Connecting freeview box to portable television - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

O M Llywelyn · 2nd Oct 2022, 2:02 pm

I have a 'Realistic' brand Portavision TV from (I would guess) around the 1980s. My freeview box is a Humax F2-Fox T. I have connected a small digital aerial to the box and then a co-ax cable from the box to the television.

However, I do not get a picture when the box and the TV are turned on. The box is obviously having some kind of effect as when I tune in to the correct frequency, instead of the regular static, what shows up on the screen is five vertical columns made up of a lot of short horizontal lines (A photo is attached), and no white noise.

Is it a signal error, faulty equipment, or something else? Have I any chance of getting the TV to display a picture?

Thank you.

paulsherwin · 2nd Oct 2022, 2:53 pm

Is the modulator enabled? Have you tuned in the modulator channel correctly?

You appear to be tuning in to a Freeview multiplex rather than the modulator's analogue signal.

Sideband · 2nd Oct 2022, 3:15 pm

I haven't checked but does the Humax box actually have a modulator or is the RF out simply a loop-through?

paulsherwin · 2nd Oct 2022, 3:23 pm

Yes, the F2 Fox T has a modulator. It may not be enabled though, or the chosen channel may be conflicting with a Freeview mux.

O M Llywelyn · 2nd Oct 2022, 6:02 pm

Thank-you for the swift reply.

How would I know if the modulator is enabled? Is there a switch somewhere?

The default UHF channel is 36, and this is the only channel where this "pattern" appears, all other channels show regular static.

paulsherwin · 2nd Oct 2022, 6:30 pm

You need to hook the Humax box up to a TV using a SCART cable and press the menu button on the remote. You can then investigate how everything is configured. Setting the modulator to a channel above 55 should avoid clashes with Freeview muxes.

O M Llywelyn · 2nd Oct 2022, 7:00 pm

Thank-you, I'll try and set it up tomorrow.

patrickgnl · 2nd Oct 2022, 7:14 pm

The pdf manual for this box are available online.

Note that you must ensure that the modulator is not only on but set to PAL-I for the UK.

Patrick

jayceebee · 2nd Oct 2022, 7:41 pm

Looking at the pic in post #1 to me it looks to me the line oscillator is simply off frequency. Is there a line hold or horizontal hold control (H-Hold) control on the back of the TV?

John.

Graham G3ZVT · 2nd Oct 2022, 8:03 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayceebee

Looking at the pic in post #1 to me it looks to me the line oscillator is simply off frequency. Is there a line hold or horizontal hold control (H-Hold) control on the back of the TV?

John.

I agree with John, I think the timebase controls are on the LH side.

Once you've got the graphics from the Freeview box to display you can try to scan for channels, but beware of your "small digital aerial" (sic).
Unless you live in a very strong signal area you may not receive anything on an indoor aerial.

winston_1 · 2nd Oct 2022, 10:54 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by O M Llywelyn

I have connected a small digital aerial to the box.

No such thing as a digital aerial.

O M Llywelyn · 3rd Oct 2022, 5:33 pm

Thank you all for the replies,

I have adjusted the horizontal/vertical hold, and the good news is there is a picture.

The bad news is it says "No or bad signal". I am in a shared building with no roof aerial, so unfortunately I am limited to a small indoor aerial. Can anything be done to increase the signal strength? According to the Freeview website, the signal strength in my area (Cardiff) is "good".

Forgive my mistake around "digital aerial", this was simply the wording used on the box.

Graham G3ZVT · 4th Oct 2022, 2:05 pm

The Wenvoe transmitter is west of Cardiff, so if you've got a window facing in that direction, upstairs if that's relevant, then that's your best bet.

O M Llywelyn · 4th Oct 2022, 4:50 pm

The problem has been fixed. The fact I wasn't getting a signal was because the TV was looking for the channels set by the previous owner, I set the box to its default settings and now all seems to be well.

Thank you all for your help.

2nd Oct 2022, 2:53 pm	#2
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,947	Re: Connecting freeview box to portable television Is the modulator enabled? Have you tuned in the modulator channel correctly? You appear to be tuning in to a Freeview multiplex rather than the modulator's analogue signal.

