Barry asked

2nd February 2012

I have a Sony analogue TV, and a Topfield PVR TF5800, it has worked perfectly for nearly three years, then suddenly it started to freeze, by unplugging the mains we could get it to work again, then it would freeze up again after a short while, i sent it away to a PVR Expert, and they said they could not fault it, they kept it a week on test, they said they would change the capacitor to update it, they then sent it back, it worked for about 15 min then just froze again, i have a new aerial system which was installed about 8 months ago which is great, so it cant be that, the signal strength is perfect,my wife loved the TOPPY she now as no way of recording prorammes,have you any thoughts on what we could do.

Anecdotally you don't seem to be alone in having problems with Topfield recorders freezing. All I can really suggest is you try factory resetting the device, keeping it cool and well ventilated and if the problem continues, to keep seeking satisfaction from Topfield support directly.

Sarah asked

28th January 2012

I have a new HDTV with Freeview which I am able to get all the channels on no problem, however I want to record my programmes so I bought an HD Freeview recorder but when I tune it in I can not get BBC channels and the other channels are unwatchable as they jump all over the place. I have tried two different kinds of Freeview box and both have the same problem. Can you help?

Try only connecting the Freeview HD recorder to your aerial and see if that improves the reception. If your Freeview HD box has an aerial/RF output you may be able then connect that on to your TV to limit the number of times the aerial signal is split between your devices. If you can't connect the devices together a distribution amplifier will allow you device your aerial between both devices with out diminishing the aerial signal in doing so.

If signal strength doesn't seem to be the problem I would look in to manually tuning the recorder box by following the instructions on the Digital UK site here:

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/postcodechecker/manual_retuning

Sue asked

28th January 2012

I am watching a Samsung flat screen TV, digital and HD Ready, I have Virgin media large TV package, am I watching in HD?

It depends on what Virgin Media box you have, as it currently stands with their Large package and either a "V HD" or TiVo Box you should have 6 high-definition channels as listed here:

http://shop.virginmedia.com/digital-tv/about-virgin-tv/hdtv.html

If you don't have one of the above boxes or it's connected via an HDMI connection you're probably not watching in high-definition.

Colin asked

28th January 2012

I have an HD Ready TV, an HD-Ready HDD/DVD recorder. Both have 2 SCART sockets and both have at least 1 HDMI. I plan to buy a Freeview HD box which I assume will have an HDMI socket. A leaflet I have from Digital UK shows the following connections - aerial downlead to digibox, aerial flylead from digibox to recorder, aerial flylead from recorder to TV, SCART lead from digibox to recorder, SCART lead from digibox to TV. I always understood that HDMI cables were vital in HD set ups so where does HDMI figure in my proposed set up please? With the above equipment will I be able to record Freeview as I do now, albeitin in standard-definition?

You need to connect all your devices that contain a Freeview tuner, be it high or standard-definition to you aerial. Your options for doing this are either to make use aerial pass-throughs on your devices where they exist, connecting your devices in a chain, probably ending at your HDTV, or to use an aerial splitter and to connect to each individually form that if you can't do the former. This will ensure that each device is able to receive Freeview, irrespective of how you connect the video output of each device to your TV the aerial must go to each as it's not carried by SCART or HDMI connections between devices.

You will also need a second connection from each device to the TV to carry the audio and video. If your recorder box has an HDMI port it's probably worth using that in preference to SCART as the box itself may be able to improve the quality of the standard-definition material and even if it doesn't the picture shouldn't be any worse. Any Freeview HD box you buy will come with an HDMI port so you will also have an HDMI connection from the Freeview HD box to the TV, and can connect any other standard-definition devices left over via SCART.

Stacy asked

25th January 2012

I bought a Toshiba 22DV501B tv today with built in freeview and hd ready, but when I tried to tune it in I got a message saying no channels could be found.

This is the first time I've had a tv in years, and I'd like to know if I have to buy any other equiptment to receive programmes.

All you should need is your TV and connected to an aerial, so providing that the aerial is connected and that you live somewhere where Freeview is available you should be able to watch. You can check what sort of reception you should expect on the Digital UK site here:

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/postcodechecker

Look for the "Find out more" link in the "Reception & channels" column of the table displayed when you enter your postcode.

If you should be getting good reception then you should look at your aerial. Check its securely plugged in to the right input on your TV and if possible remove any splitters, boosters or other devices connected to the aerial while you are experimenting to eliminate them as the source of the problem.

If you aren't able to get any improvement yourself I'd suggest you contact a professional listed via the accredited organisations at the bottom of this page:

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/how_do_i_switch/your_aerial

Dave asked

24th January 2012

I am about to purchase a Freeview receiver but having concerns about cable connections. I have a Panasonic HD-Ready TV (2x SCART, 2x HDMI) and a Sony DVD/preview receiver/HDD recorder (HDMI out, 2x SCART). What is the best way to join them up as I only have one TV cable-in from the aerial? It is not essential to record from HD Freeview receiver but it would be nice.

Unless the box you buy is a Freeview HD recorder you won't be able to record the HD channels, there's no practical way for you record it's output on your current hard disk recorder.

With regards to connecting the new box to your TV, HDMI is the way to go. You will need both Freeview devices connected to your aerial for them to work so if neither of the boxes you end up with have an aerial pass-though/output in addition to the RF input, you will need a RF splitter so both can be connected to your aerial.

Aiden asked

24th January 2012

I have a Sagem Freesat box into which I'm plugging a DVD player via SCART. When I used the Scart out into the TV this worked fine but as soon as the DVD player came on the signal was fed to the TV and I could watch DVDs. Now I'm using the HDMI lead from the box to the TV this no longer works. Is there any way around this? I've wall mounted the Tv now so can't get a SCART into it (not enough space). The only other input on the TV is a coax/RF.

SCART includes some control pins along with many others that swapped between the devices chained together before, but the control signal won't make it to the TV over the HDMI connection now. Unless there's some way to swap input on your Freesat box to show the DVD player I think you'll have to work out a new way of connecting it up. If you have a component input but it doesn't sound like you do a simple adapter would solve your problem, beyond that you will probably need a special (right angle?) SCART cable or converter to an accessible input, or even if appropriate, to pick up a cheap DVD player with a HDMI output and get around the problem that way.

Wendy asked

24th January 2012

Just had new LED Samsung HDTV with one socket and also have SKY+ (not HD). I've connected the aerial to the TV and connected the Sky box to the TV with the SCART. Sky working a treat but I can't get Freeview but as I live in Wales I thought this wouldn't be a problem.

I've tried manual tuning and automatic tuning (did get BBC1 but don't know how). I also have a black lead floating around - should I be using this?

To start with I'd put your postcode in to the Digital UK postcode checker here:

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/postcodechecker/

and see what it thinks you should be able to receive at your location under "Reception & channels" in the table.

If it indicates you should be getting better reception than you are you should see if there is any thing you should see if you can achieve any improvement by connecting your TV directly to your aerial, which is to say try removing any splitters, boosters or other devices you may have. If that improves things the problem relates to the distribution of the signal within your home, but if your not able to get any more channels connected directly to the aerial that is probably the cause of your trouble. It may well at that stage be worth getting in touch with your local independent audio-visual retailer (or one on listed on the digital UK site) for further help and advice tailored to your location.