BT TV PRO Box signal issues

[Mark_lacey]

We have a BT TV PRO box which is having issues maintaining signal and picture quality on various channels. We are seeing square artifacts appear all over the screen and the audio glitches out at the same time.

If we plug the same aerial connection into the TV directly (bypassing the BT TV PRO box) then all channels appear perfectly with no signal or quality issues whatsoever.

We do use a powered signal booster on the aerial line and have seen (from a quick google search) that this can cause problems with TOO MUCH signal in some cases. We have completely removed this from the aerial line and are connected directly into the back of the BT TV box. The signal and quality issues still persist.

The signal strength sits at 100% at all times and the signal quality sits between 60-90% consistently. We are able to receive all current Freeview channels and all available HD channels

The box has been factory reset several times and we rescan channels daily in the hope that this can fix the issues...but it does not

Any ideas what could be causing this?

[Paul608085]

@Mark_lacey 

Though I have not experienced it myself, I have heard that leakage from HDMI cables can cause interference.

Try moving any HDMI cables further away from the aerial input coax, and if that doesn't work then try replacing the HDMI cable with a different one.

.

[Mark_lacey]

@Paul608085 

Thank you for the advice. I have just tried a second (higher quality) HDMI cable and routed it in the opposite direction of the aerial cable.

The artifacts and audio glitching is still showing. No change in Signal quality or strength

[TimCurtis]

@Mark_lacey 

It's an issue with the tuners being overloaded and you need to reduce the signal strength using a variable signal attenuator.

In the past with previous boxes it was necessary to aim for a strength figure in the range of 80-90% and I suspect this is still the case.

[Mark_lacey]

@TimCurtis - Thank you for the response

So, there is too much signal and i need to lower it for a better picture?

What variable signal attenuator would you recommend? I'm Assuming i need one with a dial on it that i can turn up / down to fine tune the signal

Also, is this still an issue with the New EETV box variants?

[TimCurtis]

@Mark_lacey 

Yes , try searching on a well known auction site  or amazon for "Aerial Coaxial Cable Variable Attenuator" or similar. Cost about £5-£8.

I suspect it's still an issue with the latest units.

[Mark_lacey]

@TimCurtis

I see the one you are referring to on both amazon and "the well known auction site" so I will order one of those and give it a try

I will report back once i have it installed and tested

[Midnight_Voice]

@Mark_lacey 

That Signal Quality is awful, and it looks like the aerial signal is being seen as SHOUTING.

When you get the signal attenuator, put it in the aerial chain upstream of the Box, go to Settings/Picture, and display the SS and SQ of the channel on the screen.

Then twiddle the **bleep** on the attenuator until the SQ rises to 100. You should be pleasantly surprised. Leave the attenuator in the chain for the future, as it is needed going forward.

I see whoever is designing these tuners is still managing to keep them not sensitive enough and too sensitive at the same time, which is quite an achievement 😢

[Mark_lacey]

@Midnight_Voice 

Thanks for this

Am i supposed to be using the attenuator to turn the SS DOWN from 100% to around 70-80% (It currently sits at 100% solid)

OR

turning the SQ UP to a stable 100% (Its currently fluctuates between 60-95% depending on the channel being watched)

[TimCurtis]

@Mark_lacey 

The aim is to get the quality to a steady 100% by increasing the attenuation. Selecting the channel with the lowest quality would probably be the best starting point.

You'll probably find that the strength finishes up around 90%.