Crosswords1 min ago
New LG TV
12 Answers
Just got new tele, the screen goes blank for a few seconds about once an hour. Its got freeview built in. Have contacted LG and they have answered the usual "have you turned it on an off" Any ideas please, before we send it back.
Answers
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It sounds like inadequate signal strength to me. With some Freeview TVs (and related devices, such as set-top boxes or PVRs) you'll see the picture 'break up' when the signal strength falls below a critical threshold. But with others (
23:34 Sat 06th Nov 2010
Mine does the same, black screen for a few seconds, two or three times in an hour. But in my case it's an old tube-type TV with a freeview box. I also get occasional little coloured squares on-screen, and since these are a symptom of a slightly low signal strength from the aerial, I figure that's why I also get the black screen from time to time.
It sounds like inadequate signal strength to me. With some Freeview TVs (and related devices, such as set-top boxes or PVRs) you'll see the picture 'break up' when the signal strength falls below a critical threshold. But with others (particularly the latest models) the screen simply goes blank (and/or the sound drops out) when the signal isn't good enough.
At this point I can hear you saying: "But my previous TV never had any problems like this". It should be noted that different brands of TVs (and digiboxes, etc) have different 'sensitivities' (i.e. their abilities to cope with poor signals). It's likely that your new TV has a lower sensitivity than your old one did.
Next I can hear you saying: "But the problem is only there occasionally. How can it be related to poor signal strength?" The signal received by your aerial doesn't remain at a constant level. It's affected by weather conditions, atmospheric pressure, flares on the surface of the sun and many other factors. Additionally local interference (such as when your next door neighbour switches a light on or off) can be sufficient to cause the loss of your picture for a few seconds when you only had a 'borderline' signal to start with.
Since your aerial is already providing a signal which is good enough MOST of the time, you probably don't need a new aerial to upgrade to a system which provides a decent signal ALL of the time. I'm prepared to bet you twenty quid that simply adding a cheap signal booster (less than a tenner from Asda, for example) will fix the problem.
Chris
At this point I can hear you saying: "But my previous TV never had any problems like this". It should be noted that different brands of TVs (and digiboxes, etc) have different 'sensitivities' (i.e. their abilities to cope with poor signals). It's likely that your new TV has a lower sensitivity than your old one did.
Next I can hear you saying: "But the problem is only there occasionally. How can it be related to poor signal strength?" The signal received by your aerial doesn't remain at a constant level. It's affected by weather conditions, atmospheric pressure, flares on the surface of the sun and many other factors. Additionally local interference (such as when your next door neighbour switches a light on or off) can be sufficient to cause the loss of your picture for a few seconds when you only had a 'borderline' signal to start with.
Since your aerial is already providing a signal which is good enough MOST of the time, you probably don't need a new aerial to upgrade to a system which provides a decent signal ALL of the time. I'm prepared to bet you twenty quid that simply adding a cheap signal booster (less than a tenner from Asda, for example) will fix the problem.
Chris
Hi Berti.
From the symptoms described by Oranger, I'm assuming that the signal strength at his/her aerial is usually just sufficient for the TV set to 'lock onto' it. As soon as there's a slight deterioration in the signal or (probably more likely) temporary electrical interference from something like a fridge thermostat cutting in and out, the set can no longer correctly handle the weak signal. By boosting the incoming signal to a higher initial level, any slight fall in that signal (or an increase in the level of interference) will no longer take the signal strength below the required threshold for good reception. Consequently Oranger will get a consistently good picture, rather than one which occasionally vanishes.
Chris
From the symptoms described by Oranger, I'm assuming that the signal strength at his/her aerial is usually just sufficient for the TV set to 'lock onto' it. As soon as there's a slight deterioration in the signal or (probably more likely) temporary electrical interference from something like a fridge thermostat cutting in and out, the set can no longer correctly handle the weak signal. By boosting the incoming signal to a higher initial level, any slight fall in that signal (or an increase in the level of interference) will no longer take the signal strength below the required threshold for good reception. Consequently Oranger will get a consistently good picture, rather than one which occasionally vanishes.
Chris
What I'm suggesting, Berti, is that the 'ideal' solution would definitely be to get a better aerial (and possibly to replace the cabling at the same time).
However (because the existing signal strength is obviously already close to the required threshold) a cheap signal booster might well be able to raise the signal strength to the required level for a far smaller expenditure. (i.e. I'm suggesting forking out around £9 - if I correctly remember the current price in Asda - to place a signal amplifier in between the end of the existing aerial cable and the TV).
However (because the existing signal strength is obviously already close to the required threshold) a cheap signal booster might well be able to raise the signal strength to the required level for a far smaller expenditure. (i.e. I'm suggesting forking out around £9 - if I correctly remember the current price in Asda - to place a signal amplifier in between the end of the existing aerial cable and the TV).
Agree wholeheartedly with Buenchico. My high-gain aerial is in the loft, which causes enough of a reduction in received signal strength to need a booster. But I thought I might add a hint about checking whether you have the best aerial alignment with respect to the transmitter location. Makes a lot of difference in my case.
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