Sony VTX-D800U and 4Seven problems, anyone?

[Clem Dye]

I have an old Sony VTX-D800U Freeview STB which in spite of being old,
has thus far worked brilliantly. However, I've recently noticed a funny
when trying to watch 4Seven on the receiver. Once I select the channel,
the picture stays on screen for just a few seconds and then the screen
goes blank -- no audio either. If I request the now/next info whilst on
the now blank screen, the picture and audio returns, but the moment that
I clear the banner, the picture and audio disappear again.

I've tried all of the usual things -- reset, retune, etc. to no effect.

TX is Emley Moor.

Thoughts, suggestions?

Cheers


Clem

[Brian Gaff]

Is it just that channel or other stations on that mpx?

One think I've noticed about Freeview is that stations with some errors are
prone to vanishing, but I don't get the banner showing the picture bit of
the description at all, unless its showing a still.

Brian

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"Clem Dye" <clem...@btinternet.com> wrote in message
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[UnsteadyKen]

Clem Dye wrote...

> TX is Emley Moor.

I've just checked here and all is fine with 4Seven on my VTXD800U from
Sandy Heath and have not noticed any problems like yours in the past.


--
UnsteadyKen

[Brian Gaff]

I feel its something to do with signal quality, unless it has a strange and
unique bitrate or encoding that nobody else uses, which is unlikely I'd have
thought.
Brian

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"UnsteadyKen" <unste...@gmail.com> wrote in message
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[Clem Dye]

On 15/02/2014 18:30, Brian Gaff wrote:
> I feel its something to do with signal quality, unless it has a strange and
> unique bitrate or encoding that nobody else uses, which is unlikely I'd have
> thought.
> Brian
>

It's all a bit weird, because other receivers in the house from the same
aerial system are fine with 4Seven, and the Sony receiver has no issue
with other channels on the mux, just 4Seven. Nothing has changed in the
house, connections are all fine, and as I mentioned earlier, the picture
is stable as long as the now/next banner remains on-screen, which I
think eliminates a signal issue. All I can think of is duff firmware,
which given the age of the box won't be updated.

As a final check, I'll need to move it to somewhere else, re-tune and
see what happens. Bl**dy irritating though.

Sigh.


Clem

[UnsteadyKen]

Clem Dye wrote...

> All I can think of is duff firmware,
> which given the age of the box won't be updated.

Sadly no, the last update was umpteen years ago, and Sony have closed
the VTX mini site leaving just the support page at:
http://www.sony.co.uk/support/en/product/VTX-D800U

My second hand (a bargain £25 in 2007) box is:
Software : v1.15.01 Z
Loader : v1.09
Hardware : K-020-00B-05
Manufactured: 29/03/2006
Hours In Use: 47421

I wish all TVs and boxes had a GUI as clear and simple as the VTX, I
use it for radio and it is switched on all day every day, I also have a
BT Vision PVR which I used to think had a dreadful interface, but an
update a few months ago has upgraded this to effin awful which makes me
appreciate the simplicity of the VTX even more.

The only real problem I've had with the VTX is that the most used
buttons on the remote gradually stopped working till I was forced into
a most unAberdonian action and attacked the wallet for a replacement
from an eBay seller last month http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310327394505
and this works a treat, all the functions are there but a different
layout.

> As a final check, I'll need to move it to somewhere else, re-tune and
> see what happens.

Have you tried a manual tune just on 4Seven?

--
UnsteadyKen

[Clem Dye]

More weirdness. Now 4Seven is working again, after an extended power off
period, but the now/next and guide data for Really and MovieMix remains
steadfastly blank.

Sgh.


Clem