2nd Oct 2022, 3:15 pm	#3
Sideband Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 7,572	Re: Connecting freeview box to portable television I haven't checked but does the Humax box actually have a modulator or is the RF out simply a loop-through? __________________ There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman.....

2nd Oct 2022, 3:23 pm	#4
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,947	Re: Connecting freeview box to portable television Yes, the F2 Fox T has a modulator. It may not be enabled though, or the chosen channel may be conflicting with a Freeview mux.

2nd Oct 2022, 6:02 pm	#5
O M Llywelyn Triode Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Cardiff, Wales, UK Posts: 18	Re: Connecting freeview box to portable television Thank-you for the swift reply. How would I know if the modulator is enabled? Is there a switch somewhere? The default UHF channel is 36, and this is the only channel where this "pattern" appears, all other channels show regular static.

2nd Oct 2022, 6:30 pm	#6
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,947	Re: Connecting freeview box to portable television You need to hook the Humax box up to a TV using a SCART cable and press the menu button on the remote. You can then investigate how everything is configured. Setting the modulator to a channel above 55 should avoid clashes with Freeview muxes.

2nd Oct 2022, 2:02 pm	#1
O M Llywelyn Triode Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Cardiff, Wales, UK Posts: 18	Connecting freeview box to portable television I have a 'Realistic' brand Portavision TV from (I would guess) around the 1980s. My freeview box is a Humax F2-Fox T. I have connected a small digital aerial to the box and then a co-ax cable from the box to the television. However, I do not get a picture when the box and the TV are turned on. The box is obviously having some kind of effect as when I tune in to the correct frequency, instead of the regular static, what shows up on the screen is five vertical columns made up of a lot of short horizontal lines (A photo is attached), and no white noise. Is it a signal error, faulty equipment, or something else? Have I any chance of getting the TV to display a picture? Thank you. Attached Thumbnails

2nd Oct 2022, 7:00 pm	#7
O M Llywelyn Triode Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Cardiff, Wales, UK Posts: 18	Re: Connecting freeview box to portable television Thank-you, I'll try and set it up tomorrow.

2nd Oct 2022, 7:14 pm	#8
patrickgnl Pentode Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Stourbridge, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 115	Re: Connecting freeview box to portable television The pdf manual for this box are available online. Note that you must ensure that the modulator is not only on but set to PAL-I for the UK. Patrick Attached Thumbnails

2nd Oct 2022, 7:41 pm	#9
jayceebee Heptode Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Durham, County Durham, UK. Posts: 640	Re: Connecting freeview box to portable television Looking at the pic in post #1 to me it looks to me the line oscillator is simply off frequency. Is there a line hold or horizontal hold control (H-Hold) control on the back of the TV? John.

3rd Oct 2022, 5:33 pm	#12
O M Llywelyn Triode Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Cardiff, Wales, UK Posts: 18	Re: Connecting freeview box to portable television Thank you all for the replies, I have adjusted the horizontal/vertical hold, and the good news is there is a picture. The bad news is it says "No or bad signal". I am in a shared building with no roof aerial, so unfortunately I am limited to a small indoor aerial. Can anything be done to increase the signal strength? According to the Freeview website, the signal strength in my area (Cardiff) is "good". Forgive my mistake around "digital aerial", this was simply the wording used on the box.

4th Oct 2022, 2:05 pm	#13
Graham G3ZVT Dekatron Join Date: May 2010 Location: Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 18,715	Re: Connecting freeview box to portable television The Wenvoe transmitter is west of Cardiff, so if you've got a window facing in that direction, upstairs if that's relevant, then that's your best bet. __________________ -- Graham. G3ZVT

4th Oct 2022, 4:50 pm	#14
O M Llywelyn Triode Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Cardiff, Wales, UK Posts: 18	Re: Connecting freeview box to portable television The problem has been fixed. The fact I wasn't getting a signal was because the TV was looking for the channels set by the previous owner, I set the box to its default settings and now all seems to be well. Thank you all for your help.