC HD however they flicker, and pause and cut out and go pixely like a scratched DVD. Channels 9 and 10 completely dont work at all.

What could be the problem here?? I'm hoping someone can help. Do we need a new seperate areal configiured for HDTV? Its just confusing because the normal Digital TV works fine, just the High definition channels are up the Sh!tter, and I dont know why....

Anyone know more about this stuff and can give us a hand, or idea on why they're not working?? As im hanging out to see some landscapes coupled with Michael Buble ambience music. Thanking you in advance,

Danny :

[Danny]

Thanks anyways : Guess theres no one here who knows what to do....

[cArSiK]

hmmm check your arial?

lol its the best i can come up with....hehe

James

[b2tf]

Danny,

we have digital TV STB too and a widescreen TV, but Im pretty sure we can only get 3 channels in our area. Hence the STB isnt connected up for now. Come October that will change.

First thing to do is be sure that you can receive all the channels yuo want. Either check a map, or do a scan with your STB so t gives you a list of all the channels it can pick up. From there, pick out the ones you want (some like ABC have 2 channels) and set them up just like you do a normal TV signal, so your remote can control them all etc and you dont have any channels doubled up.

Unfortunately thats about the extent of my knowledge about it and even then it may not neccesarily be right :hihi:. This site should help though:

DBA Australia (not the brakes guys)

[Aussie Falcon]

What make and model is the plasma? It might only be capable of displaying SD.

Can you pick up ch 90 or 12 (Nine and Ten HD) these are usually 1080i lines which is true HD. Ch70 is not true HD as they only broadcast at 576p.

read up on it at http://www.dba.org.au and its forums at http://www.dtvforum.info/

[InitialD]

Hey danny,

I use to install this stuff, etc for a living

if you wanna chat about it MSN me or drop us a PM (since im right around the corner from you ;) )

[Danny]

Sweet InitialD i'll do that! PM sent

Oh And its the latest LG plasma Screen, I read the book and it does pick up the HD broadcasts. It does get HD channel 7 and ABC, however they flicker and all that like a scratched DVD.

9 and 10 HD are just blank.

[Danny]

Ok just checked the Digital TV website and it says that SBS digital is also broadcasted in my area. We're not getting it on the box, so could it be the areal??

[jase_elxr8]

Originally Posted by Danny

Ok just checked the Digital TV website and it says that SBS digital is also broadcasted in my area. We're not getting it on the box, so could it be the areal??

Could be the antenna, what kind of box do you have?? Most will show you signal strength, check that first...

[ozyute]

Danny
Unless your set top box is a HD box you will only receive standard digital tv
If your STB is HD then you wil pick up both standard & HD signals
HD only broadcasts x hours per day of TV programs
otherwise it broadcasts a signal (program) to demonstrate HD quality
Hope this helps red06

[Thunder Kiss]

The problems you describe are typical of poor signal strength. The fact that the auto tune didn't pick up SBS and your pixelization are proof of that.

I would suggest a dedicated digital antenna and at least dual shielded cabling (you could go quad but it may be overkill). This should solve your problem.

If you're using "AV1" as your input on the LG plasma, you will never see true HD. You must use the "component 1" or "component 2" or "HDMI" input for high definition.

Also, depending on which box you have, play around with the output setting to see which gives the best result (1080i, 720p, or 576p).

[Danny]

The box is a crappy one Brand name "Eurotel" I think that IT may be the problem. It doenst come with outputs for RGB Component (the TV has the input for it however), just the yellow single AV video cable output...

[Thunder Kiss]

Never heard of it, it may not even be a high definition box. I'd get an LG HD box, you'll find its remote will also control your plasma (much like a regular TV) rather than having to juggle two remotes.

[JAJH]

As someone mentioned, it has nothing to do with your brand of Plasma, more to do with the STB. Are your using RGB component leads (Reg, Green & Blue) or the ordinary Yellow(Video), Red & Black (Audio). If the latter that will affect your reception, but by the sounds of it, your signal strength is too weak. Get a booster or a new aerial.

[Perana]

Sounds like its just that your STB is only standard definition. Our SD STB does the same when you try to watch the HD channels

[Danny]

As I said, I know what the TV colour component outputs are (Red green and Blue) and the STB does not have them, it only has the yellow red and white.

Looks like its time to get a new box then!

[KOUPE76]

Originally Posted by Danny

As I said, I know what the TV colour component outputs are (Red green and Blue) and the STB does not have them, it only has the yellow red and white.

Looks like its time to get a new box then!

Mate,
If you're gonna fork out big bucks for a plasma make sure you get a HDSTB not some crappy euro one. : :
Go and buy yourself a DIGITEX 2000A box and you will be amazed at it's capabilities.
Make sure you antenna is capable too. :thebirds:

[honer]

Originally Posted by Perana XR8

Sounds like its just that your STB is only standard definition. Our SD STB does the same when you try to watch the HD channels

^^^^^^^ What he said.

Can't watch HD channels with a SD topbox !

[Danny]

Well there ya go. I just learnt a sheetload more about Digital television!