is my digi box broken ??

[worcesterman47]

hi, my mother in law watches italian tv on a digi box that has been installed for approx 5yrs with no problem (it is a STRONG make )..2 days ago it has had a really bad humming/hissing sound & picture goes very erratic..i had also noticed that ALL my analogue radios had a constant buzzing interference ( plugged in ones and portable ones )....now by elimination i found that if i unplugged the digi box..the radios worked fine....but as soon as i plug the digi box back into wall socket radios all go buzzing again...so, do you think something has "blown" in digi box and i need a new one...many thanks in advance for any help..............also there has been nothing placed near it to interefere with reception

[kerrywez]

Hi mate sounds like the box is on it's last legs.

If you would care to let us know what channels your mum-in-law watches, then we would be able to advise you what receiver would do the job for her.

It could well be that they are free to air channels, in which case the box could be bought for very little outlay, because it would not need to be a patchable receiver and just about anything would do the job for her.

If, on the other hand, she is watching encrypted channels then you would need to go for a patchable receiver and maybe even a specialised one, if it is Sly Italy she is watching.

Please let us know what the channels that she watches are and we will know how to advise you better.

Welcome to the forums and have a nice time.

Very best regards Wez

[worcesterman47]

hi,many thanks for the welcome..the only channels she watches are RAI ONE,TWO & THREE..nothing encrypted at all ( she is 89 ..any advice would be greatly appreciated....i know for a fact that the box is causing radio interference..as i mentioned in my first post...so, you think then..it could be a digi box problem & its on its last legs and needs replacing ?..once again many thanks for any replies & help

[madrat]

have a look on maplins web site, they have some grade B receivers for about £30

[kerrywez]

Hi mate, you are more than welcome to the advice and are welcome to the forums. I would say that any receiver would do the job then. As you say, when the receiver is of there is no interference on the radio, so it has got be to the receiver.

If you look at what Southern Satellite has to offer you should find a good cheap receiver for your mu-in-law, I am sure the poor old dear loves her native tongue and really misses the channels, so the sooner we get her sorted the better.

I am going to have a look at what Ian has at Southern Satellites, but it is a very slow dial up I have and it takes a while, will have something for you very soon. OK he has the following receiver and it would do the job very well for her.

TELESTAR SR20 Price £46

* Fully functional remote control -
* Multi-event timer -
* 4000 channel capacity -
* Software update via RS232 port or via satellite -
* 2 x Scart connection -
* 4-digit 7 segment front-pannel display -
* Plug & Play channel lists -
* 6 favourite channel lists -
* Parental lock -
* 16:9/4:3 picture formats -
* DiSEqC 1.0 / 1.2 -
* Loop-through tuner -
* EPI - Electronic Programme Info (EPG)


Product is in stock Product is in stock
Delivery period: 5 day(s)

If you would care to call Ian, in the morning, he will be able to sort you out and it might be he has something a bit cheaper, His number is 01892 833007.

Good luck and I hope that you have it sorted very soon for the old lady to see here favourite channels, please give her my best wishes and kind regards.

Very best regards Wez

[worcesterman47]

hi, thanks for the information...but i would have no idea as to what i am looking for...i would need a digi box capable of watching RAI one,two & three.but for surfing the net to find what i want would be impossible...unless someone can give me specific models etc etc...many thanks but they MUST be capable of italian RAI one,two & three channels...thanks once again

PS sorry wez...posted this before i saw your reply....yes, she only speaks italian so her tv is a lifeline for her..and as i know nothing about digi boxes i had to try to find a solution.....thanks again

[madrat]

as long as they are free channels,with no encryption any FTA receiver will pick them up. As I say Maplin have some for between £25-£30

[Robbo]

Yes, Maplin do a few cheapies that would do the job:-

The Fortec Beta at £24.99 (b grade)

The FS4200 at £29.99 (b grade)

Either if these would be OK.

[kerrywez]

All you need do when you get the box is to scan the channels into it from Hotbird, which is the satellite your dish will be pointing to. From the channels you can find the RIA ones and set them up so that your mum-in-law can watch them easily, what I mean is you can remove the channels that she does not wish to watch or you can do a search for just the RAI channels they are to be found on these frequencies

11766.00 V 27500 2/3

11804.00 V 27500 2/3

There are loads of other Italian channels frre to air on the same satellite.

Get the box and we will talk you through what to do and how to get the channels, it is not very difficult to do and no need to be a nerd to do it.

If you go here you will find all the free to air channels from Italy, the ones you will be after will be on Hotbird.

Very best regards Wez

[worcesterman47]

well, thanks guys for all the help..i have decided to go for the cheapest option to start with the Fortec Beta just in case it is not the actual digi box causing probs ( i am sure it is but better safe than sorry)...if this box works then in the future i will possibly upgrade again. i am sure to be back for more help/advice when the new box is delivered as i am really a " nerd" when it comes to electrical items...so thanks yet again guys...& bye for now,well until i try to set it up