Freeview Channels

[Jamjar74]

I use a Humax box for my Freeview. Picture and sound keep breaking up on Freeview Channels, and a message shows "Channel scrambled or unavailable". I have retuned box but it does not seem to help. Have checked transmitter output which is showing as good. Any suggestions please? I live in the Yorkshire TV region and my transmitter is Elmey Moor. This has only occurred since we have had the last few days of bad weather. Have checked all my connections, they are O.K. Am at a Loss as to what to do next. Any advice much appreciated.

[Jamjar74]

In addition to the above, although I have retuned more than once, I have lost Channel 46 Challenge.

[Old_Geezer]

Well it has to be signal related. Either the Humax receiver or the transmitter. If multiple freeview box changes didn't solve it, and if you are sure the transmitter shows strong signal, then I'd suspect your aerial leads / connections. Appreciate you will have unplugged and replugged them many times but perhaps something with the cable and its plugs ?

[gangesboy]

this thread might help
http://myhumax.org/forum/topic/the-channel-is-scrambled-or-not-available

[Old_Geezer]

Will say I have a ?Humax I bought second hand, in my bedroom. Never been 100% as it loses the guide after about half an hour, and if left on for a long time start to lose the channels too. A power cycle helps. I thought I'd bought a duff unit at the time but I recall contacting the Humax helpline to be told words to the effect of, "Yes that's right, you lose the guide and have to switch off and on again". I decided then that they had a better reputation than they were deserving of. I suspect it "leaks memory" over time and finally runs out of resource.

[buttons77]

I had a card through my door today regarding disruption to Freeview. Apparently this can be due to 4g mobile services coming to our area soon.
The is more information available at www.at800.tv/postcard and the phone numbers supplied are 0333 3131 800 or 0808 1313 800
The card says that they can either send an installer to fit a filter to your TV or send you a filter to fit yourself (apparently the filter blocks the 4g signal)
It also says that you will not be charged for the service.
Might be worth a try

[Jamjar74]

Thank you all for your info. Since posting things seem to have cleared up partially although I am still missing Channel 46, everything seems to be working fairly well. Will try to get a filter as Buttons77 advised.

Thank you all once again.

[Dodger666]

If your Humax is similar to mine you can check your signal quality & strength.

On mine it's Menu->Settings->System->Signal Detection. My book says you need a Signal Strength of at least 30% and Quality 70% to prevent getting picture break up. My box runs at 70% & 100% respectively.

How many TVs/PVRs are connected to your Aerial?

[puternut]

Might also be the weather???

Rain clouds can mess up the signal from the transmitter causing break up.

[Postdog]

Could also be as simple as a bad connection on the aerial lead.

[Dodger666]

I must have put the kiss of death on my Humax PVR by commenting on this thread yesterday.

Last night I played a recording and after 10 minutes it stopped and I got the "Channel scrambled or not available" message. It would not resume playing neither would any other recording. Using the advice in gangesboy's link posted above, to put the PVR into standby and then switch off at the mains for a couple of minutes followed by a re-boot brought it back into working order.

I have emailed Humax asking why this happened, it's never happened before in over two years.

gangesboy for best answer.

[Dodger666]

Humax support have replied with this advice if switching off for a few minutes doesn't cure the problem:-

"The next thing to try is formatting the hard drive, unfortunately this will clear all your recordings. Formatting the Hard Drive does help with any issues with recordings or playback issues

If you wish to proceed please see below.

1. Press Menu
2. Scroll to Settings and press OK
3. Scroll to System and press OK
4. Scroll to Data Storage and press OK
5. Highlight Format Storage
5. Press OK on this
6. It will ask you are you sure, highlight YES and press OK
7. Then enter your password, default is 0000
8. The box will then restart and format the Hard Drive at the same time".