Steve asked

14th February 2012

I am looking for a 19" or 22" HDTV for my bedroom t\hat has a Freeview HD tuner are there any?

This type of HDTV does exist and in fact you shouldn't have too much trouble finding one as HDTVs of this size typically use the same LCD panels as are used for computer monitors, which are themselves capable of displaying a high-definition picture. Most should include a high-definition Freeview HD tuner but do double check before you buy as some lower-end or older models may not.

Anthony asked

9th February 2012

I recently bought a new Goodmans Digital TV Recorder which I have connected to the TV in my lounge. However I have moved my other Alba ALDTR160 Digital TV Recorder into my back room but I cant get it to work on the TV in there. I wonder if I am connecting it correctly because it worked on my TV in the lounge. What does the very small RF cable do as it is only connected into the Digital TV Recorder? Then the cable from the TV Aerial is plugged into it too. So what do I connect to the TV?

You need to connect each device that contains a Freeview tuner, which probably include your TV and recorder box, to your aerial. There's two possible ways to do this; if your recorder box has an aerial/RF output you can connect that to your HDTV and connect the aerial to the aerial/RF input on your recorder box. If you don't have an aerial/RF pass-through you will need an aerial splitter so both devices can be connected to you aerial simultaneously.

Craig asked

9th February 2012

I have a new DTV HD box and a old DTV dish! Will that work and receive HDTV with the old dish?

If by DTV you mean satellite you should be able to make something work. If your dish is an old Sky digital dish which is to say not one of the older bigger analogue ones in principle you can simply plug in a Freesat HD box and watch.

http://www.freesat.co.uk/how-to/use-your-sky-dish

Vjtay asked

8th February 2012

I have a Sony 40 inch HD-Ready TV connected to a Freesat box which is connected to the Satellite Dish. I have no problems there because I can get all the Channels, but I wish to connect it to the HDMI 2 port on my TV. I already have a disc recorder on HDMI 1 that is okay and works, but I've set the TV to accept HDMI 2 but can not set the Freesat box to send the signal to HDMI 2 the TV. Will the TV will only receive it via the scart?

You shouldn't need to do any special configuration of your Freesat box beyond making sure the HDMI output is enabled and it probably is by defualt. Try resetting the box to factory defaults and seeing if that helps. You might like to try reversing or replacing the HDMI cable with one you know to work also. You may be able to narrow down if your HDTV or the Freesat box is the problem by testing it in the other HDMI port that you know to work.

Beyond that the problem probably lies with the HDMI handshake between the two devices. You can try plugging in the HDMI cable when both devices are already on which may trigger them to make a fresh handshake attempt. Beyond that you should see if there's any new firmware available for your HDTV and disc player that may fix know HDMI handshake issues.

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.