Hi,

I am new to this site and have joined in desperation really to get some much needed advice. I bought this unit last week from Argos and I have had a few problems.
Can anyone help me with the following issues.

1) It seems that I cannot receive the top up tv, the 14 day EPG or the series link features because I don't receive channel 5 in my area. Although when I have spoken to the technical team I have been given differing info. Can anyone tell me whether this is the case. If so I will try a signal booster to see if that makes any difference.

2) The 250GB is advertised as being able to record up to 180 hours of TV although it only shows 110 hours when I checked on the setup menu.
Also rather bizarrely the model number states that it is the DTI 6300-16 and not the 25!! Is is possible do you think that my unit contains the wrong hard drive? Has this happened to anyone else? Should I take it back?

3) I live in Yealmpton in Devon and currently get my signal from the Caradon Hill transmitter. Does anybody know if I would have me success realigning my loft aerial towards the Plympton transmitter which is over 20 miles nearer but much weaker.

A lot of questions I know but I would very much appreciate some help.


PS It seems odd that there is no mention of the channel 5 issues in any of the advertisements considering it's
importance!

I gather it is Channel 5 generally, but seem to remember posts that it is not so in every area. Will do a search and post any info. found, but -

it would be v.helpful if anyone else could list transmitters which carry the data on a different channel, or quote a place to look for this info, which I reckon should really be on TUTV website (will look there too)

chimney/roof aerial might help still more

I guess they both use the same software, hence the DTI 6300-16 model number. The 160GB version only shows a maximum of 70 hours available (an under-estimate) so 110 hours sounds about right for 250GB version
Guess it is possible, and from experience alignment and masthead amplifier can both make all the difference
Agreed and a mention of Channel five would fit neatly into advice about 'checking reception in your area', therefore, to say it was too complicated would not be an excuse, except that this may depend on the solution to 1.) - which does make things complicated again! and conditions vary from one street to another so a local aerial fitter or neighbour, rather than the salesman or TUTV, would probably know best

Found this page http://www.ukfree.tv/txdetail.php?a=NT233872 which is for the Craigkelly transmitter and shows that TUTV epgs are transmitted on Mutiplex (MUX) 'A', along with Five, as you said, and maybe you could look for similar charts for your local transmitters - type in: 'Freeview on the ...... transmitter', and select the tab "2" at the bottom of the page

Elsewhere on the same site is the following summary:

The Freeview channel line-up provided by six "multiplexes" - each of which carry five or more TV channels, radio channels, text services and EPG data. In this list each ROW represents a multiplex. If you are still missing a whole multiplex (ie everything on the row) you may need to replace your aerial with a wideband type, purchase a larger aerialor you may have interference from a VCR, games console, Sky Digibox or similar.
MUX1:
BBC(1,2,i,News24,CBBC/three),4,+1,4E,ITV91,2,3,4More4,Five life,Five US,Bid up tv,Five,price drop tv,QVC,Setana Sports,TopUpTV,TopUpTV
MUXB:
BBC(i,i,i,Parliament,Four,i)
MUXC:
Dave,4E+1,NHSdirect,skythree,skynews,skysports/news
MUXD:
Film4,ITV2+1,Ideal World,The Hits,TMF,UktvHistory/virgin,

It seemed that Five is indeed associated with the TUTV epgs, and later I found that Channel 5 Broadcasting Ltd is the Licensee for Top Up TV Anytime EPG

You seem to be correct that the question is just whether you can get Five from a local transmitter but from the above it would appear that Five is not always on the same MUX: in the summary it is on MUX1, and from the Craigkelly transmitter it is on MUXA and perhaps the strength or efficiency of the MUXs is relevant too! (Quality is said to be more important than strength) see http://www.ukfree.tv/txdetail.php?a=NT233872

Perhaps others will correct and clarify where I have gone wrong

Hi Chris,

Many thanks for all your help. You have given me peace of mind that I have the correct hard drive.

As for the aerial issue I may have problems as I live in a listed building and we are not allowed roof mounted aerials. Don't know how much help it would be getting a better loft aerial?

Thanks again.

Is your aerial the new digital type ? If not you will need to change it.Before you do that tho i would ask around the neighbours to see if they have problems even with a digi aerial.

I think you're right. The aerial I have at the moment is very old. Should a new digital aerial work ok in the loft do you think because as I say I might well have neighbour issues if I install one on my roof! There are not many houses in the small courtyard that I live in and I don't think anyone currently has a digi aerial.

I would phone up a local aerial fitter and ask him if you would recieve all channels if a new aerial was fitted.If none of your neighbours have freeview to see if they recieve all channels then i think i would just get a digi aerial from B&Q or somewhere local and try that in the loft.
My friend has his digi aerial in the loft and gets all channels but it all depends how strong the signal is.

A new aerial and most importantly decent cabling (down lead) can make a huge difference. However strictly speaking there is no such thing as a 'digital' aerial.

I have someone coming round to give me a quote this week.

I have upgraded my loft aerial with a new wide band one with an amplifier and everything seems to be working just dandy now. I now receive the frequency that broadcasts channel 5 and therefore get the 14 day EPG and series link. I have been sent the latest software and have even received some of my free months 'Top Up Tv' programmes. i understand that they take a few days to download completely.


So thanks for all your help.

I normally reboot it...it works then..