Annoying pixilation on HGTV on Panasonic PVR (only watching recorded material)

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bazbear

13 posts

Geek

#232007 25-Mar-2018 15:17

I am having annoying pixilation on channel HGTV on our Panasonic PVR however only while watching recorded material.

If we watch live TV, via the Samsung TV or the Panasonic PVR (DMR XW-440) no pixalation occurs. PVR has the latest firmware available (v 1.20).

We have no reception issues as live TV is fine. The pixalation is so bad that is if I miss a show live, I won't watch it recorded.

Any ideas anyone? What throws me is that its only happening HGTV, although we only watch 1, 2, 3, Bravo and HGTV.

GoranZ

407 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#1982916 25-Mar-2018 17:27

Don't know if it will help you but I have the DMR-XW350 and was having a similar issue when we moved house 6 years ago. I had the antenna coming into the TV and split into the DMR. TV was perfect reception and could watch on the DMR but all recordings were rubbish. I ended up getting a cheap booster from DSE (thats how long its been) and putting it in after the split to boost the signal to the DMR and for the last 6 years its been fine.

I would check all of your connections to see if they are creating signal loss or simply look at something cheap to provide a boost into the DMR (Jaycar or similar might have something cheap)

good luck .. love HGTV myself :-)

fe31nz

1228 posts

Uber Geek

#1983091 25-Mar-2018 23:27

I presume that the Panasonic has dual tuners. In which case, it almost certainly has an internal splitter. So if you are feeding your aerial to a two way splitter with one connection to the TV and one to the Panasonic, the TV will be getting double the signal of each of the tuners in the Panasonic. So you can not compare reception between the two. HGTV is broadcast on a multiplex (2nd Kordia) that also has a number of other channels:

Apna Television

Al Jazeera

Shine TV

TVSN Shopping

TV29

Radio NZ National

Hope Channel

HGTV

NCTV-Chinese

If you record any of the other channels, then you will almost certainly get the same problems as with HGTV. But since HGTV is the only channel you normally record from that multiplex, you have not noticed any problems with them. So I would suggest trying to record some of the others. If they also have the same problem, then it is likely that the multiplex that HGTV is on is the one you receive worst and it needs a better signal at the Panasonic. You can try adding in an amplifier or swapping your splitter for an amplifier/splitter and seeing if that helps, and if not, then get professional help to come and look at your aerial system - they will have test gear to tell exactly what the signal levels are for each multiplex at each device.

Since you say you only watch 1, 2, 3, Bravo and HGTV, that means you only watch channels on three of the five available multiplexes (TVNZ, MediaWorks, 2nd Kordia). You may also have reception problems on the other multiplexes (eg Maori TV on the Maori multiplex, or Prime and Choice TV on the 1st Kordia multiplex).

bazbear

13 posts

Geek

#1983212 26-Mar-2018 10:04

Thanks for this. I will try in the next few days. Aerial master did use a splitter. Not sure why as the PVR allows you to loop using RF OUT to RF IN of TV. I will let you know results once i have a chance to try this out.

fe31nz

1228 posts

Uber Geek

#1983444 26-Mar-2018 13:56

The funny thing is that on my two old S-VHS VCRs, the RF Out loop connection is amplified - it is brought back up to the desired RF levels on the RF Out socket. If Panasonic is still doing that on their PVR boxes, then you may be able to fix your problem by removing the splitter and connecting the aerial directly to the Panasonic, then connecting the TV to the Panasonic RF Out.

bazbear

13 posts

Geek

#1984450 27-Mar-2018 18:09

omg you guys are awesome. I pulled out the cable from the splitter to the TV (we never watch TV via the TV tuner) and the problem has gone.

HGTV now is pixelation/stutter free for the first time ever via the PVR (and probably all channels on the same MUX).

I'm so pleased. What annoys me though is how would a person who is not tech savvy would of dealt with a stupid issue like this. So glad i didnt pay for someone to come look at the aerial again.

Thanks guys.

fe31nz

1228 posts

Uber Geek

#1984563 27-Mar-2018 22:14

Excellent. Bear in mind though that if you turn off the power to the Panasonic, the signal to the TV may go away completely and at least will be reduced.